Luganville, Esprito Santo Island, Vanuatu

Hello All,
Our stay at Waterfall Bay Pentecost was awesome. As soon as we arrived there on Saturday we sought out the waterfall with the fresh pool at the bottom that I read about in one of the cruising guides and had a very nice fresh water swim after basking in the sun most of the day. We were on the lee side of the Island and the wind was light which made it very hot and with the volcano smoke from Ambrym Island making a green house I saw 95 degrees with 80% humidity. The water temperature in the sea was the hottest I have seen at 88 degrees. After cooling off we took a walk around and ran into the head master of the school. He invited us to church on Sunday and then a feast where the whole village showed up. They slaughtered a steer for the occasion so there was fresh meat with all of the food. It was a great lunch and got to visit with all of the people there. We were told it was a ceremony for the kids that won a sports championship last weekend in Port Vila. This was the biggest school in Pentecost and covered grades lst through 8th. Most of the kids that go there are from far away villages on the Island so they live there on the school grounds. They only get to go home when there is a break in the semesters and for summer break. We had a very nice visit with the head master over coffee before we left last night.
We made it to Luganville at 1100 this morning. Position is 15 31.34S 167 09.90E. We sailed most of the way with very light winds that moved us about 3 knots. The sea was flat so it was like sailing on a lake. As we got closer and the sun rose the wind died out and I was forced to start up the iron sail for the last 2 hours of the 60 mile trip.
After we got anchored here in Luganville we took a walk to town. Its not a big place but has stores, Banks and some souvenir shops. It is not Port Vila but it is the main port for exporting most of the things that Vanuatu sends to other countries. The Indigenous people of Vanuatu call it the locals town. We Alaskan's can relate to that, huh. We had to check in with customs and immigration today so that's all settled now. I am hoping for good Internet so I can post some pictures for you. I will look into that tomorrow.

Trivia moment:
Luganville was the largest U.S. military outpost South of the Equator in WW2 second to Pearl Harbor. This was the port that supported the war effort in the Solomon Islands. Walking around town I have seen a few quanset huts being used for businesses and heaps of rusting infrastructure from yester year.

There is a point coming in that we passed that is called "Million Dollar Point". After the war was over the U.S. military tried to sell the tanks, jeeps, trucks to the people here, with no takers they bulldozed them all into the water not far from here. It is an awesome snorkel spot I am told and the wreak of the President Coolidge is not far from there but that's more of a tank dive area to see that.
We will be here till Thursday then we will check out some very nice anchorages on the east side of the island. Esprito Santo is the biggest Island of Vanuatu and has lots to offer a cruising boat so we are very excited to be here. I will keep you filled in on the time in the middle as usual.

PEACE