VANUATU: Epilogue

The end of our time in Vanuatu, the end of the 2018 cruising season--and the end of our journeys in the southwest Pacific Islands. We had visions of spending six weeks immersing in snorkeling and sunsets...
Alas, the weather gods had other visions.

Rain arrived the morning Camden left, followed by four weeks of clouds and showers with a few sun breaks. (If we hadn't been so warm, we would have thought we were in Seattle!) As a special treat, a freakishly early tropical cyclone--the first one in September since 1950--kept us boat-bound by heavy rain and strong winds for several days. Concerned about an early start to the cyclone season, we decided to depart from the tropics sooner than planned.

That said, there were still many treasures to be found in the shortened time we had left; and who needs more than a few treasures?

A cargo ship on Malekula Island...

...unloaded a piano onto the beach!

Sweet scenes...

...in the village of Lorlow

Clouds and haze...

...produced very interesting sunsets!
(the sun, disguised as Jupiter)

After playing music...

...in the tiny village of Benaur

Enjoying the company of Noilin and Anne,
in the large and attractive village of Lembinwen
(on a sandy beach under shade trees)

Chatting near the market building;
note the two types of boats,
and the public toilet behind them

Noilin invited us to play for the women's fundraiser;
afterwards, Anne engaged us in animated conversation

Fundraisers generally involve selling food:
usually a thin sauce of ramen noodles,
cabbage, and tidbits of canned meat
on a bed of rice

When the sun came out,
so did the umbrellas...

...and we headed to shore for a picnic

At Lamen Bay,
we were often visited by turtles...

...and occasionally by local canoes
(bailing water as they go).
This couple had just given us several mangoes.
Art: "Would you like some tea?"
Local woman: "Tea?!"
Art: "Would you like to trade the mangoes for some tea?"
Local woman, with a huge smile: "No, just take!"

We did get one epic sunset...

...the kind with a huge range of colors
all across the sky, and that lasts for ages

This haze was our usual view, though...

...with a bit of the unusual:
an outrigger canoe near the cell and radio towers
  of the bustling capital city of Port Vila

Getting duty-free alcohol at checkout
(A liter of Bombay Sapphire for $17 USD?!
Of course Art was happy!)

But he was just as happy
to spend our last dregs of Vanuatu coins
on ice cream. Yum!

After checking out of Customs in Port Vila, we sailed to Aneityum, 180+ miles to the southeast--and therefore much closer to New Zealand. We are waiting for the wind and waves to ease a bit, then we'll make our final voyage from the tropics to Opua!