The following photo essay presents our travel through the French Polynesian island group. We entered in the Marquesas, traveled down to the Tuamotus, and across to the capital Papeete. We hung there for a bit and then cruised through the Societies and out through Maupiti. Six months was NOT long enough to be in this gorgeous group of islands with wonderful people.

After 19 days at sea
After 19 days at sea
growth on hull from offshore sailing
A fellow circumnavigator gave us this tip
a torn Tanbark staysail
Tore the staysail hove to in big seas
The anchorage protected from the trades but open to the N
Hanaiapa Anchorage .protected from the trades
The head guards the entrance to the bay
Notice the head guarding the entrance
group walk
A wonderful small community
a coconut drying shed
Copra drying in one of the many sheds
Anchored in Hanaiopa, French Polynesia
Anchored within a coral covered bottom
North Shore Hiva Oa
One of our tour views of Hiva Oa
enjoying a Pamplemousse
Pamplemousse is so good in FP
an Hiva Oa resort pool
Paperwork finished in Atuona, a lovely lunch at a local resort
An unoccupied retreat overlooking Hanaiapa Bay
The world is a connected place
Our tour group
Our tour group at another scenic overlook
Road sign showing a bump ahead
Wow! I can read French! Ha Ha
A hidden tribal tiki
Tiki's are found in quite a few places here
National Park im Hiva Oa
A National Park of Tiki's
Tiki Dieties
Many Tikis for different occasions
group walk
Wendys favorite; wonder why?
Wendy trying yoga
Wendy trying her yoga pose
Ua Pou Anchorage from one of our walks
UaPou Anchorage
group walk
Ua Pou Anchorage
Ping pong with a net of a parking lot stopper
Creative school and students
A traditional western world store
A real Grocery in UaPou
group walk
A Tiki copy adorns the shore
A lobster dinner
Party for the rally participants
a black sand beach
A black sand beach, not dirt or mud
a black sand beach
The black sand beach was a real eye catcher
A tree with distances to various world cities
Center of the World tree
Tiki in the Marquesas
The Marquesas are known for Tikis
Petr and Monique
Petr and Monique Fellow Cruisers
The stream we hiked along
This stream kept us company the entire hike
Lush foliage in the Marquesas
The hike was filled with a lush jungle and few bugs
Wendy picking her way across the stream
Wendy is carefully picking her way across the stream
Picking her way across a stream
Avoiding becoming soaked we slowly cross a stream
Daniels Bay Falls
The best full falls pic I could get
Shear cliffs on hike
Shear Cliffs leading up to the falls
Two made it to the base
Two cruisers swam to the base in cold water
Our group at Daniels bay with the village chief
A candid pic of our group and the village chief
Fresh Prawns from Daniels Bay
After the hike we had lunch with the chief's family
HF station onwer and Wendy
A visit to the HF shore station on Manihi, Tuamotus
a plate of Ceviche
Lovely plate of mouth watering Ceviche
Manihi Pearls
Checking out the local Pearls
Rangiroa Anchorage
A lovely anchorage in Rangiroa
chruch on Rangiroa
A beautiful church on Rangiroa
Fire Dancers
We spent an evening enjoying the show
Fire Dancing Troupe on Rangiroa
The Dancing Troupe on Rangiroa
Sweet view at the Rangiroa Pass
Lunch and fun at the Rangiroa Pass
Pearl farming presentation
A tour of the Pearl farm is a must
Mom and a Bananna split
Mom loves her sweets
Papette Bananna Split
Best Bananna Split in the Pacific
egg in the center of the Pizza
Egg Sunnyside up...on top of the Pizza
A tunnel through the top of the mountain, Papeete
A tunnel connects the two sides of Papeete
Mom enjoying a Pina Colada
My mom enjoying a refreshing drink
Marina Taina Mooring
View from the mooring at Marina Taina
An expensive bottle of alcohol
An expensive bottle
The prices on these perals, ouch
These perals are for those that have too much money!
yacht anchored in Moorea
A well protected anchorage in Moorea
a yacht anchored in Moorea
We headed across to Moorea a few times
Mother with flowers
Mom loves to stop and smell the flowers
Yacht anchored in Moorea
Peaceful anchorage in Moorea
group walk
Photo Op Mt Tohivea
Tour group on Moorea
A great group for sightseeing
Mini tour sports car fun
A little fun while sightseeing
three women enjoying ice cream
Our host and Wendy enjoying a treat
group walk
Pt Bourayne provide a calm anchorage
Dock in Riatea
I believe this is a RiateaDock.
Riatea Marina
Pulled into the Marina to have some welding done
Rainbow Bora Bora
A Rainbow at Bora Bora
Carving of Bloody Mary Bora Bora
Hanging wood sculpture of Bloody Mary
Mooring at Bloody Marys Bora Bora
The mooring at Bloody Marys Bora Bora
Dock at Bloody Marys Bora Bora
The dock at Bloody Marys Bora Bora
Bloody Marys an excellent experience
What wonderful food at Bloody Marys
Bloody Marys Bora Bora Famous Patrons
Famous Patrons having visited Bloody Marys
Large Wooden Penis
Large Wooden Penis at Bloody Marys Bora Bora
Steak at Bloody Marys
Everything was a culinary delight
Morning light Mt Toomaru
Mt Toomaru with the morning light
Light on Mt Toomaru at mid day
Mt Toomaru at mid day
Evening light on Mt Toomaru
Evening light on Mt Toomaru
US Gunnery station Bora Bora
WW II US gunnery station on Bora Bora
Cevechi in French Polynesia
Cevechi is a delight to the taste buds
Maupiti shore
Maupiti Shore with US made boats
walking around Maupiti
We circumnavigated Maupiti on foot
Maupiti circumnaviation on foot
A lovely hike around Maupiti with stunning views
Maupiti Head
Mt Hotu Parata
Cevechi
I just cant get enough Cevechi
Maupiti Lagoon
Inside the lagoon at Maupiti
Fresh Tuna
Fish does not get any fresher than this!
group walk
More Cevechi
Maupiti Pass
Ready to depart Maupiti

French Polynesia

What can I really say. If the transporter worked (StarTrek) I would visit often. Six months was not nearly enough time. A year, maybe two. That time would be about right. For the nitty gritty I've detailed everything in the blog. Cheers...