Nanua-I-ra Island, Viti Levu, Fiji

It has been a windy three days since we left Palmlea Farms on Tuesday on a fine clear morning, for Nukabati Resort, 15 miles away but could not get into the tiny bay as the wind again piped up to thirty kts plus. We would not have been able to get ashore on the dinghy so we went on to Tavea Island and anchored up in about 25 kts for the night. The following day we took the inside route to Baulailai Bay and managed to sneak into the bay between two reefs just before the wind piped up to 30 kts again. No going ashore for us, which was a pity as it seeemed like a beautiful place and we would have liked to stay for a day or two. We did get a visit from some of the local fishermen. No lobster, unfortunately.
After completing an almost circumnavigation of Vanua Levu we left this morning throug the Yandua Passage across Bligh Water to Viti Levu. Anothed day of 25 kt wind but it a least we covered the 25 miles very quickly. We entered the reef through the Nanua pass which was confusing as most of the navigational marks were missing.
It's still quite blowy in the lee of Nanua Island but the forecast suggests that will settle tomorrow and maybe we will be able to get off the boat.
We will be in Nadi by July3 to pick up Julie.

Photos

Baby on Kia Island
The church ladies arriving for Sunday afternoon tea
Children on Kia Island
Kids drawing wellwater on Kia Island. Not a common pastime in the US
Dolphins come to play with the boat
33 years of nuptial bliss
Josette and child on Kia Island

Tavea Island, Fiji

We are anchored just north of Tavea Island in The Great Sea Reef off the north coast of Vanua Levu. We have had an eventful few days. We left Palmlea farms last Saturday and went to Kia Island about 15 miles to the north. We mostly motored through narrow passages in the reef in good visibility and light air and anchored up in the southwest corner close to one of the four small villages on the island in the company of Stuart and Sheila on Imagine.
We went ashore with Kava to present for sevusevu and we were well received by the villagers of whom there are 97 and about 300 on the whole island. We did the sevusevu and drank some kava which to my view tastes loke old socks and will never be a substitute for beer.
The locals drank it all with the comment "good grog" but they may say that to everybody. We did a tour of the village and went to church with villagers the following morning and had a visit from the church ladies and some of the kids for tea on the boat on Suday afternoon.
We were going to visit the school on Monday morning but at 0200H the wind piped up to 25 kts from the SE making the anchorage most unpleasant and unsafe soat 0600H we left for Vanua Levu and a high end resort called Nukubati. The 2 hour jaunt to Kia turned into a 8 hour day with strong headwinds and poor visibility navigating the reefs. We got into inside passage without too much trouble but could not get to Nukubati and the wind strengh rose to 40 kts with gusts to 50 kts. Fortunately, there was no significant sea running and we returned to Palmlea where we knew it was safe to anchor.
We spent the night there and took off again this morning as the weather seemed to have cleared. We went westward again to try to get into Nukubati but were again met with winds of 30+ kts and I was not happy with entering the anchorage so we pressed on for another 20 miles and we are currently safelt anchored in 10 meters of sand. There is appently a village on the island but it's still blowing quite hard and i don't think wewill go ashore. Tomorrw we will leave for the westernmost tip of Vanua Levu and then on to Viti Levu.
Photos of Kia to follow.

Photos

Sunset in Albert Cove, Rabi Island
The admiral with rubber duckie
Callisto in Albert Cove, Rabi Island
Albert Cove, Rabi Island
The falls at the national park in Taveuni. 90 minute walk each way to this delightful spot. Nice, cool swimmming here.
Early morning line squalls, Albert Cove, Rabi island
Rickety, locally made bridge on the way to the falls
Unusual rock formations on coastal walk, Taveuni
Fijian girls in school uniform, Taveuni
Josette on coastal walk to the falls in Taveuni
Evening from restaurant in Taveuni
Rainbow in Taveuni, Fiji
Fawn Harbor during a rain shower
Ruby and Josette in Fawn Harbor at the site of a natural hot spring. Very hot water about 105F, a 40 minute muddy trek to get there.
Having lunch in Taveuni, Fiji
Albert Cove, Rabi, Fiji
A long hike in Rabi. We took a jungle trail over a hill in Albert Cove to another part of the island which took about 45 minutes through all manner of mud and undergrowth. We thought we would take the coastal route back which took almost 3 hours over beach, rocks and coral. Fortunately the tide was out or we would have been stranded
Traditional hut(Burre) Albert Cove, Rabi, Fiji
Photo from my underwater camera a gift from James. Quality of the photos will improve. Reef in Vianni Bay, Fiji
Fijian boy, Fawn Harbor

