We had a
beautiful day and perfect conditions to depart the Yasawas and return to Musket
Cove in the Mamanuca Islands. This is a
favorite yachtie hangout. With Island
resorts offering cruisers amenities not normally available including golf,
tennis, sky diving, kite flying, surfing and some very good food it is easy to
understand why.
This is still one of Kaija's favorite snorkeling spots out at Sunflower reef where you are likely to see sharks, turtles, rays coral snakes...it's ALL Good.
It is also a place to
meet old friends. Such was the case for
us when we reunited with Patricia and Allen (Sailing Cat Nauti Nauti), Maria
and Maurice (Sv Cattiva)
We met Maria
and Maurice in Isle Des Saints and Patricia and Allen in Trinidad, both in 2010
during our last season in the Eastern Caribbean. How good to see them and share fond memories and
get reacquainted.
We made a
quick trip back to Denarau to facilitate Kaija making her provisioning sojourn
to Suva. There is a Cost U Less….say no
more! And they deliver. Here in Kaija’s words.
“Had an
exciting day yesterday. For all those
who need to do a major provisioning here in Fiji, a trip to Cost U Less in Suva
is worth the travel. So I have done this
trip a couple of ways. Yesterday it was
the 6:50 am bus out of Nadi bus station. It was the Sunset Suva Express.
This is a
four hour trip with movie. Very
comfortable and relaxing. Arrive in Suva
about 11 am and then a short taxi ride to the store ($7 FJ). All things
wonderful are here!
There is a
McDonalds next door, if you need a bit of something, there is also a New World
in the same complex.
So then you
shop and the best of all is they will deliver all your goods ($300 FJ or more) to
you in either Vuda or Denarau. Shopping
must be done by Tues for Delivery Thurs.
Then back to the bus station and fresh market for any last minute
shopping.
This all
took about two hours. I thought I would
be catching a 3:30 bus, but as I was finished earlier, there was) a 2:15 pm
express bus to Latoka that stops at Nadi (Express does not mean Express).
So off I
went and was back on the boat by 7pm.
The total cost was $15 FJ each way.
The first
time I did this was with friends. We stayed overnight at the South Pacific
Hostel which was near the museum and very inexpensive, clean and
enjoyable. So if you are looking for
adventure and a way to spend a stress free day, this is the way to shop. Hardest part was putting it all away.
With the
Admiral safe returned from her overland adventure we set off again for Musket
Cove.
While Kaija
has enjoyed discovering the many of the splendid hiking trails on the island, Gary has
found a couple of excellent tennis partners.
Jodi and Svitlana have been playing since they were Juniors in the native New Zealand and Germany. They are both incredibly fit and very fine ball strikers and with a total combined age less then Gary’s, despite his best efforts to will away the years and morf his game into something resembling the passion of McEnroe, the pace of Nadal and the grace of Federer (which alas a wassa notta gonna aa happen… and given
their skillsets there is little chance of him truly keeping it up.
With an amazing display of power and accuracy these two excellent players take bi-weekly
pity on this old man and graciously place their rocket shots within reach
and make sport of it. By the end of the 90 minute workout, I am happy to say, everyone is sweating equally. It is great fun,
wonderful exercise and a real treat for Gary each Monday and Thursday morning.
We are now
in a holding pattern as we await a weather window for our Fiji Departure. We have really enjoyed this place.
Look for our
next adventure chronicle from the lovely French islands of New Caledonia.
