A Pacific Adventure

[atgreg]

These aren't bike photos but i thought you might be interested, a few years ago, the summer of 89-90. I spent 3 months sailing round the pacific on an old square rigger, from new Zealand to Pitcairn Island, home of the Bounty Mutineers, we were on Pitcairn for the bicentenary of the mutineers finding the island. From Pitcairn we sailed through french polynesia to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands from where I flew back to oz, it was certainly an adventure !!

Eye of the Wind in Auckland harbour where i joined the trip

A few supplies

Although we were paying customers, we worked the ship, we were split up into watches and did 4 hours on, 8 hours off. here's my watch

Breadfruit,

the reason the original voyage took place, the british were looking for a cheap food to feed the slaves in the West indies so they sent the Bounty

to Tahiti to bring some back. On the return voyage Fletcher Christian led a mutiny and put Captain Bligh and other members of the crew into a long boat and abandoned them. Eventually the mutineers settled on Pitcairn island and were lost for decades before their descendants were found.
We left NZ and headed into the roaring 40's heading east for Pitcairn, we were learning how to handle the ship and struck some interesting weather







Eventually after 28 days at sea we arrived at Pitcairn

it's a tiny place, about 2 miles x 1 mile, about 50 descendants of the mutineers live there. We spent 10 days on the island, exploring the history and celebrating the bicentenary with the islanders






Fletcher Christians Descendants

more to come

[Mabels Old Man]

That's absolutely bloody brilliant. Where did you get details from?

It's on my list of things to do now.

[Sharribee]

wow that looks a fantastic experience, great pictures

[atgreg]

The bicentenary stuff was fun, with a reenactment of the mutineers landing and a huge feast







Soon we were off, sailing along through French Polynesia, Mangareva, Huahine, Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti then to the Cook Islands

























Eventually it was time to fly home to oz, what a trip, Ive got 100's of slides but Ive only scanned a few, wish digital cameras were around then. A couple of things, sailing is so much like biking it's amazing, the journey is as important as the destination. Also I never thought 12mph could feel so fast but surfing down the swells in the roaring 40's and being on the wheel and in charge of this 140ft beastie was as addictive as fanging on the bike.

[markincyberspace]

Wow.... (sound of jaw dropping)....
and once again just for good measure....WOW

[Eyetee]

You lucky old sea dog

I was fortunate enought to spend 10 days on the Leeuwin we were looking for the worlds biggest fish the Whale Shark, started in Monkey Mia and went North to New Plymouth, a real treat

http://www.leeuwin.com/