Palmlea Farms Resort, Labasa, Vanua Levu, Fiji

We are now anchored off an eco resort called Palmlea Farms on the north coast of Vanua Levu near a town called Labasa. We are inside the Great Sea Reef so all is calm with gentle afternoon breezes. Today is out 33rd wedding anniversary and we will celebrate with a nice dinner at the resort and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot from our secret stash. We went into Labasa yesterday for a little look around and some shopping. Almost the entire town is Indo-Fijian and consequently you could buy almost anything. Also have to change the oil in the genset and repair one of the fridge pumps which is not working well but that may have to wait until tomorrow.
I'll try to post some photos tonight

Rabi Island, Fiji

Albert Cove, Rabi Island, Fiji.
We left Taveuni island yesterday and are now anchored
upin a tiny cove in the north of Rabi island. It's
very quiethere with just one boat to share this
wonderful place with. It truly looks like a picture
postcard. No cell phone no internet and no
infrastructure at all. This island is inhabited
by Polynesian people from Kiribati who were brought
here by the Brits in colonial times and we will go
ashore todayto meet some of them and take a walk
along the beach and do some snorkelling. Taveuni
Island was also most enjoyable. Lots of boats
there and old friends and a few bars and restaurants
in some resorts dotted about. We celebrated the 25th
wedding anniversary of Steve and Helen on Dignity
and also did an excellent road trip to a waterfall
on the eastern side of the island. We took
a chicken bus to the Bouma National Park and did the
Lavena Coastal Walk to the Tavoro waterfalls. The walk
was an hour and half along the beaches and villages
in the area and across a rickety locally built bridge
and up to the falls. A cool, freshwater swim and then
the trek back and a kidney bruising ride back to the
boat in a taxi with no shocks. We have some excellent
photos but no way to post them until we get to Labasa
in the north part of Vanua Levu. Perhaps next week.

Taveuni Island, Fiji

We left Vianni Bay yesterday and sailed up the Somosomo straits to the northern tip of Taveuni Island. We picked our way through the reef and are now anchored up outside the small town of Matei. Our friends Steve and Helen from " Dignity" are here and we have this beautiful place to ourselves. We went ashore yesterday and had some dinner in one of the local hostelries which was a pleasant change. There are a few high end resorts here so the area is very verdant and manicured. We will do a bus trip to the local scenic places notably a waterfall and a Catholic mission in we can find the chicken bus to take us there. It's a holiday today in Fiji, for some reason they are celebrating the Queen's birthday and everything is closed.
Grocery shopping will have to wait untill tomorrow as well. Today will be spent diving on the reef and repairing my 10 horse outboard which has decided to quit running.

Viani Bay, Fiji

We are now in a delightful little bay called Viani Bay
in the southeast corner of Vanua Levu, the second largest
island in the Fiji group. The are about eight other boats
here but some may leave tomorrow. We left the Jaques
Cousteau resort on Tuesday and did a day sail into Fawn
Harbor on the south side of Vanua Levu and in through a
small gap in the reef into a very sheltered spot where we
spent two nights. We went ashore there and met with some
of the 60 or so people who live in the area. They are all
members of an extended family called Pickering. We took a
long and muddy walk up a stream to a natural hot
spring which was very enjoyable. For some reason the walk
back seemed much further than going. Another excellent day
sail here today and tomorrow it's exploring the reef with
the underwater camera. Photos to follow.

jaques cousteau resort, savusavu bay, fiji

Spent the last 2 days at the jaques cousteau resort. did some snorkelling and played with underwater camera James gave me for Christmas. I will need more practice. Weather has been delightful. Off tomorrow for Fawn Harbour to meet with the natives and do the Kava thing.

fijian fire eater

sunset in savusavu

Savusavu, Fiji

We have been lazing about in Savusavu for the past week and the weather has mostly improved. We took a road trip around the island of Vanua Levu on Thursday and saw a great deal of the island. We had lunch in a beautiful eco resort in the north called Palmlea on the The Great Sea Reef and will probably visit again by boat next week.
We will most likely leave here tomorrow to circumnavigate Vanua Levu and visit some dive spots and anchorages and then on to the Yasawa group of islands

Palmlea Resort took some finding but was worth it in the end
Hindu temple near Labasa
The cobra rock inside the temple. The rock has been steadily rising for the past hundred years
School kids, Labasa. Hard to know how they keep their white uniforms clean
Downtown Savusavu, Watch out Paris
Catamaran on the reef in Suva. He made the mistake of attempting to enter at night while fatigued
Spice market Suva
Kava shop, Suva
Island of Vanua Levu
Suva Market
Flower market, Suva
Fish market, Suva

Locals in Suva Market