Blog May 9 Whangarei
Yahoo leg 1 completed! We arrived last night at Whangarei Heads and fetched up at Marsdon Cove Marina for much welcomed showers, and to wait the night to get a high tide to go up the river into Whangarei.
We spent two days in Napier, dropping off Simon and picking up Piet. We got everything dried out, reprovisioned and did some of the inevitable fixing of things. We walked Aruhiri Wetland Walkway and had fish and chips on the Napier foreshore.
Feeling somewhat recovered we set out from Napier and headed up the coast. The first three days we had good weather and had to motor quite a lot. We rounded East Cape in the dark and headed across Bay of Plenty. Caught a good size tuna out there and gorged ourselves on sushimi and Poisson Cru.
Fortunately we managed to sustain a degree of our sealegs that were so hard won on the Wairarapa Coast, so after that enforced fast we dined well on our way north, enjoying the fruits of Janet’s cooking and freezing TV dinners. Thanks to all who lent us freezer space.
Our last day, reaching across the Hauraki Gulf, dawned cloudy with up to double the 15 knots of wind predicted. An uncomfortable north easterly swell buffeted us all day but we enjoyed the sights of Great Barrier Island and the Hen and Chicken Islands.
Piet has proved to be an excellent addition to our crew. He reads boating electronic manuals for bedtime reading! He is figuring out all the technology and fixing a few things along the way. He is a capable navigator, can play the guitar and harmonica, and has a wicked sense of humour. Even the birds like him, a swallow alighting on his lap on watch one night.
We face the prospect of several days here in Whangarei as there is a deep slow moving low pressure system sitting off the west coast with accompanying strong easterlies, quite the wrong wind for us.
Yahoo leg 1 completed! We arrived last night at Whangarei Heads and fetched up at Marsdon Cove Marina for much welcomed showers, and to wait the night to get a high tide to go up the river into Whangarei.
We spent two days in Napier, dropping off Simon and picking up Piet. We got everything dried out, reprovisioned and did some of the inevitable fixing of things. We walked Aruhiri Wetland Walkway and had fish and chips on the Napier foreshore.
Feeling somewhat recovered we set out from Napier and headed up the coast. The first three days we had good weather and had to motor quite a lot. We rounded East Cape in the dark and headed across Bay of Plenty. Caught a good size tuna out there and gorged ourselves on sushimi and Poisson Cru.
Fortunately we managed to sustain a degree of our sealegs that were so hard won on the Wairarapa Coast, so after that enforced fast we dined well on our way north, enjoying the fruits of Janet’s cooking and freezing TV dinners. Thanks to all who lent us freezer space.
Our last day, reaching across the Hauraki Gulf, dawned cloudy with up to double the 15 knots of wind predicted. An uncomfortable north easterly swell buffeted us all day but we enjoyed the sights of Great Barrier Island and the Hen and Chicken Islands.
Piet has proved to be an excellent addition to our crew. He reads boating electronic manuals for bedtime reading! He is figuring out all the technology and fixing a few things along the way. He is a capable navigator, can play the guitar and harmonica, and has a wicked sense of humour. Even the birds like him, a swallow alighting on his lap on watch one night.
We face the prospect of several days here in Whangarei as there is a deep slow moving low pressure system sitting off the west coast with accompanying strong easterlies, quite the wrong wind for us.
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that the trip to Napier was bit harrowing but we are relieved that you've decided not to sell Navire and go campervanning across the Nullabor or something. Let us know when you are leaving as we will be thinking of you.
while you head for the sun, winter descends here in deepest Tasmania and the first snow sprinkled Mt. Wellington yesterday. Most people seem delighted and are snuggling into winter coats and getting the fires roaring. Beautiful, crisp autumn weather but I can hear you saying "Roll on palm trees!".
Fair winds
Kim and Tony
Jeez, Wgth to Napier sounds like a nightmare. Very glad that the second leg was more comfortable. The third leg will be a doddle! Great to see Mt Hik from the seaward side... I presume you will post a message before you sent sail, so therefore presume you are still in Whangarei. We'll be keeping an eye on the blog and hope to see news from Tonga soon...
ReplyDeleteLuv Bill & Fiona