View of Suwarrow from our boat. You c an see the dinghy dock where we would pull up for visits to PapaJohn, Peter, and Baker, the three residents.
A photo taken from Suwarrow of the Northern Cook Islands. Only three caretakers live on this National Park, but they are frequently visited by cruisers like ourselves.
Every time a new cruiser arrives at Suwarrow, PapaJohn hosts a potluck dinner. Cruisers, mostly from the US & UK, gathered for food, drink and music while we talk about our travels.
Hermit Tom Neale, New Zealander, lived on Suwarrow, and this memorial was built for him.
Blacktip reef sharks gathered around our dinghy as fish was being cleaned for dinner. Although they are harmless, they were quite curious of swimmers.
Look at the size of this coconut crab PapaJohn prepared for our potluck dinner.
Frigate bird nest on a neighboring island (part of Suwarrow). PapaJohn took a few cruisers here on a nice, hot day for a unforgettable visit.
More frigate chicks on Suwwarow.
Dozens of frigate bird nests surrounded us as we walked around this small island at Suwarrow. Mama birds were not happy.
What a sight to see a newborn frigate as frigates circled above us.
Birds everywhere. Good thing we wore hats to protect ourselves from the sun and birds.
Masked boobies were also spotted on our visit to this Suwarrow island. They were very protective of their chick.
A tropic bird and frigate birds fly above in Suwarrow.
PapaJohn makes plates for lunch out of coconut leaves.
MJ snapped this photo on a little walk on Suwarrow. With the cruisers, there were probably only a total of 20 people there.
MJ shows his excitement for Suwarrow in the kitchen of the caretakers, also the location of our potluck dinners.
MJ shucks a coconut for our afternoon drink at Suwarrow. Life is good.
Cruisers enjoy the music of Baker (l.) and PapaJohn (r.), Suwarrow caretakers, during one of our potluck dinners.
MJ and Stephanie were happy to arrive at Penryhn during daylight after sailing from Suwarrow.
A grandfather and his grandson pose for a picture outside of the Penryhn post office and bank.
Kids in Penryhn pose for a picture.
Penryhn women weave baskets during the day to sell to visiting cruisers. Rue, the harbormaster, is on the far right.
The Penrhyn Island customs officer, Ru, and his two girls.
MJ gets a haircut on the beach from Marjim at Penrhyn Island - coconut drink included.
on one of the motus at Penrhyn Island Stephanie holds an undersized coconut crab, too small to take, which she immediately released.
The local Cook Islands freighter comes every few months to replenish the islanders with food and consumer goods. If it brings aviation fuel then the plane from Rarotonga can fly in with passengers.
Penrhyn Islanders receive food staples and consumer goods brought by freighter.
Stephanie inspects and grades raw black lipped oyster pearls offered in trade for some of our spare gear at Penrhyn Island.
Stephanie dons her foul weather gear in preparation for taking her shift on deck. The temperatures kept dropping the closer we got to San Francisco.
The watch alarm rings every fifteen minutes to remind us to scan the horizon for shipping and other hazards, like islands, but there is time to get a little cat nap in - especially if you have been sleep deprived for a week.
Stephanie smiles in anticipation of a hot shower and a visit from Mom as we approach the Golden Gate Bridge on our way back home.
MJ reeled in this small Mahi Mahi on the way to Hawaii from Fanning Atoll. They seemed to bite around dawn or dusk.
The coveted two story hut separates the 'upper' classes from the rest on Fanning Atoll.
Here is a typical family compound on Fanning Atoll with open huts made from palm fronds.
The feral dog population on Fanning Atoll is large and these little guys are part of the newest crop. Dogs sometimes find their way into the cooking pot on Fanning.
A Fidler Crab displays its insanely large claw on Fanning Atoll.
These three didn't know wheather to be happy or sad when we gave them pencils and notebooks to use at school.
The Fanning Island Kava Club meets pretty much daily so the members can drink kava and sing traditional Kiribati songs.
Coconut crab in a tree on Fanning Atoll, Kiribati.
This photo actually belongs in the Fiji group as it is one of MJ snorkelling on a coral head at Makongai, Fiji.
The lagoon at Suwarrow is thick with these relatively benign Black Tips. They were attracted to the blood and guts from fish cleaning.
