Ua Pou,
The Flower of the Marquises...As they call it!
Is part of the northen group of Islands, yet is in the middle...
With its 12 Peaks that reach for the clouds at 1000m height they dominate the horizon with there majestic presence.
The Island's coast is cut in many valley's where calm little vilages have settled...
Hakahau is its main town, where about 1500 poeple live...This is where I lived for 9 month's, 15 years ago!!!
On the boat we had at the time, a 18m french tuna trawler.
Dad and I were very eager to go back and explore the Island, find old friends and spend some time there.
So we sailed over on "Margot" for a week!
Our little tour started in Hakahau, the main town and old stomping grounds...I went on the hunt for friends, and found Marie-Noelle Bruneau...We were in the same class, and friends back in the day...She now has 3 children and lives a very peacefull life...She was happy to see me and gave us some mangoes! Other friends have moved to France, or Tahiti.
On sunday the beach got animated with poeple having BBQ's and childen swimming that seemed to all know who I was...
It turned out to become a fan club and they all joined me on the boat for an afternoon of swimming!
Then the "Aranui" came into port, and we stayed to be able to see what the art's and craft center was going to show!
The speciality of Ua POu is Pandanus woven baskets and hats.
I made friends with Pauline, one of the artisans...
Then we sailed to the bay of Hakahetau.
Other beautiful views of the pics, and a small village that is famouse for its wood sculptors and waterfall...That we walked to...The fall in its self was not the most impressive or big, but the pond was a real delight to swim in...
Fresh cool water, shaded by coconut tree's and alive with little fresh water prawns.
A day spent cruising around, where dolphins came to see us.
then we anchored for the night in front of a little village called Hakamaii...With its colourfull church facing us!
Then one last stop in the bay of Vaiehu...Where Stephen and I walked to the village of Haakuti. To meet my new found friend Pauline and her lovelly grand mother who made Pandanus Baskets...The poeple are soo nice, we headed back to the boat with banana's, avocado's, breadfruit, lime's.
Dad bought me one to use as our baby bag! Thank you Daddy!!!
And with that we had to end to our trip, back to Nuku Hiva...
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Wednesday 2 December 2009
The Marquises, Te Henua Enana.
The Marqusies,
10° South, 149° West. They lie, at about 1 400km from Tahiti.
Called "te henua Enana" the land of the men!
They were first discoverd in 1595, but left alone for a while longer before Captain Cook made some connections with the locals in 1774...
They became french by 1838, very little did the local chefs know what they were signing; tryed to rebel and lost their fight!
The priests that came then were really the firsts to stay, and they did a grand job at converting the islands to Catholisime...Ridding them of their traditional beliefs...That have been lost even since!
Some of which are maybe a good thing, cause they were cannibals here!!!
Like the guide books say, this is not a beach destination, nor are there any fancy Resorts, or much night life, or shopping!
Hight Volcanic Islands that do not have the reef barrior that its Tahitien neighbour have.
Beautiful sceanery, that allways seem to change with the clouds.
Very rich soil, that produce so much fruit: Mangoes, Bananas, oranges, grapefruit, Coconuts, Corosol, Custard-apple, Papaya, Kava, Breadfruit, star-fruit and some more that I dont even know their names! As well as a huge number of seeds for jewerlly, to my greatest joy!!!
In the wild, goat's, pig's and Horses live...Cow's too!
Fish are pletyfull, and its a good thing cause they LOVE their fish here!
They are far from everything, but with the modern world today, there is internet (not on every island or valley)and cell phone's. Yet poeple here do not seem to have been overtaken by it all. Maybe the only thing they have been taken buy are fancy 4x4 toyota pick-up truck's...There are so many cars!
The houses are not fancy, there are hardly any shops to buy cloth (I have seen 2), there is definatly NO fashion victimes here...This is still the land of woman walking around in Pareo's (Sarong), flowers in their hair and monoi (coconut oil with flowers) on their skin!
Life is lived day to day, men going out fishing, or producing Coprah...Its coconuts that they dry and Tahiti turns into oil for exporting...
Woman taking care of the children or the garden, that is their pride!
They are also avide artist's, woman like men!
Our first landing was done on the Island of Ua Huka, for 2 days...To stretch our legs after 35 days at sea!
Where we celabraited our arrival, my fathers birthday passed at sea and met lovelly poeple that gave us lots of frech fruit!
What a delight, we are in the Marquises!
Thursday 12 November 2009
The Pacific Ocean Crossing
The Galapagos to The Marquises….3000 nautical miles, that would be 5400 kilometres...
Yet when one takes a road to go somewhere, the road will take you straight there, and apart from some maybe bends and twits in the road or some slow drivers (like myself and my "L" plates), you hit the gas, and off you go!
On the water its another story!
Our direction depends on the winds, and sometimes we may be going the right way, but the swell will put us off course, and then there is current! Yet, on this leg, the current was all favourable!
All of that put together, and one can not be sure of how long it may take, cause from one day to the next everything can change!
It has taken us 35 days!!!!
Most days go by without being noticed, time just runs by like the waves on the hull!
After the first 3 days, we all got into our own little routine, watches were set:
8h am to 10h-stephen
10h to 12h-jojo
12h to 14h-sarah, lunch that was prepared by whom ever...
14h to 16h-stephen
16h to 18h-jojo
18h to 20h-sarah, a cup of tea for all and then night falls....
20h to 12h30-stephen, dinner prepared by the boys....
12h30 to 5h am.-jojo
5h to 8h-sarah, I get lucky, more sleep, less night watch. Sun rise!
In all of that, there are the normal daily living duties, cooking, dishes, washing, and naps!
Plus lots of fishing!
What excitement it can be, jojo, has his one line out, but he then decided that Stephen needed his own line, so here we were with two lines out, and a fish at the end of each! That day we got 5 fish, but only 2 made it aboard! Good thing cause after a week of eating fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner I could not take it any more!
Then came in the personal past times, reading for all, jewellery for myself and Stephen too! Jojo always seems to find something that needs mending or attending to on the boat!
Then there is the sea life, birds, flying fish, dolphins, and the ever changing clouds and ocean!
