Friday 18th July
We decide to spend the day relaxing on the island and leave tonight at sunset. Stewy, Phil and Kevin head off round the island in the hire car leaving Annie, Ian and Alex aboard. Ian carries out some outboard repairs, Annie catches up with correspondence and Alex cleans the rudder. The three then go snorkelling on the reef. It’s good snorkelling; Alex sees a sea snake and Ian and Annie see a moray eel. The water is very clear (if a bit cold) and turtles and small squid are in good view all around the boat. After the shore party returns, Ian, Annie and Alex do a whistle stop tour to a couple of places of interest. Notre Dame Church involves a short uphill walk to where there are great views all over the island. The church is in disrepair but is full of artificial flowers and a little shrine. Next stop is the bay round the corner from where we’re anchored then a little craft shop and a stop to look inside an abandoned round “case”. ”Cases” are round grass huts common all throughout New Caledonia. Although most people now live in more modern houses, these huts are still used as meeting places, stores or extra rooms. By the time we get back to the village the patisserie is open so we stock up with bread, pastries and ice-cream. The sea is now flat calm and we have a relaxing afternoon enjoying the tranquillity of the flat calm, clear water and being the only boat in the bay. Steaks for tea then we up anchor and motor off on course for Noumea. There’s not a breath of wind.