TOP of the Indian Ocean, Piton de Neige, 3070 m
Michael and Dario on the TOP, on the 12th of October @ 4 a.m.
Salina on Pachamama, leaving Port Louis
Leaving Mauritius on Saturday the 8th of October we had a heavy swell from the South and our autopilot did not work properly. The next day, on the height of La Reunion Island we made the decision to go into Port Ouest of Pointes des Galets, La Reunion. In port we got the message that a monster wave killed 3 fisher men that night!
The problem of the autopilot was a mobile loud speaker that was too close to the flexgate Raymarine compass! We normaly need it for our school presentations. Our attempt to calibrate the compass in the port basin early Monday morning failed. The weather forcast was not good anymore and so we cleared in and had a warm welcome by Pierre from the very safe Marina in Pointes des Galets.
On Tuesday we met Remy and got a lift to the mountain village Cilaos, where we did a wonderful hike to the “Rocher Merveilleuse”.
We stayed at Bernard and Marie Payet’s small guest house “Case Bleue” for 2 nights (0692 65 74 96). At midnight Michael and Dario climbed Piton de Neiges. It is with 3070m the highest mountain in the Indian Ocean. They riched the summit at 4.30 a.m.. It was cold but no wind and they were rewarded with a great view. Finding trash, on the 1800 m down to the village, was not easy; – only two small bags of plastics; – congratulation to all people here on La Reunion Island who care for the environment!
Back from the mountain at 8 a.m. Dario joined the family for another 1000 m climb to “La Chapelle”. The beauty of nature you can not discribe in words. Nature itself is one of the best schools and the kids learned a lot. – Here some pictures:
the gorge of “La Chapelle”
We found golden water!
Sabine, Salina, Andri, Noe, Alegra infront of “La Chapelle”
Note: As soon as we see a weather window we depart for Richards Bay, South Africa. Probably on the 16th of October (Dario’s birthday)…and hope to arrive 9 days later @ Andri’s birthday on the 25th of October.