tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29556824956224408072024-03-04T00:19:20.626-04:00Gone With The Wind ... on safari"Gone With The Wind" is an Australian designed Grainger 52 cruising cat.
She was built and launched in northern New South Wales for her owners Annie and Liam in 2004.
Follow our adventures and see the world through our eyes as we travel aboard our floating home.Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-70236408771285484592024-02-24T02:08:00.000-04:002024-02-24T02:08:15.915-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" face="Papyrus" size="4"><br />Exploring the islands and anchorages of New Caledonia</font></p> <p><font size="3">8th - 20th September 2022.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Our first anchorage was within spitting distance of Port Moselle Marina, and to be frank we were quite exhausted after the 3 nm journey. Two weeks tied to the dock makes you soft.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCz28aFuQBU6RurrkenVfGPEjPhiGT0WRVAnyy6R0EfM9BGbsYBAxrsu6EqCHNu4UGXWk419Rkjd-C2zflO8rympedPCl4jI8L3d2sBytCSGnMDFJNoAa4PYip_X72-rfVzdj2LqdGIvLbL53-GC5HNxjzvfMlwwOjFXjxqPWmDniNMhCWkeea6iVs82o/s4608/P9092528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCz28aFuQBU6RurrkenVfGPEjPhiGT0WRVAnyy6R0EfM9BGbsYBAxrsu6EqCHNu4UGXWk419Rkjd-C2zflO8rympedPCl4jI8L3d2sBytCSGnMDFJNoAa4PYip_X72-rfVzdj2LqdGIvLbL53-GC5HNxjzvfMlwwOjFXjxqPWmDniNMhCWkeea6iVs82o/s320/P9092528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchored off Ilot Maitre</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Ilot Maitre was our destination for the night. It was a pretty island with trendy overwater bungalows. We’d heard on the grapevine that the resort didn't welcome cruisers ashore so we stayed put on GWTW and were happy with that.</p> <p><font size="3">Next morning we weighed anchor, rolled out half our jib and had another massive passage of nearly 9nm to the well protected Baie Maa on the west coast of the mainland. The winds were pretty puffy rushing down the surrounding hills but our anchor was dug into thick sand and we never moved an inch all night.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ww0t-oUItmz-11zjG6lwWpEJVOI3jDmi47-yFUwaD_hFLf0n-mAVe3p_5ZWs1PJRmTYXtlSlTSrbY91h49oascfveLFwAFGC8t-gVANF0WaU6uo2PxZWP7DdKS5y6RJTPsQXrC0gg6L3VHEXxHL54CwthC9g_V0Kp1eOEVBwGEju2a7XOUa93yftnPH/s4608/P9092532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ww0t-oUItmz-11zjG6lwWpEJVOI3jDmi47-yFUwaD_hFLf0n-mAVe3p_5ZWs1PJRmTYXtlSlTSrbY91h49oascfveLFwAFGC8t-gVANF0WaU6uo2PxZWP7DdKS5y6RJTPsQXrC0gg6L3VHEXxHL54CwthC9g_V0Kp1eOEVBwGEju2a7XOUa93yftnPH/s320/P9092532.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><font size="3"><br /></font><p></p> <p><font size="3">There was really nothing in the bay to keep us more than a day.</font></p><p><font size="3"> And with that on day 3 we pointed the bows south west for 34 nm toward Anse de la Est in Pyrony Bay which would be our jumping off point to the famed Isle des Pins ( Isle of Pines) the following morning.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3_z023XMuMOCSsX4l7iYrtd7xYXxSErZtvM7t0oNz9nolIX3h6DAex2Eh6OlMYoMCz2yqGh-voFRZRnjLxHdZuMor2DIY637G6ZOLytthaVwn8Eu_1kgsiV14HbkDL3Is0THks4i9rURnNnF5iDMqg1V5_6exGBEXiXRhGmkdN3ZCrJPhCvsed6ZCgbI/s4608/P9102553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3_z023XMuMOCSsX4l7iYrtd7xYXxSErZtvM7t0oNz9nolIX3h6DAex2Eh6OlMYoMCz2yqGh-voFRZRnjLxHdZuMor2DIY637G6ZOLytthaVwn8Eu_1kgsiV14HbkDL3Is0THks4i9rURnNnF5iDMqg1V5_6exGBEXiXRhGmkdN3ZCrJPhCvsed6ZCgbI/s320/P9102553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise before heading to Isle De Pines</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3">In company with Aussies Clare and Andy from Eye Candy we set out at 0600 for the 40 plus nm passage. It was a bit of a dogleg to get there needing a keen eye to spot the many reefs and rocky outcrops which play hazard with boats plying this route.</font></p><p><font size="3">Being an overcast and hazy day it was vital to keep a good lookout at all times as many boats have come to grief getting to the island .We arrived around 3pm and dropped the anchor in 21ft off a beautiful sandy beach.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdksSRJ1Ucecw4aCoOSgcMSjTrzgJTh0xaU8fou-LPGKTXkyQCrQUr5LTG3XIL4wYDv6NkT-UUfMJ2oZ4sDwgr-QJpdi1fT0wfTZ03dpqoPDBuSYLKBs2RNAAFdHfQSRKOObkWqOwBugK4To1lzaKztS3PmUGuau_3ojW5fWFpPCzqnf0YPzoJoxXgDggR/s4608/P9122569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdksSRJ1Ucecw4aCoOSgcMSjTrzgJTh0xaU8fou-LPGKTXkyQCrQUr5LTG3XIL4wYDv6NkT-UUfMJ2oZ4sDwgr-QJpdi1fT0wfTZ03dpqoPDBuSYLKBs2RNAAFdHfQSRKOObkWqOwBugK4To1lzaKztS3PmUGuau_3ojW5fWFpPCzqnf0YPzoJoxXgDggR/s320/P9122569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchored off the Island</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>The next three days were spent exploring the island on foot and by car</p><p>We rented a car at the local resort and the four of us piled in to see the sights…churches, cemeteries, two prisons, the local fresh market which had very little on display as well as walking to see several wood carvings dotted around the foreshore of where we anchored.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSHEyHv7mr0w77HYLrfpGXWbliyHn5ysyCit3uE9tKZOGt_ltRd6X2CRItJQpUpKtfNOyEBfqWpU1Utayeo9sNYXpE0nQ5KAoL3r-ngCfmj_e8BQSmazhnk1YOB9OQoIJYlBlt9iih1hi3ENwT26BOH5e8RxyHoTshRNeXBqU88LtQectHumnngAWIox6/s4608/P9122576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSHEyHv7mr0w77HYLrfpGXWbliyHn5ysyCit3uE9tKZOGt_ltRd6X2CRItJQpUpKtfNOyEBfqWpU1Utayeo9sNYXpE0nQ5KAoL3r-ngCfmj_e8BQSmazhnk1YOB9OQoIJYlBlt9iih1hi3ENwT26BOH5e8RxyHoTshRNeXBqU88LtQectHumnngAWIox6/s320/P9122576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Carvings along the shore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE-fZpspwq1GDvaf1kVl0e3kWEZ1K7aLOLOxMywF_o2bNoZw58AMifvTCB83aLgnztGl5NnZKTlCKWuMdbv3Pw_WUIP2_tfbAxPhP33TNgdhq1qBybem00ja1ICVKD3KZgmLOXZEf7OqiWMUzEiFuuFzrMU6WqIwXMD2Qw2Vy4vJoQEZ7xr66tQ5y1_ls/s4608/P9122605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE-fZpspwq1GDvaf1kVl0e3kWEZ1K7aLOLOxMywF_o2bNoZw58AMifvTCB83aLgnztGl5NnZKTlCKWuMdbv3Pw_WUIP2_tfbAxPhP33TNgdhq1qBybem00ja1ICVKD3KZgmLOXZEf7OqiWMUzEiFuuFzrMU6WqIwXMD2Qw2Vy4vJoQEZ7xr66tQ5y1_ls/s320/P9122605.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner of this sign sure didn't mince his words!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqFYO6QzElH-YZVhL707oe9LRPI2dERppPzpQoEzgi6LE_nPXHtUmOMGgVuZ702P2YeXKtkrV89q87PpE1ZJ6GbOIEtlRt-Ef5VgazbCEzERmo5U8gjM8GUVA4aAEHN_SVDQZVKf-HHYJv7np_SwD7GTEu7PXoY4w08OWocD9jvvYVfLKEvdsOT_fYL7x/s4608/P9142609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqFYO6QzElH-YZVhL707oe9LRPI2dERppPzpQoEzgi6LE_nPXHtUmOMGgVuZ702P2YeXKtkrV89q87PpE1ZJ6GbOIEtlRt-Ef5VgazbCEzERmo5U8gjM8GUVA4aAEHN_SVDQZVKf-HHYJv7np_SwD7GTEu7PXoY4w08OWocD9jvvYVfLKEvdsOT_fYL7x/s320/P9142609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many beautiful churches dotted around the island</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaj0LHgIkohrZbwAxliGu9XgLoZOT_ffaBr8pVeg_-J2mp8CGEdNCFTe-JTYY2nqdFqYJj-e6785gAXFwFY7ECBMyvLXA9UGWNNyZxk1JOEE3J_BpAOgvJ0dFjtgoSGgUVZpEdE0WVuS4_kRz70RACI4szMZouIO291vwdwyKN-1Vfg_D4m7eBAUfLAut/s4608/P9142620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaj0LHgIkohrZbwAxliGu9XgLoZOT_ffaBr8pVeg_-J2mp8CGEdNCFTe-JTYY2nqdFqYJj-e6785gAXFwFY7ECBMyvLXA9UGWNNyZxk1JOEE3J_BpAOgvJ0dFjtgoSGgUVZpEdE0WVuS4_kRz70RACI4szMZouIO291vwdwyKN-1Vfg_D4m7eBAUfLAut/s320/P9142620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A road side cemetery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1k2f3cdPxRhz3BQ50-Ua3V3_Vp-A7Of_1I_kZ2aGPYxNRh4eoKmEa4IND62_ZAW_GF3xmPczn7iG43vkIZF5zrCQG-9ut-CX1eYIZvdYkbDaFjOV_EpTAyg49nd0qc4L38xMVDRqTXJ-GvSd9x8G8evgIcePpWVBXierd2cLOsXUAObn5LE1Odt13mTz/s4608/P9142638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1k2f3cdPxRhz3BQ50-Ua3V3_Vp-A7Of_1I_kZ2aGPYxNRh4eoKmEa4IND62_ZAW_GF3xmPczn7iG43vkIZF5zrCQG-9ut-CX1eYIZvdYkbDaFjOV_EpTAyg49nd0qc4L38xMVDRqTXJ-GvSd9x8G8evgIcePpWVBXierd2cLOsXUAObn5LE1Odt13mTz/s320/P9142638.