We made it. 4000 odd miles and we finally made it. In the end, with the winds against us we ran out of time and the boats split up. Lapita Anuta should be on Anuta by now and we arrived on Tikopia yesterday morning, coasting through the small gap in the reef with terribly light winds and a couple of people paddling. In the afternoon the stiff westerly breeze that repeated weather forecasts have promised finally arrived. Such is life.
By this time we had moved en masse into a house just behind the beach. But Sunday is definitely a day of rest on Tikopia and we took it seriously, lounging around the beach and catching up with the Edward, the chief, and some other old friends. In the evening some of the guys dived for lobster, which we BBQ'd outside our new home while Lapita Tikopia bobbed around safely close to shore.
Today we explored a little, climbing up the collapsed volcano for a view of the large freshwater lake on the eastern shore. It was quite a hike after 4.5 months sitting on a boat, but the view is something special.
Tomorrow the training of the Tikopian crews will begin and on Wednesday the boat will be blessed by a priest and we'll party. With luck in a week or so we'll be joined by Hanneke and crew, plus the Anutans she has been training to take charge of Lapita Anuta.
For us the journey is over, but I can't quite believe it. I'm still grinning like a Cheshire Cat. This trip will take some beating.
- Matt Fletcher
