AdventuresAboardAvatar: Bon Voyage Party

Our friends and family all flown back home now, it was time for the gang to get ready and have a good old fashioned raft up. After getting stocked up on fresh foods, we sailed back to Moorea where we all met up in Bay D'Opuneau. This place epitomizes the South Sea dream with giant cliffed mountains and deep green growth on everything. We were greeted with our arrival of a lovely rainbow, first pointing at Morning Light, then at Jade. I was sure it was a sign our friends will be watched over on the next part of their passage. You see, they all only got 90 day visas and by 2 weeks from now, they will all need to be checked out of the country and moving on. But we went through all the paperwork and hoopla back in January and we got the one year vias, so we were staying behind.

The next morning everyone's boat was glistening in the morning sun in this spectacular backdrop, so Mike went out in the dingy and took shots of all of us. The sea was like glass so we got out the kayaks and paddle board to get some exercise. These are some of our toys be brought, which deflate and store in the V-berth. Talion had made it late the night before, and was rafted to Jade. Pasty had her new crew aboard ready to head of to Hawaii the next day. Mike, Patsy's crew and I, all volunteered to help with the bottom cleaning before they left for passage. It was amazing to me how much more underwater surface Jade had than Talion, but that is a full keel for ya. So the party was on, pot luck dinner on Talion! It was a reunion of sorts with Nana, one of the Jade crew from the crossing was able to be there as well. Yes I am sure we all drank a bit too much that night, but old friends who crossed an ocean together were parting ways and who knows when or where we will see each other again. This is the hard part of cruising, letting your friends go, so you can meet up again and swap some salty yarns. Sophie was tired the next morning, of course we had to have her at the party, she made the crossing too!

The next morning Scotty went on an exploratory paddle board and kayak with Mike and I, under the bridge and up the river. Lots of people live up stream and there is plenty of jungle growing along the banks. The glassiness of the water was reflecting the jagged peaks on the bay and was a spectacular sight. Seriously drop dead gorgeous.

The good byes are always hard, but so important. Never forget to tell your friends how you really love them and wish them safe passage. Whether by sea or land! As Pedro on Jade and Scotty on Morning Light hoisted anchor and sailed out the bay, we tried to blow our Conch horn. It looks good, but did not sound too good. We gotta practice this more! The sun has set as our friends sail away over the horizon. It is a new start for us too. We got 9 more months to spend in French Polynesia! Woo Hoo!