All in all, it has been a good trip, constant winds, of about 10 to 15knots, relatively calm sea's, I say that cause going back wind tends to make boats rock a bit more! and beautiful sunny days, that strangely enough got warmer and warmer as we went along, even though we were also getting further away from the equator!
Like this 3 weeks went by….
Then, one evening as Jojo was doing his daily check of the rigging, he noticed that the back Stay was unwinding! (for those who don’t know, it’s the cable that holds the mast at the back of the boat).
BAD BAD NEWS. Potentially the mast could fall on our heads! So we pulled all the sails down, set ourselves adrift for the night! Called “Magot”, who started making route towards us!
We spent a rolly night, drifting in the pacific. By sunrise “Margot” was close to us, and Roger and Jojo were making plans as how to make a temporary fix…We spent the day together, I on “Margot”, the boys on “Kerzo”, up the rigging, pulling up another cable and chain that was secured down to the rear cleats with a cable ratchet, and by the end of the day we had a secure mast once more!
On our way we were again, but a few days later while we wanted to start the main engine to charge our batteries, that too broke down! The head gastket joint in broken! It will have to wait for us to get to port to be fixed!
By then we are all wondering what’s gonna come next? We are all very careful with the mast, and without a doubt, I notice that the starboard shroud is also unwinding! GREAT!
Once more we set a drift for the night, and “margot” comes to our rescue!
Another day spent together. The boys kept busy inventing another make shift temporary fix, and a great big lunch for all! How lovely it is to get off “kerzo” for a while, have a hot shower, be able to walk and not roll!
And once more with the expertise of Roger and Jo jo, without any fuss it is fixed again. No problems seem to hard for this father and son team….. we set sail toward the sunset again.
Slowly, we get closer and closer, its like a dream, not quit real yet somewhere ahead the Marqusies are awaiting! Yet the wind is dying down, and we are all eager to get there. Not willing to spend 3 more days at sea, Roger decides to tow us.
Our last night at sea was the calmest of all.
Like a lake, not a bit of wind, 
and no more shifts! What a treat! I get to do a full night sleep and wake up at 6am, to see the Island of Ua Huka on the Horizon, not far.
We will be there by lunch time!
I was about 6 ½ months pregnant when we left Galapagos and it has taken us a marathon 5 weeks to do the trip without an auto pilot….We are all very tired and relieved.
We have finally crossed the great big blue Pacific Ocean!
Sunday 27 September 2009
We sail away
Its saturday night, last jobs and shopping have been done...yet we are running out of time...We put up some photo's in the link on the right hand side, but were unable to put them all up...So there will be more to come...Once we get to the other side that is, cause no internet at sea!
Galapagos
The Galapagos
After 13 days at sea, we finally arrived on the of island of San Cristobal...It was one those arrivals that I love, as the sun rises, on the horizon, land slowly appears...One by one we wake up, knowing that when we pop our head outside, land will be there to greet us...
Good Morning the Galapagos....
The first glimpse of them, was not what I quite expected.
Arid, dry land...Mountain top in the misty clouds, and rugged coast line with the south Pacific breaking its long lived swell, eating away the volcanic rocks...
Margot, was already there, they got there 3 days before us...10am SSB radio transmission, we tell them that we are not far, just behind the south point...Roger had already found a cheaper agent to do our entry papers, and they were all waiting, eagerly...
Entry Papers in this part of the world are not an easy task, well they can be if you have NO problem with just giving your money...This place lives on tourism, and they know how valuable their island’s are in the eyes of the world, how Unique every one sees them, so the bill can be high...
National Park Fee: us$100 per person
Agent Fee: 150
Lighthouse fee's : 48
Harbour Fee: 76
Immigration: 15
Fumigation : 80
Exit fee: 25.....
After a lot of hard negotiation got our bill reduced as much as possible. Plus we played the poor one that did would not see the national park, too bad for us, but at least we save money...At the end, we have been able to see it all!
San Cristobal is the second largest Island of the Galapagos, with a population of 8000, it still seems very quite and laid back. The Main town Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is actually the administrative centre of the Islands. A little town, that getting around by foot is quite easy…The seals here are everywhere!
In the sun on the docks, on the little local beach front, and even in town…They are the street bums! They even jump up the back of the boats, not shy to make more territory of their own!
We spend 7 days on the Island of San Cristobal.
Margot has a generator problem and we are trying to get the auto pilot fixed...
Doing laundry, getting the boat back in order but enjoying the sea lions company.
A day in the high lands, exploring the Island.
The Jungo Lagoon, the only fresh water lake, at 700m above sea level, where Frigate birds come to bath.
A tortoise sanctuary, Where they live in a semi-natural environment. A great way to see them. They also hatch them, so there were many baby ones…Amazing to see them so small and think of how big they can get…and old!
180 years!
As well as stunning views of the Island.
Most of the Islands have 3 climate’s: Dry, Tropical and Humid.
The coast line is dry, almost dessert like with cactus, dry scrubs and rocks.
Then at about 200m, its gets green, tropical. Where Oranges and Guavas are almost a weed…They also have their very own coffee!
And the High lands, what they call the Humid, are lost in the mountain tops, where clouds linger all the time.
A lazy Sunday at Las Loberia beach, with more sea lions! A very territorial male as well as jealous and protective of his wife’s…Cause sea lions have more than one female!
I was surprised to see the females breast feeding.
We slosly started to realise that we could not get our things fixed, so we had to ark permission to the Port Captain to go to the next main Island; Santa Cruz.
Sailing boats like us, are not allowed to cruise in the Galapagos, they are so afraid that we might see something, and not go on one of the many cruises!
But as we had things broken, that could not be fixed where we were, we were given the permission to go.
8hrs sailing, Passing by the Island of Santa Fe, and we arrived at the Island of Santa Cruz.
The bay is not at all protected. But there are many boats, we had thought that San Cristobal was busy, well this place is so much more!
Cruise boats, constantly come and go. Tourist’s by the mass…On and off, cargo ships unloading goods the hard way, hand labour.
A cruise here, for 3 Days costs $350. That’s to be with 20 other people.
We have been very lucky to be able to see yet another of the Galapagos Islands…And this time Puerto Ayora, the “city”…On this island live an estimated 18 000 to 20 000 people. This is the Capital of the Galapagos.
