Doug and Shelby homeward bound

We enjoyed the shark and ray swimming so much that we went back again for another day on Sunday. This time Kylie and I kayaked the approximate 2 kilometres to the site, stopping enroute for a ringside view of the dolphin show. As we were entering the channel, the outgoing tide formed little standing waves and made it impossible for me to battle the current and make any headway in my smaller inflatable kayak, so Peter, Shelby and Doug towed me the rest of the way by dinghy. We topped off that day with a picnic on a secluded island, Doug kayaking for the return trip and once back at QuickStar Ky, Shelby and I went out snorkelling to view the rock tiki’s that are an interesting tourist attraction. (Peter had to work on the water maker again, but has it fixed now).

The wind shifted and intensified so we moved into a more protected anchorage on the other side of Opunohu Bay where we spent the next two nights, allowing us a full day to explore. Kylie was working on her essay with a deadline of August 25th, Doug went for a kayak ride, Peter went to the beach to read, Shelby stayed on the boat with Kylie (but was instructed to leave Kylie alone to get her work done) and I went for a 20 kilometre hike which included having stand-offs with a few of the many feral dogs and also getting hit by a car. They drive like maniacs here, and I was lucky that as a car passed a line of ATV tourists and sped onto my side of the road, (facing traffic) it only “glazed” me and didn’t run me down. A little too close for comfort!

On Tuesday we needed to return to Tahiti for Doug and Shelby’s upcoming flight home, allowing an extra day as cushioning in the event of bad weather. It was a rough motorboat slog; with Shelby feeling a little seasick and Kylie none too thrilled with the 10-foot swells. We dropped anchor again in the action-packed anchorage just off the Marina, which allows us to use their facilities. Wednesday we spent with Peter doing three loads of laundry (cost about $60.00 for coin operated) and Kylie and I doing grocery shopping. Interesting walking back with the grocery cart along the busy roadside the kilometre to the marina as Kylie was hooted at hollered at the whole time. The next day when Peter was with us he said, “how come no one is whistling now?” Duh!

The final day for Doug and Shelby in Tahiti they spent with packing up and going to town. Peter, Kylie and I had headed in to the city for the day to buy some more boat parts and to show her around. As it is Shelby’s 12th birthday coming up soon, we made a special “spaghetti dinner”, which is one of her favourites, baked her a cake, sang happy birthday and played our final games of Kings Cribbage and Double Solitaire together. They had to get up before 4:00 a.m. yesterday, have Peter take them over to the dock in the dinghy in the pitch black, and sprinkling rain to meet up with their taxi driver. I’m sure they are anxious to be home after two months away, as a 46 foot boat with four people aboard 24/7 doesn’t allow for much privacy or quiet time and they were also very much looking forward to seeing their family and friends.

After Kylie moved in to the newly vacated cabin, we motor-sailed in 25-30 knots winds against us, to make our way down the 20 kilometres to southern Tahiti. It was another rough ride, with agitated seas, but was worth it as we entered the pass to flat calm water and not another sailboat in sight. Oddly enough since Kylie has been aboard, we tend to attract outrigger canoeists who show off in our wake as they try to outdo one another, and we had this experience yet again as two young men escorted us for about 3 miles until we dropped anchor. This morning we are curious to see how long it will take for the first one to casually paddle by!

The past week was unique, since we spent it all in Moorea, with us staying 3 nights in each anchorage, the longest duration at one place since jumping off from the Galapagos. We also closed on our house, which was bittersweet, as we loved that house and neighbourhood and loved raising the kids there. It is the end of a chapter, but we are thrilled that another young family has moved in to enjoy the magic of Charlie Spruce Place. We said goodbye to our great crew and just the three of us moved on to spend this next week sailing in the remote areas of Tahiti before Kylie flies back to Canada on August 26th. I will upload pictures then as we will only be available via ham radio email contact until we return for Kylie’s flight.

Until next time…wishing Danny a fantastic 25th birthday this Saturday. Danny is the best man at an upcoming wedding for his buddies Dan and Emily, so he has organized the stag to be on a houseboat this weekend. As his brother Ryan, who is also going, told me – with both the wedding and the birthday to celebrate “it is going to be a gong-show”. You guys have fun – but stay safe. We love you.