Today is the day this adventure ends. We have been in Fiji since early June. I am flying back tomorrow and Dean left to sail back yesterday with crew. After a rough day – with “synchronised puking” as Dean put it – they sheltered in Kadavu overnight without going ashore there. They left early this morning, aiming for Norfolk for now, in case they need to shelter again. The 25-30knots SE winds should start to ease from later tonight. The season has changed: The wind has not come round to the North like it usually does, so the trip may take longer. Also, clearing into New Zealand has changed. As of 1st of September 2018 there are only four ports that take pleasure boats (such a dumb word): Opua, Whangarei, Picton and Lyttleton. So plans to clear into New Plymouth have been given the boot and they’ll aim for Picton, weather permitting.

You can track Pebbles, Dean, Pete and Phil on: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Pebbles

Our trip this year has covered fewer nautical miles but more depth in experience. We stayed at Suva, Leleuvia, Ovalau, Makogai, Narai and Gau – all in the Lomaiviti Group of Islands in Central-Eastern Fiji. Location highlights: My first local bus in Suva; Colo-I-Suva forest park in Suva; Levuka town in Ovalau; walking at low tide in Makogai, where the turtle and clam hatchery is; beach photography at the teeny island off Nairai (17″48.501’S 179″23.630’E); star-gazing at Nawaikama anchorage, Gau Island; mangrove touring, Lami Bay, Suva; and realising (again) how amazing Dean is for supporting me and my research this year.

People highlights: Just too many to say. To sum this up: Fiji = saying hello and really meaning it. We’ll be back, I know it. Fiji, you are very special. It’s not goodbye, it’s sota tale – see you again.

Some photos are below. In our hearts are all the other photos, of the people we’ve met. Click on images for captions.