"Stay to the Left"

After a smooth three hour flight from Fiji to Auckland, New Zealand, we picked up our Campervan and headed for the west coast. Holy Sh**, driving on the left side of the road in a 20’ long Campervan which has the steering wheel on the right and the stick shift in your left hand is quite the nerve-racking experience. It was only about a forty minute drive, but the road was as windy, hilly and small as I have ever been on. By the end of the drive, my butt hurt from clenching it so long, and I smelled as bad as an Indian Bizaar!!! My deodorant definitely let me down… Sally praised me for getting us there alive, but was not willing to hug me.. The drive was worth it, because Piha is a beautiful little beach town with waves, a cool vibe, and nice locals. We ate and hung out at the local Surf Rescue Club, which dates back to 1934, and is famous throughout New Zealand for its surf rescue school. After dinner, we set about the task of properly moving into the Campervan. It took all of Sally’s Interior Space Planning and my Industrial Engineering ability to make it all fit. Thank God for College Degrees – Thanks Mom and Dad!! Caught some waves with Charlie in the AM and headed north for the Bay of Islands.

Bula Bula!!

That’s hello in Fiji. After a long night of flying, we arrived Monday morning at 6 a.m. After crossing the International Date Line, we lost Sunday completely….still trying to figure that one out. We had a 3 hour wait for our transfer boat to bring us to the island of Malolo Lai Lai, but once we laid eyes on the blue water, the long night’s travel was a distant memory. The Resort is called Musket Cove and is absolutely breathtaking. Because it is still the off season, we feel like we are the only guests here. The Fijian staff are so nice and on day two they seem to all know all of our names. I was lucky to hook up with Ben, an Aussie surfer, who was hoping to rent a boat to access the offshore reef breaks. We went out Tue. morning and caught Wilkes Pass at about head high and larger on sets. In the afternoon, we had a great snorkeling trip to a place called Black Rock. Very clear water – lots of fish, and a very close up with a sea snake and three white tip reef sharks (See Animal pictures). That night we bought BBQ packets and cooked out on the Reef Bar Island, great sunset and good conversation with some Yachties who travel the world looking for neat places to hang out. One couple had been here since August. The next several days were filled with snorkeling trips, surf excursions, beach/pool time and a boat trip to a local village to buy Fijan stuff – Charlie bought a warrior hatchet! On Thursday night we attended a local Pig on a Spit BBQ dinner complete with authentic Fijan dancers and Mat and I even danced with the “ladies”!! Five days flew by but we feel lucky to have had such a great time and even made some “Friends Along the Way” – Ben and Gally from Sydney who were very fun and have invited us to have a proper Aussie Barbie at their home and a game of cricket when we get to Sydney.