Hello All,
We are still in Oyster Bay waiting for good wind and something better than rain squall after rain squall. Not to get to technical but the Inter tropical Convergence Zone is right on top of us and looks like it should pass by tonight. I will be keeping a close eye but we should be able to leave tomorrow afternoon.
In between rain showers we went to the Oyster Island and walked all the way around it. It took us 40 minutes to do so and that was with stopping and looking at a few of the beaches along the way. The resort gave us a nice map of the area and they have set up a really nice walking path. All the way around I rate Oyster Bay a 10 for anchorage, beauty, swimming and snorkeling.
I learned yesterday after going to the Yacht Club that the owner of the resort and the 61 acre Island, it sits on, is owned by a fellow cruiser that is from New Zealand. He bought it not very long ago and has been fixing it up to be a very nice place. The channel between the island and mainland Santo is only about 300 yards. They have a pontoon boat that looks like a grass hut that fairies the guests back and forth. It is only a 20 minute drive to Luganville from here so I would say he has a more than ideal setup.
I don't know what's happening tomorrow. We will figure something out and then leave here tomorrow late afternoon.
That's the plan.
PEACE
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
More new pictures
Hello All,
I came over to the little resort this morning and figured out they have Internet so I have been here a few hours putting up more pictures.
What I will start to do is add a new album for each Island that way the pictures don't get buried in an album of one whole country. I will have this all figured out by the time I get home, hehe.
Ok battery is about dead so got to go.
Talk to you soon.
PEACE
I came over to the little resort this morning and figured out they have Internet so I have been here a few hours putting up more pictures.
What I will start to do is add a new album for each Island that way the pictures don't get buried in an album of one whole country. I will have this all figured out by the time I get home, hehe.
Ok battery is about dead so got to go.
Talk to you soon.
PEACE
Dingy River Running and Snorkeling
Hello All,
Peterson Bay has been a beautiful anchorage. Nice and calm with no roll of the boat, almost like being on land. Yesterday we took the dingy up a river close by us and idled up a mile and a half under the canopy of large trees and around sunken logs. It winded its way all the way up to the head where there is fresh water that comes out of a 50 feet deep hole and makes an awesome blue colored pond. We went for a swim and Rafal and Paula both used a rope swing that hangs over the water by a huge Banyan tree and had a great time. The water was so clear it was like looking through a window. There were 2 other boats with there dingy's and everyone had a great time. On our way back it started pouring down rain so we got a bath in the pond and a shower in the dingy. I took a little walk while we were up at the hole to try to find the old AirForce airstrip but it looked like a hike so I returned back to the swimming hole and we left.
Today we went out to the reef around the corner of the Island and had a great snorkel. The coral was very alive with lots of fish and bright colors, I even got to see a small Turtle. Another boats dingy was out there with us and they were looking for an old WWII plane wreck but we never found it. We ended the swim by landing on one of the Islands with a small but nice white sand beach. I wanted to take a look at the 6 acre Island because I saw it for sale in Luganville while I was window shopping. They are asking 300,000 Australian Dollars for it, after looking at it, it doesn't seem a bad price. We returned to the boat later and have been hanging out.
This morning before going out to play I had to climb the mast to replace a deck light and just generally look over the rigging. Everything checked out ok so afterwards Rafal tried his hand at climbing. It's always fun watching someone new try to self ascend the mast.
I think we will leave this paradise tomorrow on the afternoon high tide and head for the Banks Islands north of us 80 miles away.
That is the plan but we will see.
I will talk to you soon.
PEACE
Peterson Bay has been a beautiful anchorage. Nice and calm with no roll of the boat, almost like being on land. Yesterday we took the dingy up a river close by us and idled up a mile and a half under the canopy of large trees and around sunken logs. It winded its way all the way up to the head where there is fresh water that comes out of a 50 feet deep hole and makes an awesome blue colored pond. We went for a swim and Rafal and Paula both used a rope swing that hangs over the water by a huge Banyan tree and had a great time. The water was so clear it was like looking through a window. There were 2 other boats with there dingy's and everyone had a great time. On our way back it started pouring down rain so we got a bath in the pond and a shower in the dingy. I took a little walk while we were up at the hole to try to find the old AirForce airstrip but it looked like a hike so I returned back to the swimming hole and we left.
