Leg 194, Vava’u, Tonga via Samoa and American Samoa to Avarua, Cook Islands
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Long flights between islands, plenty time to read up on locations and do some GT Sport in between. Clear sky over nothing but water doesn’t hold my attention very long. Props to those doing world tours without autopilot!
First up today, Tuasavi on Samao
Salelologa, a bit further South down the coast
Maota Airport next to Salelologa
Apia, the capital of Samoa on the next island over
Fagali Airport, nice place to land
Apia Town Clock Tower and the view from Papaseea Sliding Rocks, a natural water slide
A peak in the museum of Samoa
Not a big collection, cozy little museum
Also here Palolo Deep Marine Reserve, great place to enjoy the beauty underwater
Papo Pago International Airport on American Samoa
Pago Pago is the capital of American Samoa, a string of coastal villages on Tutuila Island
Pago Pago Harbor
Jean P Haydon Museum and Blunts Point Battery, part of the fortifications made in the early 40’s to defend American Samoa from Japanese invasion. It never needed to be used.
Ofu Island
Landing at Ofu Airport
Ta‘ū island, one of the Manu‘a Islands in American Samoa
Landing at Fitiuta also known as Fiti’uta or Maia, a village on the northeast coast
Leaving Samao behind, setting course to the Cook Islands
Pakapuka, part of the Cook Islands
Not bad a bd place to spend some time
Flying on to Manihiki
Manikhiki Atoll
Landing at Manihiki Airport at Tukao
Dream like blue water
It’s getting late already, one long leg left today
On to Avarua, or so I thought
Watching the sun go down, always spectacular in the clouds
Now it’s getting dark fast
Still a long way to go by star light
Landing at Avarua Airport, or is it
Today I found out it’s actually Aitutaki Airport
Where did I drop my map!
Tomorrow to the real Avarua, or at least it’s a district and harbor on Rarotonga. No Avarua Airport in existence according to Google maps.