Hello Everyone,
Crazy motoring trip from Waya Lailai to Navadra... we are really trying to make sure Oma gets a dose of the sailing life, including sea sickness from rough seas... UGH.. We departed from Waya Lailai in the morning to go meet our friends on Shine. We had called them on the VHF and they said they were in a great anchorage and it was flat with beautiful beaches. Where we were anchored the winds had picked up the night before and were coming at us from across the bay so we had a lot of fetch on our side beam which made for a very rolly and uncomfortable anchorage. We decided that we definitely had enough of this washing machine we were anchored in so we set strait out into the 23+ knot wind. We had a lot of wind waves on top and current underneath so for about 2 hours we were only able to go 2.5 knots and we were slamming in the boat. After about 3 hours we were finally able to reach the little cove that Shine was anchored in... Only for our besties on Shine would we continue the misery we were in to reach them. Chris and I both asked each other if this is worth it... let me tell you it definitely was!
Navadra... Tiny little uninhabited islands. Beautiful beaches but with those come the cruise ships for a nice day stop for their passengers... UGH... Oh well.. I guess we need to share. We anchored and had a wonderful night sleep in mellow waters and beautiful scenery. The kids have been learning about the moon and the moon phases and this week is when the moon is closest to the earth so we are having amazing tidal changes here. In all of our cruising we haven't experienced the tides that we have this week. We were actually trapped on the beach until the tide came back up because it would be to treacherous to walk on the coral carrying the kayak to get back out.
Alina's new passion is braiding palm fronds
Oma enjoying being stuck on the beach till the tides came back in
We stayed here for 2 nights and then again the anchorage became rolly with the swell change so we decided it was time to go to our next spot which was Monuriki, the island they filmed Castaway on. It was an easy 7 mile motor over to it... smooth glass like water, no winds, and fish jumping out of the water everywhere... unfortunately they weren't the right kind that would take our bait on our hooks...
First of all I can see why they only filmed on the beach on one side of the island, the other side would show 3 other beautiful islands all inhabited. This little tiny island is really beautiful with its rocky hillside flowing down to its white sandy beaches and the rock formations coming off the point have beautiful turquoise waters surrounding them. There is lots of snorkeling and coconuts. We ended up staying the night here. It is not a good anchorage for staying the night at because the waters are too deep. We anchored in 90 feet and only have 300 feet of chain. Usually you put out 7x the depth you are anchored in. It just so happened that it turned out to be a still night with zero wind or waves.. It was the most magical perfect night. We were actually able to release floating lanterns into the sky at night out of Shine sun roof on their boat. We have been carrying these floating lanterns around since February and have only been able to release them one other time at anchor. The wind speed, direction, land, other anchored boats... and such need to be in the right direction and out of the way. So this was the night and we got all 3 off without an incident until the last one was released and I, yes me, didn't wait long enough for it to fill up and when we let go it didn't float up fast enough and if Tristan wasn't on top of the boat the flaming lantern would have gone into Shine's main sail bag and who know what. Phew.... he caught it and sent it up again. Success!
On the beach where he washed ashore.... notice the other island right in front?
We had a lot of fun hanging around.. the sun was finally out and the water is amazing and flat so we were able to get out the paddle boards and the older kids could go wake boarding... 
This is the side they did all the filming on... 100 feet to the right is the other side of the beach
Xesca and Alexia packed a picnic on the paddle board and went out to lunch
George and Archie from Shine getting ready to go wake boarding
Tristan free diving while snorkeling... he can now go about 60 feet down holding his breath.
Oma getting used to the snorkeling... she now doesn't swallow so much water... Trick is to keep looking down instead of picking her head up... when she does the top of the snorkel goes in the water and fills up... Hee Hee... but she loves it down there. She is always an amazing trooper and is always so excited to go exploring.
We needed to head back down to Musket Cove to get some Wifi stuff done... parts ordered and things delivered to our friend Katia so my son Kava can pick them up on his way to see us next week. I can't believe he will be here. It has been 11 months since I have seen him and I am so excited. I miss him so much.
Best snorkeling by far in Fiji so far...... On our way to Musket Cove we stopped at this little tiny rock island that is known to have the best snorkeling in the lower parts of Fiji. We were not let down. It truly was amazing and what a cool spot. As we were leaving Oma looked a the rock and noticed it was in the shape of a Tiger face... So cool and very clear!
Tiger face rock
Tristan took this picture... these are fish that we haven't seen anywhere but here in Fiji
After the amazing snorkeling we were all hungry and were on our way to Musket Cove when I remembered we were going right by the famous Cloud 9 floating restaurant. It was a fun detour for all of us. The kids thought it was the coolest because you could jump off any platform and run through the restaurant dripping wet and not get yelled at.
Cloud 9 Floating Restaurant... Great Pizza, loud music, swimming and fun.
Alina, George, Tristan, Xesca, Amaia, Alexia, Archie
Getting ready to jump of the top level
How fun is that.. You even sometimes splash the people down below and they don't even get mad... it is just a given that when you eat and drink next to the pool you get splashed
They have a generator for power and then they cart all the wood in from the mainland everyday to stoke their woodfired pizza... WHAT! Great pizza!
Oma's Juice... yes it is only juice in there right now.. she said it wasn't 5 o'clock yet.
No fear for these two little ones... it's only about 20 feet to the water.
Where is Amaia, she is mixing music with the DJ and tending bar at the moment... it is never a dull day for that little girl... just kidding, she met some new friends and was swimming with them.
Of course after a day of swimming at Castaway Island, Snorkeling, visiting the floating pizza restaurant what else is there to do but wakeboard back to Musket Cove Marina... Never a dull day for these kids, I tell you!
Nice air Tristan....
Relaxing after a long day of play with a beautiful Sunset and a nice cool sunset drink!
Hugs and Love to everyone,
Heath
Ha ha! I thought you were being serious about Amaia mixing music with the DJ and playing behind the bar. You never know! The water there is an unbelievable blue! I would say that it's like nothing I've ever seen in nature, except, you know, it is nature. My favorite picture though is of you "gals" kicking back at sunset. Now if that isn't some sweet girl time, I don't know what is. :) 'Til the next installment... Cheers! ~ Kathi
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