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Firefly - Port Resolution and Mount Yasur, Tanna



Firefly is heading north west to Erramango after 3 nights anchored in Port Resolution on Tanna. Both the island and the anchorage were named by Captain Cook who was there in 1774.



Port Resolution is very close to the 'World's most accessible volcano - Mount Yasur' which we were keen to visit. On Sunday (21st September) afternoon we jumped aboard Werry's 4WD Isuzu pick up and bumped and bounced along dirt tracks until we reached the hut at the entrance to the Mt Yasur National Park. The scenery was spectacular and the flora and fauna would best be described as rain forest with a large amount of ferns and spectacular banyan trees. At the hut we paid the entrance fee and then proceeded up the steep track that had been concreted in places. Nearing the peak of the volcano the vegetation stopped and it was a deserted ash plain - surprisingly there were about 10 other 4WD pickups and on the crater rim and about 50 other spectators, considerably more than we expected.



The vehicles are left on the ash plain and its about a 5 mins walk up a steep slope to the crater rim. As we approached there were frequent rumbles as the volcano erupted and hurled magma into the air. The level of activity is monitored and if the volcano is too active, visits are stopped as people have been killed here. The advice given is that when the magma shoots upwards - if its coming your way, don't run but look up and make sure you avoid it as it falls to earth. As it was the strong wind was blowing the ash, steam and magma away from us - so nothing ever came close.



The visit was timed so that we arrived at dusk as the volcano is most spectacular at night. Unfortunately as we arrived so did a heavy rain squall and while we watched the fantastic spectacle we got gradually wetter and colder - it was like being on Dartmoor in the winter. We moved to the highest point of the rim giving us the safest location and the best view. Every few minutes there would be a rumble and shortly afterwards there would be a shower of lava flying upwards and ash escaping in a billowing cloud. We stayed for about an hour or more, entranced by the volcano before we were too cold - then we were last back to the truck - meaning we had to ride in the pick up section at the back and it was even more bumpy on the way back.



When we rejoin the World ARc next year we will visit Port Resolution again, hopefully it won't rain next time we visit the volcano. On Monday we walked around the villages local to Port Resolution and they were very traditional, the buildings mainly made from woven materials, no litter and the locals very friendly.



Erramango will be just a one night stop (for Tuesday 23rd) - we will be arriving early afternoon so we hope to get ashore to look around. We are running goose winged as usual in about 25 knots of wind and quite a big sea so are moving quite fast surfing down the waves. Tomorrow we head to Port Vila on Efate Island the capital of Vanuatu. Its a 75 mile trip so we will be starting early to make sure we get into the lagoon off Port Vila before dark.



Paul and Susie

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