Day 84, Year 2: Finally Arrival in the Yasawas
Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Weather: Another Sunny, Hazy Day
Latitude: S 17 degrees 16.641 minutes
Longitude: E 177 degrees 06.231 minutes
Water Temperature: 84 degrees F!!!
Location: Likuliku Bay, Waya Island, Yasawa Group, Fiji

We left Lautoka at 7:15 AM and arrived here in Likuliku Bay on the northwest coast of Waya Island by 1:30 PM this afternoon. We had to motor sail all the way here as winds were very light, but it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The passage along the west coast of Waya is spectacular as Waya is a high island with dramatic rock outcroppings. Once we arrived in the anchorage here in Likuliku Bay, we all wanted to jump in the crystal clear water, but we restrained ourselves and ate lunch
first and then went into the Octopus Resort here to check on the “local drill.” We met Chris and his wife who manage the resort and found that yachties are most welcome here. He explained that we did not need to present sevusevu in the nearby village as we are considered guests of the resort. We made arrangements to return for happy hour and dinner at the resort, and then headed back to Windbird to go snorkeling.

The three of us jumped into the water without dive skins and we found the water to be truly warm. What we saw of the coral today was okay, but not fantastic. We saw many fish but not the great numbers we are used to seeing. Still it was a wonderland under the water.

After snorkeling, we all got ready to go back to the Octopus Resort for dinner. We arrived and sat a little table. We had not been there long until a woman named Helen found us. She is recently divorced and is an ornithologist. Mark and I immediately thought that she was a great match for Steve.

Tomorrow morning we are joining a few people to walk to the top of the island. We then plan to snorkel the island. We will move north on Thursday to the Blue Lagoon.

070717 Day 84 Yasawa Group, Fiji–Lautoka to Waya Island