From Ann
From Saweni Bay, where we are anchored you can see the activity in Lautoka Harbor. We figured it would be a good idea to go get a lay of the land (or harbor) in advance of eventually checking out of Fiji from Lautoka. So we rallied the troops, Bob and Linda from Bright Angel who are anchored very near us, to join us.

The plan was to meet them on the beach in our dinghies at 10 am and “walk” to Lautoka. Linda has often expressed her hesitancy to go for a “walk” with me and this day she was spot on. Bob and I arrived on the beach first because we put on our outboard. Proved to be a good idea.

Bob and Linda rowing in (wasn't as calm heading back out-see below)

While waiting for Bob and Linda to row to the beach we met a young Russian girl coming from the direction we thought would lead to a road. After a brief but entertaining conversation we found out that yes, you could walk just down the beach, out to the bigger road and in to Lautoka. A fifteen minute walk. Perfect!

We got the dinghies pulled way up on the beach and tied to a tree knowing that the tide would be in by the time we got back. And it was a nice 15 minute walk to the highway. A local man cleaning up the side of the road assured us that it was only another mile to town. So we continued.

It was about a mile on this road out to the main road. We had no idea of where we were going, but it was a nice day.

As we walked, large trucks overloaded with cut sugar cane buzzed by taking up at least their lane and half of the oncoming lane. At least they didn’t take up the shoulder that we were walking on.

The cane trucks were loaded to the absolute width of the road.

It is always fun to investigate on land. We found beer for sale at a small store near the gas station. It was offered at two different prices: one price for warm bottles and a higher price for cold product!

Want your beer "cold" or "warm"?

At one point a beautiful young Indian woman in an exquisite sari crossed the highway to our side. We all gawked as we passed her. What a beautiful sari. I had to get a picture so I turned around and went back and asked permission. She blushed and got flustered but did let me take a picture. I told her we were all thought she looked so lovely. She excitedly explained that today was her engagement and she was on the way to the event, taking the bus. I wished her years of happiness and thanked her for allowing me to take her picture on such a special day.

Indo-Fijian woman on her engagement day.

As we got to the next bus stop, which I was willing to bypass and continue our short walk to Lautoka, we were warmly greeted by a young woman named Ana. We learned her name because as we were passing and telling her we were walking to Lautoka she laughed. Oops. She obviously knew more than we did so the forced march was halted in lieu of a $1 Fijian bus ride. Good thing…it was another 20 minutes by bus!

Ana was delighted to meet us and happily showed us the farmer’s market and a good place to have lunch. On a mid-week day the market still was overflowing with bounty of every color and shape. And here they had mangoes! They are just coming into season and we love them.

We just love the markets here. This is how veggies should always be displayed.

Finding the harbor after lunch had the forced march back in action. But we found it and we found our friends Rita and Ulli from Anni Nad who were anchored in the harbor. So we got a guided tour of the dinghy dock and the customs office. It really helps to know where you are going at time of check out.

We ended the trip to Lautoka with some quick provisioning (yes, we found beer, wine, and fruits and veggies!) and a taxi ride back to Saweni. Good thing because the rainy weather was moving in!

Back at the beach we saw that our plan to tie up the dinghies was necessary as our dinghies were now floating in the high tide. Oh, and the wind had picked up and there was a 3 foot chop in the bay. Not good if you are rowing back to your boat. We devised a plan to tow Bright Angel’s dinghy behind ours and it worked. We kept Linda in our dinghy and had Bob from Bright Angel ride in his to keep an eye on their provisions. As Linda so accurately said, “He looks like a cocker spaniel with his head out the car window!” Poor Bob, it was a splashy, wet ride but we all arrived safely.

Bob's ride out.

Our impressions of Lautoka? Lovely people, wonderful market. Nice road trip! Oh, and yes, our feet were sore the next day!