To back up slightly, yesterday (boxing day) was a down day. I swam and read pretty much all day. Unfortunately I was a bit neglectful on the sun-block and so was a bit tender by the end of the day. On the plus side it's been a while since a read a whole entire proper sized novel in less than 24 hours, so that was nice. A bit tired today though given it was about 1am when I finished it.
After all the sun yesterday I decided an afternoon on the bike was a good idea, and so headed off before midday. It was nice to be on the hike and not in any kind of hurry. The speed limit on the entire island is 50kms and traffic is very courteous. I think it is that 'island time' again. The rain started just as a sprinkle and I found a convenient bus shelter. It stopped, I started up again, it started and took me a wee while longer to find shelter. All up I probably stopped five times for the rain, getting a bit wetter each time. My original plan to circumnavigate the island (all 32kms of it) was a bust and I turned around after maybe 11kms. On the way back I stopped at a dive place and booked a refresher and a proper dive, and they gave me a cup of tea while I waited out yet more rain. It completely chucked down for a while before easing off, and though it hadn't stopped completely I needed to get home as we had booked a cultural show and dinner evening and we were being picked up at 4. I made it home with time to shower and various people telling me 'I told you so' when they saw my very wet self. Still it wasn't cold at all, and I finished up in my togs and skirt as the T-shirt was less than effective at that point. I'm not sure if this counts as a no swim day, perhaps technically...
The cultural show was fun, there was a village tour first where they showed us fishing gear and costumes and medicine and how they were made. The photo is George our guide just as we are about to enter the village. Then dinner and the show which featured fire-dancing and drums and lots and lots of very comely lasses wiggling their hips. Very picturesque, and we all managed to avoid joining in at the end. Dad in particular was practicing his 'I don't think so' face!
That's it, home now, Mum and Dad are off to Aitutaki for a couple of nights in the morning (early) so I won't see them until Sunday.
I have been surprised at the wind here, it's pretty constant, and while it hasn't been too much of an issue, I certainly noticed it on the bike today. Coming home I did seem to have more of a tail wind which was nice. Still, definitely wouldn't want to be camping!
That's me, hope the humidity has dialed back a bit, I hear it's still been pretty unpleasant.
All the best
Sarah
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