Terre des hommes… and animals!

After some shopping and buying gas at Taiohae we lose no time to return to the north side of Nuku Hiva with its protected bays and to find Marina and Germain...

Tuesday 15 August: Anaho Bay

First stop in the Bay of Anaho to the northeast of the island. It's the end of the day and visibility is not too good. We go to 3 time to find a corner of sand, without coral, where to put the anchor.

Down we find plantations along the shore (them 50 not the King), well kept by Laura and Steve.

Maintenance is funded by the municipality and they do not expect that the old trees die for the replaced. This gives us the opportunity to see the flower of coconut tree on a tree to a man's height.

We meet Laura who proposed we get a bunch of bananas. Here we are left in the garden looking for a small plan well wall.

That's, We found it. Laura cut the tree carefully in order not to fall already well yellow bananas.

That day, without asking for anything, We go on board with bananas, papayas, cucumbers and ginger... What generosity! The next day we bring him a cake to banana and papaya... that happens just in time for their morning laying.

That's the best we could do like "banana plant" for our friend Stef (Mr Happy)

Friday 18 August: Bay just before Hakaea

We continue West to a Bay that we had indicated Henry (snack on the small dock of Taiohae). A Bay quiet with white beach at the foot of the cliffs and other pitons.

The bottom of the Bay is very crowded with coral heads and we struggle to find a corner of sand. Finally here it is well hung without the abyss chain these fragile corals. We explore the nearby bays in the annex and talk with Johnny who, late in the day, case of the cocos for its pigs. The mosquitoes and nonos benefit for a good meal on our ankles.

Saturday 19 August: Bay Hakaehu (PUA)

Return to the Valley of Pua. It's the weekend... Marina and Germain are in the village. As soon as the foot on the beach their pigs greet us loudly. Philippe break them a few coconuts with machetes and we are quickly "buddies".

We're heading home.

And there, After some unconvincing barking, The menagerie makes us understand that they are hungry. A few commies will do the trick...

All these animals share the little there is eating... without too many blows of beaks, claw or hoof!

Two days later Marina and Germain are not yet returned and we break many cocos to feed them.

We have pleasure to find Germain and Marina the next day. We work together to transform a tag of fisherman in solar lamp.

Together we pick up coconuts for copra and I give a hand to replace a few sheet metal on the copra dryer.

While women are picking oranges.

Germain and Marina thanks for the good times we've spent together...

Friday 25 August: EIAO

Always looking for places lost, We go on the uninhabited island of Eiao to about fifty miles more to the North. The wind is wrong and the crossing is quick and nice.

Vaituha Bay is mapped, well protected despite a few bursts when the wind picks. But we are well stuck on the sandy bottom and vase. Already we hear the sheep bleating. Indeed the island is known for its wild sheep of Nuku Hiva's residents come to hunt regularly. Down a semblance of Pier and a shelter for hunters.

After a first recognition we decide to climb to the plateau following the bed of a dry torrent.

View at mid-slope. At low tide the mud disturbs the water and this seems to be a good hunting ground for Manta Rays and the frigates.

Hunters have planted a few papaya trees that give good. As there is nobody on the island we serve until they rot or be eaten by birds.

As we leave the island of Eiao, a yellow tuna 25+ pounds bites on one of the lines. It's a great battle to reassemble aboard and quickly the freezer is full. The same evening we stop at Hakaehu to give a piece to Germain and Marina.

Friday, September 1: ANAHO

Laurent, Coraline and Charlie, our friends from the "Black Pearl" facing a few years Nuku Hiva came to spend a weekend with us. We stay together in the Bay of Anaho for a moment of relaxation with friends…


Next steps... the southern islands of the Marquesas: HIVA Oa, Fatu Hiva and Tahuata. We expect that the wind turns slightly to the northeast in order to go on a single tack...