So here we are on day eight, at times it seems like it�'s going to be a challenge like in the beginning, they didn�'t seem like they wanted to get into the water. It�'s a challenge for grandpa because he doesn�'t know what to do to get them enthused about getting into such beautiful warm water. I can�'t even recall what the icebreaker was, but Lisa did, it was jumping off the bows. And oh by the way, they forced Hanna to jump also. It might not have been so good to spend two nights in Denarau but that had to happen to get the provisions and of course the zip line excursion.

Okay the next challenge for grandpa, how do we get them in the little dinghy and feel comfortable, tooling around and being adventuresome? So we had a lesson. We were in the Blue Lagoon, you know the lagoon where Brook Shields and Christopher Atkin played in �"The Blue Lagoon, and I had all three girls jump into the little dinghy and take turns driving it around and learning how to start it and stop it. The next important part was to get it on and off the boat. The dinghy is heavy enough that if Hanna was down man-handling, it would probably knock her right off the boat. The next lesson was to teach Hanna how to use the electric self-tailing winch. She mastered it fairly well. Abby and Caitlin had to take up the chore of hooking the halyard to the harness to lift it and set it into the water. So after a few further instructions, the three young ladies had the dinghy launch and recovery mastered. I did show the other two how to run the self tailing electric winch and to recognize when it was under stress.

Now they were off gallivanting around the lagoons and bays with their snorkels and flippers, now that�'s progress. Now grandpa is feeling much better. It�'s important to give young ladies their freedom to gallivant around after they have traveled so far.

Yesterday we made a five hour venture south to get to the manta ray sight. We made it before high-tide and headed over in the dinghy to see if we could see these giant creatures. Unfortunately, we weren�'t so lucky. So we stayed at anchor through the night. The next morning I was quite concerned because we were now set on a lee shore. I didn�'t sleep much and got up early. Lisa suggested I take a look at where the Manta Rays would congregate and radio back for the conclusion of whether or not to go snorkeling. Called Lisa and advised we were going to snorkel with the Mantas. She woke up the girls and we went to chase the elusive Manta Rays. There were several other boats with snorkelers when we dropped our ladies into the water. After a few minutes, they all got a glimpse of a smaller Manta Ray very deep in the water. Unfortunately it was not the same experience that Lisa�'s family had the previous week. We were drifting through at least seven or eight very large Ma nta Rays but that was on a full moon day.

Not liking the lee shore, we moved to a small bay just two miles north. Got the anchor set, and I pointed the girls toward the dinghy to get it launched. They took it for a short cruise around and returned to the boat and swam off the back end. They rinsed off after their swimming and chilled for most of the rest of the day. Late in the afternoon, they took the dinghy to shore, walked the beach, and did a small photoshoot. Okay this is the final day for opportunities to swim. Tomorrow, early, we have to sail forty miles back to Denarau. As of right now, it is not looking like the best sailing condition. Wind on the nose at 15 knots, so what�'s new. When we get back to Denarau, we will probably have a day excursion on Saturday which will be determined over dinner tonight.

Right now, we are sitting in a very calm and pleasant bay preparing dinner, green curry fish and getting ready to play a round of golf. Alright so that�'s all grandpas got to say for the night, and tomorrow night is going to be the three granddaughters final combined blog.

All for now.

John