Miscellaneous Working Photos

I realize that it's been days since I posted any photos, but it's difficult to find something new when we drive to work at the boat, drive back, and then do it again. This set of photos, therefore, is a combination of photos from several day's worth of activity.

No other reason for this photo than the home port of Gibraltar. These people sailed out of the Med, across the Atlantic, through the Canal, and across most of the Pacific to be here.

I was excited to see my first fishing lure shop and to find out what people used. Hmmm...looks like squid lures in bright colors.

This is the cheapest engine oil that I've purchased in years: US$36/gallon.

This is how the stores prevent cart theft. One puts a large coin in the slot (you can see ours, here) and that pushes out the tabbed chain. To retrieve your coin, you must return the cart and re-attach it.

Conni shops for sandals at our favorite market. They are all that anyone wears so there many sources. Every kind of store sells them.

Strolling around the middle of Uturoa we came across this small plant market.

Beer is not cheap but affordable.

In our new favorite market, this is the vegetable section. For price comparison, remember to divide prices by 100 to get a price in US dollars. The selection is small, oddly enough.

I snapped this because the woman here was carrying some kind of odd root vegetable that I couldn't recognize. She's in typical clothing: bright, loose, and she's wearing sandals.

Competent Conni tends to the roller furler after we have installed it. Wings is a boat, again!

The cook minds the grilling of steak or tuna steaks, and another tends the roaring propane-powered French Fry cooking.

The owner of Snack Mimosa takes the money and the orders. She usually has a small child in her arms.

Before snapping this photo, I requested permission, which was generously given. There's a washtub bass against the wall, but everyone else plays some sort of percussion instrument. They were very fast, and very tight.

The percussion band from above supplies the fast-paced, rhythmic music for these dancers. The young woman at left rear, green skirt, has the fastest moving hips that I've ever seen, and all of them have the beautiful hand and arm movements that I associate with Polynesian dancing.

Dinner at Snack Mimosa on this occasion included a tuna steak, fries, and a big Hinano.

Lovely Conni prepares for the day, although she does not wear her dress to the yard.

S/V Blue Heeler and crew, our Australian friends, as they rush to prepare for going back into the water. Carl, at right, crew Teagan with his back to us, and Ruth at work on the stern.

One of the Carenage office workers arrived in full regalia and I snapped her photo as we stood in the Carenage office/store. What a great headpiece.

Simon Roihau, the yard manager, is helping varnish the boat. He's very funny and speaks French and Tahitian, as does everyone, but also passable English.

Conni descends the ladder as we leave for lunch. The hull's been painted and two coats of varnish have been applied. We've got both main and jib on, too.

The beautiful Marina Apooiti with its fleets of SunSail and Moorings boats glows in the morning sun. We dropped by to leave our laundry.

I shot this photo from our bungalow as one of the Wind Star cruise ships passed between Raiatea and the distant Taha'a. The sails are deployed as it leaves a location, to much fanfare, lights and dramatic music, then they are furled, the giant engines are put into gear, and it motors away.

We leave for the yard and work in the morning, after morning coffee and breakfast on the patio.

Tahitian whisky? Too expensive to buy and taste, of course, but who knew?

Why this photo? It's the last can of food remaining of all that we bought for our 2013 crossing from Mexico to French Polynesia. Expiration 2014, but it tasted fine.