Legendary Pitcairn Island

Quarterly Tourism Home to the Descendants of the HMAV Bounty Mutineers Newsletter VOLUME II ISSUE I MAY — J U L Y 2 0 1 3

INSIDE Cruise Ship Caledonian Sky CALEDONIAN SKY T HIS CRUISE PASSENGER ISSUE: CHRISTINE STAINES HEARTS AND HOMES VISITS PITCAIRN, ON PITCAIRN ISLAND MAKES A FRIEND AND PITCAIRN ISLAND’S WINS… LONGBOATS On April 30th, with assistance from local Police Of- ficer, Sargent Allan Trow, Pitcairn author Nadine CRUISE SHIPS & THE Christian announced the winner of her recent on-line PITCAIRN PHILATELIC book competition. BUREAU The winner, Ms Christine Staines, will receive a signed copy of the recently published romance novel EXTRACT FROM „Remembering Love‟ and a black pearl necklace and A PASSION FOR THE SEA earrings set, made on Pitcairn by Nadine herself. BY JIMMY CORNELL “I had a fantastic day when I visited Pitcairn on the Caledonian Sky on Christmas day last year. And was

lucky enough to meet Nadine and her children in per- “PITCAIRN son at the Pitcairn Museum, where she works as the ISLAND…? I’VE BEEN curator. As soon as I had the chance I purchased an THERE!’’ E. Copy of the book and then, when it came out in BY CLIFFORD DEAR hardcopy, I had to buy the „real deal‟ and enter the competition. I‟m rapt that I won! It makes my visit to the island even more special .” Winner Christine Staines (top right) ON-LINE MONTHLY with the author and her children Always interested in promoting Pitcairn, the on-line NEWS outside the Pitcairn Museum. competition was entirely the authors own concept. THE MISCELLANY “I wanted to promote the book, which of course is set on Pitcairn, but I also wanted to give my readers FRENCH NAVAL around the world the opportunity to experience a little FRIGATE bit more of the South Pacific and black pearls epito- PRAIRIAL CALLS AT mize the romance of the islands. The response was PITCAIRN fantastic. There‟re a lot of people out there genuinely DON”T MISS interested in Pitcairn and it was lovely to be in a posi- tion to acknowledge that interest.” OUT ! The prize package will be posted to Ms Staines on Sargent Allan Trow draws Pitcairn‟s next quarterly mail ship in June. Meanwhile, BOOK YOUR Christiane Staines‟ winning entry. Nadine‟s readers eagerly wait the release of her next 2014 book. VOYAGE NEW INTERPRETATION BOARDS FOR VISITORS TO PITCAIRN ISLAND Regardless of where new adventures take you in the world there‟s little doubt that one of the best ways to take in your surroundings is to walk about. With this in mind the Pitcairn Islands Tourism Department has erected a series of new interpretation boards which highlight the island‟s many natural, historic and built attractions.

Historic sites and events like; Thursday October Christian II‟s house site, Raising the Bounty Anchor, the stories of the Taro Ground Radio Station and the Pitcairn Longboats and important archaeological sites Down Rope and at Tautama are included in the series. And, the Pit- Tourism Department Staff , Carol Warren, cairn Island Council has recently been provided with another list of (left) and Heather Menzies stand proudly proposed locations for its consideration. beside Pitcairn‟s Early Civilisation sign at Evan‟s Look-out . Pitcairn‟s visitor numbers are steadily increasing. But, the reality is that the island has a tiny work force - just 32 people - to undertake more than twice as many jobs, part-time. This impacts available human resources when it comes to delivering tourism services. So, the aim is to provide as much user friendly information as possible so that visitors can engage with and appreciate Pitcairn‟s cultural and historic attractions at their own pace.

