Oeno awas beautiful Islen- Written by Meralda Warren- June 16th 2022
17 June 2022
Oeno awas beautiful Islen- Written by Meralda Warren- June 16th 2022
Its exciting and especially for our 3 students at school
We only have 3 girls age 12, 13 and 15.
The approval to go ahead and visit our 3 other Islands was on the cards, The 3 girls excitedly told me at culture class on the 8th of June and I watched as they planned their trip.
We broke out in song as I taught them one of mine, I wrote in 1992.
When we had enough people to operate the longboats and it was approved by Pitcairn’s council, The boats were readied, we baked, foraged for bananas and other food to take with us. Clothing, cooking stuff, fishing equipment tools to fix things. Fresh water in 20-liter containers, Diesel for the longboats and Petrol for the generator. And batteries for our torches.
As a kid it was kerosene lanterns or a conk made from an old metal teapot with kerosene and a wick of old rope jammed down the spout.
2009 was the last trip the longboats made that final run.
I will share this song with you as that was how our trips to Oeno in those days were made.
My song goes.
Come share with me- Written by Meralda Warren- 1992 APRA 733460
We sailed away for the fun of it- aways across the sea
Oeno is a beautiful land- his gift for you and me
Time is spent preparing- The trip with luxuries
All aboard we’re going to Oeno come with me.
The Longboats steer the Northwest route- This atoll they greatly seek
The low-lying coral Island there- is such a sight to see
The coconuts they beckon us- sweet scent from the cabbage tree
The Boats touch sand- the tents are grand
Adventure for you and me
The reef is harsh she’s claimed her lot- ship wrecks are there to see
Bowdon chains are prominent there- atop the coral reef
The Wild-wave has made her claim- St James her pieces seen
The sandbar changes year to year- Explore the place with me
Her Lagoon is filled with beautiful fish- The palms with coconuts
Land crabs crawl all over the place- Birds put on their strut
Sunsets glow most every night- Stars are out so bright
Waves lap peacefully on the sand- I’m so glad you’re here with me
I’m so glad you shared this trip with me- Upon the open sea
The Longboats made their final run- out through the jagged reef
The boats are heading homeward bound- The Land is fading fast
A final wave Oeno Isle- Great memories of your past
We sailed away for the fun of it…..
The Trips now have been arranged and a small Jetboat was ordered for the trips to the outer Islands.
The 3 girls plus parents, siblings, uncle and 3 expats were on this trip.
Bags packed and ready they loaded all their gear into a shipping container, and it was hoisted onto Silver Supporters deck.
The 2 small aluminium boats, the Stabbie and the Jet boat in the evening of the 12th. The 3 girls, decked in their life vests and all wearing good shoes for the wet and the jagged reefs, excitedly they climbed into the two boats as Shawn and Jayden drove the girls and Charlene out in the Jetboat and Randy and Kimi in the Stabbie with School teacher Iona and husband Kim. Shawn came back in to get the administrator Collin Leeman.
Charlene called over the radio from the ship to let us know that they were on their way heading for Oeno.
With WiFi on the ship, they were able to text us to let us know that they had arrived and the excitement of being there for the day.
This beautiful paradise is 75 nautical miles northwest of Pitcairn.
Using the Stabbie craft and the Jet boat, our young guys can maneuver over the jagged reef.
We on Pitcairn went on with what we were doing here but in our minds were wondering if they made it ashore ok. Just on Dinner time the phone started binging and the excitement was felt coming through as text messages shared their excitement. The stunning photos of Oeno came through one by one as they posted it to our family group. The girls loving the pristine beauty and shared with us the different scenery of the low-lying coral atoll with the cabbage trees, Miki Miki shrubs and the coconuts. The birdlife and even the fish in the lagoon. The pool at Oeno surrounded by coconuts reflecting its beauty. The texts messages of can you see the bird on the nest. The chick is just hatching. This had me smiling from ear to ear. So cool that our young ones are enjoying their islands.
Our days going to Oeno and our parents and grandparents time too, we pitch 2 big tents made from big tarpaulin canvases and big rope. Everyone bunked down on the sandy floor on mats and blankets. In our days as more modern times evolved, it became foam mattress. Due to us doing a yearly trip until 1993, we took timber and corrugated iron and built 2 kitchen areas. We had set up next to the well we dug in the sand for the brackish water, tanks and had tanks perched on a platform in one of the sturdy cabbage trees.
There was 2 Duncan’s (long drop) set up too for both camps.
Each camp had a bathroom set up with the framing and we even got to put up a shower which water was heated in a copper and the header tank gravity fed water to the bathroom. Nothing flash but draped with a tarpaulin and roofing with the floor of sand spread with cabbage leaves were just great.
Shared dinner as it was cooked over an open fire on the bolt. Some ate at the table or took dinner out on the beach to watch the lagoon and the waves lapping the shore or the sunset in the west. Now its abandoned and plans hopefully to clean it up.
Coming back to 2022, our young ones were in there and picked up some of the things we left behind that we now know will never be used like it was. They also picked up some rubbish as even in paradise it gets littered by the floating debris from all over the world going into the ocean.
They made their way out over the long passage and over the reef to the Silver Supporter to climb onboard and the boats lifted out.
A good hot shower, a lovely dinner cooked by the chef and a good chill out before resting for the next adventure that tomorrow brings.
Thank you to family for sharing your pictures and for letting me share them with online Norfolk.
Tomorrow you will be home and I can’t wait to hear you tell me stories about your incredible journey.