Sheer Tenacity: Katie arrives with Cyclone Lusi!

16 March 2014

Each time we have needed an early start to set off for Auckland, a cyclone pops up to make life interesting! For Mary’s cataract op and lens implant, we had cyclone “June”, and this time it was “Lusi” ( not a spel fout!). As before, the thought of a wet and wild dinghy ride from our mooring buoy to the marina, at 5.00am did not appeal, so we secured a Marina berth for a few days.

As Lusi passed through, we followed her tracks down to Auckland. “Mrs Paki”, our Toyota Ipsum threw a hissy fit half way there, and boiled, forcing us to stand out in the rain while refilling the radiator, while simultaneously telling Katie, who had just phoned from Sydney, “No Worries”, we’ ll see you soon!

Fortunately, it was only a loose radiator cap, and we had 10l water with us (part of our camping gear), so it wasn’t long before we crossed over North Harbour Bridge into Auckland, arriving at the Airport just before her plane landed!

We had booked a B & B about 60kms north of Auckland, to give us a more leisurely run up to Bay of Islands. In the car, Katie described the Australian health check in procedures, with questionnaires, x-rays etc. “We take healthcare very seriously in Australia”…. She then went on to tell us that the connecting flight from Sydney to Auckland was a real bio-hazard; chock a block with coughing sneezing and wheezing Aussies, none of whom had to go through all the health checks when they leave!! She said it would be a miracle if she did not succumb too! Very prophetic…. And generous too!

Clock Museum, Whangarei

Town Basin

Our trip back saw us make a quick stop in Whangarei, to show her the Town Basin, and have lunch, and then another quick stop in Kawakawa, before returning to “Sheer Tenacity”, now basking in sunlight.

Kawakawa's famous Hundertwasser Toilets (Hundertwasser was a renowned Austrian eco-architect who lived near Kawakawa)

A gift shop opposite the loos!

The next day we did a quick shop in Pahia, before setting out into the beautiful Bay of Islands. Ominously, Kate was beginning to bark like a dog! We anchored off Roberton Island, determined to explore the island and its “pa” the next morning. Not to be…. We were all barking like dogs, and feeling seriously lousy! We spent the next 4 days curled up in our beds, swallowing pills and feeling sorry for ourselves! At least the hospital ship was anchored in some beautiful bays!

R Tucker Thompson charter square rigger in Roberton

Peaceful Paroa Bay as seen from the consumptive ward!

It gave us time to work out some activities and travel plans for the rest of Katie’s visit, and in a situation where we would not pass on the horrible Aussie lurgy (Swine flu?) to anyone else! It really was a shocker, and we all took a long time to recover, but by the Monday we were able to start going out on little adventures.. Russell by ferry, Paroa Bay wine farm, Waitangi, and Kerikeri.