“The new interpretation boards feature great photographs and wonder- ful artwork commissioned by the Pitcairn Island Philatelic Bureau for stamp issues so they‟re practical, attractive and informative.” says local Tourism Coordinator Heather Menzies. “Research shows that travellers rank „access to information whilst on holiday‟ as a third top priority. In Carol & Jay Warren, adding the final touches many cases, quality information makes a positive impact on overall visi- to the sign which commemorates the house site of Thursday October Christian II in tor satisfaction and is an intrinsic part of the visitor experience. It‟s im- Adamstown. portant that we acknowledge our limitations and find creative ways to maximise our existing resources and we‟re all quite pleased with the results so far.

Local resident, Roger Millard (left) and Division Manager, Kerry Young took charge of assembly. Positioned where „Stick‟ , the last of the timber Longboats stands, the island‟s Longboat story comes to life. Carol cleans up whilst local „Dem Tull‟ Editor, Kari Young takes a closer look In his book, ‘A Passion for the Sea‟

author Jimmy Cornell recalls his visit to Pitcairn Island An accomplished sailor and successful author, Jimmy Cornell has sailed 200,000 miles in all oceans of the world including three circumnav- igations as well as voyages to Antarctica, Alaska and Spitsbergen. Thousands of sailors have ful- filled their dream of blue water cruising with the help of Jimmy Cornell‟s books, among them the bestseller World Cruising Routes. With 150,000 copies sold to date, this is one of the best selling nautical publications in the world. Jimmy Cornell‟s books have been translated in- to several languages. He visited Pitcairn on his own yachts in 1978 (Aventura) and 1999 (Aventura Trois), the last as party of the Author Jimmy Cornell Millennium Odyssey round the world rally. . There are few places in the world more enigmatic than Easter Island, and arriving there on your own boat, making landfall at this very special island after 2000 miles of empty ocean, must be one of the most powerful experiences for any sailor. This was our second visit, having called at this Polynesian outpost of Rapa Nui on our first circum- navigation, nearly quarter of a century earlier….. No less fascinating, although for very different reasons, was our next destination: Pitcairn. As this section of the Millennium Odyssey, from Valdivia to French Polynesia, was run as a pursuit race, with individual boats stopping the clock when they arrived at one of the islands, and restarting them as they left, both at Easter Island and at Pitcairn there were only three Millennium boats there at the same time. Because of the very special signifi- cance of Pitcairn, the leading boats had agreed to coordinate their arrival so as to be there together. Furthermore, as the islanders are Seventh Day Adventists, it was decided to perform the Millennium Flame ceremony on a Sabbath. The arrival of three Millennium yachts at the same time caused such a stir in the tiny community that any other day would have done just as well. As on Easter Island, we were strongly advised not to leave the boats unattended as, according to our con- cerned hosts, several boats had been lost in Bounty Bay while the crew were visiting ashore. Unbelievably, two of the incidents involved the same owner, on subsequent visits, several years apart. The joke among the islanders was that the original Bounty was finally burned by the mutineers not in order to destroy any evidence of their pres- ence on the island but because they could not cope with moving the ship every time the wind shifted, just as visiting yachts have to nowadays. We certainly sympathized with the mutineers! Their descendants continue to be intrepid sailors and they showed that by the impeccable manner in which they manoeuvred their longboat through the raging surf into the tiny harbour. Four men had come out to bring us ashore at first light, their names sounding like a roll call of the original mutineers: Young, Warren, Brown and, as to be expected, Christian. They were too young to remember us from our previous visit but once ashore we met several old friends who greeted us warmly. Ivan met some friends of his own age whom he and Doina had joined in the tiny classroom twenty-two years previously, instantly raising the school population from seven to nine. Once ashore, we were all loaded onto several quad bikes and whizzed up a rough track into Adamstown to be greeted at the church by what looked like the entire island‟s population of sixty-seven. I had kept in contact throughout the intervening years with Tom Christian, a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the man who started it all. Tom accepted the Millennium Flame on behalf of the small community, a gesture that I found highly symbolic listening to his comments as the heir of the best known mutineer in history. We were then treated to some beautiful singing, including two moving good-bye songs that Pitcairners normally sing to departing ships. Each crew was then adopted by a separate family, first for lunch, then for a tour of the island on one of those four-wheeled monsters. Loaded with tropical fruit we were taken back to the boats just before nightfall and, as the anchorage looked just as precarious as when we had arrived, rather than spend another rolly sleepless night we all decided to leave immediately.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JIMMY CORNELL AT: [email protected] .