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Oumagne Grotto</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsm41w8VN954EE4E525mIm9hTm56U6Gdp0fycUNbglfUpXJTT_5pcm-B4eS2qF_sqb9oYqwzUh6S4xNCwW4wrwxiw0mnhHOKRUQcbr5lrFzljhh2Y3ErUQ4HoVbG8lxtNARPW8B9N_AG82XznkyGLWWAAXnS2xuZXA__U2hG2vx15dRFDp84Dbr5rP9OA/s4608/P9142656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsm41w8VN954EE4E525mIm9hTm56U6Gdp0fycUNbglfUpXJTT_5pcm-B4eS2qF_sqb9oYqwzUh6S4xNCwW4wrwxiw0mnhHOKRUQcbr5lrFzljhh2Y3ErUQ4HoVbG8lxtNARPW8B9N_AG82XznkyGLWWAAXnS2xuZXA__U2hG2vx15dRFDp84Dbr5rP9OA/s320/P9142656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the two Prison ruins on the Island</td></tr></tbody></table>On our way back to return the car we stopped for a coffee over at a resort on the opposite side of the bay which we patronized as they had free Wi-Fi available. It was then that we learned of Queen Elizabeth's passing a few days before. We were all saddened by this news.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl5q5MYSFJxSmoPYXHlmPhLs9orfkh3GC1FE6YkFoW3UGhlUwvqmdaMHq76-nS0XKR2Dag_QotryPA3CmwvDYPPqK3jOZcFKpDohMDJPOSGdqVhzH30Y0p_s-XVt4KPcMFZtlGy4hvqaZq2lHMMdMPmSSfB_RQofXHugzcteP_UT2ATMlYScC5yCNh3no/s4608/P9122594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl5q5MYSFJxSmoPYXHlmPhLs9orfkh3GC1FE6YkFoW3UGhlUwvqmdaMHq76-nS0XKR2Dag_QotryPA3CmwvDYPPqK3jOZcFKpDohMDJPOSGdqVhzH30Y0p_s-XVt4KPcMFZtlGy4hvqaZq2lHMMdMPmSSfB_RQofXHugzcteP_UT2ATMlYScC5yCNh3no/s320/P9122594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding Fido</td></tr></tbody></table>During another of our shoreside lunch excursions Liam befriended a local dog who was highly trained in the art of begging for food.</p><p>Once Liam and his friend had gobbled down Liam's’ meal said pooch, now with a tummy full, moved on to the next table where he had equal success with his new found family.</p> <p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnupybIPdSdyRJ17dJjInTd0wm_GbmcWMMOGJK_vuf36CgjgKPSu_FAWW5W5dLw2SsLrLtpOvt_nGruer1K5X-hsjigCRH957Y6Mc-rzyhDfDpp1hcHIfh2ybEe-Hf3610B_jJITON2TIcNec_PyV4D3CE_x_2SCAuEmulEpSbyU0M_YKBhaHef1O1TH3x/s4608/P9142607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnupybIPdSdyRJ17dJjInTd0wm_GbmcWMMOGJK_vuf36CgjgKPSu_FAWW5W5dLw2SsLrLtpOvt_nGruer1K5X-hsjigCRH957Y6Mc-rzyhDfDpp1hcHIfh2ybEe-Hf3610B_jJITON2TIcNec_PyV4D3CE_x_2SCAuEmulEpSbyU0M_YKBhaHef1O1TH3x/w320-h180/P9142607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The supply ship arriving from the mainland</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3">The days were slipping by and It was now the 15th of September and time to say goodbye to the Isle des Pins.</font></p><p><font size="3"> It was another early start just after dawn and the posse of two headed out under sail to pretty Ilot Ua arriving just after midday, </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3">A long pristine beach greeted us as</font><font size="3"> we plopped the anchor into wonderfully clear water. Sundowners on the beach, well on a tarp actually were the order of the late arvo.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD2dsErAxN8GXnQ4hf3pbWV6CqR3NHpNu3EB8X81tWFlsu_DV2YCwd9GhK8sJKgUfTfFWBvHAylf0JSRy4W2Q0GeeQhKvhRK71j75dfdnZ9RvU39UbZ3o8j8LbuROflMjV3zyvmaeiq69R30qRvRIkLiCCGhbQDMbelKOlOma5zIcTmmJ9Ck-Lpizv1Wv/s4608/P9152667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxD2dsErAxN8GXnQ4hf3pbWV6CqR3NHpNu3EB8X81tWFlsu_DV2YCwd9GhK8sJKgUfTfFWBvHAylf0JSRy4W2Q0GeeQhKvhRK71j75dfdnZ9RvU39UbZ3o8j8LbuROflMjV3zyvmaeiq69R30qRvRIkLiCCGhbQDMbelKOlOma5zIcTmmJ9Ck-Lpizv1Wv/s320/P9152667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another perfect beach just made for sunset drinks </td></tr></tbody></table>All was going well until a couple of uninvited guests of the variety known as slithery headed our way.</p><p>Liam our resident snake handler was quickly on the job and persuaded them to move on with the help of a big stick.</p><p> You probably didn’t know that sea snakes could fly did you.</p> <p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3">After a lay day and some uninspiring snorkeling we headed back towards the mainland once again with the top stopping spot being Ile Vere, a horseshoe shaped bay with excellent protection from the SW winds.</font></p><p><font size="3">Once gain we had sundowners ashore where this time we met up with a family of locals (Kanaks) who were most interested in our travels around the globe. They were cooking up fresh caught fish on their makeshift BBQ and offed some to the four of us. Didn’t need to ask us twice!</font></p> <p><font size="3">After another couple of lay days and watching the late Queen’s funeral in French it was time to head back to the big smoke once again for a much needed provisioning run.</font></p><p><br /><font size="3"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNsrQ3RyOl7Khuo4M2stHGMBSI3N4lesOLiajFOXKGrzjmkZ3ghhkYoPVT96cCRaytgru9oo-0bS2SW0eFem0H1V32HpVBnMP9j8E1Ttui43ayAbwUTNmlWhQsyBzPk4yihndBHblkn6FUfwsBAt93-umXe3PBkqHIDYnymCA7SE5QaneeCJreOum8KPY/s4608/P9152671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNsrQ3RyOl7Khuo4M2stHGMBSI3N4lesOLiajFOXKGrzjmkZ3ghhkYoPVT96cCRaytgru9oo-0bS2SW0eFem0H1V32HpVBnMP9j8E1Ttui43ayAbwUTNmlWhQsyBzPk4yihndBHblkn6FUfwsBAt93-umXe3PBkqHIDYnymCA7SE5QaneeCJreOum8KPY/s320/P9152671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another perfect Pacific Sunset</td></tr></tbody></table></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p> <p><font size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font size="3"> <font color="#ff0000"> *************************************</font></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-41016113991619924592023-03-13T21:20:00.102-04:002023-03-13T23:21:50.911-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4">Noumea, New Caledonia</font></p> <p><font size="3">27th August – 8th September 2022</font></p> <p><font size="3">As we had arrived into the country on a Saturday afternoon both the Customs and Immigration departments were closed. However the Biosecurity was open and we were instructed by the marina staff to remain onboard with our yellow quarantine flag up until the Bio Officer had paid us a visit and cleared us for entry. Within an hour we saw the lady officer strolling down the dock towards GWTW. She introduced herself and hopped aboard. She was most impressed that I’d already bagged and tagged what little rubbish we had.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNiREMsN5aSowcWr-ZWDQkgkmCdyAsuMrsR1GVfHmzFLVXdVzc_U3tCh_PnyLuH4zSpW26E5211WwWMimVFDN7nRjHSSl7rwgQzqIDWOe_FhCUr_HpHVLGlhOzepQG0RQSJkxw_fvqKuf1h6MqCXOQwZlLNQIbLcsCU16K6j30-8ckpoPW1qjF14a6w/s4608/P9082522.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNiREMsN5aSowcWr-ZWDQkgkmCdyAsuMrsR1GVfHmzFLVXdVzc_U3tCh_PnyLuH4zSpW26E5211WwWMimVFDN7nRjHSSl7rwgQzqIDWOe_FhCUr_HpHVLGlhOzepQG0RQSJkxw_fvqKuf1h6MqCXOQwZlLNQIbLcsCU16K6j30-8ckpoPW1qjF14a6w/s320/P9082522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwtw at Port Moselle Marina</td></tr></tbody></table>I still had some fruit and veg left and when she checked it she let me keep the lot saying that it had originally come from NZ even though I’d bought it in Fiji as Fiji don’t grow apples or oranges or potatoes. She was really sensible about the fruit and veg. Such a refreshing attitude.<p></p><p>Before she left she asked us to keep our yellow flag up for about two hours in case a Customs officer decided to drop by. Her parting words on that subject was, they won’t come they never do. We were then free to do whatever we wanted until Monday when we’d need to pay Immigration a visit. Customs never did come to the boat.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eZldTMisYQWiWS-ZPdh-XuET5-Ssq5saKTsti6eImZ-oBZuWB5koj0ZkozsPP8tEo7TboaSOy3MoZ-PUbdC9_t6CebScUMja30-jOxZ6cUmlY9yOxGDWaMgN9FNWvc3u-g34bzgz5lWU_iaQYnkduU1g5MEUkHKF63tTAqla0CxlvMS4FuvhYhzm2g/s4608/P9082525.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eZldTMisYQWiWS-ZPdh-XuET5-Ssq5saKTsti6eImZ-oBZuWB5koj0ZkozsPP8tEo7TboaSOy3MoZ-PUbdC9_t6CebScUMja30-jOxZ6cUmlY9yOxGDWaMgN9FNWvc3u-g34bzgz5lWU_iaQYnkduU1g5MEUkHKF63tTAqla0CxlvMS4FuvhYhzm2g/s320/P9082525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The delightful cafe at the marina</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">Over the following two weeks comfortably berthed at the marina we explored Noumea and surrounds both on foot and by car. </font></p><p><font size="3">The supermarkets were right on our doorstep as were the fabulous fresh veggie market and the fish market and chandleries, butchers and of course patisseries. There was no excuse not to eat well.</font></p><p><font size="3"> This city is relatively small and compact in comparison to other capital cities we've visited so it was an easy stroll around.