Photo Gallery - November 2003
Pictures can be clicked to see a large
version of the image.
The
skipper at the helm as we leave Tarawa, Kiribati.
The
"Kiribati Chief" anchored at Tarawa. We waited several extra days at
Tarawa for fresh vegetables which arrived in refrigerated containers aboard the
supply ship.
Leaving
Tarawa, Jordan at the helm and Jonah lounging.
Kate
on lookout duty while entering the lagoon at Butaritari about 100 miles North of
Tarawa. Also part of Kiribati, Butaritari is the Northernmost atoll in the
Gilbert group and our second and last stop in Kiribati.
Mark
of "Dirty Dotty" anchored in the Butaritari lagoon welcomed us as we
came into the main anchorage by the main village (also called Butaritari).
The
S/V Athanor at anchor off Butaritari village.
The
S/V Infidien with Butaritari village behind it. There were 3 other sailboats at
Butaritari when we arrived, all of which we had met at Tarawa the previous week.
During our time there, 4 other boats arrived making a total of 7 boats, a record
for Butaritari which last year (according to the local police official) saw only
4 or 5 boats the entire season.
View
of the lagoon taken from the village. The land jutting out into the lagoon is
the (very long) deep water wharf where the supply ship moors.
Right
by the main village, half sunk in the lagoon, are the remains of a Japanese
seaplane from WWII. The Japanese occupied Butaritari in the 1930s and kept possession of it until US forces removed them from the atoll (and all of
the Gilbert Islands) in 1942 after taking Tarawa to the South.
Another
shot of the Japanese seaplane.
One
more of the seaplane. It continues to amaze us that a place as peaceful and
remote as this atoll was involved in World War II. Although much evidence of the
occupation and liberation of the atoll can be seen, to the casual viewer (except
for this obvious, glaring example) all of it is well hidden.
A
new platform hut being built in Butaritari village.
These
are some of the huts in the same area as the one being built above. These
structures provide shade during the heat of the day and are built off the ground
to allow ventilation below and to keep pigs and animals off the floor.
Another
group of similar platform huts.
A
group of kids we passed along the road in Butaritari village.
Sign
for the Guest House and store in Butaritari village.
This
interesting hut is built out over the water right near the seaplane wreck.
Kate
conversing with one of the local inhabitants who just happens to be a pig.
This
is the inter-island transport ship which makes the run between Butaritari and
Tarawa, a trip of over 100 miles in open ocean. The Peace Corps volunteers we
spoke with told us they much prefer to take the plane which comes twice a week.
Jonah
all set to get in the water with his snorkeling gear. Here we are anchored just
inside the Northern pass into the lagoon. The entrance is between two coral
reefs and there is no land around anywhere. A reef that dries at low tide
provides protection to the West and a small islet is about 2 miles to the South
and another 3 or 4 miles to the North. The water was incredibly clear due to the
distance from any land and the feeling was of being anchored in mid-ocean.
Kate
and Jonah snorkeling around the boat. The current here was so strong they had to
fight to get to the bow then they would drift back at incredible speed. We
trailed a 50ft line with a float attached off the stern so we could catch it and
pull ourselves back to the boat.
In
this shot you can see how clear the water is here. The depth is about 30ft
though it looks like 5 ft. At night with the moon shining the affect was quite
amazing.
Kate
and Jonah walking on the reef at low tide. At high tide this scrap of rock is
completely underwater.
View
from the reef flats toward the anchored yachts (the second boat is "Dirty
Dotty").
Jonah
learns to make meatballs. Here he is mixing the meat ingredients while the chef
instructs him in the finer points.
Jonah
chilling in the cockpit while we move anchorages.
A
visit from some spinner dolphins added some joy and excitement to the day as we
moved from the Northern anchorage down to the Keuea Village anchorage in the SE
part of the lagoon.
Jonah
is completely enthralled with dolphins and calls out to them as they swim below
our bow. He calls out to them and they do tricks for him under the bow like
corkscrews and such.
Kate
at the helm while we are moving anchorages.
Kate
huddles under the awning to get some shade while we are underway to in the
lagoon.
