Kicking the bucket in Fiji

Nine of us flew into Nadi airport with paddles, inflatable canoes, one raft, tents and baggage. On a trip to Fiji to test the possibility of canoeing as a tourist attraction, we were a fairly motley crew: teachers, public servants, a solicitor and a journalist. Aged from the early 20s to over 50, some of us were rank amateur canoeists, persuaded to pay our own way to help our ‘leader’ try out his adventure travel idea, see something of Fiji, and have some fun.

Fiji is made up of about 320 islands.  Viti Levu is the largest, on which is the capital, Suva. Volcanic, the island’s highest peak is Mt Victoria - also known as Tomaniivi - which reaches 1,323m. A north-south mountain range…