After six months at home, where we consumed more than our fill of salmon, Dungeness crab and good beer (as our waistlines now attest), and enjoyed quality time with family and friends, we returned to Hiva Oa, Marquesas in late March, a journey lasting 31 hours, on several airplanes, the last of which was a twin-engine Otter that provided a sporty final approach and landing in strong trade winds.

A few days later Gadabout was back in the water and we were regaining our sea legs. We were slightly delayed leaving Hiva Oa while we waited for a FedEx package of boat parts (which we now refer to as the Golden Package, but that’s a story for another time). That turned out to be serendipitous, however, as we got to catch up with our friends on S/V Linda Marie when they arrived fresh off their journey across the Pacific from Mexico. Soon it was time to depart and get this cruising season underway. We made a short stop in our favorite anchorage on Tahuata then headed to the island of Ua Pou, our first visit there.

Ua Pou is a beautiful island with striking basalt pillars that appear like skyscrapers through the mist on a cloudy day and are absolutely stunning if you’re lucky enough to experience a clear day.

From Ua Pou we sailed the short 25 miles to Nuku Hiva and the town of Taiohae where we spent the next several days provisioning and preparing for our next hop. Now, it’s on to the Tuamotus Archipelago, where crystal clear water and white sand are the norm and nothing is taller than a palm tree. We can’t wait to share this season with everyone. Please be patient, though… internet is sparse in the Tuamotus so we’ll have to wait for a few weeks for our arrival in Tahiti to catch you up on the latest Gadabout Life!