Here we have been able to fix most things, yet unfortunately not the auto pilot!
We will have to continue holding the healm for the next haul!
I am now 24weeks pregnant, 6 months…Despite a very little weight gain (for me that is), baby is doing well.
22 cm long and kicking lots! Even getting its very own music.
Being on the boat with a belly that is getting bigger, is not getting any easier, but everyone helps as they can. We even had to come and sleep on “Margot” while here, as the anchorage can be very roly! Cause sleeping on one’s side when it rolls is no fun I can assure you that!
Apart from that I am doing well!
More fruit and vegetables, we are now ready to go on for the next step of the trip!
The marquises. 3000 nautical miles, that can take up to 25 days. Once again depending on the wind!
After 13 days at sea, we finally arrived on the of island of San Cristobal...It was one those arrivals that I love, as the sun rises, on the horizon, land slowly appears...One by one we wake up, knowing that when we pop our head outside, land will be there to greet us...
Good Morning the Galapagos....
The first glimpse of them, was not what I quite expected.
Arid, dry land...Mountain top in the misty clouds, and rugged coast line with the south Pacific breaking its long lived swell, eating away the volcanic rocks...
Margot, was already there, they got there 3 days before us...10am SSB radio transmission, we tell them that we are not far, just behind the south point...Roger had already found a cheaper agent to do our entry papers, and they were all waiting, eagerly...
Entry Papers in this part of the world are not an easy task, well they can be if you have NO problem with just giving your money...This place lives on tourism, and they know how valuable their island’s are in the eyes of the world, how Unique every one sees them, so the bill can be high...
National Park Fee: us$100 per person
Agent Fee: 150
Lighthouse fee's : 48
Harbour Fee: 76
Immigration: 15
Fumigation : 80
Exit fee: 25.....
After a lot of hard negotiation got our bill reduced as much as possible. Plus we played the poor one that did would not see the national park, too bad for us, but at least we save money...At the end, we have been able to see it all!
San Cristobal is the second largest Island of the Galapagos, with a population of 8000, it still seems very quite and laid back. The Main town Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is actually the administrative centre of the Islands. A little town, that getting around by foot is quite easy…The seals here are everywhere!
In the sun on the docks, on the little local beach front, and even in town…They are the street bums! They even jump up the back of the boats, not shy to make more territory of their own!
We spend 7 days on the Island of San Cristobal.
Margot has a generator problem and we are trying to get the auto pilot fixed...
Doing laundry, getting the boat back in order but enjoying the sea lions company.
A day in the high lands, exploring the Island.
The Jungo Lagoon, the only fresh water lake, at 700m above sea level, where Frigate birds come to bath.
A tortoise sanctuary, Where they live in a semi-natural environment. A great way to see them. They also hatch them, so there were many baby ones…Amazing to see them so small and think of how big they can get…and old!
180 years!
As well as stunning views of the Island.
Most of the Islands have 3 climate’s: Dry, Tropical and Humid.
The coast line is dry, almost dessert like with cactus, dry scrubs and rocks.
Then at about 200m, its gets green, tropical. Where Oranges and Guavas are almost a weed…They also have their very own coffee!
And the High lands, what they call the Humid, are lost in the mountain tops, where clouds linger all the time.
A lazy Sunday at Las Loberia beach, with more sea lions! A very territorial male as well as jealous and protective of his wife’s…Cause sea lions have more than one female!
I was surprised to see the females breast feeding.
We slosly started to realise that we could not get our things fixed, so we had to ark permission to the Port Captain to go to the next main Island; Santa Cruz.
Sailing boats like us, are not allowed to cruise in the Galapagos, they are so afraid that we might see something, and not go on one of the many cruises!
But as we had things broken, that could not be fixed where we were, we were given the permission to go.
8hrs sailing, Passing by the Island of Santa Fe, and we arrived at the Island of Santa Cruz.
The bay is not at all protected. But there are many boats, we had thought that San Cristobal was busy, well this place is so much more!
Cruise boats, constantly come and go. Tourist’s by the mass…On and off, cargo ships unloading goods the hard way, hand labour.
A cruise here, for 3 Days costs $350. That’s to be with 20 other people.
We have been very lucky to be able to see yet another of the Galapagos Islands…And this time Puerto Ayora, the “city”…On this island live an estimated 18 000 to 20 000 people. This is the Capital of the Galapagos.
Here we have been able to fix most things, yet unfortunately not the auto pilot!
We will have to continue holding the healm for the next haul!
I am now 24weeks pregnant, 6 months…Despite a very little weight gain (for me that is), baby is doing well.
22 cm long and kicking lots! Even getting its very own music.
Being on the boat with a belly that is getting bigger, is not getting any easier, but everyone helps as they can. We even had to come and sleep on “Margot” while here, as the anchorage can be very roly! Cause sleeping on one’s side when it rolls is no fun I can assure you that!
Apart from that I am doing well!
More fruit and vegetables, we are now ready to go on for the next step of the trip!
The marquises. 3000 nautical miles, that can take up to 25 days. Once again depending on the wind!
Thursday 17 September 2009
Panama to Galapagos
It seems like such a long time ago since I last wrote, and so so much has happened. We have ended up spending quite some time in Panama prepareing the boats for the crossing. We have two boats but only one zodiac with a motor and one car between us all...everything takes so much longer to happen when waiting for others, and the one car makes it a logistical nightmare to get a seamingly simple job done.
Panama has been a bag of mixed fortunes. On one had we got the opportunity to do a Panama Canal crossing with a couple who needed crew, and what an amazing experience it was, but on the other hand I had my bag stolen out of the car with computer and camera....and to top it all off, the news that my stepfathers fight with cancer had sadly ended......RIP.
The message the
re is that life is too short, and we have a trip ahead of us that many only dream about.... Well having said that, there is nothing new about all this for Sarah. She grew up sailing across oceans and our destinations are ones that she has visited before. The excitement for her is the fact that she is reunited with her father and 16yo little brother who she hadn't seen for 4 years, and, that she is showing and sharing with me her life experiences of crossings and passages on the HOPEFULLY not to high seas.
