We had planned to join David at 11am to have a tour around the village and go for a swim up the river. Just after breakfast we got a VHF message from the English boat Rala that we met at our Mystery bay anchorage to say they were around the corner and would be in shortly. We invited them to join our tour with David. The river mouth has a black volcanic beach that we had to negotiate our way into. David was there to greet us, and very pleased with the extra customers! He took us up to his Yacht Club (Clab according to the sign!) above the coral cliffs. His house was lovely with clam shells embedded into the walls, and lovely gardens. The club was colourfully decked out with loads of flags from all the yachts that have visited. Quite a few houses around the club which were all the extended family. The village spread out along the river, 300 people live here, no obvious way of earning an income, they live off the land and sea. A supply ship comes once a month, they have a nurse but no doctor. We walked around the village and saw a few canoes being built. We met the headmaster of the primary school who said he had 60 pupils. Lots of kids and laughter about. We headed up the river and came to a set of rapids and a lovely pool below where we had a lovely swim in fresh water. We returned to the club where David’s wife and daughter had made us snacks of fried dough balls and sliced pawpaw, washed down with passion fruit juice. Always a little worrying where the water has come from.
Laura and Ian were pretty tired after their overnight sail, we returned to our boats and enjoyed another magnificent sunset.
David’s house at the top of the coral cliff
Welcome to Dillons Bay Yacht Clab and Lodge!
David’s daughter Inside the club
Amazing trees growing around the coral cliff
A boat being built
Another boat further up the village being smartly painted
Kids out of school
Kids playing at the river mouth
The village cyclone shelter
Beautifully made cyclone shelter all made from natural products. The roof and walls were a work of art
The beams are all held together by a vine that is green when tied up and hardens with age.
Feeling shy!
Impressed with the woman power!
More canoe building
Love the grain on the wood
The school playing field looked very well maintained
Our fresh water pool
David and Laura
Gorgeous lush vegetation in the river valley
Ian, Laura and David
David’s canoe
Afternoon sun catching the cliffs
Fishermen heading home at sunset
No wind the sea reflected the sunset colours perfectly
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