Made famous by being the ‘home’ of the mutineers of HMS ‘Bounty”, this volcanic, rock crag juts out of the Pacific. Its inhabitants still bear many of the surnames of those early seamen and they come out to visiting ships to sell souvenirs, honey and trinkets, which they make to supplement their incomes.
We arrived at 8 a.m on the 19th and as we drifted in Bounty Bay, we could see their longboat leaving the small harbour and making its way towards us, through the long Pacific swell.
Coming alongside our break, they climbed the pilot ladder and began to unload their goodies.
Just part of their stores, a marlin tail juts out of the wrapping, fresh fish for us!
After going through our Security checks, they headed for our Lido deck, where stalls had been previously erected, with the names of each islander on them, ready for them to sell their wares, answer questions (and have their passports stamped, if they so wished).
Me, well this was to be my last visit to the island and I was afforded a special treat; to go onshore and explore! Once the longboat was empty we boarded via the pilot ladder and set off for shore.
5 minutes into the journey and a a scream from the engine, accompanied by clouds of steam and a little smoke, dead in the water, with a rocky coastline beckoning all too near, the coxswain delved into the engine compartment..
After some minutes of examination and opinions, he promptly dived off the boat and headed for shore….Er, does he know something we don’t? 🙄 He was in fact swimming to the jetty to get another boat, however those rocks were getting ominously close even with the anchor out and which wasn’t holding . To cut a long story short, a smaller boat appeared and picked us up, the comfort of the jetty beckoned and I touched dry land.
Our ‘dead’ boat still kaput…..
The Longboat house, where their boats are stored,
The small harbour
Piles of aggregate, in preparation for some road building. They get around on the ATVs
We walked up the steep incline from the boathouse towards the town however thankfully, we were taken to the top by an obliging islander. We would have been really shattered otherwise.
Nobody at home…the police were on the ship!
Next to the church and post office, the Bounty’s anchor, The ship having been deliberately burned and sunk, the remains lie near the harbour on the seabed.
Inside the 7th Day Adventist church
We wandered around in the oppressive heat, the road was concrete, however soon turned to soil tracks, leading in all directions. We found a cemetery…
At the entrance, beautifully written prose from the islanders, I was quite touched. (If you right click, you will have the option to open it in a larger photo.)
The cemetery held grave markers of the island’s families, many bearing surnames of the mutineers.
Thence onward to John Adam’s grave, the only known site of a Mutineer. In a lovely spot, under the shade of bamboo trees, it was well kept and obviously tended. His wife and daughter are buried with him.
Here we were picked up by Steve and we had the luxury of riding in a van, whilst he imparted his knowledge of the island. We visited the school and gave the children chocolates.
St. Paul’s pool at St. Paul’s point. Early (brave) islanders used to go down the cliff by rope, now there are steps….
Now a video of my travels……..
The recycling centre
and the collecting point. The glass is crushed and added to cement for roads. Plastic and other waste is sent off in the ship which calls to bring stores.
Pineapple picking
At the highest point
Time to go home, with a boat that works!
We had but 3 hours, however we packed a great deal into it. An unforgettable experience and one to remember!
Coming home…..
