Makemo is an atoll, about 20 miles long and 2 to 5 miles wide with one good pass and one kinda shallow sketchy pass. The water in the lagoon is about 82 degrees and wonderfully clear. With the wind coming from the north, we were nicely protected, tucked up close to shore. Most of the land is low coral and sand with palm trees. I’d be surprised if anywhere on the island was 10 ft above sea level. Most of it is a green ribbon of land no more than 500 ft wide, with occasional cuts through that let some water in and out, and provide a great place for locals to put their small run-about boats.
On June 6, we took the dinghy to shore and walked around Pouheva, the small town near the pass in Makemo.
We met a man who was going to harvest some coconuts in his yard and he had us come and catch them as he cut them down with a 20 ft pole. Then he opened 3 and gave them to us. Nothing like fresh coconut! He also gave us a papaya and invited us to come back any time. We offered to pay for the coconuts and papaya and he smiled and said no.
There was a covered area with volleyball and ping pong that seemed to be where all the teens hung out.
They had a number of windmills that were lying down but could be tilted up. Not sure why they were not up.
We met a really fun group on a boat named Wild Tribe. We had seen them in Nuka Hiva and Hiva Oa. Two brothers with their wives and 6 kids! 10 people on the boat and a lot of fun. They invited us and another boat over for sundowners.
On June 7 we headed out the pass and turned west for Fakarava.