So what's an atoll and where is Rangiroa?

Actually an atoll is a circle of small islets that used to circle a volcano that came up out of the ocean and then sunk into the sea. The largest of the great chain of atolls known as the Tuamotu Archipelago, Rangiroa lies almost 200 miles northeast of Tahiti. The islets enclose a tadpole shaped lagoon that is 14 miles across and 46 miles long. This means from where we are on the north side of the lagoon, you can't see to the other side. The islets are no more than 10 feet above sea level. The lagoon is connected to the ocean by two passes with fast currents of 7 knots when the tide comes in and reverses when the tide goes out. People snorkle in the passes and just drift to the other side while streams of fish hustle by underneath them. The interior of the lagoon is wild shades of blue and teaming with many of the fish Janet describes below plus sharks (small ones ... I think) and rays and bunches of others. Some of the islets are bird sanctuaries.

So, we are in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Amazing to us. And soon we may catch up on our sleep and go exploring.

Nous sommes arrives!

We made it to Rangiroa. I coughed a lot on the plane and assume that everyone thought they were traveling with Typhoid Mary but we made it. It is over 80 degrees here and I am dripping as we write this but we snorkled this morning right off the beach in front of our bungalow. Saw Tang, Triggerfish, trumpet fish, Parrotfish and Angelfish by the dozens. We biked over to a fancy-schmancy hotel for lunch and here we are, in an internet cafe, which is really someone's "front" room in a home near the beach.
Janet

One small step...one giant journey

Hello all from Los Angeles. The adventure has begun in earnest. Sitting in an Air New Zealand Lounge waiting for our flight to French Polynesia in about 3 hours. We arrive there in the middle of the night. Can you imagine what sunrise will behold. No strange encounters just yet except with those funny people in a tube that flies through the skies.

The temperature has gone up from 23 degrees this morning in Park Forest to 68 now in LA.
Papeete, Tahiti is our next stop - where it is a reported 80. Better practice the Polynesian hula.
Not sure when I will be connected again as we leave Pepeete on our connection to a place called Rangiroa - an atoll 150 miles north of Papeete - a circle of islets surrouunding a teaming lagoon with entrances to the surrounding Pacific. Janet still coughing - hope she makes it OK in the next leg - 10 hours to Papeete than an hour more.

And damn - we'll have to miss the State of the Union speech.

Mel

One long day to the Southern Hemisphere

We are in a swirl of last minute preparation. Unfortunately Janet has bronchitis but insists on not delaying anything. You know how that goes. Sooooo tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. we drive to O'hare for a flight to Los Angeles (4 hours) then layover of 3 hours, then an Air New Zealand flight to Pepeete, Tahiti in French Polynesia (9 hours 50 minutes) arriving at 2:40 in the morning. Then we have to wait until 9:45 a.m. for a one hour flight to Rangiroa, an atoll 150 miles north of Tahiti - a group of sand islands surrounding a 46 mile lagon teaming with marine life. We should be in great shape ... hah. Hope they have some good movies.

Thank you all for your good wishes (except for the guy with the letter to the editor who must read the comics for his sound information).
We will write short essays on the adventures whenever we can connect probably once or twice a week or when inspired. I hope you will comment by clicking the small comment line underneath each posting (or it may reflect number of comments eg. "2 comments" - and click on those words).

Take care and keep the heaters on. Do you think Janet can learn the Polynesian Hula?

Cheers - Mel

Countdown is on!!!! Four and counting!!!!

Just four more nights at home and then it is off to the Southern Hemisphere. It is Saturday in Illinois and Janet has come down with a deep cough that is both tiring to her and worrying. She is starting to think the trip may be in jeopardy or at least its start. We both hope not. Others came through it quickly.