5/30/2011 Iles Des Pins
We had a fab
ulously sunny day yesterday and at last totally enjoyed exploring an island paradise. We sailed through the perilous reef next to our first bay to a small island totally surrounded by untouched beautiful white sand and nearly totally surrounded by reef. Six raptor birds were very irritated at our arrival and flew threateningly close to us when we first landed the dingy, until we managed to figure out which way to walk and avoid their wrath.
We also came upon two separate white and black ringed sea snakes that were making their way up the beach – never thought about sea snakes being on land before. Although we weren’t certain at the time, these snakes are pretty harmless. They have a super lethal toxin, but because their mouths are so small only two people have been bitten, so you would have been safe getting very close to them. It was a fabulous day of exploring.
Today Jodie and I hitch hiked to a cultural fair which was very interesting and we even ate the local snails “escargot”- delicious!!
06/05/2011
We had a wonderful morning snorkeling among the reefs in clear water under mostly blue skies. We saw lots of colorful corals and fish. Both Jodie and John were up at the crack of dawn to enjoy the early morning. Jodie tried to do her meditations on the fore-deck, but was continually distracted by jumping fish and even dolphins.
Setting out about noon from Ile Mato, we made it into Port Moselle just as the sun was setting. Now we’ve all eaten a chicken curry supper, snacked on chocolate brownies, had long hot showers and are enjoying the solid setting of the harbor for a night. We’ll get fresh provisions and set sail on the 325nm passage to Vanuatu.
