OK, Julie Ross says we need to get our act together and get back to posting, so that’s the way it’s gonna be.
Actually, we’ve been back three days already. We’re almost caught up on sleep, but there’s a weather window right now, so completely caught up or not, we leave tonight.
We’ve been stocking up the last two days on veggies, fruit, some meat (very little freezer space, so either we catch fish or become vegetarian) and wine. We’re going to leave Savusavu this afternoon and motor six miles to Cousteau Resort, drop the hook, have dinner and then actually head out around 10PM tonight. The trip to Fulunga in the Southern Lau is 186 miles. There’s no wind right now (that’s the weather window since usually the wind and waves are 20 knots, and 5-6 feet on the nose) so we’ll motor. At 5 knots or so, we’re looking at about 36 hours. We want to get to Fulunga around 10AM so we have good visibility over the reef although I haven’t checked the tides yet which also determine when you can enter the lagoon (because of the current, not the depth).
So, now we’re caught up. Here’s a few pics to tide you all over. We’ll be out for at least three weeks with only the shortwave radio to send in text posts – no pictures, so these are the last until we’re back in the land of broadband internet. We will post text notes daily though as long as there’s something to say 😉
The White Stork noted a couple posts ago. It looks MUCH better in the daytime!
Our island hopper...
Flight planning easy here. You climb barely above the clouds, then GPS direct your destination.
A good example of the places we'll visit as seen from the air. Mostly reef (all the light blue and yellowish brown) with a tiny island (the green on lower left) and if we're lucky a little bay which is the slightly darker blue to the right of the island.
Here's what we want to avoid. This is just a random reef with no island. Depending on conditions and the direction you approach from you may or may not be able to see it from the deck of a boat.
Here's Savusavu from the air. Usually we go on a mooring in the river, but since we were gone for two weeks I opted for one of the slips on the middle right of the picture right opposite the building.
If you look closely at this picture you'll see the makings of a wild landing. Look at the direction of the plane, then out the front windshield at the runway heading about 40 degrees to our left and just below us. Yipes! Actually you come in over a tall ridge, so they have to do what's called a "slip" to lose altitude fast enough to make the runway. In a slip, you actually fly sideways while dropping kinda like a rock. Fun if you know what they are doing, but not so much if you don't.
One last one; here's Ann with a bunch of bok choy. How much? 0.50 cents. Bok choy and eggplant are the main ingredients of our diet here. Available everywhere in quantity. 😉
Thanks, Bob and Anne, for getting back into the swing of blogging. I enjoyed your new post and pix over coffee this morning…my usual routine! Safe sailing (or actually motoring) to Fulunga. Keep the stories coming!
I agree with Julie. So nice to have you “back” (although I’m glad you were able to get back to California for a little family time). I always love reading your stories — adventures, reflections on people, places, experiences, and even boat maintenance and repairs. It never gets boring or old. So, I hope that you find something to “text” post every day you are on your trip. You’re daily activities are so much more interesting than most people’s daily activities (or perhaps I should just speak for myself and say “my daily activities”)!
So, go safely through the blue water and don’t hesitate to share with those of us with much quieter lives. Hoping for clear skies and smooth sailing!
Glad you made it back safely! I wouldn’t mind a staple of eggplant…goes with a lot, yummy, and great over rice!