Gite de Poingam - the northernmost extremity of mainland New Caledonia

Well, we haven't moved today and have spent the whole day here anchored off a beautiful white sand beach. We are anchored out about quarter of a mile from the beach because there is a very wide coral shelf which makes the beach almost inaccessible - certainly at low tide. So. we waited until about 11 before there was enough water for the dinghy and outboard and gingerly motored in. Beautiful day but still blowing quite hard from the SW.
By more good luck than management we landed almost exactly at the Gite which is not flash by any means but a lovely establishment right on the beach and secluded behind big trees with separate cabins for guests and a restaurant and bar. We enquired about lunch and that was all OK so we said we'd be back in an hour and set off on a walk up the back from where there was a great view out over the bay. They are also nature conservationists of a type with signs all over the place with information about flora and fauna but we didn't see much of either, it being all very arid and scrubby. However, lunch was good with a bottle of red - Jean had fish and Jim steak. A large friendly dog sat under our table and was surreptitiously fed with the occasional chip!
Then afterwards we wandered outside and sat under a tree on the beach and went to sleep! After waking a little later we saw David and Mary and the French couple from "Lifou" coming in so we waited for them on the beach, had a chat and then returned to the yacht while there was still sufficient depth. We've never fancied coming across the coral in the dark with minimal water. Rocks and outboard propellors are not a good mix!!
So now back on board for a good night's sleep before our next stage - 20 odd miles to Baie de Pam.
Cheers again from us
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com
P.S. Wot's happening in Godzone lately?? Is Hone behaving himself, has the Maori Party disintegrated yet, how's the World Cup going, etc etc!!!!

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