It’s colder here – but only glitter cardy cold, as my friend Caroline says, and not proper NZ thermal cold. Her and her partner, Steve, joined us for a week and she’s bought a bit of glamour to the boat. Dean and I even had a shower.
Only a week to go. That’s insane. We want to come home now, but we also want the world to stay changed.
Our fancy new lure that got eaten by a fancy big fish.
A dinghy trip up the river in Baie de Uie that ended up being a highlight. It looked dumb to start with.
Drying our parachute because the sail locker got drenched.
Meet Moose, the caretaker of Ilot Casey in Baie de Prony. Ten years ago his owners closed down the resort on the island. They tried to take him with them but he kept jumping off the boat and swimming back to the island, so they left him there. Moose goes fishing for himself and is fed by visiting yachts. One even rigged up a water catcher for him. He seems okay. Moose had pasta and egg for breakfast, care of Pebbles.
Dean, with the help of Take Two, made my birthday very special.
This included going to Blue River National Park and sleeping in tents in trees! And going on a moonlit kayak tour with H2o Odyssee Tours. Both incredible, amazing things to do. Kind of ironic though – we leave the boat for two days to swing in trees and go on water.
We really have no idea where we go most of the time.
Then it was off to Isle de Pines in the south. Picture perfect.
Complete with old jail, where “the massive exile on Isle of Pines of simple offenders answered two major idea – bame those who tried to overtake the French Government power and endorse the sum of money being spent by the French to build the island…”
The local markets at Vao included a selection of French pastries and things…Dean chose one of each. Best breakfast we’ve ever had.
Joined by Wellington friends, Caroline and Stephen – great cruising guests because they did all the dishes.
One good thing about the French being here is that they build nice things.
The confession booth is a broom cupboard.
A favourite morning thing…feeding baby sharks. They cling to the bottom of your boat and come out when we throw bread in. I’ve stopped doing this now because we’re leaving a trail of celiac sharks.
View from Mato Island in the southern lagoon area. It was very windy and quite a risk to navigate the reef systems (and the first time we’d anchored on a lee shore), but worth the fear.
Adventurers.
Sailing is Not Scary 
HI AGAIN YOU ADVENTURES YOU. Fabulous lot of photos again – you are going to have a fabulous collection once you are back home. Speaking of home, you said you only have one week to go. Does that mean you’ll be back in NZ in a week ?? Happy birthday last week Janie – bet you all had fun. Happy sailing for your last week on your journey home, if that is in fact the case.
LOVE TO YOU BOTH, THANKS AGAIN,
COLLEEN AND DAD.
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Happy Birthday
Moose looks very good for a dog 10+ years old. He must be destressed
Tell Steve I had drinks with his old associate Susan who is in semi retirement at Otaki
Caroline is very glittery. I dont want to spoil her fun but tell her school starts back Monday and her class is in chaos.
Thanks for the lovely photos and news. Its still cold here and I am envious
arohanui
James
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At last I have remembered to find your Blog! I like looking at it mainly to see that great Photo of Janie looking terrified! I took ten days to go from Vila to Bundaberg, it was a pretty good trip really but had a couple of days of strong wind towards the end, up to 30 knots but Sapphire Breeze took it all in her stride! (My blog is http://www.aweebitmore.blogspot.com.au) Thanks again for the lovely meal on Pebbles in Port Vila. Looks like you’ve had great adventures since so hopefully the trip back to NZ will go well too. Safe Sailing.
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Yay, you made it! Was great meeting you. You are one of the people that we’ve met on this adventure that have inspired us. Come to New Zealand next!
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see you soon J
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