Tiahuata island - hanamoimoa bay
01.05.19 - 05.05.19
Enough of the rocking and rolling, we're of to a quieter anchorage with a white palm fringed sandy beach and clear blue waters. Only 10 miles away from Hiva Hoa, it only takes a little more than a couple of hours. Nice sail actually. We are welcomed in the bay by 2 rays.... Always nice. The bay is definitely beautiful, mere hills surround it, none of those tall rocky mountains here, and the sound of bleating goats everywhere. There is plenty room only a handful of boats here.
Vagabond is already here and as per usual, just watching them makes you tired, they'll be cleaning the hull for 2 hours, snorkeling for an hour taking a walk on the beach with Bo the cat, and back again in the water for more hull cleaning....and all I have done all day is wash a few items of clothing and gawped at the view....
Next day a bit of drama, Roos and Hans start off for a walk fairly early, but before long there is a lot at shouting on the beach. Queen, the catamaran is near the beach and the kids are playing noisily, we just think that someone is taking umbrage with it. Next thing, the same someone lit a fire on the beach, close, far to close to Vagabond's dinghy, not good.... Fortunately the guy from Queen jumps in his dinghy and moves vagabond's out of harm way. Words are exchanged then quiet. About an hour later, Hans and Roos reappear, get in their dinghy and do a few back and forth from their boat to the shore... Odd... 4 o'clock is tea time on Mr X, Roos and Hans joined us for tea and cake and we get to know the full extent of the drama onshore. It turns out that the owner of the land was sick and tired of boaties traipsing through his land and helping themselves to coconuts and fruits without asking, so he did shout to get Hans attention when he saw him on the top of the hill. To ensure that he had his full attention and get him to get back soonest he also built a fire close to his dinghy. That did the trick....they were back down as fast as their legs would carry them. A bit of a discussion and everything was smoothed out...a few Jerry can of water made it all ok. He even invited them and half of the boats in his bay to have a BBQ on the beach next day. I met the man he was scary...
So washing is done time for a snorkel around the bay... Never seen so many fishes... Swimming in a fish tank... Fabulous. The coral is pretty good too. We never saw any rays in the water... Shame.
Quo Vadis, the party boat has turned up... Another brilliant evening.
Sunday is church day, and to church we will go. Vagabond is taking us to the village in the next bay...up at the crack of dawn, the service starts at 8am, and I get to drive! Lovely village and beautiful church. The congregation is small but fortunately there is a small cruise ship in the bay (national geographic-orion) pews are filled by American tourists. The singing is heavenly. The whole service is conducted in Marquisien, and I am always amazed at how you dawn follow a Christian mass anywhere in the world without understanding a single word of the language spoken. I could even make out the our father and hail Mary... The sermon however was lost on me. We had a wander around the village before sailing back at great speed to our bay.
We had not been there 5 mn that the guy onshore starts his screaming again... Another boatie on his land, I guess. This time there is a stand off on the beach and a chase around the anchorage. He has a point and I understand that he gets cheesed off but hat guy is really scary... just wondering when trouble will really blow up. Does he really need the machete to make his point? He orders the boatie out of his bay within the hour... The guy is actually gone in 30mn...guess I am not the only one finding him scary then.