08/6/27 17 29'S:177 32'E Malevu 6 p.m.
First Night en route to Savusavu. It is quiet some distant road sounds which we have not heard since Suva. No band playing ashore from the resort district of Port Denarau just the quiet of Gabriella rocking. The night is dark moonless with stars still decorating the sky the rolling sea calmed and it was so still I awoke wondering what house I was in forgetting I was on Gabriella in Fiji.
By 6 a.m. Ted had Gabriella motoring down the coast with the morning mist rising above the rolling hills and mountains revealing the wilderness of Fiji peace is in the air. The sun is starting to burn off the grey overcast sky with the promise of a new day.
As we work our way along the coast of the big Island of Vitu Levu the city of Suva is way behind us and memories of Nadi are beginning to fade. Our direction is east towards Savusavu Harbour 16 46'S:179 21'E part of Vanua Levu the second largest Island of Fiji. Missing the exploration of the Yasawa Group of islands we did how ever enjoy Musket Cove in the Mamanutha Islands the choices are many and it would take a life time to explore all of the Fiji islands. Gabriella is motoring at 6.1 knots passing many small islands the water depth is 20 to 75 feet with many hidden coral heads and reefs. With the changing of the tide the flats become very apparent the water color changing from blue to brown. Fortunately the Navionics electronic charts are very accurate of the Fiji waters as Tonga was a different story. With our eyes on the horizon looking for exposed rocks and fish baskets it has been one month now since Gabriella entered the waters of Fiji, much has been enjoyed. Tonight's destination is somewhere near Nananu-i-ra Island to rest before we cross the body of water called Bligh Water which is thousands of feet deep which will bring us to the shores of Vanua Levu.
I believe it is a good morning for french toast so off to the galley I go.

As 2 p.m. rolls around the sun has finally decided to win the battle of the cloud cover. Arriving our anchorage full of basking sunlight 17 18'S:178 12'E Nananu -i-ra Island a pleasant surprise is Catamaran "Squid" home to the Willis New Zealand family of three who we had met in Tonga. Hours were spent conversing before we walked the beach at sunset. The island has three small cottage resorts and many fine private homes mainly New Zealanders and Australians other wise known as Kangaroos and Kiwis. Meeting Monaz a local on the pier he informed us of Paris Hilton buying the point and making preparations to build an exclusive resort, he also shared insights to the history and people of the area. Ending the day with dinner aboard and I may add no bugs joining us the evening became very calm and still the wind subsided with the coming of many stars.

Sunday 08/6/29 morning is here with a 5:30 a.m. departure watching the silhouette of Squid with her blue L.E.D. lights glowing across the water Gabriella is heading into the sunrise for Suvasavu with two large sea birds swooping along besides us. Pink highlights on the clouds tops soon turn to a purple luminous 360 degrees across the horizon mixed in with a view of mountains and open sea. The rising sun comes for the grand finale with an amber golden glow lighting and announcing the day ahead.

Gabriella is being blessed today as the Lords favor is upon us. Crossing over Bligh Waters with glassy calm seas and warm air from a sky full of sunshine. I can hear the gentle lapping of water on Gabriella's hulls. The word that comes to my mind is soft. Yes all feels, looks and sounds soft on a sea that could be ferocious. Please keep praying as we are being blessed today on this large body of water called Bligh Waters which is named after Captain Bligh. You can read his story "Mutiny on the Bounty" which tells the tale of an English Sea Captain sailing from England to the South Pacific for trade ,who after mutiny from his crew survives on the sea with a dozen men on a small open long boat and eventually he returns to Pit Karen and arrests the mutineers.

Once again I am working on the battle of black mold every sea women's unwanted companion. I can see rain in the distant which promises a good future in mold! It really is not that bad but you do need to keep on top of it and it is a little bit of a work out but with Exit Mould a product found in this part of the world, which works like a dream black mold becomes no longer a strong enemy but melts away magically like snow on a hot day, puff gone!

The pretty light blue sky has turned grey and the rain has started to fall this afternoon as we are motoring through" Save a Tack Passage" which is a short cut through the reef and will bring us straight into Savusavu in another 2 to 3 hours.
Our land fall is 6 p.m. as the bay meets the mouth of the entrance to the harbor Gabriella drops anchor off of a very exclusive looking resort. After investigation we learn it is the Jean Michel Resort where you can find designated "Serenity Areas". We were kindly welcomed and given the outsiders policy list so we would be in the know such as no smoking at the bar and stating at the end " We trust you enjoy your brief stay with us. " and I did, for it is a very fine place and the guests looked like one big happy family. The children were in a circle racing crabs and the music played as their beautiful dinner was being prepared.

In the morning we will continue the one hour journey up the river harbor to immigrations to check in and out as the conditions read favorable to go east. More prayers being answered. Thank you Jesus for answering and friends for praying.