Rest Easy, Lunambule

• Marmaladejenn's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Noumea

Trip Start Nov 08, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Ongoing

  Noumea, Grand Terre, New Caledonia
Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Well, we arrived! Four months of sailing and island hopping, and we delivered Lunambule to her new home and to her grateful owner. The last 7 days of sailing from Fiji were some of the toughest we've encountered since leaving Panama. First, our motor broke down again about five minutes after leaving the harbor at Savusavu, Fiji. We were all so anxious to get to New Caledonia, though, that we decided to keep going anyway, hoping that Marcos could devise some solution, and if not, determined to make it with just the sails. In the end, Marcos did find a way to temporarily fix the motor. Then, Marcos and I got the flu, the wind turned cold, and we hit a storm that had some of the biggest waves and strongest winds that we've seen this trip. We had to lower all the sails and put up the storm jib for the first time during the whole trip.

New Caledonia is a beautiful island, with a rich Kanak heritage and beautiful natural landscapes. I didn't take advantage of them as I should have! I spent my two weeks here only going on one hike with Adrien, visiting the Tjibao Cultural Center, and spending most of the rest of my time wandering in downtown Noumea. We did go to a music festival to celebrate the first day of summer (winter here), where there was a bona fide hiphop dance off. It was awesome.

Well, itīs been a long trip, and Iīm not going say I wasnīt ready to arrive, but still I feel a little sad to leave this temporary home. I like moving at the pace of the elements, taking what Mother Nature gives you and respectfully using it to make your way. I like the way people on boats help each other, knowing that when they need something others will do the same. We met people, locals and other boaters, in each harbor who shared their food, their time, and their stories, and made this trip unbelievable. But as Marcos said as he was leaving for the airport, "Life goes on," and so on we will go!

A mis dos piratas vampiros, gracias por las risas, las buenas comidas, las fiestas, y las increibles memorias. Siempre tendran una amiga en Portland City!!

Slideshow Share

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

almost there!	Tjibao Cultural Center, Noumea, New Caledonia	big house, Tjibao Cultural Center	Tjibao Cultural Center art, Noumea
ahh! Tjibao Cultural Center, Noumea	muumuus, the latest in New Caledonia fashion	waterfall on Mount Khogi, New Caledonia	Mount Khogi trailhead
Mount Khogi hike, New Caledonia	view from Mount Khogi trailhead	surfboard mooring and gull, Noumea	Ansa Vata, Noumea
sunset, Noumea	just before Adrien left for the airport, Noumea

Previous Entry