Pitcairn and the Saga Shipping Company

British Saga Shipping Company representative, Ross Furlong was presented with a hand- made model of HMAV Bounty when Deputy Mayor, Simon Young, recently visited the company in the UK. The Saga Rose anchored off Bounty Bay The Bounty model, which now takes pride of place at the company‟s head office in Kent, acknowledges the longstanding relationship Saga Shipping has had with Pitcairn since the 1960s. Though recent changes to the company's world cruise itinerary makes Pitcairn a less Pitcairn‟s Deputy Mayor, Mr Simon Young likely stop for the time being, it is anticipated that their much presents Saga Shipping Company representative, Mr. welcomed visits will resume in the not too distant future. Ross Furlong, with a model of HMAV Bounty

THE PITCAIRN MISCELLANY

The Pitcairn Miscellany is Pitcairn‟s official monthly on-line newsletter. It began publication in April 1959 and, with few interruptions, has been published monthly since its first issue. Described as „a contemporaneous account Keep in touch and chronicle of life on one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world‟ the publication‟s original aim was to simply docu- with day to day ment „bits and pieces‟ of island life which would be of interest to local and international readers. 59 years on, and true to form, life on Pitcairn the Miscellany still enables its subscribers to gain real insight For just into the living history of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian consorts. US$15.00 TO PURCHASE YOUR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR JUST US$15.00 GO TO: a year. www.miscellany.pn

SIMPLY THE VERY BEST.. PITCAIRN ISLAND PURE HONEY If you haven‟t tried it yet you haven‟t tasted the most deliciously flavoured honey in the world. The rich intense fruitiness of Pitcairn Island Honey flows from the nectar of the Mango, Lata, Passion, Guava and Rose-apple flowers found in abundance on Pitcairn. This golden pouring honey is a must have Pitcairn experience To place your order go to: http://www.pitcairn.pn/shop/index.html PITCAIRN‟S LATEST STAMP ISSUE CELEBRATES 2013 CRUISES With the number of visiting cruise ships steadily increasing each year, Pitcairn‟s cruise ship season is always a busy time. Typically it starts around Oct/Nov and runs through to April the following year. The size and type of ships range from small expedition vessels - carrying 100 or so passengers, to huge ocean liners carrying up to 2500 - 3000 passengers.