One last thing to do before we leave...a trip into the suburbs of Panama City for a dinner that sarahs childhood friends had prepared for us. As it turns ou
t it was a trip down memory lane for Sarah and Roger as there were some faces there that they did not expect to see and had not seen for 16years. Adith wipped up an absalutely delicious meal and Jesus(no not that jesus) had some tricks of his own...not with food but with balloons(this jesus was a clown….Hmmm). It was a great way to say goodbye to Panama. Spirits are up, we set sail tomorrow....
Sarah is now 19 weeks and 1 days pregnant. The baby measures 170mm….all is well.
So here we go…. is this going to be a trip of a life time or is the boats bucket and me going to become best friends. I have sailed a number of times before but with varying degrees of success so far as holding onto my stomach is concerned. This is a big trip we are embarking on, and one would be a fool to think that we would not be encountering rough weather from time to time….If it is possible to cross them than I have them crossed..fingers, toes, legs, arms. Everything but the eyes…that wou
ld be ridiculous!
16th of August - 07:30 hours
Position : 8°55’ W - 79°31’ N
Anchor is lifted and finally "Our Pacific Adventure" begins
Our final destination is hopefully The Cook Islands, but we are behind schedule already.
We’ll have to wait and see how much the wind blows in our favour.
First destination is Las Perlas islands
Las Perlas is an archipeligo off the coast of Panama.
Our first port of call is Contadora island.
Position : 8°37’ N – 79°02’ S
It is one of the first of the islands and it is 38 nautical miles from Panama City.
It was a very relaxing start to the journey. The weather was nice and Jo Jo caught a nice fish for dinner
We reached Contador
a in around 8hours arriving with a dolfin escort at about 15:30
The waters here are crystal clear so of course we celebrated our arrival with a swim.
There seems to be plenty of sea life here, we have seen whales but also Jo Jo passed over a whale shark whilst returning from Margot in the tender. He was only about 10m from our boat at the time.
We spent about a week sailing through the very picturesque Islands, stopping at Isla Bayoneta, Isla Pedro Gonzales with it’s small islolated fishing village within a beautiful lagoon that JoJo made the most of by dusting off his windsurfer skills. I also had a crack at it…..I persisted for 2 hours…the blisters have now heeled. Our final stop was Isla San Jose which was a very large private nature reserve island. It was home to one very fancy hotel/resort, the kind getaway for the very rich with it’s most basic rooms at $365/night…no meals or activities included. The only other inhabitant of the island was a recently widowed 75yo german lady who was shipwrecked there with her partner some 25 years earlier…well before there was any hotel there. She now lives there alone in her humpy like dwelling with her alsation , chickens and 30 goats…..her children have never visited. Makes you wonder if they even know she is alive.
24th of August we lifted anchor and set sail for Isla Iguana…this will be our first overnight sail putting our system of 4hour watches each to the test.
Isla Iguana is a small solitary uninhabited island. We hope to be able to collect some Bannana’s here before the real long distance sailing begins.
Position : 7°37’ N – 80°00’ W
It’s a pretty little island that is now reserve. Again there seems to be plenty of marine life and our anchorage is right alongside a coral reef which was great for snorkling.
We stayed here for 2 days….now the real sailing begins!!
The plan from here is to go to Cocos Island which is where Jurasic Park was filmed, and then on to the Galapagos.
So here we go off into the wild blue yonder…Jo Jo , Sarah and I…4 hour shifts, 24 hours a day for who knows how many days. Maybe 10 or maybe more..it all depends on which way the wind blows and of course how hard too…Ohhh yeah did I mention before? We have no auto pilot!!! We are actually physically sailing this thing with our bare hands….and no I have never done that before..
Our first 2 days has mostly been motoring…Barely any wind. The motor has to be rested every 10 to 12 hours for 4hours. If there is no wind, we drift ….hopefully in the right direction.
Some cloud and wind is now building up. It moves in fast and before you know it, it’s 30 to 35 knots. The boat is now moving and the waves seem to be coming from all directions and so is everything else that isn’t bolted down….the organised kaos that I had become accustomed to now has become…unorga
nised.
The 2 golden rules of sailing in this weather is –
1. One hand for yourself (Hang onto yourself) and
2. One hand for the boat (hang onto something else)
The storm lasted for 2 hours and each hour after that saw the seas calm.
The weather has not been in our favour. We are not going to get to Cocos. The new course is straight for Galapagos…The wind is on the nose so it is tacking with the wind shifts and due to the cold currents from the south the closer to the equator we get the colder it also gets. I am now wearing long johns and a wet weather jacket to keep warm.
On the evening of the 7th of Sept during my 8pm to midnight shi
ft, although I didn’t see it, we crossed the equator….So the following day we had some dress up celebrations. The theme of course was something maritime. Jo Jo got creative with his dive and windsurfing kit, Sarah called herself the shipwreck with her assortments of ropes, netting and an unfinished model boat that she managed strap to her head and me, well I figured I’d pay tribute to my sea legs(non existent sealegs that is) by strapping fenders for below deck protection and goggles and lifebouy for the quite likely manoverboard scenario….But wait there is more. There was also a challenge for each of us. Jo Jo was to dance to the Barbie song every time we put it on , Sarah we decided also had to wear flippers all day and I was served a delicious porrige for breakfast…..cooked in sea water of course…Mmmm Yummmm!
Fun was had by all.
We have Galapagos in our sites......land ho!!
The crossing from Isla Iguana to The Galapagos ends up taking 13days
We are very glad to have no more watches for a while.....
Don't forget you can see many many more great photo's by following the link at the top right of the page.
Friday 14 August 2009
Panama and Away
Well it sure has been a while since our last blog, and this one wont even be very exiting or have any photo's...
As our back-pack has been stolen.
We no longer have a Camera, or a Computeur, nor do I have a hand bag and the contents of one...All our Panama photo's.
Poor Stephen, has lost much more, years of files and music and photo's...
Its all gone in the strangest of ways, from the back seet of the car, while two poeple were asleep in the front seat.
Hard to belive it sure is, it feels like a dream, that we will wake up and find our belongings!
But no, every day I wake up and remember all the things I have lost...
I guess I am free from many things, like phone numbers, credit cards, the outside world...
