#57 NOW June 13, 2005 0100 Tahiti Time = UTC -10 hours Temperature 77 degrees, Wind from SE @ 10 kts. SOG 5.2 38 miles SE of Raiatea Island (S17’05.9 W150’44.0) Good Morning, Once again, I find myself in the wee hours of the morning keeping watch. The air is fresh and cool and the sea, with its gentle swell, is making the cruise most enjoyable. We left Moorea around three in the afternoon for an overnight run of about 100 miles to Raiatea, one of the Leeward Islands. Last Thursday, Carol arrived right on schedule at 0240 in the morning. She had a very enjoyable flight aboard Air New Zealand. There was little chance for sleep before we needed to re-supply the boat with enough food for at least one month. The large well-stocked grocery store near the marina had everything anyone could possible want, although the prices were 30 to 40 percent more than what they would be in the US. We picked up lots of fresh produce and some wonderful French bread along with some New Zealand butter. Of course, I had to have my Hoky Poky ice cream. It is a wonderful butterscotch flavor, that Gordon and I first became addicted to while on vacation in New Zealand many years ago. Friday morning we picked up our exit papers and went over to the fuel dock to fill up with the export, duty free fuel. At 60 francs per liter (approx. $2.40 per gallon), it was a real savings over the regular price. We took on 2556 liters (675 gallons) which topped off our tanks, and will be more than enough to get us to Pago Pago, American Samoa. Then it was off to the island of Moorea. This is without question the most majestic island I have ever seen. It is just 12 miles from Tahiti, but so different with its lofty peaks covered in lush vegetation. We eased into Cook Inlet and dropped the anchor. Not far from us was the cruise ship the Paul Gauguin sharing this idyllic bay with us. We spent two days here enjoying the serenity and beauty of this place. This morning we leisurely made our way out of Cook Inlet and into D’Opunohu Bay. This Bay is considered the most beautiful Bay in all of Polynesia, and I would have a hard time arguing otherwise. Its towering peaks reaching up into the clear blue sky, and shoreline ringed with coconut palms was enough to take your breath away. I pulled out into the middle of the bay, stopped the engine, and we enjoyed a nice lunch sitting on the foredeck while drifting down the bay. It was hard to leave this tranquil paradise. We are now headed for Raiatea where I am to meet up with a representative of Spectra water makers. He is going to update the software on my watermaker and hopefully help me fix some of the problems I have been having with it. We are also looking forward to cruising around this reef-ringed island and maybe even getting started on our scuba diving certification. Life is a Cruise, Larry and Carol Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/ Email: <mailto:donedream@pacbell.net>donedream@pacbell.net