Walks in Nuku-Hiva
Saturday 3 January: Change of mooring... 5 miles east into Controller's Bay. The bay is deep and well protected and the anchor hangs well. Immediately we put the dinghy in the water and explore the bottom of the bay. The tide is almost high and we can enter the river that winds between the coconut trees and leads us to the village of Taipivai. On the bank we are greeted by hundreds of small blue crabs with a single big red claw.
We go up the road that crosses the village and after half an hour of walking in the bottom of the valley a sign shows us the site archeological of Tikipaeke.
Another half hour of walking on a path that winds up and we come to a clearing, a Pae pae (Stone platform) and some well-preserved Tikis.
Going down we make a pose to cool off in the river and rinse our shirts which anyway are already soaked.
Although the bay is well sheltered, A small swell across the wind rocks us all night – so we decide to put a second anchor at the back of the boat to keep it in the axis of the swell. Then every day we go ashore to explore the surroundings.
Children accompany us to the nearby bay of Hooumi where they live. On the way they teach us the Marquesan name of each fruit tree that borders the road... and there are more than 10 Different varieties!
A beautiful white sandy beach welcomes us with benches in the shade of tall trees. On the way back we climb the ridge and there a family has his house with a superb view of the bay and our sailboat. Of course we leave with arms and backpacks loaded with fruit.
Another day we follow the road to a viewpoint... then a track that seems to be heading towards Taiohae, The main village of the island. After 4 hours of walking we are at the top of cliffs overlooking Taiohae ... we are already dreaming of a steak frites at Henry's and a return by road hitchhiking. But no way to find a way down without risking breaking your neck! We are good at turning back and hitting each other 4 hours of walking at the hottest hours and on an empty stomach. We still keep smiling.
11 January 2015: back in the bay of Taiohae where we find Jacky & Anny that the weather finally allowed to leave the Tuamotu.
Small walk of a few hours to Collette Bay so that they get in leg ...
Jacky and Philippe are already making plans for a getaway on the heights of Nuku-Hiva...