For a change, I've been under the weather for the last three days. We had a get together on board last Friday night and by Saturday morning, I was sicker than I've been in a long time. Not sure where I got it from but my innards were quite upset with me(and still aren't perfect). Another cruiser here in the marina came down with a bug about 10 days ago and she is still a bit under the weather. I may have gotten it from her as I met up with her last Friday afternoon as I waited at the marina cafe for the rain to stop so I could get back to Zephyr.

I taken the bus into Nadi Airport to search out the local DHL shipping agent as I had a couple of things that needed returning to the US for repairs. One was our Data Marine wind gauge and the second was a set of dive boots that the seam had torn on. I'd called DHL the previous day and they assured me they had plenty of boxes. I stopped first at Customs to get declarations that what I was sending back would be exempt from duty upon it's return. DHL had all of three boxes! Nothing would fit the wind gauge. They did find a bag for the boots so I filled in all the forms and got it all addressed. Once it was ready to go, I was quoted a price of $206.00Fijian($113.00 US) to get them back to the US. I only paid $90 for the boots when I bought them last year in the US. Once I head the price, I asked the man again. "How much? His response--"$206.00, It is door to door service sir and should be there in three to four days." Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this was not a good deal. Pay more for shipping than for the boots. SORRY! The man at the counter told me I might try the Post Office right down the road. Over I went and for $22.00 worth of stamps plus $4.00 for the bag, my boots are on their way back to the US. I have no idea how long they will take to get there but I do have a tracking number. Not sure how to get the info but I'll figure it out once I'm well enough to get off Zephyr. The wind gauge would have to wait till I can make a box to fit it and get it shipped off. I can't imagine how much DHL would charge for the gauge as the boots only weighed in at well under two pounds and the gauge weighs more than that. I guess it's back to the post office again in a few days.

The rain has finally started to slacken and we may get some sunshine for a couple of days before it returns. It seems to run in cycles. Two days of Sun and 5 of rain and sprinkles. After all, it is the rainy season.

My heart goes out to our friends(Dave and Sherry on Soggy Paws) in Tonga after their run in with the last cyclone that went through and reeked havoc all over the islands. They sustained so damage to their boat when their mooring dragged during the height of the storm and they hit another boat. Another storm has taken dead aim at Tonga and is there probably right now causing more damage.