Mazu Adventures: September 2014 Good-bye Fiji, for now

Wow … you just never know what will happen next. Here we were in a Fijian paradise, getting ready to head to New Zealand to sit out the cyclone season in the tropics after more Fijian cruising. Plans were in the works to sail for 3-4 more weeks in the Yasawa island group in western Fiji, our last cruise for the season. We planned to return to Musket Cove and Lautoka for passage preparations and the checking out procedures while waiting for a good weather window to sail South.

Then … due to some unforeseen health considerations with Mel, we found ourselves back home in Oregon again for tests, doctor appointments etc. Feeling a bit deflated, we had now missed our late season Fiji cruising. Luckily the Oregon weather decided to cooperate for September and October with many sunny warm days. Plus it had been several years since we had seen the beautiful Fall colors, so all in all, not too bad.

Thus with a previously well tested “cyclone plan” established, we decided to leave Mazu in Fiji for the cyclone season under the watchful eye of a local very experienced captain and helpful cruising friends who will take good care of her. I made a brief trip back to Fiji in November to finish preparing Mazu for cyclone season. So the hatches are batten down and Mazu awaits our return in the Spring. What cruising comes next will be determined at that time.

In this post I have added some pictures of our time in Fiji, in no particular order… enjoy.