Week One

Week One – ending April 30, 2010

The blissful heat and humidity actually took its toll on us the first few days. We’re not really sure if that was also the result of going flat out for a few weeks trying to get ready to get down here or lacking sleep due to the flights, or driving down the mountain from Silver Star while it was snowing or just a combination of everything. Nonetheless, the first couple of days weren’t overly productive, but we soon got in to the swing of things and managed to whip through a number of boat projects. Peter claims that he never gets sunburned, so I am at a loss for words on how to describe how his back got beet red on the first day!

We cast off from the dock in Tahiti on Wednesday with our regular share of drama. As we were going out through the crowded marina our Canadian flag on the wooden pole got dumped into the ocean. There was no room to turn around, so Captain Peter managed to ask with an endearing little grin “do you mind going for a swim?” I was fully dressed from head to toe (because unlike Peter I do sunburn, ha,ha) .We had quite the audience, but managed to save the flag. Once out at anchorage, we had a lovely breeze, spent a few hours watching all the outrigger canoes practicing and witnessed a beautiful sunset overlooking Moorea for our first night on the hook.
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Yesterday, we did our final fuelling, shopping, paperwork, etc. and then motorsailed to Moorea. We were on the lookout for whales, but we weren’t lucky enough to see any. We dropped anchor in the famous Cook Bay, which we have fallen in love with on our other visits here. It was an absolute perfect setting for our 32nd anniversary…you couldn’t script it any better…the sun was shining, the lush green mountains rose dramatically around on all sides as we sipped a perfect Peter Bruckmann signature Gin and Tonic at Happy Hour. Our favourite over the water restaurant was just a short dinghy ride away where you can watch them feed sharks and rays after dinner. Just to top it off, the full moon was in all its’ splendour. Alas, there was only one problem. Peter forgot all about it – so we had the romance novel anniversary that wasn’t. After saying goodnight and “by the way Happy Anniversary”, there was a lot of grovelling going on this morning.

We will move later today to the next bay over where we plan on doing a couple of warm up dives to get us ready for the more challenging shark dives in the Tuamotus which we will head to in a few days.
Until next Friday….enjoy your friends and family and try not to overlook any birthdays or special occasions!
P.S. We just arrived at our new anchorage and we were escorted in by two sea turtles and a giant sting ray!