MESSAGE 10 BORA BORA 8 JUNE
AHOY MATES,
AFTER DETERMINING THAT TAKING OFF THE RUBBER MEMBRANE COVERING THE SAIL-DRIVE WOULD NOT REQUIRE A HAUL-OUT, WE LEFT THE BOAT YARD IN RAIATEA AND MOTORED OVER TO THE NEIGHBORING ISLAND OF TAHAA WHERE WE PICKED UP A MOORING IN FRONT OF THE HIBISCUS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. TOM, DAN, AND I WENT ASHORE, HAD MAI TAI’S AND MADE RESERVATIONS FOR DINNER THAT NIGHT.
THE DINNER CONSISTED OF A TAHITITIAN BUFFET WITH TATITIAN MUSIC AND DANCING. THIS TIME I DANCED ON STAGE WITH THE PERFORMERS WHILE CAROL TOOK PICTURES. THE DINNER AND SHOW WERE VERY GOOD, ALBEIT EXPENSIVE. WITH TWO DRINKS THE BILL WAS OVER $100 PER PERSON.
THE NEXT DAY, WEDNESDAY, WE MOVED CAPRICE AND ANCHORED OFF THE TURQUOISE COLORED REEF. WE SNORKELED THE REEF AND SAW HUNDREDS OF BEAUTIFUL SEA CREATURES. THAT AFTERNOON WE MOVED TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE ISLAND AND PICKED-UP A MOORING IN HUREPITI BAY.
THURSDAY WE LEFT RAIATEA/TAHAA ISLANDS AND WITH THE SPINAKER, SAILED 20 MILES NORTH WEST TO BORA BORA. AFTER WE GOT DIESEL AT THE FUEL DOCK, WE PICKED UP A MOORING IN FRONT OF THE BORA BORA YACHT CLUB. UNFORTUNATLEY THE CLUB WAS BEING REMODELED AND WILL BE CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS. TOO BAD AS PAT AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE CLUB WHEN WE WERE HERE IN 2002.
MANY PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT BORA BORA IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS IN THE WORLD WHAT WITH THE MAJESTIC PEAK OF MONT OTEMANU RISING STRAIGHT UP FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ISLAND, THE COLORFUL (DEEP BLUE TO TURQUOISE) WATERS AND THE STRING OF WHITE-SANDED ISLETS SURROUNDING THE LAGOON. DURING WORLD WAR II, THE U.S. NAVY OCCUPIED THE ISLAND. MOST OF THE ROADS AROUND BORA BORA AND THE RUNWAY FOR THE AIRPORT WERE CONSTRUCTED DURING THIS PERIOD. THE NAVY SURROUDED THE ISLAND WITH 7 INCH CANONS, ONE OF WHICH IS STILL ON THE MOUNTAIN
THE NEXT DAY WE MOVED CAPRICE TO A MOORING IN FRONT OF THE BLOODY MARY’S RESTAURANT WHERE YOU WALK ON SAND FLOORS, CHOOSE YOUR MEAL FROM A FISH AND MEAT DISPLAY AND DINE ON TABLES MADE OF COCONUT WOOD . WE HAD
MIA TIA’S, BLOODY MARYS, LUNCH AND A GREAT DINNER THERE. IF YOU EVER GET TO BORA BORA, DINNER AT BLOODY MARY’S IS A MUST DO.
WE ALSO VISITED A NEARBY PEARL FARM WHERE CAROL TRIED ON A FEW BEAUTIFUL AND EXPENSIVE NECKLACES. HOWEVER, WE LEFT THE FARM WITH NO JEWERLY AND DAN’S WALLET INTACT.
WE STAYED ON BOARD ALL DAY YESTERDAY HAS WE HAD STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS IN THE HIGH 30’S. THE PLAN IS TO REMAIN HERE TODAY AND LEAVE EARLY TOMORROW FOR THE ISLAND OF RANGIROA IN THE TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO ABOUT 250 MILES T0 THE NORTHEAST.
TILL THEN, TAKE CARE
TED