For some it could of made things easyer, but for us it has made our world more complicated, and very very fustrating....
During our two weeks in Panama City, we did help a fellow Sailor cross the panama canal (and had many photo's to send you all)...It was a two day trip, the first day we went up the MiraFlores Locks, up 8meters at a time 3 Times....Behind a huge cargo ship, in the same lock...
Tryed to hurry all day in the lake to cross the other side the same day, but our Pilote was almost sure we would not make it.
The litlle 30ft Ketch was not able to keep up with the powerfull cargo's.
So we anchored close to the Gatum Locks...
Calm lake, fresh water, a quick swim to avoid the crocodiles...Our Capitain, Jean-Claude was a great host and a wonderfull chef, so we had a great dinner and a few beers, while the Howling Monkeys set their path home along the tree tops...
It was a great experience!
Yet the trip must go on, and we will leave Panama City on Saturday the 15th of August:
Our next stop are the panamanien Islands of Las Perlas, for a few days...
and then the Galapagos...
Lets hope that the sun will shine again!
With all the stress we have experinced, I have had some very painfull days...Terrible cramps/contractions.
Yet I and the baby are fine and all is growing.
I am now 4 1/2 months pregnant and baby is 16cm...
As our back-pack has been stolen.
We no longer have a Camera, or a Computeur, nor do I have a hand bag and the contents of one...All our Panama photo's.
Poor Stephen, has lost much more, years of files and music and photo's...
Its all gone in the strangest of ways, from the back seet of the car, while two poeple were asleep in the front seat.
Hard to belive it sure is, it feels like a dream, that we will wake up and find our belongings!
But no, every day I wake up and remember all the things I have lost...
I guess I am free from many things, like phone numbers, credit cards, the outside world...
For some it could of made things easyer, but for us it has made our world more complicated, and very very fustrating....
During our two weeks in Panama City, we did help a fellow Sailor cross the panama canal (and had many photo's to send you all)...It was a two day trip, the first day we went up the MiraFlores Locks, up 8meters at a time 3 Times....Behind a huge cargo ship, in the same lock...
Tryed to hurry all day in the lake to cross the other side the same day, but our Pilote was almost sure we would not make it.
The litlle 30ft Ketch was not able to keep up with the powerfull cargo's.
So we anchored close to the Gatum Locks...
Calm lake, fresh water, a quick swim to avoid the crocodiles...Our Capitain, Jean-Claude was a great host and a wonderfull chef, so we had a great dinner and a few beers, while the Howling Monkeys set their path home along the tree tops...
It was a great experience!
Yet the trip must go on, and we will leave Panama City on Saturday the 15th of August:
Our next stop are the panamanien Islands of Las Perlas, for a few days...
and then the Galapagos...
Lets hope that the sun will shine again!
With all the stress we have experinced, I have had some very painfull days...Terrible cramps/contractions.
Yet I and the baby are fine and all is growing.
I am now 4 1/2 months pregnant and baby is 16cm...
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Puero Viejo - The Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica
Our trip started once we were dropped off at the Caribbean Bus terminal in San Jose by Lee... No more seat's, so standing it will be...5hrs to Puerto Viejo! Just as we pulled out of the station the rain started, just as Lee had predicted! Little did we know what was ahead. traffic started to pile up, and we almost came to a stand still, the traffic was built up ahead of us for as far as we could see, but our driver decided to drive on in the oncoming lane, we all were very surprised, the bus having to almost drive in the gutter to avoid hitting cars and motorbikes...He was taking us to the nearest road side restaurant. He has decided to take us here to wait, it was the very basic typical roadside, best way to descibe it would be a tin roof with a kitchen, some tables and chairs and a couch ....I doubt that they haveAn hour and a half went by, swirving down the mountains, amongst lush rainforest...and then ever had a bus load pull up there before....at least we had loo's and food to eat, couches to sit on, and for some a TV to watch...
As it turned out there was a protest on the bridge ahead, they had stopped traffic. The poeple protesting were not happy because the goverment had given money to build a new bridge, but in typical cental american style the money had disappeard...So they stopped the road, and were letting 5 minuets of cars go by every hour. This is the only road from Peuto Limon(maybe the biggest port in Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast) to San Jose so you can imagine the traffic that it carries.....Niether of us had ever see a traffic jam like it. The traffic was banked up for many many kilometres. We waited for more than an hour...yet some traveleres were getting impacient. So we all hopped back on the bus, and put ourself in line...Moving a tiny bit for not even 5 min every hour. Another hour and a half must of gone by...and finally the bridge was opened and we were free to move...There was a great ambience in the bus, all chatting and laughing! We fianlly made it to Puerto Viejo, 8 hours later! 
Puerto Viejo, a quite town on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica...Maybe in the past it could of been a fishing village... There is a mixture of poeple, yet the Green Yellow and Red, Rasta Coulours prime. Reagge music in the air. A laid back feeling that has been taken over by tourism. We went to stay at "Rocking Jay's", a kind of comunity style living, mosaics and painting left right and center, created by passing traverlers. A big comunial kitchen with 10 gas burners, toilets and showers for all! Lockers to keep our belongings, and all together in a great big space...Camping, Hammock Hotel, Cabina's and even a Tree House for the Adventurous...That is no longer in a tree but on top of the roof...
We rented a tent, and settled for 4 days...I found my place on the beach while Stephen went
surfing at Salsa Brava a couple of times. Our days went by smoothly, breakfast in the communal kitchen, a walk to have a look at the surf, into town to get our food for the day, lunch, and the afternoons swinging, lazing, napping in hammocks...Dinner, around the troop starting their night of parting...Cause Pueto Viejo is supposed to be Party Central... Then a storm hit us, boy there was no more room in the sky for any more rain...It was pouring...Good thing that the Tent hotel was under a roof, but a tin roof sure makes a lot of noise! The rain did not stop for the whole night...I could not belive the amount of water there was...And surprised to not see any water collection being done???
It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but here poeple call it winter, its the raining season, thus the coldest time of the year. And on the 5th day we took our bus out of town...Next stop Panama.
I am now 15 weeks pregnant, and showing a small belly...All is good!