Most cruise ship companies confirm their booking to visit the island a year or so in advance. The booking is con- firmed by the Island‟s Immigration Of- ficer, an announcement of the pending and built attractions along the way. visit made over the VHF radio, and the As the day of arrival draws near local au- And, for such a small island, there is ship‟s name, arrival and departure thorities begin corresponding, with the a lot to see in Adamstown: the times added to the Cruise Ship Book- ship via email to coordinate activities Church, where the Bounty Bible is on ings List which is ever present on the for the day. This fundamentally depends display, the Pitcairn Islands Museum, Public Notice Board at the Square. on whether the ship intends to land pas- the cemetery and the local market. sengers. However, if sea condi- Those who are fit and healthy wander tions are too rough, all is not lost up over the hill to the top of the island as almost the entire Pitcairn Com- and beyond, visiting St. Paul‟s Pool, munity will be at the ready go on- Highest Point and Ship‟s Landing board to set up the Pitcairn Island Point. Curio and Craft Market, deliver a lecture and mix and mingle with For many cruise ship passengers, passengers for a few hours. getting to Pitcairn is the highlight of their trip. Whether they are able to These days approximately 35 - 45 land or not most convey that having Pitcairn residents might go out to the opportunity to personally meet visit a ship unable to land passen- the descendants of the Bounty Muti- gers. Those who are unwell or, neers and learn about their day to perhaps, a little too frail to climb day lives is what really makes a visit the Jacob‟s ladder to board, are to Pitcairn so truly memorable. encouraged to allow friends and family to take their goods to the And, it‟s a mutual experience. Over Pitcairn‟s latest stamp release features Cruise ship for them - ensuring everyone generations Pitcairners have forged lifelong friendships with passengers, Ships which have visited in 2013: the Marina, has the opportunity to trade. captains and crew who have visited the Pacific Princess, the Costa neo Romantica If passengers land they are wel- on cruise ships. and the Arcadia. comed as they arrive by tender at Bounty Bay. Tourism staff provide At the close of a typical visit both walking maps and general visitor visitors and islanders are refreshed information, and local Quad Bike Opera- and revitalised - enriched by the tors provide taxi services up the Hill of day‟s events, sights seen and friends Difficulty to the Square for those not up made. for the climb. Later, once all are ashore these same operators provide Quad Bike FOR MORE INFORMATION tours of the island. ABOUT CRUISESHIPS VISITING But, many passengers simply prefer to PITCAIRN GO TO: „walk about‟ taking in Pitcairn‟s natural

To learn more or to purchase Pitcairn Islands stamps go to www.government.pn Email: [email protected] French Naval Frigate Prairial Crew enjoy some well deserved R&R at Pitcairn

French naval frigate Prairial’s home port is Tahiti but the 2,590-ton vessel called at Pitcairn Island on April 27th enabling all on board to enjoy some time ashore. Though rough seas result- ed in the vessel having to anchor on the lee side of the island, at Tedside, the ship‟s 96 strong crew were safely ten- dered ashore throughout their 2 days stay on the island‟s Longboats. The community celebrated the visit in true French Naval Frigate Prairial Anchored off Tedside, on Pitcairn style with sumptuous shared the western side of Pitcairn Island. meals at the Public Square.

Its not so www.visitpitcairn.pn hard to make Although there is no airport on Pitcairn Island many travellers are pleasantly surprised to learn that that it‟s actually quite easy to plan a trip to the home of the Dream Trip Bounty Mutineers. to Legendary Most curious travellers start the www.visitpitcairn.pn journey on-line at the Pitcairn Pitcairn Islands Tourism website www.visitpitcairn.pn. From there it‟s a quick email to the on-island Tourism Department and within a Island a day or so the process can be well underway. The Pitcairn Islands Tourism department is probably one of the most helpful travel offices you‟ll encounter in the South Pacific. Their prompt response will pro- Reality... vide you with a detailed outline of what it takes to get to Pitcairn including; scheduled voyages on the their passenger/shipping vessel, the Claymore II, travel costs, required documentation, accommodation options and some very helpful travel tips. Recent visitors, Ranjan Sharma and Stacy Lawson who travelled to the island in March 2013 sum it up, “We‟ve absolutely always wanted to get to Pitcairn Island… how could you not, given its incredible history and isolation! But, it wasn‟t until we contacted the island‟s tourism department that we got that it‟s actually pretty easy to make the dream a reality. It was a great adventure and entirely worth the effort.” For more information contact: [email protected]

PRIVATE CHARTERS TO HENDERSON ISLAND Owned by Stoney Creek Shipping Ltd, New Zealand based vessel Claymore II provides passenger and supply services to the Government of Pitcairn Is- lands. The Claymore and the company‟s sister ship, Braveheart, are available for private charters to Henderson , Ducie and Oeno islands. For more information contact: [email protected]

WHERE TO STAY ON PITCAIRN ISLAND…

When the People of Legendary Pitcairn Island Open their Hearts and Homes to guests, Sharing their History, Culture and Language is all Part of the Process.