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_exYz_b00Uy9vtOd8TCXuP7mzlixd7ieWTWzQ2Xje1qKBPQ0DhNN6aQ181KphHewWGabpnVaq9XdRNIccdO4v7LlcaTgLSEobAf7WLkig0Yxw3xTzUJRzjX9aUBlG_u7uquUJk412HRyMZU-9-aMAvhjPkKjBIKOIs5BKQFOHifiRR80pPKq6UbnFnw/s4608/P8282495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_exYz_b00Uy9vtOd8TCXuP7mzlixd7ieWTWzQ2Xje1qKBPQ0DhNN6aQ181KphHewWGabpnVaq9XdRNIccdO4v7LlcaTgLSEobAf7WLkig0Yxw3xTzUJRzjX9aUBlG_u7uquUJk412HRyMZU-9-aMAvhjPkKjBIKOIs5BKQFOHifiRR80pPKq6UbnFnw/s320/P8282495.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a huge variety of fish available</td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><br /></font><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8bozjEYQFSlPAxjsr4-sbaHs8uEPSW-JHbak6v-LJ-4o4IqW-2wH1eLNr3VwxHf3s-dVjxz8YN1jEfYMO9Pz95mf6N2gwh-X7NVu9rk5l1Gt-0TaIVsuwkEoXcPzfH-FAsYrNueosWvmPOuzt5aStk-iD1dsujzFRC0JgLfRDgR6-ntSEAC4Ato85A/s320/P8282496.JPG" width="320" /></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNh-UnHLIL5q2gXBBNMkWbScBYJM_OtB7PEIBkjG8URwnihCTF-RkQnVhZHzTUrjucHQJekRQ829yTnkrqbq_Km_DTWzrCnKhxiWToQfjU-aFofu2sqqCZJu8gWpfoMuAfkZQk4JCQFqcRN9JhdtoYDP3DKhkmX4DRmxsCqB2Qk5Ky9a0OVsx-WoxKw/s4608/P9032505.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNh-UnHLIL5q2gXBBNMkWbScBYJM_OtB7PEIBkjG8URwnihCTF-RkQnVhZHzTUrjucHQJekRQ829yTnkrqbq_Km_DTWzrCnKhxiWToQfjU-aFofu2sqqCZJu8gWpfoMuAfkZQk4JCQFqcRN9JhdtoYDP3DKhkmX4DRmxsCqB2Qk5Ky9a0OVsx-WoxKw/s320/P9032505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the best fruit, veg and meat since leaving New Zealand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTABuP9ewiRH14_6NcYshxjnY8Ps3BqKX278gOE7NZhTm3GMNM73pqCMgCZ6k2lWBBjQEYjDaE2FrnyCY4sbPkjNcwqh6ItFT01raBa4VlIzp9_oqWYxYfcBNi9XeWDndLo3UN-BEnNNUfggpywgFANQuSDgGRPCm02G0wO0eulmqfkMgS8R1VAlgXQ/s4608/P9032507.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTABuP9ewiRH14_6NcYshxjnY8Ps3BqKX278gOE7NZhTm3GMNM73pqCMgCZ6k2lWBBjQEYjDaE2FrnyCY4sbPkjNcwqh6ItFT01raBa4VlIzp9_oqWYxYfcBNi9XeWDndLo3UN-BEnNNUfggpywgFANQuSDgGRPCm02G0wO0eulmqfkMgS8R1VAlgXQ/s320/P9032507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC1P_x-05eLYj_I3RyxOXOe308bY_KshUm-jF99V9_2YGIQbrqluNxR3ltDvGG7ufGfMw7so5aqJyEYE6PFPqNf8GiPoEWBEphSd_R_Ob0GHRgoeXWOGuhLs9A4SgTKdgxsMxrqOryc8KelNnOAdS55a-41Awum8dclI4v631bl3OddRzr22G-BKXmw/s4608/P9052518.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC1P_x-05eLYj_I3RyxOXOe308bY_KshUm-jF99V9_2YGIQbrqluNxR3ltDvGG7ufGfMw7so5aqJyEYE6PFPqNf8GiPoEWBEphSd_R_Ob0GHRgoeXWOGuhLs9A4SgTKdgxsMxrqOryc8KelNnOAdS55a-41Awum8dclI4v631bl3OddRzr22G-BKXmw/s320/P9052518.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China Town but we only found two Chinese Restaurants</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnSq6Uu6VwL-5rd3lrVnFLmvmsKzeSw3sApBkrZQPRg5c5f0Ho26fSEIo2rkJthoKST70VLW4o1g2GLO6vt3GzuLMrIcTg_GYNDDzSUypCVWBejhTQdpq-lJShUsqDNrbaY0py9UJBYe34bfGGXXPOQvpMY9y0iu1aoo7IHMsEuKt9kOktMbGhVYrcQ/s4608/P9012504.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnSq6Uu6VwL-5rd3lrVnFLmvmsKzeSw3sApBkrZQPRg5c5f0Ho26fSEIo2rkJthoKST70VLW4o1g2GLO6vt3GzuLMrIcTg_GYNDDzSUypCVWBejhTQdpq-lJShUsqDNrbaY0py9UJBYe34bfGGXXPOQvpMY9y0iu1aoo7IHMsEuKt9kOktMbGhVYrcQ/s320/P9012504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very popular beach for tourists, Plage de la Baie des Citrons</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><font size="3"></font></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-U49pkMyxeMhGWQSwZwsoAntncKk5Zf0Tg4yj-rXZID06-ndH6-vm7JZkzT25nfYa4OFLrq-n4rxLjal3Gy5o-YK6UtNNuhJmVvLlbtQCt576gVx-DaTt6PZTu1IZs-Dt_Cerwzc_EFAGl6seD_TXbYWvLMqSknkde0cHGQe28w7P3QK7TY5q6oAQA/s4608/P9052517.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-U49pkMyxeMhGWQSwZwsoAntncKk5Zf0Tg4yj-rXZID06-ndH6-vm7JZkzT25nfYa4OFLrq-n4rxLjal3Gy5o-YK6UtNNuhJmVvLlbtQCt576gVx-DaTt6PZTu1IZs-Dt_Cerwzc_EFAGl6seD_TXbYWvLMqSknkde0cHGQe28w7P3QK7TY5q6oAQA/s320/P9052517.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Joseph Cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3">Our friend Andy from Eye Candy had met with a nasty accident en route from Vanuatu to New Cal when it was fish vs man. </font><p></p><p><font size="3">As he rushed out of their cockpit to land the Mahi Mahi a small piece of metal attached to the aft gate tore through the flesh on his calf and into the muscle leaving a very angry gash. </font></p> <p><font size="3">They were still 24 hours away from medical assistance but with help from both Marine Rescue Coordinators and Gulf Harbour Radio in New Zealand an appointment was set up in Nouema with a local doctor just across from Pt Moselle Marina for when they arrived. </font></p> <p><font size="3">It was a bit of a long saga to get the gash to heel with many many visits to the doctor. But slowly, and I mean very slowly, we’re talking over a month, before it finally healed and Andy and Clare could get on with their cruising life and Andy could get back in the water once more. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p>And on that note it was time for us to drop the dock lines and explore more of this sub tropical Island.</p> <p><font size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font size="3"> <font color="#0000ff"> *****************************</font></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-84915467237290279832022-11-28T01:29:00.065-04:002023-01-03T02:36:47.768-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" size="4">Passage Fiji to New Caledonia</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">23rd –27th August 2022</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">After having breakfast ashore as it was our 37th wedding anniversary and with our customs clearance in hand we headed back to GWTW. On went the engines and we motored toward the Mololo Pass and through the reef to the open ocean.</font></p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8K9XDsDDLv6cvMRqZwgNhbenz97l6LaEmvQxkExC5fMav6HWwSKnuyeqOO9C5GMFCWuMFmM7l_8NJVwr-8xhaPZNaoSzHr69C8A0N2HrDeyGF6wt2hCbnxwMw79ZSwStWHL57AHRugba82k7PUImjKKNZB1_G0SlXfszxe5EuiQuYJAZoxE4Do5kwg/s4608/P8232468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8K9XDsDDLv6cvMRqZwgNhbenz97l6LaEmvQxkExC5fMav6HWwSKnuyeqOO9C5GMFCWuMFmM7l_8NJVwr-8xhaPZNaoSzHr69C8A0N2HrDeyGF6wt2hCbnxwMw79ZSwStWHL57AHRugba82k7PUImjKKNZB1_G0SlXfszxe5EuiQuYJAZoxE4Do5kwg/s320/P8232468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye Bye Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p>Looking back over our shoulders we bid goodbye to Fiji and the friendly people who live in this island paradise. Two hours later as Liam was pulling in the first reefing point in our mainsail the reefing point and sheave let go with a mighty crack. Luckily the sheave landed in the dinghy and we figured we could replace the broken part once we arrived in Australia. But until then it would be sailing with the second reef or nada. Not a good start to the 800 nm passage.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Even with just the second reef in the mainsail we were romping along with speeds of nine + knots, a SE wind 15-20 knots and the seas were 1-2 metres. At 1800 Liam got his first strike on one of his three fishing lines. Sadly whatever it was it was big as it chomped off his best lure, possibly a marlin and we sure didn’t want that coming onboard. With a starry night above and a sliver of moon we had a very comfy first night at sea.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Day two had similar conditions to day one. We have a long range SSB radio and keep a radio schedule with boats around us when on a passage. Tonight we heard that Andy from the vessel Eye Candy had succumbed to a five inch gash in his calf as he raced to the transom to pull in a Mahi Mahi. He would more than likely require stitches once docked in Noumea.</font></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrsvr8i93diVh3w1EVAs2d4AGoL5XkoHjf6XjxgHuNBNjeGi0KSwdn4vgka4ui8JfYTC2q3eM6msFjpDUky8JYpWbPGew0GaLBVFa7TnEd3AkLpVqINDx_0flCYDmPT1m7W6FbZgiRbgDCMZsA0ihoIVSFhrs0F_XjXg-wyYMUWDj0uNnl9uGAeMSmw/s4608/P8242471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrsvr8i93diVh3w1EVAs2d4AGoL5XkoHjf6XjxgHuNBNjeGi0KSwdn4vgka4ui8JfYTC2q3eM6msFjpDUky8JYpWbPGew0GaLBVFa7TnEd3AkLpVqINDx_0flCYDmPT1m7W6FbZgiRbgDCMZsA0ihoIVSFhrs0F_XjXg-wyYMUWDj0uNnl9uGAeMSmw/s320/P8242471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather small Yellowfin Tuna</td></tr></tbody></table>Just on dusk Liam heard the familiar ping of the fishing line and pulled in a small Yellowfin Tuna. He’d just got it on the transom when the other line pinged. </p><p>This time it was a decent sized Wahoo which put up quite the fight.