Sailing once more...

The final few days of this trip were quite wonderful...

We stayed variously in Opunga Cove ( one of my favourites), Paradise Bay (Great Day Bay but a bit rocknroll at night as the swell bends around the point) and Te Puna inlet in Patanui Bay(very quiet but with a few mozzies at night).  Much sunning and relaxing with the blessed and somewhat persistent easterlies providing warm days and calm evenings and the chance to use the BBQ... not to mention some much anticipated 'lilo' time!




On our last morning (Sunday) we read a Psalm together, had a delicious Peruvian blend coffee and gently tacked our way out of the inlet, through the Kent passage and right back up the estuary in 5-8 kts of breeze.  Beautiful!

The new engine started first time, every time with no fuss, though we still have some drive train noise that I'll explore on another visit...


Cleaned up that night and caught up with Webb Chiles for dinner at the OCC - it was good to see him again and here of his plans to continue on his circumnavigation later in May.

On the bus Monday morning for an uneventful trip home... a mere 13 hrs on from locking the boat I was gratefully stepping through our front door!

Reunions, Russell, Rellies and Relief!

Great comment by another Frederick (who just happens to share his name with one of our very handsome grandsons, a certain Edward(Ted) Frederick!).

Buechner is right, I reckon, you never know in life where some joy will be serendipitously revealed even in the most unexpected of circumstances...

For example: just this afternoon I shared in the joy of James the Engineer as we heard the most welcome chattering growl of three cylinders spreading their joy for the very first time (more on that later!)

Reunions

Last Thursday I travelled south on the $1 Bus to be met by my sweet wife in Orewa and then on to old friends Mike and Lorraine's place in Arkles Bay, Whangaparaoa for a couple of nights... A certain birthday required a little celebratory dinner and the getting together of some old mates from the '70's and 80's.  Over to Parnell to the Windsor Castle and a chance to hear Steve (on the far right) play a gig (SteveyDan Band) with a good feed to follow.  Naturally Mike and I had the traditional late night swim dans le bay sans le togs upon our return...

Back up to Ngunguru on Saturday/Sunday with a visit by Barrington and I to check on the engine installation progress... suffice it to say it was on the way but not all the way...

Cath and I decided to head up on Monday anyway after visits to Anne and Tim, a catch up with Maurice and Myra Dormer and a drop in to the Billy Bowdens, with the expectation of progress being made for perhaps even a late Tuesday sail...

Ah well, the best laid plans... 

Monday was a balmy 29 deg so we headed to Kerikeri to stock up on supplies, including a visit to Churchills, the bespoke local butchery who will even vacuum-pack their very fine cuts of meat for us boaties.  

I said to Cathy that I must try and find out where my Uncle John lives.  We'd heard he'd moved to Kerikeri when, naturally, we walked right into each other on the main street!  

Nekminute  plans were being made for dinner the following night.

Russell

Weka on Flagstaff hill

Tuesday was still hot and very humid with passing showers.  So we hopped on the ferry to Okiato and drove through to Russell for the day.  A swim, a wander and a very nice lunch on the deck of the Duke of Marlborough then back on the ferry, cup of tea with Raewyn and Steve, then off to John and Linda's place.

Rellies

Great evening of reminiscing and catching up, with the  bonus of a whole folder of old Williams photos off John's computer which his son Scott had scanned recently including:

My Poppa (front right) with the Queen Mom and members of the London Scottish Brigade

1960's Williams gathering up the hills (where Cathy and I later lived for a year after we married)

Uncle John with 4 Stewarts and 2 Bowdens

Tears of Relief!

Late this afternoon (Wed) a sweet sound was heard in the marina as the new 'donk' fired with the first push of a button and chugged merrily away... a little sea trial first thing in the morning and we might even get a few days of cruising in after a mere 17 days of patiently waiting...

But, as with all things unexpected - like the death of an engine! There have been the mysterious and serendipitous moments of joy  over these past few weeks which have provided moments and gifts of grace and wonder. All of them -  Reunions, Rellies and Tears of Relief combined!

...Behold the new SuperStew!

Installed, fully functioning and a joy to behold!

A welcome Birthday Present... coming soon to a dock not far away!