Today we went out to the reef around the corner of the Island and had a great snorkel. The coral was very alive with lots of fish and bright colors, I even got to see a small Turtle. Another boats dingy was out there with us and they were looking for an old WWII plane wreck but we never found it. We ended the swim by landing on one of the Islands with a small but nice white sand beach. I wanted to take a look at the 6 acre Island because I saw it for sale in Luganville while I was window shopping. They are asking 300,000 Australian Dollars for it, after looking at it, it doesn't seem a bad price. We returned to the boat later and have been hanging out.
This morning before going out to play I had to climb the mast to replace a deck light and just generally look over the rigging. Everything checked out ok so afterwards Rafal tried his hand at climbing. It's always fun watching someone new try to self ascend the mast.
I think we will leave this paradise tomorrow on the afternoon high tide and head for the Banks Islands north of us 80 miles away.
That is the plan but we will see.
I will talk to you soon.
PEACE
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Peterson Bay, North East Espiritu Santo
Hello All,
We left Luganville this morning at 1000 to make the 3 hour trip up to Peterson Bay. We were going to leave yesterday but it was very rainy and overcast and I wanted good light to find our way through the reefs to get in here. This morning was a perfect day to go with only partly cloudy skyies. When we arrived we found that the passage through the reefs was actually marked by the little resort that is here. It was a little confusing but once we figured it out it worked out well. The anchorage is completely surrounded by reefs and several Islands and what I didn't know is this is considered a cyclone haven for boats. It is lake like conditions once you get inside and it is one of the most beautiful settings I have seen in awhile. The Oyster Island Resort is here and is a fabulous place with a bar, bungalows and restaurant. There is also a river here that you can go up by dingy a mile and a half and see what is called the Blue Holes. It is the head of the river and natural springs come up out of the ground and form beautiful blue ponds that spill out into the river. We will go check them out tomorrow. I have seen pictures from my guides and it looks like going up a small river in the Amazon.
Just inland from here is the old Air Force base used by the Americans in WWII. I didn't know this until we got here but there was 100,000 troops stationed here. Heaps of history around here so we will take a walk and see the old airfield. You can see it from Google Earth, my position is 15 22.35S 167 11.37E Beautiful place and we are going to look forward to exploring the area in the next few days.
That's all for now.
PEACE
We left Luganville this morning at 1000 to make the 3 hour trip up to Peterson Bay. We were going to leave yesterday but it was very rainy and overcast and I wanted good light to find our way through the reefs to get in here. This morning was a perfect day to go with only partly cloudy skyies. When we arrived we found that the passage through the reefs was actually marked by the little resort that is here. It was a little confusing but once we figured it out it worked out well. The anchorage is completely surrounded by reefs and several Islands and what I didn't know is this is considered a cyclone haven for boats. It is lake like conditions once you get inside and it is one of the most beautiful settings I have seen in awhile. The Oyster Island Resort is here and is a fabulous place with a bar, bungalows and restaurant. There is also a river here that you can go up by dingy a mile and a half and see what is called the Blue Holes. It is the head of the river and natural springs come up out of the ground and form beautiful blue ponds that spill out into the river. We will go check them out tomorrow. I have seen pictures from my guides and it looks like going up a small river in the Amazon.
Just inland from here is the old Air Force base used by the Americans in WWII. I didn't know this until we got here but there was 100,000 troops stationed here. Heaps of history around here so we will take a walk and see the old airfield. You can see it from Google Earth, my position is 15 22.35S 167 11.37E Beautiful place and we are going to look forward to exploring the area in the next few days.
That's all for now.