“Its the only way to experience what it’s really like, living on one of the most remote islands in the world. The local hospitality is wonder- ful. I’ve travelled every where and rarely felt so at home - I really didn’t want to leave.”

Pitcairn Island has 14 registered Accommodation Providers offering guests a range of home stay, semi private and private accommodation. Guests can enjoy a full Pitcairn home stay experience, sharing all meals and amenities in the home of a local family or they can opt for a semi- private chalet, or studio unit - with optional shared meals, or an entirely private 2 or 3 bedroom bungalow or chalet rental.

Accommodation rates range from US$70.00 – $120.00 per person/per day, depending on type, facilities and location and many hosts offer weekly and monthly rates for longer term visitors and group bookings. Full home stay rates cover full board, all meals and laundry so it‟s great PRIVATE CHARTERS TO HENDERSON ISLAND value for money! To learn more about Pitcairn Island‟s Accommodation Providers go to: www.visitpitcairn.pn

Getting You to

Pitcairn Island

2013 Don’t miss out BOOK NOW!

August / September 2013 Depart Mangareva 27th / Arrive Pitcairn 29th. Depart Pitcairn 1st Sept / Arrive Mangareva 3rd. Depart Mangareva 3rd / Arrive Pitcairn 5th. Depart Pitcairn 8th / Arrive Mangareva 10th.

November / December 2013 Depart Mangareva 26th. / Arrive Pitcairn 28th. Depart Pitcairn Dec 1st / Arrive Mangareva 3rd. Depart Mangareva 3rd / Arrive Pitcairn 5th. Depart Pitcairn 8th/ Arrive Mangareva 10th.

CONTACT THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS TOURISM Help us spread the word ... DEPARTMENT FOR MORE Tell your friends to contact INFORMATION [email protected] for their FREE subscription to the Pitcairn Islands Tourism Quarterly.

EMAIL: [email protected]

Getting You to

Pitcairn Island

Plan Now for 2014 Our 2014 scheduled voyages will enable you to stay on Pitcairn Island for either 4, 11 or 18 days. All voyages are timed to meet Air Tahiti domestic flights between Tahiti & Mangareva.

February / March 2014 Depart Mangareva 25th Feb. / Arrive Pitcairn 27th Feb Depart Pitcairn 2nd March / Arrive Mangareva 4th March Depart Mangareva 4th March. / Arrive Pitcairn 6th March Depart Pitcairn 9th March / Arrive Mangareva 11th March Depart Pitcairn 16th March / Arrive Mangareva 18th March May / June 2014 Depart Mangareva 27th. May / Arrive Pitcairn 29th May Depart Pitcairn 1st June / Arrive Mangareva 3rd June Depart Mangareva 3rd/ June / Arrive Pitcairn 5th June Depart Pitcairn 8th June / Arrive Mangareva 10th June Depart Mangareva 10th June / Arrive Pitcairn 12th June Depart Pitcairn 15th June / Arrive Mangareva 17th June August / September 2014 Depart Mangareva 26th Aug / Arrive Pitcairn 28th Aug Depart Pitcairn 31st Sept / Arrive Mangareva 2nd Sept Depart Mangareva 2nd Sept / Arrive Pitcairn 4th Sept Depart Pitcairn 7th Sept / Arrive Mangareva 9th Sept Depart Mangareva 9th Sept / Arrive Pitcairn 11th Sept Depart Pitcairn 14th Sept / Arrive Mangareva 16th. Sept November / December 2014 Help us spread the word ... Tell your friends to contact Depart Mangareva 25th Nov/ Arrive Pitcairn 27th Nov [email protected] Depart Pitcairn 30th Nov / Arrive Mangareva 2nd Dec for their FREE subscription to Depart Mangareva 2nd Dec / Arrive Pitcairn 4th Dec the Pitcairn Islands Tourism Depart Pitcairn 7th Dec / Arrive Mangareva 9th Dec Quarterly. Depart Mangareva 9th Dec / Arrive Pitcairn 11th Dec Depart Pitcairn 14th Dec / Arrive Mangareva 16th Dec CONTACT THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS TOURISM DEPARTMENT TO PLAN YOUR 2014 TRIP OF A LIFETIME EMAIL: [email protected]

