Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Moorea – A Hiker’s Paradise!

Mark and I left our isolated, pretty anchoring spot near the reefs NW off Opunohu Bay to move deep into the bay. Here, in the deeper and darker water, we were surrounded by the impressive scenery ashore and we had easier access to some hikes in the Moorea's interior. 

Irie anchored in Opunohu Bay

The Belvedere is one of the highlights for tourists visiting this popular and beautiful island. A road gently slopes towards and impressive viewpoint, where people gather to take pictures of the surroundings. A bench is strategically placed in the shade; it should be reserved for the ones huffing it up by foot. :-) Mark and I started out walking on the sunny road, but once we reached the marae (archeological site), we picked up a trail leading to the Belvedere. We could chose: road, sun, traffic - fumes, noise and being “pushed” to the side – or path, shade and mosquitoes. We picked the second option, applied bug repellent, and had a nice walk up.

From the Belvedere, two trails start in different directions, branching off to more points along the way. None of these trails have signs (they want tourists to hire a guide), so you take a bit of a risk not knowing where you will end up. We started west, thinking we would reach another bench and then somehow end up back down in Opunohu valley. We found the bench with a nice view, but after completing somewhat of a circular route, ended up back at the Belvedere. Huh? Looking for an alternative way to descend, we backtracked the trail we had arrived on and took a split, away from the main route. It was a lovely hike through the forests, with an unexpected and impressive open view once we reached a pineapple plantation in the valley. Since the trail seemed to have vanished, we followed the dirt access road which ended up on the “Route de Ananas”. Not knowing where to pick up another track to the bay from there, we were “forced” to walk back on the steaming hot asphalt road back to the dinghy. We have more exploring to do in regards to trailheads!

Two days later, we set out again from Opunohu Bay. This time, we managed to hitchhike half way up to the Belvedere. A short climb brought us back to the marae, from where we followed a trail marked “trois pins” (one of the few signs around!). Shady and well-maintained, these paths are great! As long as you – kind of – know where you are going. After an hour of climbing, we reached the viewpoint of the “three pines” (yes, there are actually three pine trees and a shady log to sit on), from where we beheld the two northern bays, some of the reefs and a few impressive peaks. The idea was to follow a “ridge trail” down to Cook’s Bay, where we hoped to arrive an hour later, do some grocery shopping (there are no stores nor baguettes at the head of Opunohu Bay), and order a sandwich for lunch…

We could see a steep trail leading down on the other side of “trois pins”, but according to our Moorea map in Lonely Planet, the path we were looking for, went the other way; a split from the trail we arrived on. So, we headed in that direction, and started hiking, up and down, along the mountain range. Before long, Cook’s Bay was a body of water in the distance, only getting smaller with every step we took. Not willing to believe that we hooked up with a well-kept, but non-existing trail according to all the maps, we kept on walking, our feet slanted on the narrow side of the mountains. The path would have to bend back and down soon, for sure! Nope… More and more it started to dawn on us that we were headed for the pass overlooking Vaiare, the top of a mountain we had climbed up and over a few weeks ago. It was located on the east side of Moorea. At least we knew how to get back to Cook’s Bay from there!

A couple of hours later – hungry and thirsty (we weren’t prepared for a day hike) – we reached the Vaiare viewpoint. This time, unobscured by rain and mist, we could see the surrounding peaks and Vaiare Bay. Who would have thought we’d ever make it back up here? A very steep descend followed, while we were holding on to tree trunks and roots. The last part of the walk was easy and flat, but the rain had returned!

Luckily, the little snack bar in Pao Pao (at the head of Cook’s Bay) still had sandwiches for a late lunch and while waiting for the grocery store to reopen (long lunch breaks in French Polynesia), a surprise visit from our friends Lili and Steven on SV Liward caught us off guard. They had taken the ferry over from Tahiti for their anniversary, rented a scooter, and had been trying to find us for hours. Since they couldn’t see our dinghy on Irie, they figured we would be “somewhere” on the island! And, they were right… Soaked in sweat, we were sitting on the curb of a local grocery store, while our purple umbrella drying in the meager rays of sun had drawn their attention!

