Land Ahoy!

 After seven days at sea with no land in sight, we awoke to this.  Our first port of call is Taiohae, on Nuka Hiva, the administrative center of the Marquesas Islands, part of French Polynesia, 3,292 miles from Los Angeles.
The population of the island is around 3,000.  It has a one runway airport on the grassy plain at the top of the island.  A man preparing breadfruit to introduce to the tourists told David that 20 cruise ships will come to the island in 2018.

Despite the small population, it's big enough to support a pair of LDS missionaries!  They were strolling along the walkway between the beach and the mail road, visiting with anyone who would talk with them.  Elder Pickett is from Georgia, and Elder Poppenberger is from Midvale, UT.









Taiohae has no dock, so our ship anchored in the bay and we were tendered ashore aboard the lifeboats

 In the on board lecture series on the formation, migration to, and exploration of the South Pacific islands, we learned that the islanders sailed in double hulled canoes.  As we approached the small dock, it looked like these islanders still like the double hull construction for their boats.

As we stepped ashore, we were greeted by this lovely group of local performers who blew on their conch shells, beat their drums, and called out their traditional welcome.  Each of us received a Tahitian gardenia to place behind our ear (left for those who are taken, and right to proclaim availability).

The excursion was billed as an independent exploration, so we were set loose to wander on our own.   It's a very small town, with a tiny grocery store and a variety store where I found a dozen rolls of fabric!  I bought two pieces--now I can start my crazy quilt!  This shot looks back along the volcanic beach to the tender at the town dock.  On the hill is a giant stone tiki which either greets visitors or defends the area--I don't know which.




Some canvas pavilions were set up at intervals along the beachside promenade where local craftspeople demonstrated their skills.  I rested and watched this woman weave the palm fronds into several different products.  Her little boy stayed close by.

Here's another look back toward the dock area from farther down the beach

Seeing the tropical flowers made me forget that it's winter in SLC.  While I've been working on this blog post, the NFL post-season games have been on the television in our room.  While the Patriots were playing in Foxborough, MA in 24 degree weather, we had an 87 degree day, including two 5 minute rain showers.

 As an update on David--he's mending well.  His strength is returning slowly, but he enjoyed the day, and even made a friend during our three hour visit.

The island was quiet and peaceful, seemingly untouched by time and commercialism.  We sailed back out of the bay at about 5:00 and caught this lovely shot.

It's on to Tahiti, 870 miles from Nuka Hiva.  We will arrive by 6:00 Monday evening, stay overnight, and go on our shore excursions the next day.  Meanwhile, we turn our clocks back another half hour tonight.  I'm loving the adventure so far.