Soggy memories of a day on Tahaa

I enjoyed the article on Tahaa [“Afloat on Society’s Fringe,” Oct. 19].

About 35 years ago, my brother and I, both in our 50s, visited there. A brochure in our Raiatea hotel said it would be a fun boat ride, so we asked about getting there.

A guy named Joe took us to his boat, which was a canoe with an outboard motor.

The minute we left it started to rain. We spent a half-hour in the open ocean -- no radio, out of sight of land -- but we got there. We were in bathing trunks, so Joe asked us if we wanted to dive and see the fish. We tried, but all I saw was a dead cow on the bottom.

On Tahaa, Joe introduced us to the chief, who had lots of teeth missing and many scars from “fighting sharks.”

Joe suggested it was time for the return trip. It rained again on the way back but stopped just as we beached the canoe.

Joe asked, “How did you like it?”

I replied, “I’ve had more fun at funerals.”

Eddy Hill

Sherman Oaks