We are now on passage from Tahuata to Anahoe on the north side Nuka Hiva. It’s a run of 90 nm or about 12 hours. We left Tahuata at 8:00pm so another night passage. The seas and winds are on the boisterous side – winds E 13-20 kts, seas E 5-8’…..our heading is 310M so all this weather is on our starboard aft quarter……a semi rough ride…..rock and roll time…..ugh!!!!
This will be Les and Rose’s last night passage with us. After Anahoe we will go to Taiohae on Nuka Hiva for fuel, provisions and Internet.
Kathy is soooooo itching that we will lose her for a few days as she catches up on all her emails and blogs!!!! Les and Rose will be leaving on Friday, 4/19……that will be a very sad day on MM 🙁 ((( We very much enjoyed Fatu Hiva and Tahuata the last 5 days. Fatu Hiva was indeed the iconic anchorage with the tall, spectacular rock formations…..look like penis’s….hmmmm……did the aliens have fun or what 🙂 ))) The anchorage was fairly calm except we would get gusts of winds 20-30 kts coming down the mountains! Tahuata was advertised as the 3rd best beach in all of French Polynesia. While is was nice, it was only an average beach in the Caribbean. Again, the anchorage was calm and the waters very clear. We met up with Maestro who we met in Santa Cruz and they told us the anchorage on Hiva Oa had gotten very crowded and rolly. They came over to Tahuata for some peace and quiet.
It looks like our SPOT has quit working. The lights work as normal but Mark indicated he has not received a SPOT “ok” in a while…..strange. Has anyone checked the “tracking” page? Les has a SPOT and his family has received his SPOT “ok” everyday….ugh!!! Not sure what to do????
Several people have written that after a long passage it is normal to feel “post long passage syndrome”: general tiredness, light aches and pains, low physical and mental energy……Kathy calls it a “passage hangover”. It could take several weeks to recuperate….whoa….I’d say I’m 80% back after a week but still not quite right!!
Tuamotus: We have worked on our route (only 1000 islands to choose from). Our route will be Raroia, Makemo, Tahanea, Fakarava and Toau. We will spend about +/- a week at each atoll. We will be leaving around 4/21-23 arriving 2.5 days later.
Wow….just as I finished writing the above @ ~3:30am I get slammed with vertigo/dizziness. Did I describe the seas as boisterous…..hmmmm…..maybe boisterous on steroids…..well, everything was moving. I have never had motion/sea sickness before but I think I just did. If I shut my eyes the dizziness went away but since I was on watch you try and not do that too much. I never got sick (I know TMI but it is my log)…..but did ralph a few times. Kathy and Les showed up around 6:00 am so I went and laid down, had a ginger ale and then was passable. We finally turned the corner at Nuka Hiva around 7:30 am and the seas were behind us and I gradually got better. I’m now writing this after a long morning nap and while tired and a little queasy stomach, I’m much better!!!!
Hopefully everyone has now been to the website and read all the logs/articles we wrote while on the Passage. Thanks again to all those folks for writing web comments and emails……it means a lot to us and we feel the luv…..we are still going through all the emails and some of the comments…..and yes, Jo, we are going through withdrawal too!!!!
Hope all is well!!
Recovering John
Mystic Moon
Anahoe Nuka Hiva
OBTW: this anchorage is another calm and beautiful anchorage…..there is a reef we will snorkel later and maybe get in a hike tomorrow to a village!!
Hope you are better…
Wanted to let you both know how much I enjoy reading of your adventures! I think it is a wonderful experience and thank you for taking us along via your logs and blogs. Not much happening here in NC , but we are getting ready for our summer beach crowds coming soon. Keeping you and MM in my prayers for safe travels and fun ventures. Hope to catch up with you the next time you are on the east coast. Until then…..–connie
Will try once more. Have sent four comments but none have appeared. Give Les and Rose our best also. Great to hear all the news. Know you all are still tired. All is well here. Had dinner with David and Dana. Had a great time. Only 37 degrees here this morning. Not the same as our rat patrol but have been on raccoon patrol. Been spraying the fence with ammonia each night and has really helped. Hope all continues well with you
You do not show up on Spot Check anymore, it seemed to stop working mid-Pacific. I did check it the other day again and it shows nada. Hope you can figure it out as it was so very reassuring to those of us here watching your progress. Tell Les t hat I have received a few of his “I’m OK” emails, but don’t seem to be locked in on anything that gave me those regularly. Since we were getting daily posts I didn’t pay much attention to that. I hope you are feeling much better now and that it is just a form of temporary seasickness – or that passage hangover Kathy described. Enjoy each others company, go full tilt until you put L & R on their flight. If you are totally exhausted maybe you won’t miss them so much and you’ll just want to sleep…maybe…? Your itinerary sounds wonderful, I hope you soon discover the most beautiful beach in the world and weeks of “brochure” perfection. Don’t be anxious to tap into news of the world – it’s not all that lovely. xoxoxo
We also have not received “spot” checks lately. Don’t know exactly when they stopped. Good luck on repairing that. The emails are working beautifully though. Love to read the blog and comments from friends and family. Hope you will take time to “veg”. Love you all.
C&BB
Oh John and Kathy, I love reading the blogs from you guys … ‘specially when you talk about warm beautiful beaches, reefs to snorkel and hikes; while in Fort Collins, we have 2 feet of snow on the ground (started 2 days ago) and more predicted for today. Ahhh! Spring time in the Rockies! On the upside, we are headed to Winter Park for closing weekend..although with this much snow they may stay open a little longer. I am soooo ready for a “no more mittens trip”. Keep the good news coming.
John, hope that you are feeling better.
Hugs.
Jeanette (lovin’ her UGGs)
I was wondering how long that passage hangover would last. Seasickness not so fun, but I think all captains should have the experience now and then to be able to properly empathize with those of us who regularly turn green at sea! Hope you all are fully recovered soon.
Bob & I once looked into visiting the region you are currently cruising via the Aranui, a freighter out of Papeete that also accommodates about 200 passengers. They deliver supplies to the various islands and passengers have time to tour ashore while the ship is in port. Sounded really neat – although it would have required a hefty 3 week vacation from work. The long airline flight did not appeal either (can you believe it!) Maybe we will get there one day . . .
Thoroughly enjoying your adventures!