</p><p> Once he was dispatched the Yellowfin got a second chance to grow up and was put back in the water, happily swimming away at pace.</p> <p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GSjRKUibSxoYqfd2URly5KdB-710if_1xRsBXYxJq4EsndAQomE_AFaG2EgrcQYhe1rdEcmbbsbFdc_An1B1R_N_CQXzXZqCZMoZevSgNWcllDRRelkRoRcqBMZOECk279w26po7KcIFTy0o2n47zWa7LrQrlJTVty18IQzBIYraO2BR1ze94FV4jQ/s4608/P8242476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GSjRKUibSxoYqfd2URly5KdB-710if_1xRsBXYxJq4EsndAQomE_AFaG2EgrcQYhe1rdEcmbbsbFdc_An1B1R_N_CQXzXZqCZMoZevSgNWcllDRRelkRoRcqBMZOECk279w26po7KcIFTy0o2n47zWa7LrQrlJTVty18IQzBIYraO2BR1ze94FV4jQ/s320/P8242476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woo Hoo a Wahoo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>For the next two days there was no wind or very little so the iron sail came into play and did all the work. We saw no ships and there were no fish to be caught. Quite boring really.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">At 0650 on day four we entered the Havanna Channel with a a decent ingoing tide giving us 10 kts of boat speed. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdJVFhZzGsl0LjXJgryNAnDpE2wwLF_p4nLyW12vo5ExXGFip833GzLOAB7ngfHPO4l_Mprp8r222QCU9IIxtWALqCTHytpNSWCQZXkyAedll0ZbcKRIZbKs2WqWNF0wbgflVAJeGWPz5LvO9JZmcXWZ7aQ_cWT_kw-WZfhNvgREN1ALM_dtp1fUjgw/s4608/P8272479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdJVFhZzGsl0LjXJgryNAnDpE2wwLF_p4nLyW12vo5ExXGFip833GzLOAB7ngfHPO4l_Mprp8r222QCU9IIxtWALqCTHytpNSWCQZXkyAedll0ZbcKRIZbKs2WqWNF0wbgflVAJeGWPz5LvO9JZmcXWZ7aQ_cWT_kw-WZfhNvgREN1ALM_dtp1fUjgw/s320/P8272479.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough conditions as we entered the Havanna Channel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS_ohHy8c_ayCX9fHgbidA6fQSchLO83HnvKvw1bKTboy-jFfy75Gf8zOO6hjeYh4zFWHC1XgqTGjkXoRvjJGPTZW0Umg1Iwfb-j32MpshlIm_HIs9edxAs_1wTWvxmKnDrwEK8vK5QkxBELNCPnGVZ0GX8ShdLVmOg1-CwJvVsc45HN0hnp9dPXZjQ/s4608/P8272488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS_ohHy8c_ayCX9fHgbidA6fQSchLO83HnvKvw1bKTboy-jFfy75Gf8zOO6hjeYh4zFWHC1XgqTGjkXoRvjJGPTZW0Umg1Iwfb-j32MpshlIm_HIs9edxAs_1wTWvxmKnDrwEK8vK5QkxBELNCPnGVZ0GX8ShdLVmOg1-CwJvVsc45HN0hnp9dPXZjQ/s320/P8272488.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now inside the channel proper the seas calmed down</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nSLwUcj-yV_ahg_ay8dwQcgC-RSxZ9a6cEUnuu2u_REB4KAl-u6BxOPVOFyosB5AWyk2YELFGDpRYGTdoa0lU1s2tUGo44s9PJBra1ZLf1sXq0JSpHctVv8Ph4qTveJ6HaGDFx1ZTxRYcdV1Ga4JJZLjmohuNDj1bEHHrz-7flmKzkXH4dgc47ncOw/s4608/P8272484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nSLwUcj-yV_ahg_ay8dwQcgC-RSxZ9a6cEUnuu2u_REB4KAl-u6BxOPVOFyosB5AWyk2YELFGDpRYGTdoa0lU1s2tUGo44s9PJBra1ZLf1sXq0JSpHctVv8Ph4qTveJ6HaGDFx1ZTxRYcdV1Ga4JJZLjmohuNDj1bEHHrz-7flmKzkXH4dgc47ncOw/s320/P8272484.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nickel mining has scared the landscape</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJuFRc03hQm9UkUbbi4KCi0CPPNARJ-S1ivlZNVFv1u0KxR5rW5hwghbZFF-bYNE3HPsQxvppeoctD78PUyVXtMStk0NDxkY1urG-Bt69BF7I5QZ0vcib4XgSv77oP-e1dzCDFbmP2vuLRj3_BU_dXdaf5W-96K0PEFxopSRBi_wgqR56rXoHVdcldw/s4608/P8272486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJuFRc03hQm9UkUbbi4KCi0CPPNARJ-S1ivlZNVFv1u0KxR5rW5hwghbZFF-bYNE3HPsQxvppeoctD78PUyVXtMStk0NDxkY1urG-Bt69BF7I5QZ0vcib4XgSv77oP-e1dzCDFbmP2vuLRj3_BU_dXdaf5W-96K0PEFxopSRBi_wgqR56rXoHVdcldw/s320/P8272486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the channel, Pine trees were everywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">By 1300 we were tied up at Port Moselle Marina in Noumea with a welcoming committee of Aussies, Andy and Claire from Eye Candy and Kiwis Ted and Adrian from the sailing vessel Otama. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yb8X_avGLIJA_i46Hjm06iImKaj5mpjSCcs-iHuain0C0JSUQA-_6IhskBLuyKFY5tr2CL2B6Z6PCVZ98J3YJvTPvCEmbGDqzoWkSQ90LGfIplzPzNf4EqUMQ8SXc4Et2JBaNwL2LzMozOpDb7wd0x0cBVCavk0ZDtPEMPV1pAQjAZfmFmMoCs6d6A/s4608/P8272494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yb8X_avGLIJA_i46Hjm06iImKaj5mpjSCcs-iHuain0C0JSUQA-_6IhskBLuyKFY5tr2CL2B6Z6PCVZ98J3YJvTPvCEmbGDqzoWkSQ90LGfIplzPzNf4EqUMQ8SXc4Et2JBaNwL2LzMozOpDb7wd0x0cBVCavk0ZDtPEMPV1pAQjAZfmFmMoCs6d6A/s320/P8272494.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having an after passage beverage with friends from Eye Candy</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">It felt great to be back in a French country again and were looking forward to gobbling down fresh baguette's, pate and cheeses and all the delicacies that were on offer.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.delorme.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.delorme.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"> <font color="#ff0000"> *********************</font></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-3866287958054382542022-11-17T21:28:00.132-04:002022-12-07T00:10:47.917-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" face="Papyrus" size="4">Fiji Revisited</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">21st July – 22nd August 2022<br /></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">When we called Port Denarau Marina the morning after we’d arrived to ask if we could we come in for clearance we were politely told that we should stay at anchor as the marina was full at the moment and that they’d get back to us asap re clearance procedures.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">It was Friday and we really wanted to clear in to avoid the weekend overtime charges. By the time we heard back from the Marina staff the wind had come up and we were instructed to bring our tender in and collect the officers and take them to our boat. We explained that we were anchored approximately two miles from the marina and that with the current wind direction it would be a very wet ride out for all concerned.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">As our friends on Pogeyan also needed to be cleared both tenders were launched and we shared the load of the officers, but they still all got wet. Our clearance went just fine so now we were free to do whatever we wanted.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXtLPHctH5WgU9TIC5-uusooViQA-i8yZ7agDy1P2Ux4gOajXOaD4QhX1muEt45cUzjqgphVPWr7bDPv0mdA31eXiM8aJn9Toc7b2RgCq3ZfzO58aF4z3DQourGmS8V_bYW9l14NhNd6lzmSgbUj83UUyRJNSc0FJSC26dG-TX4w_i0jlRp5A3AQ3oA/s4608/P7222356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXtLPHctH5WgU9TIC5-uusooViQA-i8yZ7agDy1P2Ux4gOajXOaD4QhX1muEt45cUzjqgphVPWr7bDPv0mdA31eXiM8aJn9Toc7b2RgCq3ZfzO58aF4z3DQourGmS8V_bYW9l14NhNd6lzmSgbUj83UUyRJNSc0FJSC26dG-TX4w_i0jlRp5A3AQ3oA/s320/P7222356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another perfect Fiji sunset</td></tr></tbody></table></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">First up was to re - provision our fruit and veg, followed by haircuts for both of us and re connecting to the outside world again with a great Digicel phone plan for calls and data. We were back on the grid once more.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">Over the next month we to and frowed between our main base in Musket Cove and Port Denarau. We caught up with our Swedish, Ulla and Pelle and Italian friends, Max and Alex who all piled onto GWTW and we took a Sunday trip out to the Cloud 9 floating bar. </font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk49w1nK_9b0u_c7LePCNCz9EpNBd15q1szRxIwvsyJAko5D0jwGip0bIPJgoFA52qeXuX3_2LOOAGtPUC6rfUQk72TEoUioPSLrBC-akaJk9xPxpN0iXvkYzmwifXUeXnkVwgqtqKdj7K-jaKT_MO8zrAXjkeEah-k5Ib7QrUS1kwsuU0dytQp-I_Fg/s4608/P7312412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk49w1nK_9b0u_c7LePCNCz9EpNBd15q1szRxIwvsyJAko5D0jwGip0bIPJgoFA52qeXuX3_2LOOAGtPUC6rfUQk72TEoUioPSLrBC-akaJk9xPxpN0iXvkYzmwifXUeXnkVwgqtqKdj7K-jaKT_MO8zrAXjkeEah-k5Ib7QrUS1kwsuU0dytQp-I_Fg/s320/P7312412.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With GWTW in the background, it was pizza Sunday at cloud 9 with our friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48mygQvPoBVTSLncEOUfmREgYdx7ym0zYxzWJrYmPDuKG0VD4w8AF0Ok8ki07a-KxxSXZXq7_dLLNlRd3LvCEdqnVLP9pzpKvKYY8PNqJ7Z-X23qZ8j2A2jmrxBp-4NL_Kitvy0Y8QprOOhe7y7klj-9s5Qmq6-YQSuwmhp3Iy_ZjSVASmXk6fCOM1Q/s4608/P7312385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48mygQvPoBVTSLncEOUfmREgYdx7ym0zYxzWJrYmPDuKG0VD4w8AF0Ok8ki07a-KxxSXZXq7_dLLNlRd3LvCEdqnVLP9pzpKvKYY8PNqJ7Z-X23qZ8j2A2jmrxBp-4NL_Kitvy0Y8QprOOhe7y7klj-9s5Qmq6-YQSuwmhp3Iy_ZjSVASmXk6fCOM1Q/w113-h200/P7312385.