Gambier- We do not get tired!

After a few weeks of waiting, We retrieve the motor of the windlass in the village. We look forward to move a little, find our "sports" and introduce to Leslie and Vaughan( boat Off2C) the rich marine on the flats.

The wetting of Rikitea facing the village is not preferred

But it is a must to do some shopping, have an internet connection (very very slow) and collect our parcel at the post office which us has been waiting for 3 weeks!   Amazing that at each of our visits the charming postmistress have answered us that he never had nothing on behalf of Tao!!

So to celebrate the windlass repair, We prepare a good hearty plate, lawyer, tomatoes, fruit of the pine tree, Eggs and the ultimate the cornedbeef!!! That's what we had prepared the Marquesas at Tahuata Tehina and honestly it is good but a little heavy!!!


Immediately the engine installed, We go back to the North at Tâuna, a prolonged tiny motu from bench sand where tranquility is assured,
 
except when the sky darkens and announces an 'imminent' grain.

We continue our journey with Leslie and Vaughan until the Pearl farm of Eric we had during our last visit in 2013. The approach of the farm a field of buoys (reporting of ropes and nets which are attached vertically the oysters) looming on the horizon. It is not always easy to spot and Nathalie stays on the roof to get a better visibility.

Luckily Eric is here, and he enjoys explaining the different stages of the culture of the oysters. His business is growing, the Pearl is doing well!

For the night we go to Totegege (Airport) wet on the sand in the face of a cabin... barely have we asked the anchor that a motorboat approaches us explaining that it is forbidden to stay here. We have to go on the fields under the pretext that it is private and we him blocking the view. No possible negotiation fasting becomes aggressive and threatening us to come back with stones if we don't get out now! Neither one nor two we go further and find Birgit and Christian (boat Pitufa).  At the next crossing the village we go complain to the Gendarmerie.
The next day we move followed by Off2C

and get wet in the face of the reef that surrounds the lagoon and protects it from the waves. It's low tide

We land on the motu,  equipped with good shoes, gloves, seal,

and screwdriver to detach the clams corals (which are located in very little water)

Once cleaned and with a bit of lemon it will be our lunch

accompanied by white wine for the occasion.

The place is quite preserved, with a translucent water, white sand and coral massifs. Every day we spend hours in the water to admire this nature and its inhabitants...


A multitude of colorful fish surround us and seem to ignore us.



Some are even curious and are watching us.


A strange mollusk (sea cucumber) stagnant deep water

and further a shark "black tip" comes to see if we hunt,  He is not aggressive and departs.

A stingray let photograph by Philippe.

Difficult to leave a place as magical, then we will stay there again a moment before deciding on our departure to the Tuamotu, early April depending on the weather!