The Last 4 Days...

We’ve had a lot happen over the last 4 days.  First I picked up Dawn at the airport on Niku Hiva. The last time I saw Dawn was 3 weeks prior when we pushed the boat off the dock in Newport Beach.  So crazy. 

David left on the next flight out on the plan Dawn had flown in on.  David had a long journey home, first going to Tahiti, then San Francisco and then to Honolulu. We are going to miss you David!

Next we took the boat about 4 miles west to a small bay called Daniel’s Bay.  Its named after a native Marquesan who welcomed everyone to his little slice of paradise.  This is also where they filmed a season of Survivor.  Daniel made enough off of that deal that he never had to worry about money again!

We made an attempt to hike up a trail to a distant water fall about 3 miles away.  Dawn, Danielle and I turned back after going halfway, but Chris and Jade pushed on and made it to the waterfall.  About a 5 hour round trip hike!

We then headed back to the main bay, Taiohae, to finish our visa paperwork and to get some tattoos done!  Danielle and I had talked for years about getting tattoos together if we ever made it here, so we made good on our promise to each other.  Daniel our tattoo artist was amazing and a true artist.  My tattoo is very symbolic.  I will do a separate post to review all its meaning.

On Saturday morning Chris left us to head back home.  I am really going to miss him.  Chris and I had dreamed and talked about doing this trip together for over 30 years.  It was so incredible that we finally made it happen!

Chris was the best First Mate EVER, and there is NO WAY I could have made it here without him.  Chris is an excellent sailor and problem solver.  Between the two of us we can fix just about anything, including a flooded diesel engine while sailing in the middle of the ocean…Thanks for everything Chris, I am going to miss having you around!