Tahiti

Tahiti Fin

We did have a nice time while trapped in Tahiti. Our wonderful friends on SV Quo Vadis were off on an adventure so they loaned us their bikes for a few days. We had a blast riding all over the northwest corner of Tahiti.

Afternoon tea and homemade scones with Claudia and Tibby, SV Quo Vadis:

We should have brought bikes from the start:

Why do they put metal posts in the middle of the sidewalk? Road rash:

We rode three towns over to the east. They call this a town hall but the way I read into it it is more like a county seat of government. The several “town halls” we did see were just as nice and elaborate:

Plaque in front of the town hall:

We were trying to ride to Point Venus, where Capt Cook did his astrological observations, but it was a bit mountainous. So we’re going up this switchback?

We made it to the top and decided that was enough. We were miles from Papeete so we had to factor in the return trip! Luckily we found a really nice scenic overlook:

Looking west toward Papeete, Moorea in the hazy distance:

We stopped at several places along the way. We had lunch at a wonderful little place, bought a set of dishes to take back home…yes, and were quite tired upon return so we hit the food trucks for dinner again. The food is so good and reasonably priced. Coconut curry rice and bobun salad, mmmmm:

We heard the interior of Tahiti was quite beautiful so we rented a jeep for a day. The weather forecast was perfect but evidently the mountainous interior of Tahiti does not regard forecasts. It rained and poured most of the day but we still had a great time:

There is a “road” that goes through the middle of the island but it rained so much they had to open the dam which flooded the river and forced them to close the road. Really beautiful lush scenery:

Waterfalls everywhere:

Then we came to this bridge which we assumed was a pedestrian bridge until we saw a truck come racing across:

Crossing this river:

Here we go:

We found out shortly after this the road was closed so we headed back for a visit to the Jardin Botanique!

Galapagos turtle. Glad they had one of these because we missed the Galapagos…

The rain turned to an off and on drizzle so we walked through the garden, it was really interesting:

And no joke, chutes de fruits!

Beautiful:

After a trip to the market we headed back, turned in the car and made our way back to the marina. With the boat back to normal, topped off with food and fuel, and our wallets completely empty (lol), we left Tahiti for Moorea. Leaving pass de Papeete, Moorea in the distance:

We spent a few days in Moorea before heading to Bora Bora. Moorea was beautiful, we wish we could have spent less time in Tahiti and a few weeks in Moorea.

Right now we are enjoying Bora Bora while we wait on weather for the next leg of our journey.

More to follow.