We are on Bora Bora with nowhere to run. Literally.
There is a motu on the southwest side of the lagoon called Motu Toopua, and we have parked ourselves off the southern tip of it with only about a foot of water under our keels. Our shore excursion to scout running possibilities was a big fat strike out. We started at the Hilton, and it looked promising at first since the guy near the dock pointed us to where we could park the dinghy and we headed past the reception area up by the pool looking for the front of the hotel and the corresponding road. Turns out there’s no road on the motu. The front of the hotel is perched on the water and visitors are shuttled by water from the airport (which is on another motu) by a motor catamaran. Well, maybe I could run on the beach? As we started to make our way to the sand we saw the security guard waving and motioning to us. Damn. Caught. He was extremely nice and told us we would need to check in with reception before we could look around the resort. Tim started chatting him up and asking him if there was any hiking on the motu or anywhere else in Bora Bora, and he looked at us like we were crazy and simply said, “I’m sure I don’t know of any.” I guess people don’t go to Bora Bora to hike. The receptionist was equally polite and told us since the hotel is quite full that normally they don’t let visitors into the resort. However, she would let us stay for 10-15 minutes, and if we would like to have a drink at the pool, that would be OK too. I didn’t ask, but I’m guessing that running up and down the beach while the paying guests are relaxing in their lounge chairs would be frowned upon. The beach didn’t look that nice for running anyway, as it was a bit soft and steep.
It was easy to see that this was a higher class establishment than we had been bumming around at in Moorea. Not just because they didn’t let us stay, but because of the high quality of their public relations. Both the security guard and the receptionist were as nice and polite as they possibly could be. And I loved how the receptionist was basically telling us we could only stay a short while, but she turned it around like she was doing us a favor, making an exception for us because we’re special, and we should walk away feeling good about it. Text book.
We also took a very wet and bumpy dinghy ride over to the southwest tip of the main island, and there was obviously a road there, but nowhere to land the dinghy. A privately owned dock was there mocking us.
So, yesterday I was grouchy. I didn’t want to come to Bora Bora in the first place and now I can’t even run (at least from where we are currently anchored.) I got over my grouch by doing other things I like to do, and then today I went for a paddle (on one of our stand up paddle boards) between Motu Toopua and a little tiny islet just off its southeast tip. There was actually live coral back there with big lipped clams! Not exactly fit for snorkeling though, since it was only about a foot deep.
A cold front is approaching, and tomorrow as it passes there will likely be a drastic wind shift to a more southerly direction. There are plenty of other anchorages on the island with south protection, so should it be necessary, there will, actually, be somewhere to run.
-D.
Gresham Family Exodus 