Last breakfast at Keikahanui Lodge. Will has eaten all the chocolate croissants so we did not have any for today. Brief visit to museum and to meet Rose Corser, a local fixture for more than 30 years, former owner of resort and curator of museum artifacts. Got Rose's autograph on print of chief who unknowingly signed over ownership of Marquesas to French in mid 1800's Purchased CD of Jean Pierre's (our guide )Polynesian music from Rose. Gifts of beaded neckla...

Short power boat ride around SW of island to Hakaui Bay with our guide Jean Pierre ( a native Marquesan of the Typee tribe ) to start our 6 KM hike to Hakaui waterfall - the tallest in the S. Pacific. Beginning at "Survivor Marquesas Beach" ( Kim in her reef shoes, having left her fancy new "Powerdrain" shoes in Texas), we traversed around a beautiful bay to trail on private property, guarded by goat, cow & horse skulls. Through dirt avenues on small banana...

Best advice to survive the mosquito and no-see-ums is to cover from head to toe with Manoi oil with Citronella before going out. A miracle! Drove to North of Nuku Hiva in 4WD, via Baie de Controleur, & Hooumi. Visited the ruins at Taipivai before continuing on to Hatiheu. Lunch at Chez Yvonne on the beach. (Kim bravely worked her way thru the goat she ordered, thinking it was a dish with goat cheese). Attempted 4WD trail across mountain to Anaho but wrong ...

These are the cast of characters we spent the evening with our first night. Geoff from Alabama, Renan from California and Angel( she is a whole story within itself.) Later in the evening we were joined by a Kiwi by the name of Ash. They had all been crew on different yachts and their experiences both on sea and life were most interesting! Geoff an underwater welder, Renan a lighting technician in Hollywood, Ash a yachtsman in New Zealand and Angel......????

Left Tahiti on very early flight for the Marquesas. Three hour flight and then a two hour drive through the winding countryside to Taiohae. Another beautiful welcome with leis, refreshing lemonade and cool towels, all to the beat of a traditional drum. Maru met us the door to the Keikahanui Resort overlooking Taiohae bay and village that would be the start of a most unusual experience thus far on our journey!