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect landing</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlN0LiI8CA-ReRxp3Lp7H-zHQwGdXO2_Sfd5aFVInfUrx5UoH_bCRPdVQafIZMe5Rwys9RgvuMMafMedmKSso48nhcolxXDHqv2snK19CmXACVXotAnQR6j1XEzy15I40MN8sucgLPPCAfkQs5T-Nf9urN9ckWRsC5Cjd8v2CuMAaGwPlV1yOT3vj8Q/s4608/P7312380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlN0LiI8CA-ReRxp3Lp7H-zHQwGdXO2_Sfd5aFVInfUrx5UoH_bCRPdVQafIZMe5Rwys9RgvuMMafMedmKSso48nhcolxXDHqv2snK19CmXACVXotAnQR6j1XEzy15I40MN8sucgLPPCAfkQs5T-Nf9urN9ckWRsC5Cjd8v2CuMAaGwPlV1yOT3vj8Q/w113-h200/P7312380.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max takes flight</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QYIeworz9wcXAPVuSm-ASkvfY9iN9jbpf3mMG6Ql5xEC7oWR72jYEsF54G0GT-TX6FTw07QGmI_C-oLYklL9EcRakju5zF6Y8T_6PT3abQ5MJW_PX9WzLdpld-OW6qna3BVMod08dwC_3w2GzPQIlgG78puiGAWqyLLzdjdj0GTgR8lHv6S-ikRgrA/s4608/P7312383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QYIeworz9wcXAPVuSm-ASkvfY9iN9jbpf3mMG6Ql5xEC7oWR72jYEsF54G0GT-TX6FTw07QGmI_C-oLYklL9EcRakju5zF6Y8T_6PT3abQ5MJW_PX9WzLdpld-OW6qna3BVMod08dwC_3w2GzPQIlgG78puiGAWqyLLzdjdj0GTgR8lHv6S-ikRgrA/w113-h200/P7312383.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking good</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E0hjmiEgM2DW3Sw2f7xHcWOzM6LUosKrutRmWKoMrB4sEnyXhdvKILsWMgKun3SnN8R_s0O5JUMN43RxjXJz4Pw9075mKP0ABT1kM7qtR15qjCkR9Gy0pYwH0xmyfXHcccWU63wvnVCHySI9GUa6s_crkYWLtwwVAlHnxh7qFHMHLGp6TW4mMh8v1A/s4608/P7312392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6E0hjmiEgM2DW3Sw2f7xHcWOzM6LUosKrutRmWKoMrB4sEnyXhdvKILsWMgKun3SnN8R_s0O5JUMN43RxjXJz4Pw9075mKP0ABT1kM7qtR15qjCkR9Gy0pYwH0xmyfXHcccWU63wvnVCHySI9GUa6s_crkYWLtwwVAlHnxh7qFHMHLGp6TW4mMh8v1A/w113-h200/P7312392.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splashdown</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOzJn4nsm4By8YlIkSqFUmm2s1YSeKeQMVfbZRBAb7MdCyTt7C_70qgozZ4EZ8T4ObzBfyTWjxDlgwM8bAWV6j5kGUrGbBwIbpG_aLXdgrRAI5t_mgaxd6_8zObZsTU19-dlQSVHIT0lPD34NnM3NbUGCkaOo-dOhhIQonhNRBqXZGlmjJ9gMarhEAw/s4608/P7312390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOzJn4nsm4By8YlIkSqFUmm2s1YSeKeQMVfbZRBAb7MdCyTt7C_70qgozZ4EZ8T4ObzBfyTWjxDlgwM8bAWV6j5kGUrGbBwIbpG_aLXdgrRAI5t_mgaxd6_8zObZsTU19-dlQSVHIT0lPD34NnM3NbUGCkaOo-dOhhIQonhNRBqXZGlmjJ9gMarhEAw/w113-h200/P7312390.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelle goes foot first</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkVNRz37O1JOstwhkSR13BZ6FEeE7JEdEzmFKuT95JOOqlEmIksuLr8FoTw5jBViasZDtznEew3XTjSf1siXKln9BzSsDn7gkjWqZNrevx8goOczphdv80kFFyxZAOOAmRwH7PITqQ85uVEYq3nnGogQpQt0YIa4qnlVcdV84nKiBrKk_XIivZgzHGA/s4608/P7312391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkVNRz37O1JOstwhkSR13BZ6FEeE7JEdEzmFKuT95JOOqlEmIksuLr8FoTw5jBViasZDtznEew3XTjSf1siXKln9BzSsDn7gkjWqZNrevx8goOczphdv80kFFyxZAOOAmRwH7PITqQ85uVEYq3nnGogQpQt0YIa4qnlVcdV84nKiBrKk_XIivZgzHGA/w113-h200/P7312391.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid drop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>Other waterborne activities included snorkeling in the gin clear waters off Musket Cove.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VHVLOa8petvghAYcN1wIOCpG3uxdP1rF6gJJK4JHw3HPtAtAO2ZmRIqwPzoWd83Cf_JZ_neko3xrVArRX_R9TgBcr_uBMo7EvqfHIZhD_ttRC49HRdOavi-DM1nR6YJSiWlk-KNASQdtIUSwRs-WvodAEvjXKj5Lpp45TQ9TUBn43J5CszRpgdKDQg/s4608/P8072424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VHVLOa8petvghAYcN1wIOCpG3uxdP1rF6gJJK4JHw3HPtAtAO2ZmRIqwPzoWd83Cf_JZ_neko3xrVArRX_R9TgBcr_uBMo7EvqfHIZhD_ttRC49HRdOavi-DM1nR6YJSiWlk-KNASQdtIUSwRs-WvodAEvjXKj5Lpp45TQ9TUBn43J5CszRpgdKDQg/s320/P8072424.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderfully clear waters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9GCbQp6ZwQPq8YWdoHKsXxxSERfDeOFcK1cgowyHRyp6iFza_qBJgvBZ8KSpY9mhQrZ4VTOlzRlrPlRvxLTin-GzdAS7CJugn3tT9p0J9jPqVLLDPFtYeij8fqagYZk2LeNeK0ZQXNf5USKTXbjBybq9tTgdh-9XICmMpfqw-LCoAqo9b-2GktOjBg/s4608/P8072438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9GCbQp6ZwQPq8YWdoHKsXxxSERfDeOFcK1cgowyHRyp6iFza_qBJgvBZ8KSpY9mhQrZ4VTOlzRlrPlRvxLTin-GzdAS7CJugn3tT9p0J9jPqVLLDPFtYeij8fqagYZk2LeNeK0ZQXNf5USKTXbjBybq9tTgdh-9XICmMpfqw-LCoAqo9b-2GktOjBg/s320/P8072438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">We also chilled out most arvo's by the pool at Musket Cove Resort and watched some spectacular sunsets. The water was clear, the sun was shinning, the temperature was in the high 20’s and the wine was cold. What more could we want while waiting for a decent weather window to hit the blue highway once again.</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfalpsxcfbKNO4I402QR4x8_ZkVmzmTrwaNIYktz_F7_Aowj-R6I-MNLz3bxBjuRWb2GrWKAQQzj94Loud6Oftx0fNK6yHS8znKRHwQu-6ZI3MIfs5GJ03YHSzITVgaxUcl0rXS3HuGhDJIVfA4JybYC3fTCQOnDMZT5yr0FR8spusULZ7t2npqchxpA/s4160/IMG20220803125252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfalpsxcfbKNO4I402QR4x8_ZkVmzmTrwaNIYktz_F7_Aowj-R6I-MNLz3bxBjuRWb2GrWKAQQzj94Loud6Oftx0fNK6yHS8znKRHwQu-6ZI3MIfs5GJ03YHSzITVgaxUcl0rXS3HuGhDJIVfA4JybYC3fTCQOnDMZT5yr0FR8spusULZ7t2npqchxpA/s320/IMG20220803125252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YDYEbO0Z01pfrRCsQZ1RAGiIGOs9qLwtUNg5654QuJbXY7Lmwp_oQQeluQYSM5HwAaISDmcF6BuiZZTXJvnhvz5TilpThYD_mLi0160SPxwBUuc6qyKHuq15ALlaJM9TfreaCmhPr48JBfSNLv3siKSuhU4nZVlVwAC3ZfMLZyZ-t2rYyT2DzwM3DQ/s4160/IMG20220803125326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YDYEbO0Z01pfrRCsQZ1RAGiIGOs9qLwtUNg5654QuJbXY7Lmwp_oQQeluQYSM5HwAaISDmcF6BuiZZTXJvnhvz5TilpThYD_mLi0160SPxwBUuc6qyKHuq15ALlaJM9TfreaCmhPr48JBfSNLv3siKSuhU4nZVlVwAC3ZfMLZyZ-t2rYyT2DzwM3DQ/s320/IMG20220803125326.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't get much better</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font><p></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">The month flew by and soon it was time to visit with customs, check out of Fiji and head to off to New Caledonia.</font> </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaO7Kxeg4qnD4Nkb9gpRaIDya7oly_1CVoDzXYy77TrDO1Xt3PZEc04YOZQYp8jCPWkqsKHCRoI8CJLTxbFTEj175C4ew5UAroXzv_03uH1cwX5oXO23u_6_Y__QRj-dftYYGFdaoGDin3xdtErygL43C2rcKoMvkLePd9ln8oS18dHFb0-CvZcLZ8Q/s4160/IMG20220822205205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaO7Kxeg4qnD4Nkb9gpRaIDya7oly_1CVoDzXYy77TrDO1Xt3PZEc04YOZQYp8jCPWkqsKHCRoI8CJLTxbFTEj175C4ew5UAroXzv_03uH1cwX5oXO23u_6_Y__QRj-dftYYGFdaoGDin3xdtErygL43C2rcKoMvkLePd9ln8oS18dHFb0-CvZcLZ8Q/s320/IMG20220822205205.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A final catchup with Dave and Charmane from Rewa and Jeff the Port Denarau Marina Manager<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.delorme.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.delorme.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font size="3"> <font color="#0000ff">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</font></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-39155391195420626542022-10-27T21:17:00.001-04:002022-12-07T00:19:00.408-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" face="Papyrus" size="4"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font color="#ff0000" face="Papyrus" size="4"><br /></font></div><font color="#ff0000" face="Papyrus" size="4"><br />North Minerva Reef to Port Denarau Fiji.</font><p></p> <p><font size="4">19th - 21st July 2022</font></p> <p><font size="4">Well it was yet another rough passage for us. We knew that it would be and sometimes you just need to toughen up and take what mother nature throws at you one mile at a time.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The forecast was for 20 –25 kts with gusts of 30 and 2-3m seas. Not ideal in any way shape or form and usually we would have stayed put inside the reef. But this time we had no choice. And so with a double reefed main, we purposely only have two reefing points, and one third of our jib unfurled we headed out for the 389nm passage to Port Denarau Fiji.</font></p> <p><font size="4">By 1700 the same day the seas were now up at 4m and GWTW was in race mode peaking at</font><font size="4"> 17.5 kts of boat speed. It was an uncomfortable night to say the least. Next morning the seas were settling down a bit and our boat speed was hanging around in the 10-12 knot range.