Pitcairn Island

One of the most fascinating adventures of all time began about 200 years ago far out in the Pacific Ocean.  Pitcairn is one of the remotest inhabited islands lying half way between New Zealand and the Americas.  A few archipelagos lie to the north and the southern seas are empty to the ice caps of Antarctica.  The island is about 2 miles long and 1 mile wide.  It is surrounded with a rugged coast of cliffs and the island has rich fertile soil with a mild climate that produces lush tropical fruit.   The Bounty set sail to search for breadfruit to feed the slaves on the sugar plantations in the West Indies.  As it turned out, the workers didn’t like the taste and wouldn’t eat the fruit.  The entire venture was for naught.  After the mutiny Bligh along with 18 men were forced into a small boat and set adrift.  The voyage of Captain Bligh is thought to be one of the greatest displays of seamanship in history. 

As we were unable to access the island, several of the people came on board to sell carvings, jewelry, stamps, coins and, of course, t-shirts.  It was an incredible experience meeting direct descendents of Fletcher Christian.  We circled the island until the islanders left. They came in a small boat from Bounty Bay, which is where the Bounty sank, and is the only place to gain entry the island.  There are only 47 inhabitants on the Island. The picture is of the people of Pitcairn.

Amazing, most of the day we were living in the late 1700's, and later on we're eating popcorn and watching the Super Bowl.  There are 2 days at sea before reaching Tahiti.  We have had 3 time changes since Easter Island , all turning the clock back 1 hour each day.  Tonight will be our 4^th.  We are now 3 hours behind Chicago.