Bora Bora
BARONESS
Jim & Christine Lister
Thu 3 Nov 2011 00:21
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We arrived in Bora Bora at 11.30am (31 Aug) and
picked up a mooring 16.30.04S, 151.45.38W, although we were moved on as the dive
boat lady said it was their bouy. We moved but she moved us on again a few
hours later as she said she needed the bouy.(It was never used!!) Mambo
and Northern Rose were already well settled. It was getting dark by now and we
had had some alcohol! Jim said well "where are we to go!" and she spotted a
bouy that a very large sail boat had been on and was not very visable. This we
picked up and were fine. Bit rolly but ok water not great for swimming and also
very windy and rainy. We moved around quite a bit on Bora Bora going to
different anchorages. We went to an anchorage off Moto Toopua, Lovely clear
water and Rays galor but the rode or "bit of string" as Glen called it finally
broke and we lost the anchor! Tank and dive gear required and Jim located it. We
had picked up a fishing float somewhere along the line, at sea, and this became
useful as he marked the anchor with it and we pulled it up having dropped our
stern anchor off the bow. Re anchored with our trusty Manson but oops Jims tying
on slipped, so anchor lost again. Back for another dive, at least the water was
sooo clear. We did sort it all out and then returned to the mooring bouy
again.
We moved to another anchorage with Mambo, leaving
Pat and Glen on the mooring bouy. Here we went with Heinz and Sylvia to an
opening in the reef where you can swim with sharks and rays. (Remember our
underwater camera is not working!) It was fantastic although as I dropped into
the water which is only a few feet deep, all I can see is a shark swimming
towards me!!! I'm saying to my self " don't panic, keep hands by my side" then
there were rays all around us and more sharks. Local boats had been dropping
food, they were not happy about us being there but we kept at a distance and
ignored them. The tide changed quite suddenly and we had quite a swim to get
back to the dingy's. Heinze took some photo's which we have copies of but we
were so upset that out camera had let us down.
Another must do on Bora Bora is Bloody Mary's, a
restaurant. There are mooring bouys here and also water is available.(all free)
Pat, Glen and Ding had already been and said they had a fantasic burger
and "CHIPS" so Jim., mind set on the CHIPS was really looking forward to this
(we don't eat out often so this was to be a treat) There were lots of mooring
bouys available so picking one up was no problem and as it was about 2.30pm we
thought we would book for the evening. They were very helpful and pleasant. We
got water for us and Glen as he hadn't picked up water there when they went as
he said the jetty was too shallow. We dingy'd the water to our boat. The evening
was a different menu, in fact there was no menu. A women showed you what was on
the menu mostly fish and very expensive, especially as we are used to eating
tuna and Mahi Mahi for free. No burgers and No CHIPS. We just didn't feel like
anything else as we both had our hearts set on this burger and chips. Still we
did have a bloody mary at Bloody Mary's but left and had a jam butty on our boat
before bed. We left very early the next day back to the mooring
bouy!
We visited one other anchorage before leaving Bora
Bora for Palmerston Island. Left with Pat and Glen, Mambo went to the
Cook Islands. Ding we left as he was staying in the area for quite a while
as he did not wish to return to NZ this year.
Left Bora Bora on 13 Sept for Palmerston
Island.
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