Nuku Hiva

Anchorage at Tahioae Bay, Nuku Hiva

We rented a 4 x 4 diesel Toyota Hilux (Martin's dream car) and drove around the island. We filled up the water jugs at this "clean water station."

View from the two track road on the north side of the island

This is a banyan tree that is 12 feet wide at the base. The native islanders used to perform ceremonies here 2,000 years ago. I'm not sure exactly what the ceremonies were, but I do know that Marquesans were notorious cannibals.

These petroglyphs date to almost 2,000 years old. They liked mahi mahi back in the day, too.

It took us about 8 hours to make way around the island.

This boat carries a young man who single-handed this Matrix 27 from Panama to the Marquesas. He lost his engine on day 4 and had some extended periods of no wind. Total time en route: 62 days! Even though he ran out of propane and had to burn some of the interior trim wood in his grill to cook, he was very happy with the crossing.

the north side, not quite like NoBo.

mmmmm.... hilux, diesel, 4WD

We sailed to the north side of the island to Anaho Bay. It was gorgeous and isolated. Mart's swimming out to check the anchor. We got all the damn barnacles off the hull, too.

Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva

Leaving Anaho, returning to Tahioae Bay yesterday

We've been doing research and reading a bunch about the Tuomotu Islands, our next destination. We're hoping to leave in the next few days. It's about 500 miles southwest, it will take about 4 days depending on the winds, which have been disappointingly light lately.