30 /12/2013
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| Start of a new day in NZ |
Our first month here can be summed up
in one word! Expensive!
The combination of our long list of
boat work tasks, my totally unplanned
dental appointments, together with the unusual amount of time spent in an
Ashby’s boatyard slip, saw “wads of Wonga” being shredded in a hurry!!
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| "Q" Dock......excellent dock, very easy for tired sailors to moor on arrival |
Our arrival at the “Q” dock coincided
with slack tides, and we were unaware at that stage, of the quite extreme tidal
currents associated with the tidal range in the bay. While waiting for the
various officials at the dock, we were quite surprised at the riverlike flow
streaming past us, carrying scores of enormous brown and white jellyfish with
it. The officials eventually checked us in, and relieved us of all our
remaining, lovingly prepared, precooked, frozen meals, (unceremoniously chucked into a big black bag),
along with our last remaining onion and tomato which we had been keeping to
have with our supper! Our “Q” man told us that, had we brought in raw boneless
meat in its shop packaging, depending on its country of origin, he would
probably have left it with us! Next time we’ll know better. That, of course,
defeats the whole purpose of our passage preparations.
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| Home of customs in Opua........wonder if they enjoyed our NZ lamb curry? |
They were all very courteous, but uncompromising,
and also removed our “Pepper sprays”, which we requested they keep “in Bond”
for return on our departure.
Once cleared in, we found the
facilities excellent, with the only slight problem being the 6km distance to
the nearest supermarket, which is in Paihia. There is a limited range “General
dealer” on site, but the prices are higher.
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| Views of Opua Marina from the customs building |
This “heavy” month has also meant
that we have not been out and about anything like as much as we would have
liked! Despite all this, we have seen enough to understand why people love New
Zealand. We too, have formed very favourable opinions about the country, the
life styles, the people, their friendly helpful
natures, the shops, the services, their values, sense of ethics, quite apart
from the natural beauty, the walks, water ways, tourist facilities , camp
sites, restaurants, etc. There are so many South Africans about, working and
living here that we feel very “at home”.
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"Cars for Cruisers" just behind customs.......NZ$1=ZAR8.8
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The services that we have used in
Opua thus far, include a cockpit locker modification done by Ashby’s, rigging
replacement, sail repairs and new UV (North Sails), stainless steel repairs and
modifications (Total Engineering), Mastervolt Charger replacement (Enertec), 2
Alternator rebuilds (Marine Electrics), Raymarine warranty exchange (Lusty
& Blundell), plus a very wide range of chandlery goods at Cater Marine ,
including the re-galvanising of our chain and anchor.
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| Sheer Tenacity in Ashby's Boatyard |
We have also stripped and re-varnished
all our woodwork, and have begun replacing side dodgers, gas bottle covers,
hatch covers etc, converting from our now faded red, to a new pale grey. We
have also repainted the cockpit, and are busy replacing the nonslip areas on deck
with Kiwi Grip paint.
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| Rod's been working hard......the teak looks wonderful |
We have now moved out to a mooring
buoy in the bay which will free us up to explore knowing that Sheer will be
safe. Have purchased a Toyota Ipsum (“Mrs Paki”), a tent, camping chairs, a
camping cooker, and are beginning to look forward to seeing more of New Zealand
shortly.
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| Mrs Paki.......and our daily visitor, Mr Ducky! |
Next week, after my last dental
appointment, we hope to do a quick trial camping trip down to Whangerei, to
catch up with Steve & Chris (our Scott Free buddies), and then later in
January we will be heading down to Auckland, for Mary to have her much needed
cataract op (Phakoemusification!!) NO…..
I am not making it up ! It really is called that!
We have booked a few nights in a motel
over this period, and will then spend a bit of quiet time back in Opua while
Mary heals, exploring the Bay of Islands, before doing a little more camping in
Feb, and preparing for Katie’s visit in March.
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| The Splash Bar in Paihia where Rod recovers from his dental trauma each week |
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| Historic and charming town of Russell |
Also during this month, we enjoyed a
few special highlights as well……..visits to Kerikeri, Russell (NZ’s first
capital) by ferry, and watched the launch of a couple of beautifully restored old NZ classics…….. “Matia”, a very elegant 1937
Logan designed sloop, and a 1938 luxury motor launch, “Lady Crossley”.
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| The Lady Crossley |
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| Many of the guests were in period dress ........each to her own!! |
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| Matia ceremonial canon saluted both launches |
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| Beautiful Matia, relaunched after 12 years |
We’ve joined the Opua Cruising Club.
The prices of drinks and food are reasonable by NZ standards and the full meals
are huge……..enough for the 2 of us to share. So we find it a good place to
watch a bit of sport and meet up with fellow cruisers.
In all, its been a good month (apart
from the dentist!) and its good to stop and smell the hibiscus!
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