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The clock ticked over to 1700 again and with it came the sound of our port jib sheet</font><font size="4"> snapping which definitely did not bring music to our ears. It had chaffed through on the bottom batten of our mainsail which now had a twelve inch hole where once their was carbon. Bugger.</font></p> <p><font size="4">We were now on the downhill run to Port Denarau. The moonless nights had rewarded us with spectacular views of the night stars and that is something we will miss dearly once we arrive back in Australia.</font></p> <p><font size="4">The seas were still 2- 3m and rough as guts as we headed for the finish line and entered the Navula Pass in Fiji at 1800, dropping the anchor some two hours later in the Quarantine anchorage area outside Port Denarau.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNiMok_bSGUIdA8Pz5DIegv6zkMsFhI_E9MhkeVKh-5tC6TGdos0MzWg3eOFrS9EsksCOTEkH1C6bkJL01oJf_yKB5_JorD00ey-jbhCerCGuPfl5Kv-ypkR2m3f0SrIr0iLfjxn-y-Y1iAU58O-NB77QZa4KnnhcATZAcz1DKrVZr8bs9nmSCi9uoA/s4608/P7212352.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNiMok_bSGUIdA8Pz5DIegv6zkMsFhI_E9MhkeVKh-5tC6TGdos0MzWg3eOFrS9EsksCOTEkH1C6bkJL01oJf_yKB5_JorD00ey-jbhCerCGuPfl5Kv-ypkR2m3f0SrIr0iLfjxn-y-Y1iAU58O-NB77QZa4KnnhcATZAcz1DKrVZr8bs9nmSCi9uoA/s320/P7212352.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely sunset greeted us we motored in through the pass</td></tr></tbody></table><font size="4"><br /></font><p></p> <p><font size="4">It had been a wild ride to get here and now it was time for that post passage beverage, dinner and some well earned sleep.</font></p> <p><font size="4">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font size="4"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font size="4"> <font color="#ff0000">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</font></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4"></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-79280060174050570062022-10-13T20:44:00.088-04:002022-11-12T00:42:24.880-04:00<p><font color="#9b00d3" face="Calibri" size="4"><br />The Minerva Reefs, and a change of plans.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">7th – 19th July 2022</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="3">The Minerva reefs are remote, like really remote.They lay just over 800nm from both New Zealand and New Caledonia, 416nm from Fiji and the closest neighbour is Tonga 250nm to the north east. Both the north and south reefs are uninhabited and the silence is deafening save for the odd seabird calls</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-SWaffHpfOHB20ejyQjswmTKcrh_ROovmgLhsn_exGuR2oCYitURGcRk8re4pUuh5cdPsPK04AEQF3DsNP76WSpsCtA8mD9fbiWS-GtkujPpIrVGUjLBQzLlh3vekMpXaJxHFi-S1dCzwjlUl-GMUBQwQai_IJsc5sl0sab6tsf6SnYjeyKAzpnulw/s1200/01-P7062186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-SWaffHpfOHB20ejyQjswmTKcrh_ROovmgLhsn_exGuR2oCYitURGcRk8re4pUuh5cdPsPK04AEQF3DsNP76WSpsCtA8mD9fbiWS-GtkujPpIrVGUjLBQzLlh3vekMpXaJxHFi-S1dCzwjlUl-GMUBQwQai_IJsc5sl0sab6tsf6SnYjeyKAzpnulw/s320/01-P7062186.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the anchorage in South Minerva</td></tr></tbody></table></font><span style="color: #333333;">Once inside the lagoon depths vary from 20-50 ft deep, however once back outside the depth range is anywhere between 4,000 to 13,000 ft. So being able to anchor in calm waters inside the reef in the middle of the ocean is an absolute treat for world cruisers like us. </span></p><p><span style="color: #333333;">And the added bonus is that there are plenty of lobsters to be caught.</span></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"> This year was particularly bountiful as with the pandemic and most of the countries in the South Pacific closed no one was able to visit the reefs for at least two years. So the lobsters had bred like rabbits.</span></p> <p><font size="3"><font color="#333333">We had the company of three other yachts at South Minerva. Two of which we didn't know and the third, Pogeyan</font> with Rich, Michelle and crew Levi onboard, was a dock buddy of ours from Whangarei. As we had never stopped at South Minerva before and they had been there several times on passages to and from NZ and Fiji we followed their advice on where the best snorkel spots were and where all the lobsters hung out.</font></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF31F_ZYIcoiKHg9lkR_mOuT1gPRQAe2HBde0RVIWzg6yo5vgfs3rVPidRU5uf1PXvlIko_mEXhRoyGJMnxH0Hm6YQtVMkgQr0wRPBf_N3_Ul-xsUE-XG7dM3OZ-AzAAN1WQkgdssQBwZmxLKhmYLFMkMl63EKSEgEBJx8q-CUdv4B0qEXXFD0o_9L4Q/s1200/02-P7082192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF31F_ZYIcoiKHg9lkR_mOuT1gPRQAe2HBde0RVIWzg6yo5vgfs3rVPidRU5uf1PXvlIko_mEXhRoyGJMnxH0Hm6YQtVMkgQr0wRPBf_N3_Ul-xsUE-XG7dM3OZ-AzAAN1WQkgdssQBwZmxLKhmYLFMkMl63EKSEgEBJx8q-CUdv4B0qEXXFD0o_9L4Q/s320/02-P7082192.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lobbies awaiting their fate</td></tr></tbody></table>The day after we arrived, Liam and the boys from Pogeyan were on the hunt and headed over to the drying reef at low tide, the catch was pretty good with the booty being shared. Day two of hunting was extra bountiful with a head count of 14 shell food delights. </p><p>Sadly Liam took a fall on the reef and was swept along by a wave which carried him 30ft along the jagged coral. He was pretty much a mess when he arrived back to GWTW with deep cuts on his arms and legs. </p><p>Due to the high risk of infection and no medical clinic within cooee that was the end of his lobstering activities for the season.</p> <p><font size="3">So with Liam boat bound I did a couple of days of snorkeling various parts of the lagoon with the Pogeyan crew. The fish life and coral were stunning and the water so so clear. All was good until the last few minutes of our first excursion when a very territorial 6ft grey shark sent us a no nonsense message that we were in his turf, and with a hasty retreat back to the dinghy we headed his warning.</font></p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVEF7pqJxplRhDs4LLuIJUDS4VGxisDacXGzac0RZlrKszkfm8qT9alugvgSK9z3Kvv5157IbnuxBMWooJ2S4PInVWcqMt4MlvasB6ue9OCkplGWdW9Gw3NmOKBHVoPn80aBWVcS6KuTt-CTLkVjxU3H6UkdG7uYbDW6ISYmOiymUkt42eIQXtfkSRg/s1200/05-P7092253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVEF7pqJxplRhDs4LLuIJUDS4VGxisDacXGzac0RZlrKszkfm8qT9alugvgSK9z3Kvv5157IbnuxBMWooJ2S4PInVWcqMt4MlvasB6ue9OCkplGWdW9Gw3NmOKBHVoPn80aBWVcS6KuTt-CTLkVjxU3H6UkdG7uYbDW6ISYmOiymUkt42eIQXtfkSRg/s320/05-P7092253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKphJR8OpDIHlJnK-Z_iwlzenIK9tbPIufKvRrYtw30A-jysfxN0JZyiDH0p1-D9-TwoaJ1iOpO2aJqSF464TDDxEXb5xX8gKbOBa7QVpv3U_dtccLEp0kqjROqJQKqA8YlCtKeQ02GMgJkSFNlvR-8HDnkPJD4u83kjfMAI130scRulhcA96LlZPyQ/s1200/04-P7092216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1200" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKphJR8OpDIHlJnK-Z_iwlzenIK9tbPIufKvRrYtw30A-jysfxN0JZyiDH0p1-D9-TwoaJ1iOpO2aJqSF464TDDxEXb5xX8gKbOBa7QVpv3U_dtccLEp0kqjROqJQKqA8YlCtKeQ02GMgJkSFNlvR-8HDnkPJD4u83kjfMAI130scRulhcA96LlZPyQ/s320/04-P7092216.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBOMx6HrkJlPVCt1LO5sqza8AOX68xeYDvsE_qBqa6-JX-5HzKf-MwuqnHIAE4swVEw8dByvyU9Brsf813yL2AtSbWBckizCWrT2UTNPnj8dwIF3FL7IpiOR2MDqp-qy7FU977Ss3i_4UNaPlysqRYbv_448G2q1ritFXEYeP9B8nYItW48B_j-yizQ/s1200/09-P7102306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBOMx6HrkJlPVCt1LO5sqza8AOX68xeYDvsE_qBqa6-JX-5HzKf-MwuqnHIAE4swVEw8dByvyU9Brsf813yL2AtSbWBckizCWrT2UTNPnj8dwIF3FL7IpiOR2MDqp-qy7FU977Ss3i_4UNaPlysqRYbv_448G2q1ritFXEYeP9B8nYItW48B_j-yizQ/s320/09-P7102306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Parrot Fish</td></tr></tbody></table>The lobster harvesting continued for a few more days and even though GWTW no longer had a horse in the race we did have a home delivery service complements of Rich and Levi, which was much appreciated.</p> <p><font size="3">After seven delightful days at South Minerva it was time to make the 20nm passage to North Minerva and see what was on offer there. </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3">We spent four days in the north. On day two a very large frontal system was destined to slam into our location from the south east, so both boats picked up our anchors and headed down to the southern end of the lagoon where the reef was higher and would afford better protection than up the north end.