Through the Telo Islands, to Siberut Island, and back to Sumatra

Being "canoed" in Patsi!

Scenic trip up the Tabekat River

Carol and Alicia  and drying spices

Local boys preparing coconuts for us

A big send off from the villagers

Maggie at anchor off the beautiful Cubadak Resort

Through the Telo Islands, to Siberut Island, and back to Sumatra

May 3 2016

Since May 1 we have been anchored off the small island of Cubadak, which is near Pedang on the Sumatra mainland. This is the first place that we have had internet access since leaving Lehewa on April 19. Time to get caught up the blogs! Today is Lauren’s birthday and May 1 was Ben’s 11^th birthday. We are certainly thinking about them and wishing them well.

From Sipika we followed a narrow channel through the islands in the Telos group down to a spot on the south end, Pasti’s.  A scenic trip but one that required motoring.  We anchored off another surf resort but did not go ashore. There was a  big surf running that day. We were “canoed” there quite a few times. This is a new verb for us. The locals come out in their canoes and try to sell you something or get a gift. Many are quite persistent. The guide book will tell you if you are likely to be canoed in a particular harbour.

The next day it was a long trip to the first of the Mentawai islands, Siberut. The anchor went down in a protected bay near the mouth of the Tabekat River. No Regrets was anchored there also but were leaving the next morning. It was good to have a chance to catch up with how their trip has been going, and also to discuss our ongoing plans face to face instead of by email. They are picking up a crew member May1 from the next Mentawai Island, Sipora. He has flown from France and they found his name from a crewing website.

We stayed an extra day so that we could take the dinghy up the river. We had heard from Gaia that it is a scenic trip and it was. Alicia and Alfredo (On Verra) came along. It is a narrow river with many side branches and overhanging vegetation. We were trying to find a town up river, but got on 2 wrong turns before finally finding it. But it was worth seeing, very clean and well kept, despite the poverty. There was a small store where they treated us to bananas and coconuts. We attempted a conversation, with many hand gestures, with a small gathering where one person knew a few English words. Alfredo lent a hand fixing a motor bike. Many of them followed us back to the river to see our dinghy. They were a friendly group. The islanders are mostly Christian compared to the Muslim mainland. They have a different ethnic background as well.

It was time to leave the islands and get to Pedang for our visa renewal. It is good we left lots of time as we have just found out that Thurs and Fri are holidays there. The visa expires on Sat but tomorrow is the last day the offices will be open until Mon. It was another overnight trip to get here.  Except for lots of lightening and fishing boats it was uneventful. We managed to sail slowly for 4 hours, but mostly motoring again. We are getting tired of the windless days, and there is no wind in the forecast for the next week either.

Instead of spending too much time in a commercial port, we are staying 15 miles south, off Cubadak Resort until Wed. It is a very beautiful area, clean water, and a resort that welcomes you to their grounds and dock. We still have a healthy list of boat chores that need going and it is a pleasant place to work. We took the dinghy several miles into a small town where we could get much needed cash, a cell phone top up and gas for the dinghy. In the evening we have gone in to dinner at the resort. Besides great food, it has been fun to talk to the staff and some of the guests. It is good to see a resort doing well. They are full this week.

Tomorrow morning we’ll get to Pedang, and hopefully finish with Immigration.