Blue Blood Moon

In January of 2018 there were two full moons, January first and 31^st. The second full moon in a single month is called a Blue Moon. But this month the blue moon was also a full lunar eclipse, which creates a Blood Moon. So for the first time in a Century, we were going to have the very rare Blue Blood Moon. The weather looked like it would cooperate, but we needed to be in an anchorage that has a good view of the Western sky. So we sailed over to the island of Teravai on the SW side of the Gambiers.

As we left Mangareva we passed again her magnificent peaks.  Mount Duff.

And Mount Mokoto which we climbed when we first arrived.

It was a lovely afternoon sail with a light breeze.

We wanted to be on the far side so we would have a clear view of the SW sky, so we continued around the small isle of Agakauitai, until we reached an anchorage with a view through the slot of Mangareva in the distance. (looking NE)

Agakauitai had an impressive rock outcrop as well and a lovely white sand beach.

We went ashore to explore and found a home with no one there. So we continued past through the forest of big trees.

The ground is littered with broken branches, coconuts, baby palms and debris.

These big trees were quite ominous with the sunlight sprinkling through the leaves.

A view of Teravai from the beach on Agakauitai. Again reminds us of a mountain lake view, but warmer!

The grassy area of the home under the big rock outcrop.

We walked along the beach to check out the shallow cove on the East side of Agakauitai and got a view of Aukena in the distance.

There is a reef underwater connecting the isles of Teravai and Agakauitai which creates a lovely calm anchorage. Here I am with some amazing clouds too. Only one other boat in the anchorage.

A beautiful, lovely smelling, yellow flower all over this island.

Orange Hibiscus flower.

The full moon is rising perfectly through the slot!

At the same time a gorgeous sunset is happening behind us.

The full moon with the other boat in the anchorage and Mangareva's peaks in the distance.

It is NOT easy to photograph a lunar eclipse from the deck of a rocking boat, but the anchorage was calm enough. Here the eclipse is about half way covering the moon.

The Blood red is beginning to show as the earth's shadow covers more of the moon.

A total eclipse of the moon, blood red!!

The red moves to the top of the moon as sunrise is approaching.

Yes we stayed up all night, not the first time, but first time in a long time! Next Blue Blood Moon won't be for another 75 years, so we had to, right?! Probably won't be here to see that one.

Mangareva Bike Ride

The big island of Mangareva in the Gambiers is where the majority of people live. The big industry here is pearl farming, so there are many workers and many different pearl farms.

As we approach the “channel” to get close to the village of Rikitea this is what the bottom looks like! When the water is this clear those rocks look like they are right under the boat! Thank God we have several depth sounders!

Our folding aluminum Dahon bikes are great for exploring and for transportation on many island (the one's with roads ;-) Quite a few boats anchored here in the village.

The roads here are not spectacular, mostly dirt and right along the water side.

One of the big pearl farm houses built out over the water. Not sure how many people actually live out there, but at least a dozen.

We found an over water swing hanging from a tree, so you know I had to test it out!!

Several smaller pearl farms out over the water behind a shore side assistance facuility. They use a 55 gallon barrel to make cement weights for the bottom of the nets which hold the oysters.

They use ponga like fiberglass boats to schlep their equipment around. And beyond the ponga in the water is a flat bottom boat which they have several strands of nets and buoys on the deck.

As we are cruising around we meet up with a lady and her son having trouble with their battery, so Mike offers assistance. They were very sweet and grateful.

This part of the road is paved cement. Not much traffic!

A tired old palm tree is hanging out over the water making an idyllic photo opportunity.

Because of the pearls, people are quite wealthy here. They have very nice houses!

You can barely see that sailboat in the distance, except that it is in front of an island.

Another big house with a nicely groomed yard, not to mention the view!!

As the island curves around, I get a nice view looking back along the island where we just road. The village is in the far distance.

Another view of all those pearl farms.

A view from above of those two houses we passed. Notice the solar panels and the solar water heater on the roof, plus a wind generator in the yard.

We hike out a trail to the point at the end of the island and stop for a snack.

The village of Rikitea in the distance.

Some beautiful tiny purple flowers with that gorgeous turquoise water in the background!

There is a boat headed out toward the motu on the NE side where the airport is located.

This plant has the strangest orange bumps on it!

Some workers in a ponga taking nets out to a pearl farm close to shore, while a sailboat is headed toward the village in the distance. You can also see the buildings on Robert Wan's private island over there.

The road passes some big cliff rocks.