Mount Rotui and Opunohu Bay from the Belvedere

Opunohu Bay with Irie at the head of the bay

On the Belvedere, with Mount Rotui and Cook's Bay behind us

Fun trail heading west from the Belvedere

Big trees with interesting hollow sounding trunks

My favorite mountain top - Mou'a Roa

Moorea is locally called "ile d' ananas" ("pineapple island")

Pineapple field surrounded by peaks

Half of the roads and trails are not on maps...

Mount Rotui, looking very different from the bay

Surroundings of Opunohu Bay

Opunohu Bay at sunset - we cannot get enough of the view here!

Some of the trees in the forests are huge!

And once in a while, you stumble across the ruins of a marae

Mount Rotui and Cook's Bay (our destination) seen from the "trois pins" viewpoint

Pineapple plantation

180 degree view from "trois pins"

The other 180 degree view from "trois pins"

Vaiare, its bay and Tahiti in the distance, seen from Vaiare pass

One of the views we missed last time we climbed to this point
 

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Moorea – Climbing Magic Mountain

Friends of ours had walked up Magic Mountain on Moorea and encouraged us to do the same. So, about a week ago, we searched for the road leading up to it (and missed it the first time) and managed the relatively short, but steep climb. The whole experience was as different from our previous walk as could be! Instead of dirt, rocks and mud, the “trail” consisted of slabs of concrete, representing an old road. Our hiking shoes seemed a bit out of place. Instead of getting wet because of drizzle and rain, we were soaked in sweat, since the sun was out in force. Instead of being all by ourselves in nature, we were constantly passed by truck loads of tourists. Instead of slaloming through the woods, we could stretch our arms without touching anything, and during each breath catching break, we could look into the distance. Instead of being free, like all the other hikes on Moorea, we had to pay 200 francs a person to an old guy at “the house across the street” to enter the property.

But, the biggest difference with our hike to Vaiare a few weeks back, was our arrival at the top of the mountain, where we found a magnificent view of the surrounding hills, the white lined reefs and the pretty colors of the lagoon. No rain and mist on this beautiful day! We managed to reach the platform in between tourist groups and enjoyed the viewpoint in peace for all of three minutes! We could even spot Irie anchored all by herself in a “sea of blue”! On the way down, we followed a more pleasant track without traffic, noise and fumes – a very agreeable walk indeed.

My favorite Moorea peak - no, you can't climb this one!

Road up Magic Mountain

Nice location for a house

View from the top of Magic Mountain - Who can find Irie?

There she is! :-)

Pass into Opunohu Bay

Entrance to Opunohu Bay

Hills around Magic Mountain

Temporarily part of the viewpoint - Irie lays to Mark's right

Great ending to a nice day
 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Liebster Award Nomination for “It’s Irie”!


The Liebster Award is an unofficial award given by cruisers to cruisers to bring awareness to their blogs and to promote stories and blog posts about the cruising lifestyle. Although I have yet to see the Liebster Award actually being awarded, it all seems to start with nominations. When you are nominated for the Liebster Award by a person who enjoys reading your blog, you are to send thanks to your “awarder” by posting a link to his/her blog site, answer ten questions posed to you (and to 5-10 other blog writers they nominated), and nominate up to ten blogs you like or think that stand out by asking those writers ten new questions. These nominations can be accepted, declined or ignored, and although this method seems to present a modern form of chain letters (or an innocent “pyramid scheme” according to Mark :-)), the whole exercise is good-humored, harmless, relaxed and a fun thing to do. This tradition will get the word out about blogs that are worthwhile and will hopefully provide the readers with an amusing and interesting insight in the cruising life.

So, I will start off by thanking my super friend and long term cruiser Rosie of SV Wandering Star and Phil and Aimee of SV Terrapin, who are itching to set out on their own cruising adventure with their two kids, for nominating our blog “It’s Irie” for the Liebster Award. This nomination has been going around for a while, hence we received two nominations back to back. To avoid this from happening a third time, I cannot wait any longer and have to write this blog post now! :-)


Because of the double nomination, we received two lists of ten questions. Here is what Rosie wanted to know:

1.            Where are you and your boat right now?

Moorea, French Polynesia, South Pacific

2.            What do you like best about cruising?

The wildlife encounters, the peacefulness, the adventure, the gift of time, being one with nature, the different cultures, islands and sights we get to experience and see – something that might be impossible otherwise because of their location and prohibitive cost to visit.

