Lunch Time, Northern Efate

Emao Island

The urchins were getting hungry, it was about 1ish, so Beachcomber was our next stop, near Quoin Hill, and the disused American WW2 airstrip.

These are remnants of the USA that they built out of coral and dirt, so the pilots could see the USA from the air.

There were mounds of coral. My guess is that the debris from Cyclone Pam was put into these mounds, so that the grass could be used for the cattle and goats.

There are HOT springs at Beachcomber; the roof is still very damaged.  Hot chips for the urchins, toasted sandwich for me, steak sandwich for him.  We were the only customers.  The EFTPOS didn’t work, as the generator was unreliable.  

 Anneke  declared the indoor hot pool, TOO hot, but swam in the outdoor pool.  

Tighe and Quinn explored the area, and the debris from Pam is still evident in the area.  Twisted corrugated iron, pushed over trees, and wreaked homes are all visible.  Some of the people are living in tents.

Debris from Cyclone Pam

Quoin Hill in background

Tighe, Quinn and I picked up shells on the coral beach.  Lots of variety, and sizes.  Tighe found some huge shells.  (There were no shells at Hideaway Island, the hermit crabs use them).

From the shore, Tighe spotted a TitanTrigger fish (75cm) eating the coral.  We watched him for a while.

Titan Triggerfish (source www.fishesofaustralia.net.au)