March 18 - Te Moana Resort

 Sorry my snow bound friends in Ontario, but the weather remains sunny and hot. Thankfully, there is a slight breeze off the ocean to make it bearable. From our balcony we can see immense breakers as the waves hit the barrier reef protecting the shoreline of Punaauia. It is hard to tell how big they are but I would estimate the waves to be bigger than three meters.

We went to the local corner store to see if we could find some Gatorade to help Marg with her leg cramps. The manager said they did not have anything like this, but suggested a multi vitamin drink with many fruit juice combined. What he did not mention was the fact that drink contain a healthy does of pepper. It was enough to make you sick with one gulp.

At the beginning of the afternoon, while sitting on our balcony, we heard a lot of cheering and yelling. It turned out that we are here for the Moorea to Punaauia canoe race. I believe the canoes circle Moorea island and then cross the strait to the main island of Tahiti finishing just down the shore from us in Punaauia marina.

The Hawaiki Nui Vaa race, in November, is the largest outrigger canoe race in the world. It is a three-day marathon that covers 130 km, starting in Bora Bora and ending at Punaauia. It is the equivalent of French Polynesian Super Bowl.

Each village in French Polynesia enters an outrigger canoe and they carry with them the pride of the village and the families. They are accompanied by motorboats filled with spectators, that loudly cheer and encourage the racers to row faster. It is hard to say, but over the space of an hour, I suspect there may have been more than 50 crews paddling like crazy for the pride of their village.

Later in the afternoon, we went for a swim in the lagoon and sat out in the sun. There was a rookie bar tender in lagoon side bar. All he could do was pour beer and make Pina Coladas. At least the beer was cold and Marg’s Pina Colada was good.

Tonight, went to a local restaurant called the Blue Banana. The food was good and the place was packed with locals and tourist alike.