[password] NZL9424A27ZMU3791
[position] 20 24.531S 166 08.096E
[status] Wow it is hard to believe we have been here in New Caledonia for two weeks already. We had two enforced days on board awaiting clearance from Bio Security. This was a visit of around 5 minutes with nothing taken from us. We spent the rest of the day checking out the new surroundings of Doueoulou. We found a bakery that makes bread daily in old wood fired ovens. The loaf we bought was half eaten before we got back to the boat. Yum. The village houses are quiet western looking made out of concrete block and then plastered over roughly but on every property there is also a traditional round thatched roof building. This is a sleeping house and also where ladies do there mat making. Because of the enforced time on board and lack of fresh produce we hired two buses to take everyone to the other side of the island to a large supermarket for supplies. The local villagers also bought produce down to the beach for us to purchase as well. We hired transport to show us around th
e island, which was really great. So much you don't get to see when you only travel by sea. We left Lifou one week after getting there. On our way to Ouvea we ended up breaking our halyard.The sail stayed up until we turned into the wind then slowly dropped itself into the bag. Neither Glen nor myself are looking forward to climbing up the mast to fix this problem, but we did find someone in our rally that was more than keen to help. We arrived into the bay of Mouly on the island of Ouvea. Wow, Wow this is the beach that all the travel brochures use. Silky white sand beaches and crystal blue water. We spent a lot of time walking around looking at all the old churches. Some are very beautiful and well looked after and others not so well looked after,unfortunately. Most of them are Catholic. We tried to walk to the post office for a SIM card for the phone and realised that it was miles, so we hitch hiked!! Everyone who lives there stops for anyone who puts there finger or thum
b out. We got picked up in a rusty old ute that had the tail gate hanging of and a sunroof in the cab that came about because it just rusted away as well as a spider web of a windscreen held together in places by tape. But it saved our feet and we got to where we wanted to be. We picked up Graeme and Sue at Ouvea airport and have them on board until Saturday 26th. We are currently at Atoll de Beautemls-Beaupre which is another one of those picture postcard places. Shallow anchorage with only enough room for no more than 7 or 8 boats. Currently there are 6 boats here. The island has Terns, Puffins and some other large bird nesting on the beach and rocks. I will update Facebook with photos when we next have phone coverage. Should be in a couple of days. All good on board. Enjoying some fantastic weather now as it has been a bit cool here during the early part of our time in New Caledonia.[END]