3.            What three items can you not live without on your boat?

My husband, our dinghy, our fridge, propane, rainwater, electricity (solar panels, wind generator, batteries), camera, computer – hmmm, I guess these are more than three items, but all needed to function on our boat. :-)

4.            What is the best piece of equipment you have bought for your boat in the last year?

New jib and new anchor chain; again both needed. We only buy things for the boat that are really required.

5.            Do you jump into the water head first or feet first?

Tippy toes first! Feet first when it has to go quick; head first when naked (otherwise I lose my bikini).

6.            What is your favourite sun downer tipple?

Rum and coke in the Caribbean; a glass of red wine for me and a glass of beer for Mark since being in French Polynesia

7.            What makes an ideal anchorage for you?

A quiet, comfortable anchorage in 10 feet of clear water over a sandy bottom with healthy reefs within swimming distance

8.            Where is your favourite anchorage?

If I would tell anyone, it wouldn’t be quiet anymore! :-)

9.            What hobbies or pastimes do you have when not doing boat maintenance?

Writing, reading, snorkeling, hiking – free activities to make up for all the money spent on boat maintenance…

10.        What is your favourite knot?

If you don’t know how to tie a knot, tie a lot! But, the bowline remains my favorite!



And these are the questions from SV Terrapin:

1.       What was the defining moment when you knew that you had to set sail?
 

Buying Irie in Annapolis in 2007, discovering that our dogs Kali and Darwin liked the catamaran, receiving my Greencard (which we only needed for me to stay long enough until Irie was ready to go, but we were ready before the Greencard arrived) and sensing new adventures.
   
  
2.       What's the one comfort you wish you had while cruising?

 

A pressurized shower with warm water… and ice cream
 

3.       How long do you plan to be out?  Is it until the money runs out or are your plans finite?
 

Until we are ready to do something different, but not less exciting.
 

4.       What is the most awesome place you have visited so far?
 

Galapagos Islands – runner up: San Blas Islands in Panama
 

5.       What is the least awesome place you have visited so far?
 

Cura̤ao Рrunner up: mainland Panama (not so much for the countries themselves, but for the negative experiences we had there)
 

6.       What advice would you give our family as we're about to set out?
 

Don’t go overboard preparing and equipping your boat if it means postponing your departure – you will figure things out along the way and prioritize by experience which items are required for your life aboard. Also: don’t rush anywhere, try to avoid being on a schedule, and take the weather into consideration – always!
 

7.       What is the one place that you can't wait to visit?
 

There are just too many (only some of them boat-related)… But, let’s just say Tonga for now.
 

8.       Wine? Beer? Margaritas? Feel free say all of the above
 

All of the above amongst both of us.
 

9.       Do you ever get sick of your crew?  What do you do for personal space on a boat?
 

This is a toughie… :-) No, we don’t get sick of each other. When I need personal space, I go down into one of the hulls or go for a swim; when Mark needs personal space, he just (mentally) blocks me out and focusses on what’s on hand.
 

10.   What is the one non-essential item on your boat that you would not want to live without?
 

The dinghy (based on Rosie’s similar question higher up, I should probably answer “my husband” here…)

Although we don’t have the internet sources to follow a lot of blogs, I do enjoy reading the stories of friends we met along the way. These are the blogs that I nominate for the Liebster Award, to keep the momentum, recognition and interest going:

1)      Lisa Dorenfest

2)      SV Juffa

3)      SV Reach

4)      SV Gypsy Blues

5)      SV Pitufa

6)      SV Liward

7)      SV Zenna

8)      SV Chapter Two

9)      MV Domino


I understand the internet limitations of most cruisers and I respect everyone’s choice as to participate in the Liebster Award or not. For those blogger friends of us who are interested to continue the Liebster Award tradition, here are my questions to you:

1)      What prompted you to start cruising?

2)      What is your ultimate goal with this adventure (reaching a certain destination, circumnavigation, personal achievement …)?

3)      Name five things you do every day on your boat that you wouldn’t do if you were to have a different lifestyle.

4)      How do you make your relationship work onboard?

5)      What makes you smile?

6)      What is the boat chore you dread most? Feel free to mention more than one!

7)      What do you love about your floating home?

8)      What would you change about your boat if money is not an issue?

9)      Which anchorage do you prefer: a snorkeler’s dream or a hiker’s paradise?

10)   What has been your personal highlight since living aboard? And your personal nightmare?



Thanks for reading and participating!