0

0

This morning we went ashore to see David and Jhoty. Andrew had made a loaf of bread for them. We also took some rope, fishing lures, caps and a couple of life jackets. We stopped and had a chat with them and their grandkids. Jhoty said they would be collecting firewood, coconuts and other food, and preparing this for tomorrow – Sunday. On Sunday the day is based around church with one service at 10am and the other at 3pm. Nothing else much is done on Sundays so Saturday is the day they prepare the food etc.

We did a bit of maintenance on Imagine. This afternoon we did a bit of fishing with left over steak for bait. Yes they have classy fish here (only eat steak). Sue caught a medium size fish. Not quite big enough for filleting, so it’s in the freezer for bait for next time.

This evening just before sunset the evening shower displayed a full rainbow over Imagine.

Tomorrow morning we are off to Suva for a few days.

0

0

GPS: 17 14.976S 179 22.471E

We awoke to a beautiful day. After breakfast we lowered the dinghy into the water and headed ashore. We were met at the shore by David. David is the village chief’s right hand man. He took us to see the chief to present him with sevusevu, but he was away visiting another village. David being the right hand man was able to perform a small ceremony receive the sevusevu and make us part of the village, granting us access to land and sea.

He then gave us a tour of the village showing us where Cyclone Winston had created havoc although it hit harder on the other side of the island. David’s wife didn’t know that her photo was in the Fiji cruising guide, so we left her a copy. The photo had been taken last year by a journalist writing a bit about the island and the Americans that took 3 attempts to land there in WW2. We went ashore with kava roots for sevusevu and came back with coconut, pumpkin, bananas, and more.

0

0

GPS: 17 14.976S 179 22.471E

Run: 32.8nm (59.4km)

This morning felt a bit strange having the boat to ourselves after having crew on board for 3 months.

Despite that we set sail for Taveuni but the wind had different ideas so we headed off to Koro Island. It was a pleasant full day’s sail with the only sealife encounter of a single dolphin. Tonight we have anchored at Vatumataua. As we have not long since arrived we will go to Nabuna village in the morning for sevusevu. More about that tomorrow! 

0

0

GPS: 16 46.636S 179 20.085E

Into town for the last day. Stella and Tony getting their last bits and pieces before departing, Andrew and Sue getting a few fruit n veg.

The businesses in SavuSavu don’t put all their eggs in one basket. The diversification is wonderful. The furniture shop sells seafood as well. The barber shop is also a pawn shop that sells icecream and repairs phones and tablets. The fish shop is also the pool parlour. This evening we have just said goodbye to Tony and Stella who have caught the ferry to Suva. 

0

0

This morning we went to immigration to sign Stella and Tony off the boat. We then split up and Tony and Stella headed off to Labasa on the 9:30 bus. Andrew had things to do in Savusavu then joined Sue on the 11:30 bus to Labasa. Labasa is the capital of this island, the big city. Sue was a bit concerned when two guys got on the bus with machetes in their hands. The carrying of machetes is quite common here.

Everyone met up for the interesting ride back. The bus driver was on a hurry to get home as he was going rather fast. Unlike Samoa where the buses were interesting to look at, here it’s the taxi’s.

This evening Tony and Stella took us out for dinner as it was our last dinner together before they depart on the ferry tomorrow.

0

0

Due to weather condition predictions and to ensure Tony catches his flight back to NZ in time and Stella her flight to Tonga, Stella and Tony have booked a ferry ticket from SavuSavu to Suva departing on Tuesday. They’ll then have 1 or 2 days in Suva before catching the bus to Nadi.

Ferry tickets were booked this morning whilst Andrew organised for a fuel top up tomorrow. After a bit of shopping at the market and wandering around town, Stella and Tony are currently at the Captain’s bar at the Copra Shed Marina enjoying some cold beers, some bar food and watching a few rugby games – the last one being All Blacks vs South Africa. Tomorrow will be a catch up day for all of us and then we have to take Imagine over to the jetty by the marina so we can get the fuel.

0

0

GPS: 16 46.636S 179 20.085E

Run: 219.3nm (396.9km)
Avg: 4.3knts
24hr: 103.7nm

Bula!

We made it! Arrived at 1:00pm and were guided to a mooring ball outside the marina. 16 pages and many $$$ later, Customs, Immigration, Health and Bio security cleared us into Fiji by 4:00pm.

A quick trip into town turned into a long trip into town, as we discovered we had a can of bad petrol and the outboard wouldn’t run. We then rowed ashore to find the shops closed at 5:00, guess what it was now 5:30. So tomorrow is a trip to get a new fuel filter, internet sim card, food supplies, etc.

Early night for all of us as we’re all stuffed!