Nuku Hiva

[hoops name=”break”]It’s hard to believe that we have been in the Marquesas for over 3 weeks now…..Wow, the time has really flown for us!  After Les and Rose left, John and I really scaled it back!  We spent some quality time with our books, wandered around town, visited with other cruisers, and accomplished a few odd boat jobs, but in general did a lot of well, not much.  It was wonderful!!  🙂

We also took Mystic over to Daniel’s Bay, only a few miles from here, but a world apart!  The anchorage was beautiful, quiet and serene.  There was lots of birdsong from ashore, frigates and boobies hunting in the bay, and even a turtle or two bobbing around on the surface.  Only 2 or 3 boats were in the snug anchorage.  The scenery was very dramatic!  Majestic craggy peaks rose steeply out of the earth, covered here and there in bright green.  Dots of brown and tan goats grazed the hills, the occasional baaa echoing against the water below.  And the hike ashore was simply stunning!  The valley was filled with coconut palms and all sorts of fruit trees from bananas to pamplemousse, oranges, limes and mangoes.  The few homes were tidy and well-kept, grounds raked clean with colorful flowers growing in abundance.  I had read another blog that said this hike was “like hiking in the Garden of Eden”, and indeed it was!

The people were also very friendly…..We were waved into one home and offered a bit of freshly grated coconut, a fresh orange and slice of mango.  It was all delicious and the woman spoke pretty good English.  Her husband, who was busy grating the coconut, was interesting in his own right, with nearly half of his body covered in Marquesan tattooes (including half of his face) and a small bone (or goat horn carving?) through a piercing in one ear.  He also was engaging though and we spent a few minutes chatting, learning that they had lived here in the valley for 5 years and had many fruit trees that they harvested to sell in the town of Taiohae. Again, their home was clean and well-kept, the outdoor kitchen full of freshly washed pots and pans, and one pan ready to go on the stove for lunch.  She showed us the stew she was making with goat meat and onions, and said she would add coconut milk to stew it in.   It looked like it would be wonderful!  Thanking them for the fruit and their kindness, we promised we’d stop by and purchase some fruit on our way back, which we did.  We got 4 pamplemousse, 4 oranges and a couple of mangoes to add to our stock to take with us to the Tuamotos.

Today, we returned this morning to Taiohoe Bay in preparation for our departure tonight for Raroia in the Tuamotos.  We have really enjoyed the Marquesas…..They have to have some of the most breathtaking and gorgeous scenery on the face of the Earth!  It has been perfect for re-energizing ourselves and refreshing our spirits for all that still lies ahead.  And now it is time to move on again, and see what’s around that next corner.  Crystal clear turquoise water, calm anchorages, and great diving is what’s promised…..

Yep…..We’re ready……

Photos from Nuka Hiva:

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