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AAHHH! Nice to be back at Vuda Marina! |
The sail from Ha'apai, Tonga was amazingly fast. And the sails
were reefed the whole trip! The wind was in the high teens and twenties with
gusts to thirty. The swells ranged from 4-8 feet. The conditions overall were good
- sunny, warm, etc. Just fast and bumpy. For me, it was the old mal de mare
issue. I wish I could get a handle on it, but it always wins. Delta, Alpha,
Mike, November!
I am not sure when we actually arrived in Fiji - Saturday or
Sunday. I assumed it was Sunday as we crossed from 174W to 178E, passing over
the international dateline at 180 degrees. However, I now know it was Saturday.
The actual change in date has a very crooked line and doesn't really happen at
180 degrees.
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This was the most interesting sunset ever! |
Concerned that we might have Customs and Immigration issues for
arriving too early and not checking in until Monday, we spent two nights on the
quarantine ball. Our anchor and feet never touched their ground until cleared
by BioSecurity and Health officers on Monday. Fortunately, we did not have any
issues clearing in. Whew!
The welcome at Vuda Marina is always joyous. The staff comes to
the Customs pontoon to sing their Fijian welcoming song. I love the staff here
and it was heartwarming to see them all on the pontoon. It felt like we were
coming home!
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Trillium looking good with a fresh bottom! |
Things have changed some. Millie's store in the marina has been
closed by the management. This is very disappointing as there is no store at
all now! The store was run by the local women who supply produce from their
village cooperative. Therefore, there is no ice cream, ice, eggs, meat or cold
drinks or beer available.
Being enterprising women, Millie and her staff have set up a
little roadside stand just outside the marina gates! Three cheers for them! I
will support them every day we are here! She cooks rotis in the morning and
caters several lunch entrees at noon! Marina staff and yachties show up for
lunch! Millie, you go, Girl!
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And I get to have my favorite latte again. There is water
in the saucer under the sugar to keep the ants out. Clever idea. |
It is said that you can't go back again. There is some truth in
that the second time around is not as magical. Things change. People come and
go. So it is never the same! This time I am missing our World ARC friends that
were here with us last year. We had such fun with Merc and Bob with the Merc's
special birthday night at First Landing. Unfortunately, the gate to the resort
is still locked so we won't be going there as often. To bad because their food
is very good and the music is great. I guess we know it is time to move to new
areas while we still cherish the memories of the past.
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