THE RICH AND FASCINATING HISTORY OF THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS

THE PITCAIRN ISLAND LONGBOATS Pitcairn has always relied on shipping as its lifeline for survival because of its isolation. To this day everything not produced on Pitcairn still ar- rives by sea and is shipped ashore - this includes the growing number of visitors arriving on the island‟s passenger vessel, the Claymore II.

On the morning of arrival, when the Claymore’ II’ s Captain contacts the island by VHF radio to arrange for the Pitcairn Island Longboat to transfer passengers ashore the excitement on board is palpable. For many, this short journey is a long awaited dream come true because Pitcairn‟s Longboats are pivotal to the island‟s living, maritime history.

In 1819 Captain Henry King donated a boat to the Island and in 1880 Queen Victoria gifted two whaleboats. The Longboats of Pitcairn are reputed to have been modelled on this whaleboat pattern.

The Pitcairners went on to build their own boats and up until the 1980s they were made of local timbers. On 21st November 1982, “Stick” (pictured top right), the last locally made Longboat, was hauled from its building site at the Edge and down the ‘Hill of Dif- ficulty’ - she was launched into the harbour on the 11th May 1983 and was finally retired in 1995 when she was replaced with a New Zealand made aluminium boat. Today, though land locked, “Stick” still stand proud on Pitcairn - on display, not far from where she was built, - just off the main road on the way to the Adamstown Public Square.

The Islands current Longboats, O’Leary and Moss (opposite) built in Great Yarmouth UK, are the largest of Pitcairn’s three aluminium boats– carrying up to ten tonnes of cargo at a time. The- se sturdy, diesel powered workhorses are used for transporting passengers to and from visiting ships and yachts, off-loading supplies (also delivered by the Claymore II) and when weather and sea conditions allow, the odd bit of community fishing.

From timber framed vessels to tough aluminium workhorses, the Pitcairn Island Longboats continue provide the island and her visitors with a very necessary link with the outside world.

Artwork Provided by the Pitcairn Philatelic Bureau

[email protected] Whether it’s Pitcairn Island’s natural beauty, its revitalising tranquility, its people or its fascinating history, this home to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers is a place like no other. This is what makes each visitor’s Pitcairn story so wonderfully unique. If you’re one of those who have made your travel dreams come true – we want to hear about it so you can share it with our readers. We’ll publish your Pitcairn story in our quarterly IBT Column and you’ll join the ranks of those who can say… “PITCAIRN ISLAND…? I’ve Been There !”

VOYAGE TO PITCAIRN 2013 This interest was bolstered by the reading of books like Dan- iel Defoe‟s “Robinson Crusoe” and more modern tomes such By Clifford and Helen Dear as Lucy Irvine‟s “Castaway”. There was never any doubt that one day I would visit the South Pacific.

Accordingly on one cold English November evening when I

was searching the internet for our trip of a lifetime and a

website for “Visit Pitcairn” came up explaining how it was

possible to visit the island I called out to Helen in the kitchen

“We could go and visit Pitcairn Island”. There was no

“Why?” or “Where?”, just a most unexpected “OK”.