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UYbsr-gl56viMWAFE1QumrREfm3GEkLwK3bUlemM7eA-QOKEmLsgms-y_AiYsjdxgEDf2bDklKjXIu4qLhjby7_VnoT5EB4F8SlOs5PLZvtIUgbOEB6nFnGH2h_y1nlJ38QgG_UPihLXOgEC8k6t6GERfdJuLaIXbQEWZ6pvck_0Xpu0as_g5BbUZw/s1200/03-P7082198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UYbsr-gl56viMWAFE1QumrREfm3GEkLwK3bUlemM7eA-QOKEmLsgms-y_AiYsjdxgEDf2bDklKjXIu4qLhjby7_VnoT5EB4F8SlOs5PLZvtIUgbOEB6nFnGH2h_y1nlJ38QgG_UPihLXOgEC8k6t6GERfdJuLaIXbQEWZ6pvck_0Xpu0as_g5BbUZw/s320/03-P7082198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Sunset</td></tr></tbody></table>Just as we were approaching the anchorage a cigar shaped rolling cloud appeared on the horizon. We've seen these nasty clouds before so we had a pretty good idea of what would happen next. Try as we might to get the anchor down we knew we’d run out of time. This was a very fast moving weather event.</p> <p><font size="3">The first wave of the front hit us like a freight train. It was a total whiteout with 30 knot winds. As the anchor was not set we pulled it back up and motored north following our gps track until the squall had passed. Then we retraced our steps south dropped the anchor in 50ft sand, backed down with 1000 revs on each engine to set it firmly and </font><font size="3">were ready for the next onslaught from the heavens. </font></p> <p><font size="3">In between squalls the Pogeyan lads were back doing what they do best and a few more crustaceans were transferred from the sea bed to the table. My gosh we’d eaten a lot of lobster. Our cholesterol levels must have been through the roof.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5veCfcvFzZUaKuhMkB-sdVybgoCVeHxjr9rtbHm3QWU4RTINbvSHKSYoscNNleV5lqshXKy3iF2sGNw-ZiwyQUSntIIDCR7q-gk-jEW_lrX1DtM08ERtD7lxnXNstlcdk8QMO1sbEiAeoGEwPs4jTOJ6e4IJn9eyrWhkffZjjYcY8RoFk9OQrxEgwkw/s1200/10-DSCN7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="743" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5veCfcvFzZUaKuhMkB-sdVybgoCVeHxjr9rtbHm3QWU4RTINbvSHKSYoscNNleV5lqshXKy3iF2sGNw-ZiwyQUSntIIDCR7q-gk-jEW_lrX1DtM08ERtD7lxnXNstlcdk8QMO1sbEiAeoGEwPs4jTOJ6e4IJn9eyrWhkffZjjYcY8RoFk9OQrxEgwkw/s320/10-DSCN7146.JPG" width="198" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl-J9dhGbp3uv_zUW_yzozCV7BodPc1oixcCMLRrJw11QNQ2YZxB1xfJXdKoNeR1RxCES32Qa_6YF9pWO0fxf9Hb1XfkCdno7kTiJnd2HtB6rczSaWWcUzfyDsQyksbMSZRqJZJu5KW69-bXSWmLOmKY7g83-AVKyy3wWiq8Yge8VqvcSUDq1UYgt1Q/s1200/11-DSCN7154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl-J9dhGbp3uv_zUW_yzozCV7BodPc1oixcCMLRrJw11QNQ2YZxB1xfJXdKoNeR1RxCES32Qa_6YF9pWO0fxf9Hb1XfkCdno7kTiJnd2HtB6rczSaWWcUzfyDsQyksbMSZRqJZJu5KW69-bXSWmLOmKY7g83-AVKyy3wWiq8Yge8VqvcSUDq1UYgt1Q/s320/11-DSCN7154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfYJ9DrSRD8Mc1G9ZStwtS0MwVODsgyQqP3VM64g3ItUqYi16qyZR8Ksvbe1koNJoulbp_3VUUl3YsIIA68bsUJWBxje46_glBOG45KhEamAMURnq3ysTY0USQgEfJQnOnSQy7D2brOiH41j18oKMWhsbJfXW4SjFRHEnu2X2v7tc-CrTAIlhJRrroA/s1200/12-DSCN7153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfYJ9DrSRD8Mc1G9ZStwtS0MwVODsgyQqP3VM64g3ItUqYi16qyZR8Ksvbe1koNJoulbp_3VUUl3YsIIA68bsUJWBxje46_glBOG45KhEamAMURnq3ysTY0USQgEfJQnOnSQy7D2brOiH41j18oKMWhsbJfXW4SjFRHEnu2X2v7tc-CrTAIlhJRrroA/s320/12-DSCN7153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font size="3"><br /></font><p></p> <p><font size="3">On the 18th of July Rich received a call via his satellite phone from his family in the USA. Rich’s dad had passed away. The funeral via a zoom call live feed was scheduled to be online in five days from now. The following morning a sudden decision was made that Pogeyan would lift anchor and head to Fiji to meet the funeral timeline. </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsUNqTOUJ2lPDNwfbg0jOaS-4r6jqLeKYnYXOTr_tJGLGYD_1fnGnS_tevFlTRdjlkeQnM9-Dl3_OZ3qG4-9NyORlsvJ0eBbKfHaZGGZ6yjdELKTnCokffmSEefispzsck24xzopj-Jf2DxU2--kDCzRtpbXC7cViotHASkbcWyr5IP7JjIokCD3DVQ/s1200/13-P7122321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="1200" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsUNqTOUJ2lPDNwfbg0jOaS-4r6jqLeKYnYXOTr_tJGLGYD_1fnGnS_tevFlTRdjlkeQnM9-Dl3_OZ3qG4-9NyORlsvJ0eBbKfHaZGGZ6yjdELKTnCokffmSEefispzsck24xzopj-Jf2DxU2--kDCzRtpbXC7cViotHASkbcWyr5IP7JjIokCD3DVQ/w400-h173/13-P7122321.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two cats alone in the lagoon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>That left us in a very vulnerable position if we stayed here on our own waiting for the elusive good weather window to sail to New Caledonia. If something else, apart from Genny our generator being in a coma, went wrong on GWTW with no other boat as backup we’d be stuffed. We were now scrapping plan C. ARRR the best laid plans of mice and men.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tJ1jccGehcRE_elaaYYIK-DY4CbYYRaZlOdaVPsC0D77KCRBX5rKcTbGepjvM-bGCcdDihH6UYMSDQHVQwQeGujR3HJgSnCa9yixUstXxRIdclsJNayv8v9HZoao5EbWlq89O1Vyb1JGcwZBxoNAOzkItjuFf-M2WTLIlEoShexClxN7XxtsW9B8Cg/s1200/07-P7102271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1118" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tJ1jccGehcRE_elaaYYIK-DY4CbYYRaZlOdaVPsC0D77KCRBX5rKcTbGepjvM-bGCcdDihH6UYMSDQHVQwQeGujR3HJgSnCa9yixUstXxRIdclsJNayv8v9HZoao5EbWlq89O1Vyb1JGcwZBxoNAOzkItjuFf-M2WTLIlEoShexClxN7XxtsW9B8Cg/w298-h320/07-P7102271.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another giant clam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As the designated paperwork hound on this fair vessel when it comes to departure and arrival documentation I’m also quite good at making contingency plans which is exactly what I did before we left NZ. You see the general rule is that the border authorities of most countries don't like surprises eg vessels just showing up on their doorstep and saying “we’re here”. They like to know in well in advance so they can put out the welcome mat.</p> <p><font size="3">That being said I’d filled out and sent all the relevant docs to Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji just in case. And here it was paying off.</font></p> <p><font size="3">By 2pm that same day both boats headed out the North Minerva pass. Destination : Port Denarau Fiji, 416 nm to the north west.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Oh and our final lobster count was eleven in the freezer.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font size="3"> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font size="3"></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-89400506123657331152022-10-11T20:56:00.079-04:002022-10-13T23:46:43.572-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4"><br /><br />Time to Say Goodbye</font><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">29th June 2022</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">After the best part of three years the day finally came when it was time to bid farewell to Whangarei, the place we’d come to love and call home for such a long time. It was a very emotional time for us leaving behind the wonderful Kiwi friendships we’d made.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">It was a drizzly Wednesday afternoon when we let go our dock lines to the sounds of hooters and hollers of goodbyes from the Town Basin Marina staff and friends on our dock. Slowly we made our way downstream towards the Hatea River opening bridge and the bridge operator raised the span for GWTW as she glided through for the final time. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Fourteen kilometers further downstream we pulled into Marsden Cove Marina where NZ Customs Officers were based for departing vessels only. Our initial plan was to complete our departure forms and check out of the country the following morning. The weather gods though had other ideas. So we stayed for another day and had a lovely farewell dinner with our fellow cruisers most of whom were heading to Fiji where as we would be heading to : Plan A Bundaberg in Queensland Australia direct, or Plan B New Caledonia Direct or Plan C New Caledonia via The Minerva Reefs, 800 miles NE of NZ. The later was our final decision.</font></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct_QzVMjLWtgUBtleA99Kg0e5AXmxQnqJjjL56NsTO3BJDou4CyAqZX_4Fs9wLaIf09xJLuI-MGfedZ4hwbKIGaP0nAF8pxLMUQoETElIvBQQLB4FK5dXXM3l5iKtE2QXiImdiHx916g-0AvFfZYxuy5qTjBjqt2LA3PKbN-Pxv6ospPQ7hQAVHmCyw/s4608/P7012152.