Big day out

Our hosts here at Moyyan had organized a 'Big Day Out' for us. We all gathered on the deck at 9am, Cameron the chef provided a picnic lunch 'to-go' and Carlo duly arrived in his Paradise Tour van….and what a great day it was. Santo is famous for its strikingly beautiful beaches and amazing blue holes. So off we went to sample the offerings. Carlo shared his local knowledge as we traveled between one outstanding beach and yet another fresh water blue hole with an obligatory swim at each stop. 

Champagne Beach is typical of the many beaches along the east coast of Espiritu Santo. It is strikingly beautiful and for good reason. It has a wide shoreline of soft, white sand and the water is translucent blue. The soft sand continues several meters into the water, so you can wade in without worrying about cutting up your feet on sharp coral. Snorkeling provides access to a color filled underwater fantasy land. 

The Blue Holes are something else again. Crystal clear fresh water percolates up out of the ground to fill a giant swimming hole. All this is fringed with lush tropical growth to create an wonderfully beautiful amphitheater containing the clearest turquoise water on earth.  That evening ten tired bodies dined in true Moyyan style before retiring to bed and the lullaby of waves lapping the shore.

There is a NZ helicopter working out of Santo Airport supporting an American 'bones' team who are excavating a couple of WWII aircraft crash sites. The helicopter pilot is Rob McPhail who used to live in the Goroka compound when we were there and flew for Pacific. What an unexpected catch-up bridging 35 years which we plan to continue over a lunch tomorrow. 

Monday morning will see Comanche-5 continuing the journey on to Honiara. This leg is is some 560 NM in a straight line and at 4-hours it is the longest flight we have all trip. Naturally we are wishing for fine weather and a tail-wind…! I was out at the airport yesterday checking on the planes and got talking to the local chap in command of the Flight Service tower. He reckons the last time there were five small airplanes on Santo aerodrome was probably WWII and asked if we might indulge this fantasy with a 'one-behind-the-other' fighter plane type of takeoff and low pass over the airport before we head to Honiara. We all recon such an invitation should be taken seriously…..!