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Palmerston - The Place
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This has to be the undiscovered pearl of the South Pacific.
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The only way one can get to this undiscovered atoll and meet some of the most generous and hospitable people in the world. Is by boat. The regular cargo ship only stops here once every few months even though it's schedule is for every 6 weeks. If there is nothing for the captain to pick up, either frozen fish or copra then he may just pass it up. Therefore, cruisers are encouraged to stop in at Rarotonga first and bring some cargo with them. We had a group of eight boats that carried everything from a kitchen sink to medicines, mail and essential food. As well as oranges, potatoes, salt, butter, etc. Mary in Rarotonga will help. Ask for her at the harbor master Don Silk.
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This is Palmerston Island from a distance. A low lying island no taller than the palm trees that grow on it
Although it is not the only island on this\is atoll it is the only inhabited island
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North Island, seen here. This is the only one of two that is farmed for copra or coconut crabs
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Jerry at the wheel as we approach Palmerston Island
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Our wakeup call the 1st morning, was this 20-25 foot whale singing to us under the water. Jerry herd it first and got me into the cockpit to see this wonder of mother nature. It circled us twice then dove under the boat and off to check out another of these weird things invading it's cruising grounds.
The islanders asked us to fill out forms to report sightings and there details
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A beautiful white coral beach. Since the whole island is an atoll on coral there is no sand only crushed fine white coral.
(When coral dies it looses it's colour and turns white)
Cook's island off in the distance
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The official Palmerston Weather station
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Left - looking through the window into the radio station
Right - There new radio tower. The old one was leaning rather heavily to one side after a storm
There only regular contact to the outside world is a radio-telephone call placed to Rarotonga each morning at 9:00am on 4 MHz band. There is a licensed operator on the island so they will change frequency to one of the preset ones set up for them by Telecom in Rarotonga. We used it to keep in touch with them for a couple of weeks after we left until we got out of range.
Radio Rarotonga has a station that uses one of the 12MHz frequencies. We were unable to raise Radio Rarotonga after we left to get messages back to Palmerston.
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Kori & Phill - the island shared and owned Generator house. Kori is the official mechanic for the islands generator
Just about everyone has an official job. That is how they get subsidized from the Cook Islands government. None of it is fake they are all needed jobs and the pay is not exactly going to break the bank. It is usually just enough to .... well you can judge for yourself. But they are generally happy people. Only a few want to change things or leave
Unfortunately it was broken and everyone was using three own generators. It had been broken for some time and they were waiting for parts
The sign we are pointing to (I don't think it is readable) are the rules. I don't remember what they were, but I do remember that they were very funny
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Every afternoon at 5:00pm the island gets together for a game of volleyball.
After some mixed games the cruisers took on the locals. We got our proverbial butts whipped. But it was great fun and good exercise after the limited exercise we got on the boats or just walking around
Notice what we are playing on, white coral. I got a really bad scratch on my knee form diving for a ball. It looks soft but don't be fooled.
You can't cheat either. They know all the rules, and know if you try to make one up
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One of the local cocks pick for food wandering around Simons yard, it you can call it that - There are no fences here!
Outside of fish, chicken is a staple food stuff
(The Kubota tractor caught Jerry's eye - she worked for Kubota for over a year before the trip)
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Left - Alfred and Tepoua's house
Right - Alfred and Tepoua's kitchen
Alfred and Tepoua are brother and sister. It is not uncommon for siblings to support each other in this manor.
Alfred and Tepoua live a more traditional lifestyle. The palm leaf house lasts about 9 years before the roof and walls need reweaving. They were not the only ones living in the older palm thatch houses although the majority preferred a more modern facility. Kori's parents house has showers and a washer and dryer amongst other modern amenities. Tepoua is very proud of her white coral floor and the well organized stones marking the outer edge of her kitchen
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