Land...at last!

Current Position: 09 Deg 48 Mins South, 139 Deg 01 Mins West.
We're now anchored in Tahauku Bay on Hiva Oa. It's so nice not to be rolling around. We had a total nightmare when we arrived in Fatu Hiva yesterday evening as it's very steeply shelving and very crowded (what are all these people doing in our island paradise?). After 26 days of sailing we tried and failed to anchor 4 times in the Bay of Virgins before we gave up and decided to sail through another night to get to Hiva Oa. At that moment, the heavens opened, the mainsail wouldn't go up (caught on the lazy jacks), the engine starter circuit failed and the stern toilet stopped working (flooded would be a more accurate description). That was definitely the low-point of our Pacific trip. Reminiscent of our non-arrival in Rodney Bay after the Atlantic crossing. What an anticlimax. That gin and tonic we'd been looking forward to was not to be. Had to haul ourselves up for yet another night watch instead and we sailed through the night to anchor up in Hiva Oa. But...it was worth it. We've just been ashore, wandered into town and watched a football match with the locals (in our best French - v confusing after speaking so much Spanish). We chatted with them, and got some money out. We have both now had showers - H has clean hair, and C is no longer visibly grubby - honestly - he was dirtiest he's ever been - he'd reached 'dirt saturation point' and the dirt was just sitting on his skin (all in the interests of saving water you understand...) Tomorrow, we're going to get all our laundry done - mmmmmmmm clean us and clean sheets! Fatu Hiva and Hiva Oa are outstandingly beautiful, we've taken lots of pixtures so you can see. It's a bit like the Lake District, except it's really sunny and warm, and at the foot of the mountains is the sea. Got an appointment tomorrow to see a man about some ink, and plans to go and see lots of archaeological sites/mountain climbing. But, for now, think we're going to relax and have another GnT and watch the Life of Brian with popcorn. And then sleep. A lot.
C&H xx