Crazy Horse - Raiatea

The island of Raiatea is known by many for their sacred grounds called
Taputapuatea. We visited these grounds yesterday while circumnavigating this
island via auto. They are the largest sacred grounds the we have seen so far
and in the old days Raiatea was the religious center of all the Society
Islands. They performed their religious rituals and sacrifices on these
sites. They spent much blood , sweat , and tears creating and restoring
this site I am sure.
Bill, Matt and I were astonished at some of the beautiful bays and flowers
and plants and trees all over the island. Agriculture is a big part of their
economy along with tourism. Matt is going to write his adventure with Bob
and Maggie through the botanical gardens with his own personal guide-I
hope! Tahaa and Raiatea produce a large portion of the world's vanilla
supply.
As we rounded one particular hairpin bend in the road we were bedazzled by
not one, not two, but about seven or eight waterfalls coming off the
mountain. We stopped to take several pictures of that along with some cattle
grazing at the bottom and near the road. Cattle are not something you see
alot of in these islands.
Today we are doing some much needed cleaning and cosmetic work on Crazy
Horse. Bill must repair the spinnaker pole for the Pearl Regatta Rally which
starts tomorrow. Of course we are not really racing (ha! ha!) and only in it
for the t-shirts and the parties. Anyone who knows Bill knows that is a
fantasy. Many of the local boats will be competing very seriously for the
right to be No.1. They have been practicing since we have been here.
Guess I'd better get back to work as Bill is starting to pull the boat apart
to find all the parts he needs for his repair work. Life is a series of
taking apart and reorganizing then trying to remember where you reorganized
that part to a more efficient place.
More on the rally non-race tomorrow.
Rosemary