Yanmar 3YM30 AES

After much consideration and consternation it has been confirmed that the above new model will soon replace the old and now deceased model pictured below decorating my cabin floor - looks like I'll be working 'extras' for a few more years...:)

On Wednesday Fenton (A fellow boatie and ex-pat kiwi who with his wife Barb also commutes from Aussie to sail his Jeaneau 29.2 moored just along the pier from us)and I removed the old engine and associated accessories, including engine mounts, control panel, wiring loom and exhaust system, cleaned up the engine bay and now is the time of waiting... 

The final straw was yet another corrosion issue, this time in the block between the troublesome 3rd cylinder and one of the cooling channels resulting in seawater mixing with both exhaust and engine oil - replacement block would be required and perhaps a complete rebuild.. evidence of other latent corrosion problems made this an very unwise option.  


It will certainly be nice to finally have a 'donk' that can be relied on, one whose provenance is certain and maintenance history assured!

An unfortunate, small but very significant fault...

The not at all Vapid Venture of Victor Vitus

'Twas another warm morning that Victor set out on another 'venture... past the Mumma Duck with her seven ducklings...playing in the weeds

Victor's very nice Vehicular Ferry scurried across the Waikare inlet to deposit him on the other side.  

 

SkipperG warmed to the task by walking Victor up the steep ascent from the landing onto Okiato ridge and off they sped up hill and down dale, past Oyster Farms and still more mangroves until up, up, up over the last hill and down into Russell.

What a delightful town and such a contrast to the frenetic busyness of Paihia, just a ferry ride across the water.  Coffee time declared SkipperG and quickly added a very nice, but VERY sticky lemon meringue treat to the order...

Time for a swim, so off they sped across another hill and down, down to the coast and the beautiful Long Beach for a long swim... the same beach that Big Fella and Samuel built a great sandcastle just a couple of months ago!










complete with waves to body surf and Pirate ships ahoy!  

Not to mention plenty of taking of ease sitting under the shady Pohutukawa tree...

After taking their ease for some considerable time, Victor and Skipper G set off again back to Russell and the well-renowned Salt and pepper Calamari of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel just seemed to beckon them from afar... So Victor had a quiet snooze beside a lovely tree whilst SkipperG was 'Testing the Squid' as it were.

Young couple with baby at Russell... it's a sign!

Well fed and watered, the pair resumed their journey up and down the hills and back on the ferry home.  Whew! 

Reno Pics...

Further stylish adventures of the surprising Victor Vitus...

It was such a nice day that Victor Vitus longed to be out and about.  Fortunately SkipperG agreed and without further ado, straight after a stirring pot of Ethiopian Blend stovetop, they set out to explore.

Along the rail trail they sped at a cracking pace, leaving several other morning cyclists in their wake and cracking on toward the rail bridge some 8 kms distant.












On through the low and slightly scary tunnel they hurtled (Victor was very brave and kept his eyes wide open nearly the whole way through!)





Oh no, thought Victor, as they approached the bridge.  We've been stonkered!  Some blokes have gone and  built a fence with barbed wire and a locked gate, and a sign to boot that appeared to read "Bridge closed for construction"

Fortunately SkipperG was not so easily deterred, nor evidently were others before him as he spied an opening which had been made in the wire mesh.  As quick as a wink Victor felt his front wheel come off and the next thing he knew they were though the fence and freewheeling at great speed across the old rail bridge... until they reached the other side and came up against an even more impressive fence and gate!

Victor felt himself being hoisted high into the air and being lowered down the other side.  Soon after SkipperG appeared beside him with a grin on his face and they were off again.  

Over the road and onto the track and still another sign warning off cyclists and walkers from going any further "Track incomplete - please use road"  

This time Victor knew what was coming and sure enough another hoist over this gate and they were off again, spinning and crackling their way along the coarse gravel path... until the track suddenly stopped.  Victor looked across the gully and could see where the track started again, but the bridge hadn't yet been built.  Well, there was nothing for it but to jump yet another fence and clackety clack they rattled across the rail bridge - keeping a close watch for the train which was due to come through shortly!

On they sped across the valley until it looked like the track disappeared into a lake.  Just this

week they reckoned that six inches (150mm) of rain had fallen in one night and the valley was still quite flooded.  Across the lake Victor could see the track emerge from the other side and 'nekminute' he felt himself sloshing through the water with SkipperG peddling furiously to keep moving. Deeper and deeper into the water until SkipperG's feet were disappearing under the water every pedal stroke!  Victor held his breath and concentrated on keeping his wheels going round and round until they were through and whizzing around the next bend.  Five more times Victor and SkipperG braved the water and each time they managed to squeak through to firm ground again.

