Paddleboarding in four feet of water over sand.

It feels like floating on air...

So fun working our way through the little motus

Yup, we finally got to deploy the paddleboards. The wind dropped enough that we felt we could go out without struggling too much. Turned out to be fun beyond our expectations. We were cruising along in 12 inches of water right over the sand and coral, then in six feet of water over the turquoise bottom, along little islands. Suddenly a stingray shot out right beneath Ann’s board, then we saw two mantas. Way too much fun. We were out for over two hours. I had to take a nap in the afternoon. I know, tough life.

In the meantime, we now have a local mascot. A sea turtle has set up housekeeping between Charisma and a little reef about 75 meters to starboard. Every day now he pops his head up and takes a few breaths, looks around, then dives back down to do whatever sea turtles do. He’s fun to watch. We have decided we’re not going to tell anyone in the village though since they do catch and eat sea turtles even though they are supposedly protected.

The last couple days we have tried to take a walk along the long beach that connects the two villages. It’s a beautiful white sand beach with a turquoise lagoon that goes out 200 meters to the reef where the ocean waves crash and expend their energy from their thousands of miles long voyage. Well, what should be a relaxing stroll looking for seashells always turns into an exhausting, but ultimately fulfilling trek. One minute we’re walking along, then we hear; “Ann, Ann!!”. We’re found out. The village kids have seen us and a dozen or more are running over to join us on our walk. They particularly like Ann, although there are always a couple who HAVE to hold each of my hands as well (sound of grumpy man…hruph, hrruph!). Then you play 1000 questions. How old are you, where do you come from, how many children do you have, what are their names and on and on!!!!!?????? It’s at the point, where most of the kids can answer the questions themselves and often do! OK, it’s actually quite endearing, but it IS exhausting and from this I also have to take a nap we’re back on the boat.

Naps are very important out here.

Tomorrow we’re attending Church again. One of the families here has been asking us for days now if we would please come to their house for lunch after church. That’s part of the reason we have stayed in this spot for a full week was so we could have lunch at their house tomorrow. Also, one of the villagers is supposedly making a wood carving for us and it will (hopefully) be done tomorrow. If not, we’ll have to come back here later. We’re looking forward to lunch but also to moving across the lagoon to the other side by the pass where the snorkeling is reported to be quite good. There are five or six boats over there and it will be nice meeting up with them after having enjoyed the solitude of this anchorage for the past few days.

So, that’s our report on this July 6 from Fiji.