As it turned out there was a protest on the bridge ahead, they had stopped traffic. The poeple protesting were not happy because the goverment had given money to build a new bridge, but in typical cental american style the money had disappeard...So they stopped the road, and were letting 5 minuets of cars go by every hour. This is the only road from Peuto Limon(maybe the biggest port in Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast) to San Jose so you can imagine the traffic that it carries.....Niether of us had ever see a traffic jam like it. The traffic was banked up for many many kilometres. We waited for more than an hour...yet some traveleres were getting impacient. So we all hopped back on the bus, and put ourself in line...Moving a tiny bit for not even 5 min every hour. Another hour and a half must of gone by...and finally the bridge was opened and we were free to move...There was a great ambience in the bus, all chatting and laughing! We fianlly made it to Puerto Viejo, 8 hours later! 
Puerto Viejo, a quite town on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica...Maybe in the past it could of been a fishing village... There is a mixture of poeple, yet the Green Yellow and Red, Rasta Coulours prime. Reagge music in the air. A laid back feeling that has been taken over by tourism. We went to stay at "Rocking Jay's", a kind of comunity style living, mosaics and painting left right and center, created by passing traverlers. A big comunial kitchen with 10 gas burners, toilets and showers for all! Lockers to keep our belongings, and all together in a great big space...Camping, Hammock Hotel, Cabina's and even a Tree House for the Adventurous...That is no longer in a tree but on top of the roof...We rented a tent, and settled for 4 days...I found my place on the beach while Stephen went
surfing at Salsa Brava a couple of times. Our days went by smoothly, breakfast in the communal kitchen, a walk to have a look at the surf, into town to get our food for the day, lunch, and the afternoons swinging, lazing, napping in hammocks...Dinner, around the troop starting their night of parting...Cause Pueto Viejo is supposed to be Party Central... Then a storm hit us, boy there was no more room in the sky for any more rain...It was pouring...Good thing that the Tent hotel was under a roof, but a tin roof sure makes a lot of noise! The rain did not stop for the whole night...I could not belive the amount of water there was...And surprised to not see any water collection being done???
It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but here poeple call it winter, its the raining season, thus the coldest time of the year. And on the 5th day we took our bus out of town...Next stop Panama. I am now 15 weeks pregnant, and showing a small belly...All is good!
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Reunited in San Jose
After 5 weeks apart on other sides of the world the 3 of us have finally reunited in San Jose, Costa Rica. Sarah who is now 14 weeks pregnant and myself, together again as one. The longest we have been apart before this was in early Sept/08 last year when I arrived back in Oz after my world travels, where we met and fell in love.I awaited sarahs arrival to my homeland for 5 days, which is a far cry from the 5 weeks that we have just endured, but this is now the start of a new adventure.....an adventure that I could barely of dreamed of let alone contempated as a reality. Our very first adventure together as a couple began in this part of the world back on the 4th of Feb/08 and now I am going to get a taste of a life that Sarah once lived...a life on the sea.
We are going to sail from Panama to Tahiti via The Galapagos Islands and The Marquise Islands, and depending on either how hard the wind blows or how well I keep the contents of my stomach...in my stomach...we may venture on to the Cook Islands and then, maybe even Samoa. Are you jealous yet?.......
So anyway, here we are in San Jose where we are staying with my cousin Lee and his Costa Rican partner Tanya and their very very adorable/cute/happy 6month old boy Keyo.It has been an absute blessing to be able to fall into the comfort of t
heir home while we recover from the effects of the long flights we have both taken to get here. Long flights, multiple connections and stopovers can really take there toll. Lee and Tanya have been sensational hosts allowing us to rest and relax in there home, providing us with a base while we get an assortment of jobs in town done, and yesterday they took us to nice resta
urant on the edge of a nearby national park on the outskirts of San Jose. The food was great but to top it all off 
we were treated to the unexpected visit of a Sloth, not something that would normally be welcome at dinner bit this was of the 2 toed variety that lives in the trees, and going by the reaction of the restaurant staff who all excitedly ran for there cameras it was not a regular customer. We quickly discovered that there was no need for pace as the sloth as its name suggests was in no hurry....iittt wwaaassss vveeerrrryyy vveeerrryyy ssslllooowwwwww.
If you look closely in both of these pictures with the
trees in the background, you can see the Sloth amongst the leaves
We are now ready to roll....next stop is the party capital of Cost Rica, Peurto Viejo
Steve.O
We are going to sail from Panama to Tahiti via The Galapagos Islands and The Marquise Islands, and depending on either how hard the wind blows or how well I keep the contents of my stomach...in my stomach...we may venture on to the Cook Islands and then, maybe even Samoa. Are you jealous yet?.......
So anyway, here we are in San Jose where we are staying with my cousin Lee and his Costa Rican partner Tanya and their very very adorable/cute/happy 6month old boy Keyo.It has been an absute blessing to be able to fall into the comfort of t
heir home while we recover from the effects of the long flights we have both taken to get here. Long flights, multiple connections and stopovers can really take there toll. Lee and Tanya have been sensational hosts allowing us to rest and relax in there home, providing us with a base while we get an assortment of jobs in town done, and yesterday they took us to nice resta
urant on the edge of a nearby national park on the outskirts of San Jose. The food was great but to top it all off 
we were treated to the unexpected visit of a Sloth, not something that would normally be welcome at dinner bit this was of the 2 toed variety that lives in the trees, and going by the reaction of the restaurant staff who all excitedly ran for there cameras it was not a regular customer. We quickly discovered that there was no need for pace as the sloth as its name suggests was in no hurry....iittt wwaaassss vveeerrrryyy vveeerrryyy ssslllooowwwwww.
If you look closely in both of these pictures with thetrees in the background, you can see the Sloth amongst the leaves
We are now ready to roll....next stop is the party capital of Cost Rica, Peurto Viejo
Steve.O
Monday 25 May 2009
Notre Quartier
Depuis Fin Janvier, nous vivons a St- Peters...Un quartier au bord de Sydney qui ne ressemble pas a grand choses...Princess Hyway qui qui passe pas loin et la Post est tout seul a coter du restaurant chinois qui ne donne pas vraiment envie de manger, mais ou la petit fille est tout les jours a jouer au piano!
