May 25 - Rangiroa

We rented bicycles for 1/2 day at 500 fcp (1000 fcp for a full day) and went into Avatora, about 6mi., to the other end of this motu where the other pass is. There was more vehicle traffic than we expected, and several clinics, a bank with ATM, several good magazin's (stores), lots of dive outfits, a few pearl sellers, a couple churches, lots of small private lodging facilities and a few restaurants. People were friendly and the streets were clean.
We went with a few other folks to snorkel Tiputa Pass, but the current was fast and it was so deep we didn't find it all that exciting. We (Matt is still nursing an earache so he stayed back)then snorkeled the west side of Motu Fara, a small sandy motu just inside the pass, where we were able to tie our dingies to buoys set in the coral. There were hundreds of fish, and our friends had brought pancakes to feed them. It was great fun to have them come up and hand feed right in front of our eyes, but we didn't let the large fish get all that close! A few morey eels swam out from their hiding place, and there were a few sand sharks resting on the bottom. We then took the water taxi (250 fcp pp) over to Tiputa (across the pass), and walked thru that small village for a bit before returning by water taxi to the other side and lunch at the wharf. There are about 8 boats here now, and 3 boats expected this morning on the tide. Weather has been blustery, with squalls coming from the E, ENE and ESE directions. Holding is good; we're anchored in 34', sand, and there are a few low scattered coral heads about. Btw, Sue's managed to upload (on very sketchy internet connection!) several new Picasa photo albums - enjoy!

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