Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Ile des Pins - Part 2

Well team Isis has certainly put its effort into seeing as much of this beautiful island as possible and here is our next lot of escapades:

Team A of intrepid divers - Grant, Phil, Carolyn, Manfred & Tony

Carolyn & Grant keen to get in this clear water

Grant

The 1st diver down with our instructor Bertrand

Nearing the top of Pic Nga

Alison, Carolyn & Manfred on the way down

Our Pirogue for the trip to Bay St Joseph

Our non English speaking capitaine

Nick & his crew trimming the sheets

Limestone islands in the bay

Enjoying the ambience

Soulful Phil forward of the mast

Alison challenges the French pirogue to a race

The long walk through rainforest after the boat trip

Stopping to enjoy our surroundings

Angle shot as we compensate for our leaning camera

Trekking to lunch spot across swollen river

Exhausted on the beach and ready for lunch

Fabulous lunch of langouste (crayfish) cooked by Kanak family


The village where we had lunch

Ready for the long walk back

Squeezing the seventh passenger into our Hyundai Getz hire car!

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Crew of Isis exploring Ile des Pins - Part 1

We hired bikes then later a car to travel the island and enjoy its beauty.

Wine tasting Isis style

Road along coast with great views

Grant encouraging bull in scrub to charge

Grant & Phil looking like a couple of convicts

Interesting history

Phil learning to ride after XX years

Family out sight seeing

Kanak hut

Picturesque community church

Entering Grotte d'Oumagne

Nick at entrance to Grotte d'Oumagne

Stream running through Grotte

Church in Vao - oldest timber structure in Pacific

Totems marking WWI memorial

Climbing Pic N'Ga

Just another big lunch for our explorers at Oure' Tera Resort

Team Stump battling the Internet and computer technology

Noumea to Ille des Pins

Isis leaves Noumea with a full crew bound for Ile des Pins and paradise!

Alison on the helm in perfect weather

Junior skipper Grant in control

2nd mate Phil has a nap!

The owners relax as the paid crew do it all!

Isis in love with Cap N'Dua on 1st night out

Calm start to day 2 as Grant points the way

Isis revels in perfect sailing conditions

Ile des Pins and our anchorage in sight

Carolyn keeping an eye on the happy crew

Boys having a ball

Preparing to anchor in Kuto Bay at Pins

Team Patriot waiting to welcome Isis

Late lunch in paradise

Patriot & Isis crews get together for traditional island dinner

1st course land snails - Phil not happy!

Next day exploring in Kuto & Kanumera Bays

Beautiful tunnel of trees

Kanumera Bay

Isis at anchor (centre) in Kuto Bay