Ou la vie est alternatif, les restaurant pleins de monde, la mode de tout les genres, ou la sexualité de chaquin est pas important, et des boutique les uns après les autres...J'aime faire cette marche...
Puis a 3min a bout de la rue de chez nous, il y a Sydney Park, une grande espace vert qui était pas grande chose il fut un temps, mais dans 10 ans vas surement être super joli!
Notre maison a nous est un peux comme une maison en carton...Fragile, vielle et pas joli du tout! Mais ce fut un toit au dessus de notre tête, ou nous avons pu venir dormir dans les bras l'un de l'autre pendant ses 4 mois dans un petit chez nous...
Wednesday 20 May 2009
Au Travail
Depuis mi-Février je travail comme nanny. 3 jours par semaine dans un quartier de Sydney qui s'appelle Paddington.
Je garde 2 petit garçon, de 2 ans et 3ans et demi! Le plus grand vas a la maternelle deux jours par semaine, ce qui est super pour moi, car le petit fait une sieste de 2 hrs et j'ai du temps pour moi. Car mes journée sont longes, je travaille de 8hrs à 18hrs, donc deux heurs de paix sont les bien venu!
Paddington, est un des es quartier qui était pour les travailleurs, mais petit a petit cela a changer, et c'est devenu un des quartier chic, cher, ou il y a un tas de petits galerie d'art et des boutique de marque...
Je vous ait fait un petit album photo, donc ajouter se lien a la barre de recherche et vous verrez les photo de ou je travaille!
http://picasaweb.google.fr/sarandsteve/Paddington?authkey=Gv1sRgCM-ah_O09ujIvQE&feat=directlink
Je garde 2 petit garçon, de 2 ans et 3ans et demi! Le plus grand vas a la maternelle deux jours par semaine, ce qui est super pour moi, car le petit fait une sieste de 2 hrs et j'ai du temps pour moi. Car mes journée sont longes, je travaille de 8hrs à 18hrs, donc deux heurs de paix sont les bien venu!
Paddington, est un des es quartier qui était pour les travailleurs, mais petit a petit cela a changer, et c'est devenu un des quartier chic, cher, ou il y a un tas de petits galerie d'art et des boutique de marque...
Je vous ait fait un petit album photo, donc ajouter se lien a la barre de recherche et vous verrez les photo de ou je travaille!
http://picasaweb.google.fr/sarandsteve/Paddington?authkey=Gv1sRgCM-ah_O09ujIvQE&feat=directlink
Saturday 9 May 2009
VISA AUSTRALIEN
Lundi nous somme allée a L'immigration, avec l'intention de déposer notre demande de visa.
Tout en sachent que cela pourrait prendre en 2, 4 et pour le moins optimiste 6 ou 8 mois...
Le soir avent nous sommes rester levé tard, moi j'en pouvait plus, mais Stephen lui est rester a l'ouvre d'être sur que tout était bien expliqué, tout était bien la jusqu'à 2hrs du matin.
A croire que au levée tout allait être fini, mais non, il n'était pas satisfait, a réimprimer des photo, ajouter de détails...Et seulement vers 11hrs ont était prêt a partir.
Nous somme bien arriver vers l'heure du déjeuner, donc il a bien fallu etre patient une demi heure environ, avent que notre numéro soit appelé...
Nous avons été accueillit par MR RON, un homme d'un certain age, peut être le seul Australien dans le bâtiment!
Nous lui avons parler de notre situation, et le fait que l'on avait un rendez vous qui a été annuler par L'immigration et que ont stressait du fait de peut être devoir attendre longtemps pour le visa...
Gentiment il nous a dit de relaxer, et il c'est mit a regarder me resultas de santé, mes Cassier Judiciaire Australien et Français, qui sont vide bien sur ;)...
Et il c'est énerver devant son ordinateur, car elle ne fessait pas se que il voulais que elle fasse...Des blagues, une atmosphère détendu, mais loin étions nous de savoir que il essayait d'imprimer la lettre qui confirmait que j'avais mon visa!
Il a dit, tant pis, je vous l'enverrait par la poste, mais je mets le visa dans le passeport! Et hop, la veille machin a sortit une étiquette, avec mon prénom et mon, mon visa Australien...Comme cela en moins de UNE heure!
Ont était trop heureux, des larmes de joie a la vu du mon visa qui s'est coller dans mon passeport!
A présent je suis résident provisoire, dans deux ans notre dossier serra réouvert, et si tout vas bien être nous, il me donnent la résidence a vie!
Sunday 26 April 2009
My Family
My father Roger, left school when he was 14. he just did not fit in, and decieded to go fishing...At the time they would go out to Terre Nova, and be out for 6 months at a time. He was learning a career the real tough way. Being originaly from Brittany (the north of france) he sea was in him.
He later studied diesel mecanics and joined the navy.
My mother, Jacqueline lived in Paris and became a secretary and a good job at The Big shops "Printemps", but she dreamed of adventure and moto-bikes!
So before she even had her permit she bought one, and had to get the man at the shop to drive it home for her!
That was my father...
My father dreamed of sailing around the world, and together they bought a small Sardine fishing boat. That my father used for work for a while, but buy 1974, they set sail...
In the Mediteranean first...My mother went back to France to give birth to Morgan, my oldest brother, and then i was born in spain, and they set sail towards the red sea...
My sister Anais was then born in 1981 in Djibouty...
Much later on came Jonathan, in 1993 in Costa Rica.
Today, Morgan is a Captain, on a private sailing yacht, living with his first love.
Anais is settled in france, and has 3 lovelly girls of her own with her partner William, who is from South Africa.
My Mother is with her, helping out and enjoying the grand children.
As for My father and Jonathan, they are still sailing the Oceans. In Panama at the moment, planning to cross the Pacifique!
As for me, well I have met the man of my dreams, an Australian full of love.
He later studied diesel mecanics and joined the navy.
My mother, Jacqueline lived in Paris and became a secretary and a good job at The Big shops "Printemps", but she dreamed of adventure and moto-bikes!
So before she even had her permit she bought one, and had to get the man at the shop to drive it home for her!
That was my father...
