Ahoy,
At 3am this morning I was woken up and evacuated from my Moorea Campsite, due to the expected Tsunami a result of the dreadfull Chillian earthquake! Staying on the western side of Moorea we were on the wrong side for the Tsunami to be a danger but one can never be too cairefull, I would be a fool to stay and snooze in my flimsy tent.
Already Exhausted by boat dutys, thousands of sea miles and roughing it like never before, campsite evacuation was not exciting but a reluctent move. For almost 7 hours i waited on the islands high ground with 2 Finnish Backpackers. Late morning it was safe to return to the campsite, the panic was over. there was no Tsunami.
Easter island was hit and also i would imagine the Pitcairn islands and the Gambier group too. I am lucky, very lucky. If this had happened just one week ago i could have been a victim.
I have been trying to upload more photos but the internet cafe computors in French Polynesia are slow and poorly equiped. I will do a mass photo upload as soon as possible, but probably not until Rarotonga.
Au revoir
Felix
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Hi Felix. Whew more high drama!! So relieved to hear that you have stayed clear of the danger. You are fortunate to have been one step ahead of danger. It is uncanny but just the day before we were speakinh to friends from the UK who are pioneering for a year in Puerto Escondido on Mexican coast. They have been experiencing minor earthquakes and tremors there for the last week. They had family to stay from Bournemouth up til Monday and two of them had the experience, on different days, of being in the shower when earthquakes struck. Everyone else in the building fled outside and left them alone and in a quandary whether to flee outside naked or stay put, alone in terrified in shower. Everyone else ended up on the beach in shock, then it dawned on them that was the worst place to be in the possible event of tsunami and they should be heading in opposite direction of high ground behind the town - so they ended up scared and insecure all over again. A few of us did some research on the US Geological Survey website over coffee and after the ministry on Saturday morning and were astounded to learn that there had been 32 earthquakes rated over 2.5 on the Richter in the world on Friday and 42 on Saturday, including 25 shocks, aftershocks and tremors in Chile alone. "There will be earthquakes in one place after another . . . ." has never had such forceful meaning to us. Anyway dear Felix, you seem to be in control of your situation like a true sage and wise global adventurer. Stay safe and sound dear friend. Listen to your heart but let your head rule, take good care and only sensible risks and stay close to God and those who love you. You are amazing. Much love, Steve, Jenny and Ellie xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Felix, I am sure you deserve your hard earned rest after duties aboard the Southern Cross. I hear you got to all the outer Pitcairn islands much to Seth's pleasure I am sure. Paul also told me of his adventures swimming with the sharks. I'm not sure I feel happy about that one! He was up at 4am in Mangareva readying the boat for the tsunami. They only had a 1m wave there as they were inside the two reefs but according to Brenda on Pitcairn the waves there were about 5m. They went down and secured all the longboats and took the outboards to higher ground, then watched as the harbour emptied out and refilled for the next 5 hours or so, must have been an amazing sight in that harbour. Love all your photos, no doubt you will see Graham in Rarotonga and let me know when you are arriving in Auckland. I am recovering well from the fall but still look hideous with my hair all shapes and sizes. I can pick you up at the airport if you like. My email is addisonchrissy@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteCheers Chrissy