Soon they came to the each of Kawakawa town... 












just as the train was leaving to head off down the track to Taumarere Station.  Whew, thought Victor, that was close!  I'm glad we're not still crossing that rail bridge!!






Just down the road Victor spied the sign saying Kawakawa Baptist Church and it looked like they had just finished the morning service.  Well, thought Victor, we might still be in time for a cup of tea.  SkipperG agreed and Victor had a little rest against the front of the building while SkipperG checked it out.  Sure enough, there was Pastor Chris Bradley and the congregation having a good old chinwag over a cuppa.  Victor could see that SkipperG was having a chat to a few of the folk so Victor had a little snooze and waited... and waited...

Soon SkipperG reappeared and they set off in search of some supplies - it was after all close to lunchtime by now.  Victor was keen to go to the funky looking "Trainspotter Cafe" but it was closed.  The world famous Hundertwasser toilets were right across the road and Victor had to stop to have a look... http://www.bay-of-islands-nz.com/hundertwasser.shtml

 Fortunately the busy bakery over the road was open and SkipperG was able to get the essentials - Shepherds Pie, Cream Donut and L&P bottle.  A veritable feast!

Much later together they wandered over to the train station and Victor wondered whether SkipperG was going to have the energy to pedal all the way back.  He didn't think that they really wanted to wade through water and climb all those gates again and Victor was pleased to see SkipperG buying a tickets for them both on the train.  

How exciting to ride back to Taumarere station on one of the first railroads ever built in NZ.

Even the station building in Kawakawa was pretty old...












Well, as it turned out, Victor and SkipperG were the only passengers but the train driver said that was okay and the Conductor clicked their ticket and off they flew with a toot or two right down the midddle of the main street and with a woosh and a roar they were clackety-clacking right alongside the 'nearly finished' and sometimes under water cycle trail.

Soon they were back at the Tamarere Station with the old Conducter unlocking the gates to the bridge.  Woo-hoo thought Victor,  that's one gate we won't have to climb over this time. But he could see that SkipperG was being told that "You can't go over the bridge, it's closed - we are just opening the gate to swap the engine onto the other end of the train"


Oops, though Victor, looks like we might have to take the road back to Opua this time, at least until we meet the rail trail again.  

Off they sped again, up Lemon's hill until Victor could hear SkipperG's breathing get louder and louder, and Victor's wheels turned slower and slower.  Soon SkipperG was wheeling Victor and walking alongside to keep him company.  Thank goodness, thought Victor, another few metres of that and we might have had a busted foofoo valve (which everyone knows is a particularly bad valve to bust!)

Soon they were at the top and off they went, whirring down the other side at 50, then 60 then 65 kilometres and hour.  Oh dear, thought Victor, glancing down at his front axle, I sure hope SkipperG remembered to tighten that quick release locking clamp properly...

No wurries, said SkipperG as his legs spun in synchronous symphony along the twisting turns beside the mangrove mud flats amongst the bushy hills.  Soon they were near home and PierE was a welcome sight to a slightly dusty Victor and a little weary SkipperG.  

Carpeted, Coloured Coordinated Completeness

I'm sitting here quietly on this gorgeous Sunday morning revelling in the colour coordinated haven contained herein, with the deep sea blue coloured carpet complemented by the subtle light grey walls... 


If I may be forgiven for waxing lyrical after the long, hot and sweaty battle to cut and fit the 'blessed' carpet yesterday in 30+ deg temperatures (I saw 33.6 inside temp at one stage) as I watched the fleet depart for fishing and other idle pursuits throughout the day.  I counted 15 empty berths in our pier - a record number of absentees.

Cyclone Winston has pounded Fiji overnight with expected wind gusts of 350kph bound to have done some damage.  This past week we have copped just the tail end of the front as it headed back north - enough to record some high winds and near record rainfalls.

Beautiful day today and I'm contemplating a ride along the trail toward Kawakawa - might even catch the scenic railway if its running into Kawakawa itself... but first some finely brewed Ethiopian coffee...