Time: 0700 – 1430 | Engine hrs: 2206.0 – 2213.7 | Alternator working | 2,500 RPM | Dead calm seas w/ 5 kts of wind. Swell from SE approaching Lombok.
Threw out all of the lentils etc. that came from TS Guruswamy in Port Blair, as this seemed to be the source of the bugs we’ve been seeing in massive quantities. Hoisted the dinghy for the first time in over a month – the bottom was very fouled.
Currents were against us for most of the way across Nusa Penida. Pancakes for breakfast. As we entered the start of Lombok Strait, current reduced to 0-1kt. We stopped off at Desert Point surf break and anchored to the south of it in 20m. Wave looked too gnarly for us to surf. No easy dinghy access to shore. There were a few buildings set up along the beach opposite the break. Had a delicious tuna fish and pasta dish for lunch, then pulled anchor and headed around the point to Gili Gede. Easy cruise in with no surprise reefs. Chart seems off – actual position is a decent bit north of chart position. Anchored in bay on W side of Gede in 20m. Fringing reef is marked by bamboo stakes and comes up suddenly. Dinghy to shore to get cigarettes for Payal. We were a spectacle, with women and children following us everywhere and openly staring. More muslim and conservative than Bali. Payals see through wrap went over well, as did her braided hair. Had some Kopi Lombok at a toko on the east coast of the island – a short walk via footpath from the bay where we anchored. Really charming small town island. Took lots of photos. Quick dinghy around showed mooring buoy on SW side by nice dock, presumably for visitors to small resort on SW side, just south of our anchorage. Scrubbed deck and installed the new zinc anode that Ben brought us after hacksawing an appropriate length of bolt off our meter long M10 bar from Langkawi (used to secure anchor windlass reinforcement). Ran out of water, and only managed to get 20L on shore (they were out too). Beautiful area with many small islands.