Transpacific Voyage - 2005 -
Part 2
SCOTT & JEAN’S 2005 SAILING
TRIP FROM GALAPAGOS TO TAHITI
(June to September)
To view Voyages - 2005 -
Pt. 1 (February to June)
click here.
To view Voyages - 2005 -
Pt. 3 (September to December)
click here.
 Our
first landfall in the Galapagos Islands was San Cristobal. The area
around the anchorage was teaming with many animals, most of which
displayed the characteristic behavior of these islands of being unafraid
of humans. While on San Cristobal we visited Cerro Colorado - a tortoise
breeding center and El Junco - a crater filled with fresh water in the
center of the island.
At the left is the Island of Bartolome. It is
probably the least developed island in the Galapagos group. It looks, in
part, like a moonscape. Craters are evident all over the landscape.
Primitive plants, such as lichens make their home here. And lava lizards
and lava cactus are happy in this environment.
Hiking around Mount Duff in the Gambiers allows us to
look south toward the main entrance through the reefs. (right) When we
entered the Gambiers on July 7 after 3,000nm and 18 days as sea.
Our first landfall in the Marquesas was Fatu Hiva. We
sailed north from the Gambiers with the thought that we might be able to
visit some of the more remote Tuamotus on the way. As it turned out we
did not find an adequate anchorage in any of those islands and had to
keep going until our arrival here in Fatu Hiva. Here is a scene of the
remarkable formations that towered all around the island. There is
actually very little flat land on many of these islands.
We went to Hiva Oa and took a tour of the north side of
the island. We were glad that we had hired a driver because the
road was steep, winding, narrow, unpaved, without guard rails and under
continuing construction. We were happy to visit this area because of the
wonderful morae with tiki/dieties that are still revered by inhabitants.
This is the view of Oa Pu as we approached the
anchorage. I never cease to marvel at this landscape.
This view of a pearl farming operation in the Kauehi
Atoll in the Tuamotus is characteristic of these atolls in the
"dangerous archipelago." These atolls are flat and easy to either miss
completely or run into in the dead of the night. Careful navigation is a
must. As you look at this photo (taken from the top of Quest's mast) you
can see the other side of the atoll, how flat the land is and how
vulnerable these atolls are to high waves, tides and storms.
To view Voyages - 2005 -
Pt. 1 (February to June)
click here.
To view Voyages - 2005 -
Pt. 3 (September to December)
click here.
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