Undoubtedly, for me, part of the attraction of Pitcairn Island

is its remoteness. It is not on a regular tourist route and there

are no flights to the island. The nearest you can get to the

island by air is Mangareva in the Gambier Island archipela-

go. After that you either make your own private arrange-

ments to sail to Pitcairn or you make a booking to go on the

island‟s supply vessel “Claymore II”. This is what Helen and

I did with help from the Pitcairn tourist co-ordinator and the

Pitcairn Island Office representative in Auckland. The Helen and I on the Pitcairn Island “Claymore II” is a robust little ship that makes little pretence Longboat, amongst the Provisions! to being a cruise liner but nevertheless warmly welcomes the

limited number of passengers it is able to accommodate. On The most common reaction when friends and relatives the voyage Helen and I took, the other passengers were of learnt that my wife Helen and I were planning to visit varied nationalities and backgrounds coming from the United Pitcairn Island as part of a trip to celebrate our 40th Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Russia and not unex- Wedding Anniversary was to exclaim “Where?” quick- pectedly Pitcairn. With occupations including academics, ly followed by “Why?” medical professionals, satellite engineers and horticulturalists

there was no shortage of interesting conversation. We also all The first question was easy enough to answer although had our reasons for wanting to visit the islands and these it helped to have my “Mini Atlas of the World” to ranged from satisfying a desire to visit such remote places to hand. From our experience of these interrogations there visiting friends made on the island on previous visits. can be little doubt that the Pitcairn Islands, the British

Overseas Territory comprised of four tiny specs of rock On arrival at Pitcairn you are transferred from “Claymore II” in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between New Zea- to shore by one of the Pitcairn longboats. For our transfer our land and Latin America, remain almost as mysterious party was met by a longboat containing many of the and remote today as they were when “The Bounty” Pitcairners that were to be our hosts for our stay. We were mutineers first landed there. fortunate to be staying with Heather and Kerry Young while

on the island and Kerry, unbeknownst to us at the time, was The answer to the supplementary second question was one of the crew who came to meet us. rather more difficult to explain. My fascination with remote South Pacific islands had been kindled at a very early age by being read to at school from the Arthur

Grimble book “A Pattern of Islands” which describes the exploits and experiences of a colonial administrator in what was then called the Gilbert & Ellice islands (now called Kiribati).

“PITCAIRN ISLAND…? I’ve Been There !” continued from page 11

By Clifford and Helen Dear

As we come from Catholic and Church of England backgrounds the comparison was engrossing. After the service there was a tremendous rain storm that had most of the congregation sheltering in the square until it passed and we were fortunate to be able to meet with many Pitcairners. Our activities on our last day on Pitcairn were curtailed somewhat by rain. Nevertheless we went to Adamstown to the Post Office to purchase stamps and postcards to send to those querying friends and relatives, to the island‟s shop to buy juice cartons for our return journey and to seek out some Pitcairn Island t-shirts to proudly wear at Adamstown from the lookout at Highest Point home. We do a final walk to the top of the Island before once again embarking on the Pitcairn longboat and board- At the time of our visit Pitcairn was experiencing an unu- ing “Claymore II”. sually wet season but our first day ashore was fine and hot and was spent meeting our hosts, getting our bearings and collecting from the island dispensary seasick tablets for my return journey! On our second day we were taken on a tour of the island by our host.

The tropical lushness was remarkable and the land prolif- ic. We had fresh bananas and pineapple and vegetables from the garden with our meals. At Gannett‟s Ridge I sur- prisingly discovered that I appeared to have acquired vertigo for the first time in my life and gingerly edged back to less vertically challenged land. In the afternoon we visited St Paul‟s Pool where I went swimming in the crystal clear and pleasantly warm South Pacific waters. We were joined for dinner at Heather and Kerry‟s house that evening by two fellow travellers from “Claymore II” for a very A vertigo moment on Garnett’s Ridge sociable and enjoyable meal. Unfortunately my return journey was marked, despite taking seasickness tablets, by dreadful seasickness. That does The following day, a Saturday, Helen and I went down to not take away any of the remarkable memories gained Adamstown to experience the weekly service at the Sev- during our visit to Pitcairn. These are memories that I am enth Day Adventist (and only) church on the island. sure will remain with me for life. I am truly glad that I can say “I visited Pitcairn”.

Swimming in the warm waters of St. Paul’s Pool Goodbye, but not forgotten.