We are now in the third largest atoll in the Pacific. We left Kauhi in the morning and arrived here at about 16.30. The North part of the island is more developed than Kauhi. It has two supermarkets and a metalled road. The houses are very neat, and despite it being a coral island everyone tries to plant out a pretty garden. There was an amazing looking ship in the lagoon called Arctic, with domes all over it but festooned with high speed launches, presumably some sort of tourist boat destined for the Antartic?
We then sailed south about 15miles inside the lagoon and are anchored in a pristine bay. There are no other boats in sight, in fact there is no sign of any human activity, just beach, coral palm trees, and beautiful bright blue calm sea. We plan to move another 15miles south in the lagoon tomorrow to the southern entrance and then will sail for Tahiti
Michael, Steve and Deborah
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