11 Apr 2010 — Rock Islands, Palau
We wish you could see this storybook setting in person but, alas, you’ll have to endure our enthusiastic although feeble attempt to describe it. We’ll do our best to post good pictures on our blog (see note below). It’s been raining off and on, and the sun is filtering through the thin cloud layer at the moment. Air temperature is in the low 80s and water temperature is 83. A truly gorgeous morning.
We are currently anchored in 75′ of water in a small “cul-de-sac” cove which is completely surrounded by a steep 100′ high ridge of jungle except for a very narrow entry slot with a depth of 13′. It’s just big enough for two boats and is calm as a lake. It reminds me of some of the secluded coves at Lake Tahoe except with total green vegetation cover… and the temperature, of course. Early this morning there was a loud chorus of birds with a background of gentle slapping of ripples against the limestone shoreline of the islands. It is overcast and occasionally drizzling. We’re expecting sunshine today so the lighting will be right for pictures. Just outside the pass is a snorkeling site called “Cemetery Reef”. We’ll check it out and other places in our dinghy. Our friends, Rob and Teresa on s/v Yohelah are here as well. They are helping us set up our website. (A tremendous amount of work but we’re excited and think you’ll like it.)
It’s 10:00 am and the sun is out now and it’s time for pictures. We’ll be here for 2 more nights, and we’re sure we won’t want to leave. This is right up there with Fatu Hiva in the Marquesis Islands for the best anchorage we’ve had in our 14 years of cruising! We just like to sit in the cockpit and soak it in.
Note from Linda: To take the marvelous photo of our “hidden anchorage” that is the extra large photo on our Palau page, Dave went on a perilous hike, scrambling up the steep limestone rock and up through the jungle, hanging on to trees/limbs to pull himself up. The photo was taken looking over the rock face, down into the deep anchorage. Then to find his way back… And, as the tide had fallen, Dave needed to drop his backpack/camera into the dinghy from above, before jumping into the warm waters of the lagoon. (See photo above, of how the limestone rocks are “undercut”. The cockpit shower on Irish Melody was a refreshing end to the several hour “fun hike”…
