Good Bye Fulaga
Salsa af Stavsnas
Ellinor Ristoff Staffan Ehde
Tue 14 Oct 2014 01:57
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As I write this we are sailing westward with a
southerly 11-13 knots wind, making 7, 5knots, it is overcast but still
about 25-27 degrees and we sail in shorts and a T-skirt. Before we went
through the pass we anchored nearby to have a last dive. We took the dinghy
against the current, dropped everybody but one driver and swooooosh we all flew
pack with the current. Thousands of fish, turtles and a visibility like a clear
glass of water.
In the dinghy, out again! Next turn and next turn
till the lips were blue. But we also had a time to keep to get through as
long as the current was favorouble to the waves. When it goes against the waves
you get a standing wave, meaning water against water and with that comes crazy
circle currents etc.
We came through and it was calm as a lake. Now
heading for Suva and we count on having two days to get there.
Yesterday was a good bye day, that is the worse
part about being involved with a new family.
Before that I had a bit of maintance to do, when we
went to the wonderful bay I heard a bird in the machine room and when I opened
it up I realised the fan belts needed some love and care. So I replaced one fan
belt and adjusted the other 3. Soon I had other things to do as I also opened
all filters to check if we caught any sea creatures and yes the fridge pump had
a good dinner of small shrimps, squids etc.
So as we came to the village landing we also guided
the new arrival of a boat called Land Fall. In the village we met our host
family and we took off back to the boat with a wheel barrel loaded with
our wood work and that was just
magnificent.
We have a big size kava bowl and a very nice fruit
bowl that we have designed and Mini made it with some improvements.
Andrea got a traditional drum and Erika got a small
bowl for her things. This is a trade for making the journey to
Yagasa.
On board we served a farewell dinner and we had a
small chat. They wanted to see pictures from Sweden and thank god we had some in
Ellinors computer. They were amazed at the snow and ice, but in a wáy I think it
is hard to understand if you have not experienced it.
After dark I drove them in to the landing and the
ride was exciting, we had a flash light and it made fish jump out of the water
like crazy. It was like a boiling fish soup!
It is amazing that there are wonderful people who
take the effort and invest emotionally in foreigners and take care of them. I
think that every family that moved to Sweden should have a Swedish host family.
It makes a huge difference when we approach the village knowing we have somebody
that is concerned about us, that can introduce us to others and that can explain
how things are done.
Normally we would have walked in to a village, had
a look, maybe say hi to somebody, in best case some lonely sole would say a few
word but we would look through an emotional window. With this system the
window is wide open, they will tell me for instance not to wear a cap when
entering the village (that is obviously a Fiji custom, not only in Fulaga), and
it is easy for me to respect.The kids get friends and Ellinor learned a lot
about different things like cooking or children etc.
Last night I also packed my kayak and as I did that
I thought about all amazing places I have paddled with it, first time I took it
out of the backpack since Sweden was in Ria Arosia in Spain, it took
me half a day to assemble it, then Erika jumped into it and made a close
encounter with a dolphin. Next place to put it together was in the Caribean,
first time paddling among mangrove trees and on a cristal clear
water.
After that San Blas, with the Kuna indians and
their canoes. Leaving San Blas it stayed in its backpack till we got to the
Tuamutos, there I scared a shark for the first time and had some wonderful times
and also real hard weather. Then it did not come out again until Raiatea and
Bora Bora. In Raiatea I paddled up a river and that was like being in the
Amazonas.
Had no reason to bring it up again until we got to
Tonga, and that was amazing paddling with ring snakes and around a perfect
reef.
After Tonga it came down again and was not mounted
til we got into Whitianga. There I used it for 6 months almost every day in the
Whitianga river or out in Mercury Bay. If anywhere that's where I learned
paddling in strong currents.
And now in Fiji, Savusavu and Fulaga. What more can
you ask for?
If you are curious what kayak it is look for
Feathercraft on the web. If you are really interested check out a video when it
is being assembled.
I have the model that really looks like an eskimo
kayak and goes into a backpack.
If you are thinking about starting to paddle, get
yourself a wing paddle, it will make your back stronger and it is a great paddle
to learn how to handle. Do not forget the safey issues that goes with paddling,
if the water is cold you will not make it for long without a protection.Make
sure you know how to get back into the kayak if you are away from land.If you
are new it might be good to take a lesson or two.
Unless your intention is to travel with your kayak
do not buy a foldable, you pay for something you wont use and it is a more
sensitive system than a glass fibre or plastic. If you intend on paddling in
Sweden all year around get yourselfe a "VKV ocean"with safety arms that can be
hoisted if you make a turn. That system is probably the safest you can find.
Theories about using your paddle as an extention arm and put a floatable device
at the end do not work when you really need it. It works fine in flat water but
in bad weather it really needs a lot of practise.
Enjoy a sport that combines the pleasure of speed,
tranquility, musclework and solitude!
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