STATES, OPUA,NZ AND FIJI.

WE WENT BACK TO THE STATES TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP AND WE GOT TO SEE OUR GOOD FRIENDS DELORIS AND SCOTT  AND LISA AND ANDY FROM OCEAN SPRINGS, MS WHERE WE USED TO LIVE. WE DID A ROAD TRIP FROM SHREVEPORT, LA TO THE EAST COAST, CROSSED OVER TO CANADA FROM VERMONT, TO MICHIGAN, CHICAGO AND BACK TO SHREVEPORT, LA TO OUR DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN. A FIVE THOUSAND MILE TRIP. WHEW THAT WAS A LOT OF DRIVING.

VISITING MY BROTHER VAL IN NEW YORK CITY WITH MY TWO SISTERS FROM CT.

OUR FRIEND DON FERGUSON IN BLACKS BURG, VA

CATHY &

JIM NEE WHO WHERE OUR BERTH MATES IN DOUGLAS,MI WHOM ARE ALSO WAITING TO START THEIR VOYAGE VERY SOON.

KELLY , ROBBIE  AND  HEIR BABIES IN MI. DON'T YOU LOVE THE BOOTS?

SNOW ON CANADIAN SIDE ON OUR WAY TO MI. 

KEN, SUSAN AND GRANDCHILD IN  VERMONT

LOTS OF SNOW IN VERMONT 

OUR GRANDCHILD PARKER CELEBRATING HIS THIRD BIRTHDAY APRIL 3RD. 

THIS PAYTON OUR 8 YEAR OLD GRAND-DAUGHTER

3 YEAR OLD PARKER

BACK IN OPUA NZ 

A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE TAKEN FROM THE BALCONY OF THE WATERVIEW B&B WHERE WE STAYED WHILE THE BOAT WAS ON THE HARD WHEN WE GOT BACK TO NZ.




 

A VISIT TO  AN OLD ANGLICAN CHURCH IN RUSSELL, THE PEW CUSHIONS  WHERE ALL EMBROIDERED DEPICTING VARIOUS SCENES.

CHURCH ALTAR .

SOLSTICE ON THE HARD LOOKING VERY PRETTY.

MY FRIEND FRANNY AND I 

ED AND FRANNY LOOKED AFTER OUR YACHT WHILE WE WERE IN THE STATES, WONDERFUL FRIENDS. 

DOUG AND ZULEIKA WITH THEIR NEW  YACHT.

SOLSTICE GETTING READY FOR THE BIG PLUNGE AFTER 6 MONTHS OUR THE WATER. VERY EXCITING

. .

THIS BIRD IS CALLED TUI AND THERE IS A BEER NAMED AFTER THIS BIRD. 

THE FIRST WAVE OF YACHTS TO LEAVE NZ  FOR TONGA AND FIJI.

A NEW ADDITION TO SOLSTICE WHICH IS CALLED A TRI SAIL WHICH WE HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO USE IT.IT IS USED IN VERY VERY HEAVY WEATHER. 

OUR FIRST STOP AFTER LEAVING OPUA, NZ. THIS IS MINERVA REEF WHICH DON MENTION IN THE BLOG AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE ARE ANCHORED BY LITTLE RED BOAT ON THE CHART. 

SUNSET AT MINERVA REEF. 

WE ARE NOW IN SUVA, FIJI AT THE MUSEUM AND THIS DRESS IS CALLED A TAPA DRESS, IT COMES FROM  INNER BARK OF THE MULBERRY TREE AND ALSO THE BREAD FRUIT TREE. VERY AMAZING.

A TAPESTRY FROM INDIA 

A WAR CANOE. 

THE BEAUTIFUL SUVA MUNICIPAL MARKET, NEVER SEEN SUCH A BIG MARKET AND ON SATURDAYS IT IS DOUBLE IT'S SIZE. 

IT IS HARD TO DO IT JUSTICE. 

PIN APPLE ALL CUT UP, DON'S FAVORITE 

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 

ALL KINDS OF FISH.

FRESH OCTOPUS , LOBSTER AND COOKED OCTOPUS.

OUTSIDE THE MARKET. 

MORE OF THE OUTSIDE MARKET.