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Laura Dawn - French Polynesia Log 4: Sad to leave the Marquesas



Well we are now about halfway to the Tuamotos: a group of atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It feels like we are heading to a secret hideaway!

Quite exiting times, but equally sad as we loved the Marquesas Islands. Just an incredible place; from snorkeling off the headland in Hiva Oa, where we saw a huge Manta Ray, trekking through the rain forest to the waterfall in Nuku Hiva, hiking the ridge (and picking Pampelmousse with a local chap from his garden who gave us a lift) in Tahuata, and the incredible welcome that the local people have given us both formally and informally around the islands, its been an amazing experience.

The welcome reception in Hiva Oa was awesome, an afternoon of traditional welcome music, song and food, with workshops for making traditional headdress and seed jewelry (yes, we had to prise Hel's headdress off her before bedtime! - who knew she had the skills to make pretty things!). Then an evening of incredible food: fresh tuna and coconut milk, pork and goat with local fruit and vegetable.. and music and dancing, including some from Martin who was one of the boys that went up to join in with the local dance.

Overall a fantastic experience :)

An extra bonus in the islands was a few beverages on Owl, where we celebrated quiz championship with a bottle of homemade 'Hoot' and a few rums, songs and as I recall a little dancing on the deck (and a slightly heavy head the next day)!

Currently we have 8 knots of wind from the east, making about 5.5 knots with the Code Zero up (yea - first time on the journey), and a reef in the main. We should be able to see our first atoll at dawn on Thursday morning :)

LD: 4th March 14:38

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