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!
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| Clock Museum, Whangarei |
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| 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.
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| Kawakawa's famous Hundertwasser Toilets (Hundertwasser was a renowned Austrian eco-architect who lived near Kawakawa) |
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| 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!
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| R Tucker Thompson charter square rigger in Roberton |
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| 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.
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| Rod and Kate took a gentle walk past the Opua/Russell ferry towards Pahia |
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| Lunch at the Swordfish Club in Russell |
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| New Zealand green lipped mussels with a VERY expensive bottle of Paroa Bay wine |
