Promises fulfilled, Pier to Pub, Perfect Day!

Some years ago now, I completed a long-held ambition to become a member of the Rotorua Marathon "Survivors Club"

To be eligible, you had to have completed 15 Rotorua Marathons, over however many years this took!  In my case I began with my first neophyte attempt in 1980 and ran my (definitely) last in 2001.  The first took 4h11min and resulted in swollen joints and a resolve to do better/go faster.  Twenty one years later, a little older and perhaps a little wiser, I snuck in the final trip around the lake just in time.  I'd been back in 2000 for an anticlimactic denouement as the organisers cancelled the race at the last minute with 4000 runners standing on the start line in torrential rain (12 inches fell that day) and the back of the course flooded with no access for emergency vehicles dictating the turn of events.  

Valve-replacement surgery soon after put paid to any thoughts of a come-back... but I was pretty much satisfied with my 'Survivor' status in more ways than one.

Coming to Australia in 1997 meant discovering new challenges and one of them was to participate in what is billed as the largest Ocean Swim in the world - the Lorne Pier to Pub.  After a few missed years for various reasons, this year I fulfilled another promise to myself when I completed my tenth swim (really eleven - the transponder bracelet didn't work one year!).  This time the reward was to become not a survivor, but rather a member of the Sharkbait Club!  Up early, my good mate Ian and I travelled the 2.5 hrs down to Lorne, getting there early to get a good parking spot.  The population of the small town swells by over 20,000 people and parking is at a premium.  After a delicious breakfast at one of the many cafes, we sat and relaxed before our start times of around 2 pm.  


It was a perfect day with the capped field of 5000 enjoying favourable conditions (I have been there when storms forced a postponement...).  I managed to swim the 1.2kms in 17:28 (My older and faster buddy managed 15:36 - 37th in his 60-69 'Super-Veteran category!), besting my previous best time and finishing in1997th place out of 5000 entrants.  Not bad for an old fella considering my pre-race training consisted of a few short swims off the boat, ,indoor exercises with rubber cords and a few kayak paddles (I just don't like Chlorinated  pools any more!!!)


This morning in Church I had the congregation reflect on a theme of promises and the perils of making resolutions.  It seems like we all run foul of the temptation to either long for the often ill- remembered glory of the past or think that we need to only live for the over-realised expectation of better days to come.  Swimming yesterday reminded me of the simple pleasures gained from living in the now - and being willing to "have a go!"

I like this quote from Henri Nouwen:

"The real enemies of our lives are the "oughts" and the "ifs." They pull us back into the unalterable past and forward into the unpredictable future. But real life takes place in the here and now. God is a God of the present. God is always in the moment, be that moment hard or easy, joyful or painful. When Jesus spoke about God, He always spoke about God as being when and where we are. 'When you see me, you see God. When you hear me you hear God.' God is not someone who was or will be, but the One who is, and who is for me in the present moment. That's why Jesus came to wipe away the burden of the past and the worries of the future. He wants us to discover God right where we are, here and now." - Henri Nouwen

Lazy Crazy Hazy days of summer in Waiti Bay

One of those brilliant Ipipiri days... sea breeze 10-15 kts, blue skies, high 20's... just magic!

Up early to a foggy morning quickly clearing to clear blue skies...karuhiruhi ladies in waiting

Cast off soon after 0900 and motored toward Tapeka... trimarans and parasailors shared the air.

A few of the local cruisers...

Loaded up - at least they all have pfd's!

Waiti bay on Moturua island was beckoning - we've tended just to sail without too much pre-planning and stop wherever appeals... a bit rock 'n roll with all the wakes form the mucho traffic on this extra day's public holiday (did I mention every man and his dog?)

Gorgeous colours on the waters edge

Back at the Marina... beautiful sunset to end a perfect day!

Paroa Bay, Waiwhapuku Bay & Omakiwi Cove

...Monday morning was spent reconfiguring the inside storage system to accommodate the impending arrival of the female crew-members with their 'gentle' insistence of some space in this seemingly overly male-orientated vessel "full of gadgets and stuff!"

Who am I to argue, I muttered under my breath while sweatingly re-organising all my important things into less- obvious places - I just hoped i would remember the new locations when I came to look for something...

Water tanks full, morning coffee imbibed, showered, shaved and shampooed - I couldn't have been more ready when the luxury El-Cheapo limo rolled gently into the carpark mid-afternoon (looking laden to the gunwales).  Naturally I made no comment when much of the cargo consisted of essential supplies like chocolate and nibbles!

All good, we quietly slipped mooring lines and coasted out into the estuary in search of sun, quiet bays and warm water... and mindful that this was just a day before New Years eve, possibly the most congested time of year for Ipipiri.

Paroa Bay

Heading toward the ubiquitous Opunga Cove under a delightful sailing breeze, we quixotically decided to veer south and steered into Paroa Bay for the night with a dying SW ensuring a quiet night.  All that was left was for the Skipper to cook dinner, make coffee and provide the hand-made Rocky Road for general consumption.

RJ enjoying Chocolate while taking her ease post-dining in the cockpit

Waiwhapuku Bay

The next morning, general consensus was that a east facing sandy bay was in order and that Roberton Island was possible (too windy) but Waiwhapuku Bay would be perfect - and thus it turned out to be (see pics)

Sisterly Belles above Waiwhapuku Bay

Gorgeous View!

 With a predicted change to NE already taking place mid-afternoon, we up anchored and head-sailed gently across to Omakiwi Cove, where a number of like-minded souls had gathered to see in the new year.  SWMBO declined to surface for a last photo op in 2013 citing "bad hair day" issues  but a retiring view can be glimpsed in the Great Cabin shot below... 

The above map shows some of the tracks - I must have been a little distracted and forgot to turn the data-logger on a couple of times... but you get the general idea!

New years day 2014 dawned clear (I was up to see the sunrise!)- but the "too bright too early" aphorism turned out to be accurate as we scuttled back to Opua under darkening skies and the heavy downpours intermittently occluded the beautiful scenery past Tapeka Point and home to the berth.

I did enjoy the hour or so of quiet this morning as I reflected back on 2013 while sitting drinking a nice cup of Ceylon black...  I thought of the moments of significance that had passed my way (Facebook helpfully gave me 2013 in review without me even  asking!)

Some of the moments had been more kataphatic - the beauty of the islands and the sheer joy of sailing again, the delightful exuberance and heart-warming wonder of grandchildren, the times of camaraderie with paddling buddies, good coffee and good friends.

Other experiences,  have been much more in the apophatic tradition - a welcome place for an introverted mystic! Such moments have included the privilege this morning of sitting in a quiet bay enjoying the pristine beauty of God's creative handiwork, of gentle walks and the companionship of Ash along the way, the weeks Silent Retreat at Sana Casa in Queenscliff, the loving support of my dearly beloved...

It's not hard to find some very good reasons to give thanks for the year past and anticipate the serendipitous grace and presence of God in the year to come.

Nanny and pa timed their arrival well as I headed toward the obligatory morning coffee at Diana's cafe and we imbibed as the girls enjoyed their welcome home hot showers.

Dinner at the OCC concluded a great three days of sailing as the sun set over Opua hill...