PEACE
Thursday, October 6, 2011
WWII Treasures
Hello All,
We have had such a great time here in Luganville. Yesterday we took off in the morning to go find a WWII American base camp close by. As we were walking up the road a taxi stopped and asked where we were going. We told him we were looking for the camp and he told us to get in and he would show us. We told him we were just walking and didn't want to pay for a taxi. He told us to get in, he would do it for nothing. Turns out he lives in the old camp, it is now a village but they kept the American name for the place "Mango Station One". He actually lives in the next camp over from Mango Station One, they call it "Mango Station Two". The U.S. military has such an imagination lol. Anyway Ron, the taxi driver, showed us his home and gave us a small tour of the Mango Stations. A few locals still live in the Quanset Huts that were left over but most are gone now. They really like the Huts because he said they are strong enough for a Cyclone. Ron invited us for dinner and Kava tonight at his home so we agreed and had a wonderful time visiting, he plays the guitar and sings so we were entertained by food and song.
Today we hitched a ride out to Million Dollar Point, where after the war was over the military pushed the equipment that was left over into the water. We snorkeled on it today and you name it, it is down there, trucks, axles, tires, a steel ship, engine blocks, you get the idea. Also, at the point, there are remains of a Bomber that crashed returning from the Solomon's and we were told 3 men died in the crash.
Last night we treated ourselves to a large Pizza with the works on it at the Resort that is in front of the anchorage. Boy was that good, we were loving every bite.
We have had a great time here in Luganville and everywhere we have been in the Island group. Everyone says it is the locals town and they were correct. The place has a really good feel to it and you don't have to go far to be in the sticks, so to speak. I think I have enjoyed it better than Port Vila.
Weather permitting we will leave in the morning for Peterson Bay, 16 miles north of here.
I will keep you posted.
PEACE
We have had such a great time here in Luganville. Yesterday we took off in the morning to go find a WWII American base camp close by. As we were walking up the road a taxi stopped and asked where we were going. We told him we were looking for the camp and he told us to get in and he would show us. We told him we were just walking and didn't want to pay for a taxi. He told us to get in, he would do it for nothing. Turns out he lives in the old camp, it is now a village but they kept the American name for the place "Mango Station One". He actually lives in the next camp over from Mango Station One, they call it "Mango Station Two". The U.S. military has such an imagination lol. Anyway Ron, the taxi driver, showed us his home and gave us a small tour of the Mango Stations. A few locals still live in the Quanset Huts that were left over but most are gone now. They really like the Huts because he said they are strong enough for a Cyclone. Ron invited us for dinner and Kava tonight at his home so we agreed and had a wonderful time visiting, he plays the guitar and sings so we were entertained by food and song.
Today we hitched a ride out to Million Dollar Point, where after the war was over the military pushed the equipment that was left over into the water. We snorkeled on it today and you name it, it is down there, trucks, axles, tires, a steel ship, engine blocks, you get the idea. Also, at the point, there are remains of a Bomber that crashed returning from the Solomon's and we were told 3 men died in the crash.
Last night we treated ourselves to a large Pizza with the works on it at the Resort that is in front of the anchorage. Boy was that good, we were loving every bite.
We have had a great time here in Luganville and everywhere we have been in the Island group. Everyone says it is the locals town and they were correct. The place has a really good feel to it and you don't have to go far to be in the sticks, so to speak. I think I have enjoyed it better than Port Vila.
Weather permitting we will leave in the morning for Peterson Bay, 16 miles north of here.
I will keep you posted.
PEACE
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
New Photos
Hello All,
I spent hours getting very few photos uploaded to the Vanuatu album so take a look. I only had pictures on the computer from 2 Islands ago so not completely updated but it is something I guess.
We will go snorceling tomorrow so I will let you know how that goes.
It's late and I am heading for bed so I will talk to you soon.
PEACE
I spent hours getting very few photos uploaded to the Vanuatu album so take a look. I only had pictures on the computer from 2 Islands ago so not completely updated but it is something I guess.
We will go snorceling tomorrow so I will let you know how that goes.
It's late and I am heading for bed so I will talk to you soon.
PEACE
Monday, October 3, 2011
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
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
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