2nd Friday
sunrise over Hihi Beach
Cap’n Birdseye was up and at ‘em early, aiming to get underway before the winds picked up to an uncomfortable level. Leaving Hihi Beach and Doubtless Bay behind, we embarked on the longest sail of the trip so far: seven hours south back to the Bay of Islands and the Opua Marina.
With a 16-18 knot wind on the nose, we succumbed to the call of the engine as we wanted to outrun the forecast stronger winds. I took the helm for a bit: eyes on the horizon and breeze on the face is a sure fire cure for anything that might possibly ail me.
This felt familiar, almost like life on a slack line again. I wrote, Tam read, David and Rory sailed.
Oh, Tam and I slept.
As we passed the Cavallis, we headed back into the Bay of Islands on a perfect starboard tack, engine off, sails filled and Leona flying. The sun shone, birds danced… what a glorious day.
For a Valentine’s dinner, we opted for The Duke of Marlborough in Russell, the oldest licensed establishment in New Zealand. Started by the ex-con Johnny Johnston in 1827, it has been “serving rascals and reprobates” ever since.
The Argentinian host gave us champagne to celebrate Rory and Tam’s engagement and made sure we had a prime table on the porch overlooking the bay, as well as overlooking a slice of life as a two locals celebrated their nuptials: noisy cars, world-class mullets, and a whole heap of happiness.
The cruising community wrapped its arms around us: as we waited for our first course, the table next to us filled with people we had met on our Duke’s Nose Scramble. I had exclaimed “Snowy!” at the sight of a perky white dog with bright eyes trotting down the trail, surprising his owner with the niche Tintin reference. (Couldn’t have been that niche: Tam and Rory certainly knew what I was talking about.) We exchanged pleasantries with the woman and her husband, inquiring about the trail, the view, and so on. Then lo and behold, there they are, sitting next to us in Russell. I am sure it is not uncommon that two boats end up in the same harbor, but I do love the fellowship.
Fresh oysters and Aunty’s Fry Bread
As the sun sank and the clouds developed, we decided to up anchor and head back to the marina. In order to do so, we had to get Joker from the shore to Leona. David happily bounced up to the bollard and untied the line, turning back so we could get a selfie.
“Babe, Babe, the boat!” I cried, as Joker and the line gently moved away from the dock. The current was light and David’s arms are long, so no harm done. As certain family members will attest, “Babe” can be used in multiple situations, often when there is a boat involved.
The infamous selfie, complete with thumb and the Duke of Marlborough Hotel
It was peaceful, and a tad melancholy pulling into the slip at Bay of Islands Marina. Our two weeks of cruising had come to an end. We have a day of laundry, tidying, and cooking all the left-over fresh food ahead of us, and then the next time I see Leona will be in Santa Barbara.
No notes.