My father dreamed of sailing around the world, and together they bought a small Sardine fishing boat. That my father used for work for a while, but buy 1974, they set sail...
In the Mediteranean first...My mother went back to France to give birth to Morgan, my oldest brother, and then i was born in spain, and they set sail towards the red sea...
My sister Anais was then born in 1981 in Djibouty...
Much later on came Jonathan, in 1993 in Costa Rica.
Today, Morgan is a Captain, on a private sailing yacht, living with his first love.
Anais is settled in france, and has 3 lovelly girls of her own with her partner William, who is from South Africa.
My Mother is with her, helping out and enjoying the grand children.
As for My father and Jonathan, they are still sailing the Oceans. In Panama at the moment, planning to cross the Pacifique!
As for me, well I have met the man of my dreams, an Australian full of love.
Thursday 23 April 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Nous venons tout juste de fêter les 37ans de Stephen....
Le soir avant sa fête, j'ai l'ai emmener en ville...Un Mardi soir en ville il se passe pas grand choses, mais nous avons fait la fête quand même...Une sort de fête en tout les cas....
Un Pub Crawl....Un peux comme de la natation, en mieux!
Notre soirée a commencer a 20hrs, dans un bar ou un group jouait...Ou il a quand même fallu attendre 30min pour notre Bière...Du au Happy Hour...Bah oui, en Australie un litre de Bière a 3euro sa fait ferreur!
Puis de la un autre Bar/Brasserie...Pour manger, et bien sur un autre verre a boire...
En gros le jeux consiste a boire un verre dans un bar et puis aller a un autre!
Nous avons visiter les bars du quartier de Newtown!!!
Le lendemain les cadeaux et un d'eux était 37 ballons a gonflé!
J'allais le faire seul comme surprise, mais quand même 37 cela fait beaucoup!
Donc nous l'avons fait ensemble et une bataille de ballon s'imposait ensuite...
Le soir un dîner chez Kate, et un gâteux au myrtille, que Stephen a eu aucun mal a soufflé les bougie après tout les ballons!
Le soir avant sa fête, j'ai l'ai emmener en ville...Un Mardi soir en ville il se passe pas grand choses, mais nous avons fait la fête quand même...Une sort de fête en tout les cas....
Un Pub Crawl....Un peux comme de la natation, en mieux!
Notre soirée a commencer a 20hrs, dans un bar ou un group jouait...Ou il a quand même fallu attendre 30min pour notre Bière...Du au Happy Hour...Bah oui, en Australie un litre de Bière a 3euro sa fait ferreur!
Puis de la un autre Bar/Brasserie...Pour manger, et bien sur un autre verre a boire...
En gros le jeux consiste a boire un verre dans un bar et puis aller a un autre!
Nous avons visiter les bars du quartier de Newtown!!!
Le lendemain les cadeaux et un d'eux était 37 ballons a gonflé!
J'allais le faire seul comme surprise, mais quand même 37 cela fait beaucoup!
Donc nous l'avons fait ensemble et une bataille de ballon s'imposait ensuite...
Le soir un dîner chez Kate, et un gâteux au myrtille, que Stephen a eu aucun mal a soufflé les bougie après tout les ballons!
Monday 20 April 2009
Meet the Family!
here is a photo of us all in our tender. Morgan and Anais in the water, I in the front and my parents!Sunday 19 April 2009
Dîner Messieurs
C'est super que je ne travaille pas le Lundi, et avec le weekend de pacques, j'ai aussi eu mon Vendredi de libre! Trop Top!
Donc Jeudi soir, après que Stephen est venu me chercher au travaille, un petit détour à la maison, pour faire les sacs, et vers 21hrs nous avons prit la route vers le sud.
Ulladulla...
Ont est partit au plus tard pour éviter un peux de trafique, mais tout le monde avait la meme idée que nous...Un longe weekend à la plage...
Donc Jeudi soir, après que Stephen est venu me chercher au travaille, un petit détour à la maison, pour faire les sacs, et vers 21hrs nous avons prit la route vers le sud.
Ulladulla...
Ont est partit au plus tard pour éviter un peux de trafique, mais tout le monde avait la meme idée que nous...Un longe weekend à la plage...
Notre premier soir fut une grande fete...Juste parceque l'on peut!
Langoute et ormeau, peut etre que je n'etait pas super ravi de cela. Moi et les crustace ont fait deux!
Chaquin a son post, de la music dans l'aire, un bon verre en main, nous avons proceder a cuisiner notre repas de fete.
Bruce a decortique, stephen au four et moi au legumes.
Et le tout mange avec Champagne!
En fin de repas, j'ai cacher des petit oeuf de chocolat, mais la chienne les a trouver avent les garcon.
Puis notre soirée c'est terminer avec du feux...
Nos journée nous les avons passer tranquille, des baignades a la plage, mais surtout a faire des bijoux.
Et C'est assez marent car j'ai remarque que en Australie beucoup de maison ont des trampolin, meme a l'ecole des petit il y en a un, et en observant Stephen j'ai comprit pourqoui!
Pour resembler le Kangerou!
Puis Bruce c'est ocuper dans son "Shed" ou il fabrique des planches de surf!
Et notre weekend c'est terminer, et nous sommes rentrer vers Sydney bien tard!
Langoute et ormeau, peut etre que je n'etait pas super ravi de cela. Moi et les crustace ont fait deux!
Chaquin a son post, de la music dans l'aire, un bon verre en main, nous avons proceder a cuisiner notre repas de fete.
Bruce a decortique, stephen au four et moi au legumes.
Et le tout mange avec Champagne!
En fin de repas, j'ai cacher des petit oeuf de chocolat, mais la chienne les a trouver avent les garcon.
Puis notre soirée c'est terminer avec du feux...
Nos journée nous les avons passer tranquille, des baignades a la plage, mais surtout a faire des bijoux.
Et C'est assez marent car j'ai remarque que en Australie beucoup de maison ont des trampolin, meme a l'ecole des petit il y en a un, et en observant Stephen j'ai comprit pourqoui!
Pour resembler le Kangerou!
Puis Bruce c'est ocuper dans son "Shed" ou il fabrique des planches de surf!
Et notre weekend c'est terminer, et nous sommes rentrer vers Sydney bien tard!
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