First Things

The main island of Funafuti is about 12kms long, and relatively narrow for most of that – it is part (less than a quarter) of a large circular corral reef – the bit that is still above water.  There is a road from one end to the other – it is dead flat except for speed bumps.  Some kids get around on pedal bikes, but all adults use motor bikes or scooters.  So transport is the first priority.  The team have four bikes and an electric scooter stashed away in a crate somewhere at the port – here is Roger getting in to the crate:

Heather and Shane have fat bikes packed in bike bags, when they caught the ferry off Vaitupu – here is Heather assembling her bike:

These fat bikes get a lot of attention from the locals, especially since they are used to parlagi leaving their equipment behind – so lots of questions about when they are leaving etc.  Most of the rest of the gear stored in this container can wait until we are loading the boat for Nanumea:

Our landlady found a bike under some covers, and Shane soon had it operational for me – there are no back brake pads, but the front brake works a bit.  Here is our transport safely back at our house:

And here are the two musketeers on their bikes:

 Rosie had provided special cooling bands for all the team - these were quickly made part of the formal uniform: