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Paw Paw - Log Day 160: From One Extreme to the Other



This morning we debated whether or not to stay another day in Tahaa or head for Raiatea. The deciding factor became our preference to have our empty propane tank filled, get to a bank, finish our provisioning for our passage to Somoa and exit the western all-weather pass for our trip to Boro Boro. So, Raiatea it was.

After picking up a mooring ball, to avoid the endless struggle of trying to anchor in yet another really deep anchorage with a rocky bottom, we headed to shore. First to explore the Carenage, drop off our tank, drop off garbage and then to inquire as to where all the other services were.

That lead us to the Opooiti Marina where Sunsail and Moorings are based. A quick snoop around there yielded very little, so we decided to stretch our legs and walk the 4km into the main town of Uturoa.

Once all our business was completed we hunted down a place for lunch and stumbled upon La Cabana where the locals were already enjoying the start of their weekend. Of coutse we had no other choice, but to join them. So, with live music to entertain us, we enjoyed some drinks and a delicious buffet consisting of Steamed Mussels, Poisson Cru, Fish in a Vanilla Sauce, Grilled Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Moussaka, Rice and a selection of salads - a very unexpected treat.

On our walk back to the marina and during our dinghy ride back to Paw Paw we got trenched in two separate downpours, but nothing that dampened our spirits.

That said, Raiatea is definitely not a pretty island, but rather the ugly duckling of the Society Islands. We definitely went from one extreme to the other within a very short "sail" over from Tahaa. It does serve its purpose of providing needed services, albeit that they are miles from the main anchorage area.

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