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Sigatoka and the Evening Show

by steve, on October 2nd, 2011 (Fiji, Monkey Feet, Passages)

The adult trip to Sigatoka took up the morning. Helen, Janine and Brian took the launch up river while I followed in the dinghy. It was a lot further than we thought to reach the jetty so it’s good we didn’t try to find it with all four of in the dinghy. Awaiting us was our taxi driver who took us into Sigatoka where we shopped for souvenirs and a few tins Helen needed.

During this time Ben had another couple of dives and finished the theory for his training passing his exam. Congrats to him. Holly was firmly established on the island and remained there for the rest of the day.

Helen and I stayed aboard for the afternoon while Brian and Janine went ashore. Later they picked us up and we went ashore to have a meal and watch the evening show along with Passages. The deal for cruisers is fantastic. For Fiji$15 we get a decent meal and watch a nearly 2 hour show much the same as the daytime show only longer and more spectacular in the dark. The boys from Monkey Feet were all involved in the show having been here nearly 6 weeks. A Dutch couple who have been here for a month have watched almost every evening show and are yet to be tired of it.

Category: Fiji, Monkey Feet, Passages | Here is my comment

Likuri Island (Robinson Crusoe Island)

by steve, on September 30th, 2011 (Fiji, Passages)

As soon as we could we paid the marina fees in Musket Cove and left the dock. The winds were light so we motored the entire way to Likuri Island using the headsail for a small boost. We had four lines out and hoped for a deep sea catch on the leg outside of the main reefs. All we caught was a plastic bag. We did lose one lure which suggests we snagged something of a decent size.

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We arrived in time for lunch then went ashore to catch the daytime show for the tourists who come to the island for just the day. The show was pretty good although the dancing was very similar to the Polynesian dancing we saw in the Cooks and French Polynesia.

After the show we joined Pam and John from Passages for a beer and chatted for a while after which we booked Ben on a beginners dive course which he will do over the next few days.

We returned to the boat for a while and then went back to the resort for dinner. We’d been told it was ‘build your own burger’ night which got quite a few votes. It turned out to be pasta and fish curry night which turned out pretty good. While ashore the heavens opened so we waited a while before deciding to go back in the torrential rain. We did, of course, get soaked and the rain did, of course, stop as soon as we arrived.

The resort here is very low key and quite sleepy, at least when the day tourists are not around. It’s a good spot to while away a few days.

I forgot to mention that while in Musket Cove I uploaded earlier pictures. These have been added to the appropriate blog entries so for those interested I suggest a walk back through the last week or sos blog entries.

Category: Fiji, Passages | Here is my comment

Musket Cove

by steve, on September 28th, 2011 (Fiji, Passages)

By morning the swell at Navadra was pretty bad. As we were familiar with the reefs outside of Navadra we decided to leave earlier than normal and were off by just after 7am. We exited the bay pounding into the wind and surf. At one stage my speargun fell from it’s perch and made a hole in our new seat cover. Not fun. As we turned down wind things got a bit better but not brilliant. Our desired direction was somewhere between a broad reach and running straight down wind wing on wing. We alternated between the two and at time tried to run with just our head sail. It was a passage of confused seas and many sail changes. It was almost a relief when the winds died down to such an extent we just motored with the head sail out.

We arrived at Musket Cove and took a mooring in time for lunch. We went ashore and stuffed ourselves. We decided we’d be better off for a couple of nights on the dock allowing everyone a chance to do their own thing for a while. So just after lunch we brought the boat in and secured our self to the dock med style.

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While our friends went ashore Helen and I caught up with things aboard the boat. Then came the biblical deluge. The heavens opened and the winds blew allowing us to discover two new hatch leaks. I left the main door open which normal is ok as at anchor the boat points into wind. Not so on the dock. The main cabin ended up soaked.

The storm passed and we were left with cool clear air. At the bar, where we had a few off boat beers, we bumped into John and Pam from Passages as well as the Pakia Mists who we’d also met earlier in the day.

We passed the evening (in fact part of the night) playing dominoes. 1am we were asleep.

Category: Fiji, Passages | Here is my comment

Farewell Good Friends

by steve, on September 15th, 2011 (Fiji, Imagine, Jarana, Passages, Scream)

Now that we’re in Denarau the boat work begins. Helen has ramped up into interior organising / cleaning mode. For the last year the front starboard berth has been used for storage. That has now (almost) all been stowed elsewhere. I have to confess, my project work was not that extensive yesterday. Usually my role, when Helen is cleaning, is to stay out of the way. I did go ashore to drop off rubbish/trash. While there I sorted out our stay here in the port including a berth next Monday. I also arranged a hire car for Friday so we could get out of here for a bit.

At lunchtime we went ashore to meet up with and say goodbye to Stuart and Sheila from Imagine. We met up at Big Mammas pizza with them and the Passages, Screams and Jarana’s who are all here in Denarau right now. There can’t be many more 2010 Puddle Jumpers left in Fiji. Like every family, we eventually go our separate ways.

For a quick flashback on our times with Imagine you can click on the ‘Imagine’ category in the left sidebar or at the top/bottom of this message. I try and keep these categories up to date so our encounters with particular boats can be viewed in one go. I just used the link to take a trip back down memory lane.

As ever the pizza at Mamas was good. We stayed some time and had a few lunchtime beers/wine. The goodbyes were said. Stuart and Sheila are flying back home today and will return next April. They intend to leave soon after needing to get to Darwin by July for the Indonesia Rally. That’s way ahead of the pace we’ll be setting so chances are this was our last goodbye. But somewhere in the backs of our minds we hold onto the hope we’ll run into them somewhere.

After the lunch time libations we were neither willing nor capable of engaging in any serious work in the afternoon.

Today we both get on in earnest. I have some maintenance projects to do while Helen will get on with the inside work. It feels a little cooler today so that may help.

Category: Fiji, Imagine, Jarana, Passages, Scream | Here is my comment

Last Day in Denaru

by steve, on August 18th, 2011 (Fiji, Jarana, Leu Cat, Passages, Sea Mist, True Companions)

A week in Denaru is about 4-5 days too long. We will be leaving today. No doubt about it.

During the day, yesterday, we made a final trip into Nadi to pick up fresh food and eat lunch. In the evening we met up ashore with the Leu Cats, Sea Misters and True Companions for drinks followed by dinner at Cardod. We bumped into the Jaranas again and the Passageses joined us at the table.

For the Leu Cats and Sea Misters it was a final, final farewell as we are off today and so are they, to Vanuatu. They are on sailing plans which will be impossible for us to catch so again this was a little emotional. While cruising one makes some terrific friends but at some point there is a last goodbye. Sometimes you know when it is. Sometimes paths simply never meet again.

This morning I’ve been out and about in the Dinghy. This did involve going over to Leu Cat to drop off some butter and to pick up some hot peppers. This was a chance for a final, final, final farewell. Sea Mist was nearby so final^3 farewells there too.

Next stop …. Not here.

Category: Fiji, Jarana, Leu Cat, Passages, Sea Mist, True Companions | Here is my comment
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