And lots of banana trees too! Hola Miguel!!

Motu Tekava

We sailed from the main village of Rikitea on the Isle of Mangareva out to a motu (small island) on the barrier reef on the East side of the Gambier group.

Looking back at Mangareva we see Mount Mokoto (left) and Mount Duff (right) behind us.  It had been quite a hike to the top of Mokoto and we must look small to anyone up there now.

We pass Isle Akamaru and it's little off laying motu to the South of us. You can see the Southern group beyond them.

The Motus on the outer reef look very inviting with their white sandy beaches.

There are several bomies and a small reef sticking into the lagoon from Motu Tekava. Here you can see a wave breaking on that reef from the beach of the motu. Mount Duff is in the background with Isle Aukena (private) inbetween.

We are meeting up with our Austrian friends aboard Pitufa and Pakeatea to have a sunset beach fire. Keanu (5) is ready for the party!

Keanu shows me a cool fish head skeleton he found on the beach.

The birds are checking us out and Avatar is at anchor on the North side of the motu. The motus in the distance form the NE corner of the Gambier group.

Sonya, Keanu’s mom, shows us how to make campfire bread by wrapping the dough around a stick.

Keanu, Tom and Birgit (of Pitufa) all cook bread as Mike watches.

As it gets dark the hermit crab population wakes up and comes to check us out. This guy walked up this stick all by himself when I found him there. He is a medium sized guy and has very orange shell color.

The older adult hermit crabs have a darker, more sun burnt shell. His house shell has a bit of a hole in it.

So he steals a better shell home from another hermit crab and the fight is on for who will win the better shell house. The crab on the left actually has no shell home on him and you can see his curly tail where it came out of the shell they are fighting over. This is the first time I have ever seen a hermit crab with out a shell, a very rare sight!

These guys are locked claws in battle for quite a while. I took a video of this and posted it on my You-Tube page if you want to see the action, click here.

The morning sun is shining on Pitufa anchored next to motu Tekava.

Looking to the South past our close reef is the larger motu Kouaku in the distance.

Mike and I took the dingy ashore in the daylight to check out the island, with the turquoise water glowing in the sunshine.

The rocks jut out of the sand on the outer side, closer to the reef.

The sand ends in a roundish shape, looking toward the outer reef.

On the motu itself there are many trees and lots of underbrush, looking like a jungle in there!

We see a Sooty Tern in a tree.

A pair of Sooty Terns on their nest in the crook of some growth.

Poppa flew away and left momma to tend the eggs. Sooty terns are all black except for the white on top of their heads, which makes them not as easy to spot in the darkness of the trees.

Another pair is kissing on this palm frond. These are very romantic birds, always kissing and cooing too each other.

As we come to an opening in the trees we are dive bombed by a Fairy tern as a Sooty flies away.

Fairy terns are very acrobatic and almost always fly in pairs.

My God this is a beautiful place!!

The birds are flying around us everywhere!

At the far end of the motu is another opening to see into the interior. Thick undergrowth with sharp stickers on their leaves deter us from walking in there.

A rather large group of Sooty terns are hanging out on the sand, warming in the sun and one flies away.

The sand spit seems to go on forever toward the next motu.

In the water we spot this group of small fish. The fish themselves are hard to see as they blend in with the sand behind them. But their shadows from the sun give them away!

This complete clam shell has an interesting green tint to the inside of its shell.

In a deep, almost puddle spot in the water, we see a bunch of sea slugs.

This is a close up of what they look like. The Japanese eat them as a delicacy, but we decide to pass on eating them!

The coral rocks create a tide pool effect which these sea slugs seem to love, because the water here is quite warm. I love how you can see the ripples in the water in this photo as well as the different layers of sand under the water. (click on it to blow it up if you can’t see it)

A hole in the coral rocks creates a deeper pool of water which makes for a nice warm wet spot!

Avatar anchored in the deeper water, just to the North side of the shallows.

The Gambier group is located at 23 degrees South and 134 degrees West, basically out in the middle of no where in the South Pacific Ocean. Because of that, we get the most amazing clouds passing by.

This close up of the clouds of a squall shine brilliantly in the sun. Very inspirational looking.

The squall passes by our bow, but outside the outer reef.

A squall line forms to the South of us, Pitufa and the motu.

After it passes a rainbow appears to remind us how beautiful life is.

And of course the sunsets from here are amazing as well!! From our view from here it sets between Akamaru and its motu and Teravai in the far distance.

Sweet dreams my friends...............