Leaving Fiji

After 10 days in Lautoka, Fiji (minus the few days we spent at the Safari Lodge on a small Northern Island), we will be leaving tomorrow (Monday), after Gillian and I do a big fresh shop at the market for fruit and vegetables! We were able to get a ton of food at the supermarket yesterday, but as today is Sunday, nothing is open, so we will have to go tomorrow to get what we need. We will be going to the Yasawas first (and island group off of the Northwest coast of Fiji), and then we will be coming back to the big Island of Fiji before leaving again next week for Vanuatu, then the Solomon Islands, and finally ending this fourth leg of the Offshore journey in Papua New Guinea, by Christmas time. This trip is 77 days long, the second longest Leg (the longest is 79 days), which is 25 days longer than Leg 3, and is longer than Leg 1 and 2 combined! So, we will have a lot of time to get to know each other, and to visit all of the Island we will be going to. Our time spent at the Safari Lodge was fantastic! We had 3 glorious days at this beautiful beach-front resort, with all the watersports available that you can imagine! I got to go waterskiing and wakeboarding, kayaking, swimming, and I even learned how to windsurf and kite-board, only the wind wasn't strong enough, so it was more kite-bodysurfing (without the use of a board). It was fantastic! We all had a ton of fun, and some of us got burnt, during the 2 days spent non-stop in the water and in the sun! I had such a fabulous time there, and it was very difficult to leave on Saturday morning. I am hoping to go back there again someday. I was in my element with all the watersports they had to offer! I highly recommend that place to anyone who is adventurous and who wants to have fun with the company there, meet new people, and just get away from the busy stresses of life. It is the perfect remedy! But now we are back on the boat, and preparing to leave on our 4th Leg of the Offshore journey. I had a great time in Fiji, and would love to come back some day! Meeting other people who are also travelling and working abroad has expanded my desire to go to more places in the worlds, and experience life elsewhere, such as places all over Australia, New Zealand, Greece, the Philippines, and even Africa! So much to do in such a short life, but we may as well do as much as possible! I am excited to leave on this Leg, and looking forward to getting to know the new trainees, who all seem so great, and to see new places!

I trust that everyone is doing well, and that you all had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving back back in Canada last weekend. I am thinking of you all, and praying that the rest of your year goes well!
My love goes out to all of you!

Love always,
Sailor, Katie "Popeye" Neale

P.S. Here are the addresses for our next 3 ports at the end of Leg 4, 5, and 6, just in case anyone would like to send something to me. (I absolutely LOVE receiving mail! It is the highlight of the whole trip!) Just make sure you send it about a month and a half or so ahead of time, in order for it to arrive from Canada to whatever port we are at.

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
D&S Seko Ltd.
PO BOX 993
Madang, Papua New Guinea
(Arriving approximately December 20, send by early November).

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
Penavico Shanghai Pudong Co., Ltd.
5/F., No. 175 (Wang Jiao Plaza), Yan An Road.,
Shanghai 200002, P.R. China
(Arriving approximately March 10, send by late Jan/early Feb.)

KATIE NEALE c/o Pacific Grace
Waldron Norton Lilly Intl.
521 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 255
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825 U.S.A.
(Arriving approximately April 25, send by mid March).

Thank you! Hope to hear from some of you!