It must be very frustrating to try and follow us. We last left you while on passage from Tuvalu. Didn't mean too. It was just a difficult passage, and we got tired. When we could have typed a blog, we chose to just rest.

But hey, now we are back in our beloved Fiji. We arrived from the north through a pass near Porpoise Shoal to the island of Waya, where we anchored and slept very soundly, before we woke up and continued across the lagoon to Lautoka. After the formalities of checking in, we promptly made our way over to Vuda Point Marina. Having not been in a marina for a year, it is just an amazing pleasure to have an endless supply of fresh water to wash everything above and below deck, laundry facilities, just the simple act of hopping off the boat to the little pier. These are joys untold to people used to having dinghy ashore for the slightest thing we have needed over the past year. To boot, there are good inexpensive restaurants here, a very cool bar on the water, free swimming pool, easy to get to bus into town. Believe me, we are happy.
I think it's safe to say that Fiji is yacht-infested. Denarau Marina is completely full. Vuda Marina is completely full with boats anchored outside waiting for a spot and inside some are stacked up along the wall. The World ARC Rally boats are here, and of course, that is part of it. The other, is that there are more and more cruising boats every year, and they just keep getting bigger and bigger- monos and huge catamarans that take up so much space. But, this is no matter. It is just a representation of the change in cruising over the years. As I said, we are very happy.
When we arrived outside Vuda Marina at the entrance, we radioed that we were here, got approval from the girls in the office to come in through the entrance channel. Then it was a very warm welcome home. The entire staff remembered us and we them. Young Max who was driving the "tie you up" boat, came racing out to the channel to say hello, then while tying, Lulu, Moe, Tinny, Dix were all waving and getting in on the tie up. The Yacht Help guys Joe and Leo came to say hello. It was - and is - really special. Being in a marina with access to great maintenance facilities, we have, of course, been working quite steadily since our arrival. Washing, polishing, varnishing, fuel system maintenance, steering and mechanical checks, sail maintenance, rig checks, winch service, you name it. We are doing it.
But, at sunset on Monday, there is a free movie on the lawn. Last week was Grand Hotel Budapest. Tuesday at the restaurant is half-price pizza. Thursday is half-price beer at the Sunset Bar. My point is that it is not all work, and we are having a great time. Many old friends are here, nice new people.
Yesterday, we attended a first year birthday party in Lautoka at a Rotuman friend's house with his family. Lunch was a feast cooked in the Lovo stone-in -the-ground oven. Yummy, and it was special being the special guests. Food highlight was the spinach-like taro leaves and coconut wraped in a complete leaf, beef curry, curried chicken, oh yes, and French fries too!
Then, it was back to the boat where we had two Kiwi couples over for a beer before the All Blacks vs. England game. All Blacks won! Life is really pretty good. We will probably be here another week and then go play in the local islands once the boat is all spiffed up. I promise to try and be more attentive at this, but you know there is a local expression – Fiji Time, it refers to a special kind of life here. (You can actually Google it, but scroll down past the actual business hits of time zones, etc.) We are on Fiji Time.