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct_QzVMjLWtgUBtleA99Kg0e5AXmxQnqJjjL56NsTO3BJDou4CyAqZX_4Fs9wLaIf09xJLuI-MGfedZ4hwbKIGaP0nAF8pxLMUQoETElIvBQQLB4FK5dXXM3l5iKtE2QXiImdiHx916g-0AvFfZYxuy5qTjBjqt2LA3PKbN-Pxv6ospPQ7hQAVHmCyw/s320/P7012152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye New Zealand</td></tr></tbody></table>At 2pm on July 1st after topping up our fuel tanks with 437 litres of duty free diesel we dropped and lines, headed out onto the big blue highway and bid New Zealand goodbye. <p><font color="#000000" size="3">With an ok weather forecast we set off with a sail configuration of full Jib and a double reefed Mainsail into a bitterly cold SW wind and a night as black as the inside of a cow. Our second day and night at sea were again bitterly cold and we were rugged up to the hilt. The sea state was starting to change and now there was a moderate chop as the wind began to back around to the SSE. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uo2KORpUCyzjT_AqRRVfzqY9HiMrkSCsXghDpHWNE-xMx5-7yE3zZ9-B9aWscjiNRnfYlacprXT4FIyy1uc3hBogtYbZ4wh2K05gARt2xRIITH2N9NHTfEBNvtYikm1LC7-g7v_sOP4pNw7zugncduZhzIniUU9Ni9JRiSNkS3-6dffZRG0i0ovSWA/s4608/DSCN7123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uo2KORpUCyzjT_AqRRVfzqY9HiMrkSCsXghDpHWNE-xMx5-7yE3zZ9-B9aWscjiNRnfYlacprXT4FIyy1uc3hBogtYbZ4wh2K05gARt2xRIITH2N9NHTfEBNvtYikm1LC7-g7v_sOP4pNw7zugncduZhzIniUU9Ni9JRiSNkS3-6dffZRG0i0ovSWA/s320/DSCN7123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise day two</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5MtZ0RnqDFQwGbGewIlC3b2kBpKMLzZCQKWlmRZog-r3Tfi2UPa4glq0eNJ7gR1usbmPzdfDhRh-N483yq4Zsl9I3vsvD2zefkwB36qvvNwposV69vXxQb4UiYk70qwRRo78daBLqwDeqTCcDvqPIWxNuRtNlyLDMvQDWk-AyJkdhtCCnGUiIQvaBg/s4608/DSCN7126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5MtZ0RnqDFQwGbGewIlC3b2kBpKMLzZCQKWlmRZog-r3Tfi2UPa4glq0eNJ7gR1usbmPzdfDhRh-N483yq4Zsl9I3vsvD2zefkwB36qvvNwposV69vXxQb4UiYk70qwRRo78daBLqwDeqTCcDvqPIWxNuRtNlyLDMvQDWk-AyJkdhtCCnGUiIQvaBg/s320/DSCN7126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_YzKJ970ftl41WTvjGbyZW5WMa3BBgs3RMc4ULjppCg-RYuCycRqflTSZABzbUuxDBTZdmk3riZiT5cTvIKB62KMfYYi52ZhzKwAw2z_lWkVapAdWp8RbDej5x4aEMnZSDM7YzMKSTyaAYkKC1qZ5VMY3rhC3r-04536YPqEFWdCj-EEzYomP_nVMQ/s4608/DSCN7139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_YzKJ970ftl41WTvjGbyZW5WMa3BBgs3RMc4ULjppCg-RYuCycRqflTSZABzbUuxDBTZdmk3riZiT5cTvIKB62KMfYYi52ZhzKwAw2z_lWkVapAdWp8RbDej5x4aEMnZSDM7YzMKSTyaAYkKC1qZ5VMY3rhC3r-04536YPqEFWdCj-EEzYomP_nVMQ/s320/DSCN7139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">By day three the wind was coming at us from the ENE and our fleeting moment of taking out the second reef yesterday faded from our memory. Back we went to two reefs yet again and now only one quarter of a jib was pulling us along. The sea began raring it’s ugly head as we raced forward at boat speeds of 15kts. The motion of GWTW was now very uncomfortable to the point where we decided to make camp up in the saloon rather than take our off watch time in our comfy bed in the port hull. It seemed like a good idea but even so neither of us got any sleep as the waves battered GWTW’s hulls and she groaned and creaked in response.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIfmo4fJpWcgbkWPO3gtFUlXBmoIh0hs7fzrkUQDWrQy4GVkxIDPfGpx2fhkXTGOg2qQVkm_Prh0LfoSuBhor31pAgM8ZuJUYnSbo247qzJfwbxrMZyEGNLwlacyuRQyybGaAONK8ulMb3JOZshhElvmzC7qVN-nOJx4YomcVUEan56PYHgCZf4Halg/s4608/P7052172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIfmo4fJpWcgbkWPO3gtFUlXBmoIh0hs7fzrkUQDWrQy4GVkxIDPfGpx2fhkXTGOg2qQVkm_Prh0LfoSuBhor31pAgM8ZuJUYnSbo247qzJfwbxrMZyEGNLwlacyuRQyybGaAONK8ulMb3JOZshhElvmzC7qVN-nOJx4YomcVUEan56PYHgCZf4Halg/s320/P7052172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping in comfort on the lounge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Day four was no better with the wind now picking up to sustained 25 kts and gusts even higher at 33kts. We didn’t sign up for mother nature to hurl this at us, we want to get off this roundabout!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaFKx6kTqmj2cWfHuc6bYzojf0hIkNasJKvzqDUyw8DdU3pBXMDDDASGmOxwruu8qpsaY9wQjwuKuQIjgBCKOyBdnQaNvmwv9yTek7wdktFJitL9Gt-noxlv2fUbXweMFzA80yw-Zz7_B3JwVyPVK0ePevD3BJ--Hs-Pac1W3kOicn10BYfX9QixmgQ/s4608/P7042168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaFKx6kTqmj2cWfHuc6bYzojf0hIkNasJKvzqDUyw8DdU3pBXMDDDASGmOxwruu8qpsaY9wQjwuKuQIjgBCKOyBdnQaNvmwv9yTek7wdktFJitL9Gt-noxlv2fUbXweMFzA80yw-Zz7_B3JwVyPVK0ePevD3BJ--Hs-Pac1W3kOicn10BYfX9QixmgQ/s320/P7042168.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to stop the sea coming in through the port</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As a result of the rough weather and big waves the port in our shower took a beating and came unlocked. </p><p>The ingress of the Pacific Ocean was coming in fast. Liam tried to shut the port but to no avail, so we duct taped it shut, a temporary fix at best. </p><p>A few hours later the tape completely failed and the port opening was swinging open with every wave.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KIyhoU3CkUgoo5cJDxeHxKkPjOiiB1wmcipl6lu1iJjaoZ_Ix7DJD811U0zYL_nq7ot4eq1EwEilyJfKWN1Z3X-RH96oT9Q8fZdsTHF997okX2N37GZkVlfFRthyvfOQWA_bWnaySXFtkoY-yCeH-HLQViTBrCY2_WopC8j5OFftbw9KzSesQYbDYQ/s4608/P7052173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KIyhoU3CkUgoo5cJDxeHxKkPjOiiB1wmcipl6lu1iJjaoZ_Ix7DJD811U0zYL_nq7ot4eq1EwEilyJfKWN1Z3X-RH96oT9Q8fZdsTHF997okX2N37GZkVlfFRthyvfOQWA_bWnaySXFtkoY-yCeH-HLQViTBrCY2_WopC8j5OFftbw9KzSesQYbDYQ/s320/P7052173.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Plan B, Liam managed to get one of the latches shut and we taped up a large Vacuum seal storage bag to the shower stall ceiling and onto the glass door of our shower and that seemed to do the trick. No more salt water flying over the shower door and landing on the bathroom floor.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">During the changeover from day four to day five at zero dark hundred Genny our generator called it quits. She apparently had had enough of the rough ride too and her partner in crime, the starboard engine alternator did likewise.The sole responsibility of charging our batteries and keeping all our systems running now lay in the hands of our port side engine and alternator </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Day five dawned with a beautiful red sunrise, even though the saying goes “Red sky in the morning, sailors warning” we didn’t care. With only 29 miles to run to South Minerva reef we could almost see the finish line. As we’d been motor sailing on the port engine for hours and hours our watermaker had been busy churning out gallons of fresh water all the previous night so that we could do washing and give our girl a well earned bath once we had the anchor down.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKKFOmC9lwO-wK3qlevM3LYGKaPjSWuot8PJgad3q4PKy6wZEN0Wp_35rEuYgGIWPT7DRTQfFmWOrkrgI5TbhvhPRN9jRkfzTGw74kx_Fr0Kan7BfXhVE_YKiIQcvdefsMsUvagYbwHjCcxnvWe5MKnPYsi3n1qPYjvQ4pV9Ma4ugw_tcuBZbU2nYMw/s4608/P7062181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKKFOmC9lwO-wK3qlevM3LYGKaPjSWuot8PJgad3q4PKy6wZEN0Wp_35rEuYgGIWPT7DRTQfFmWOrkrgI5TbhvhPRN9jRkfzTGw74kx_Fr0Kan7BfXhVE_YKiIQcvdefsMsUvagYbwHjCcxnvWe5MKnPYsi3n1qPYjvQ4pV9Ma4ugw_tcuBZbU2nYMw/s320/P7062181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Minerva reef on the horizon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoiDDJit6dRqMMTd1N-m9xFOSvilzbohuc3lT3g00T6oq1_OTD-5ALS1O6rhsI4Z-kZzsMKKZeQHmGwV3wQnj8wlfGQXs4LLt_01iWpgV-FEjO_BEB4tO_d5dbCIzzcGI8D9lXFbMZYXQRjOBp_aMiYedI_QT72xSRTvIWydtd-VEWLTl59hWd037Ew/s4608/P7062185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoiDDJit6dRqMMTd1N-m9xFOSvilzbohuc3lT3g00T6oq1_OTD-5ALS1O6rhsI4Z-kZzsMKKZeQHmGwV3wQnj8wlfGQXs4LLt_01iWpgV-FEjO_BEB4tO_d5dbCIzzcGI8D9lXFbMZYXQRjOBp_aMiYedI_QT72xSRTvIWydtd-VEWLTl59hWd037Ew/s320/P7062185.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many kamakazi Flying Fish on the deck</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cy-rrL8M-75ylbJk6mdgbAirxwgEUWxXhTT7DZ-Q6a6-jWVo5lEPwfVUM4IXbJzy6oFsOnoWDGmbOnB0WxSa7J5HdJsA9vWH-_IW8tb2lBUQP3rRIPeRypT65NVcdM7HGhGes_qteSpAQoMeaImxXIQq3oQkIfrKLX3e7kiYf6N5nakb_A8GiuKbRw/s3725/P7062187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2425" data-original-width="3725" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cy-rrL8M-75ylbJk6mdgbAirxwgEUWxXhTT7DZ-Q6a6-jWVo5lEPwfVUM4IXbJzy6oFsOnoWDGmbOnB0WxSa7J5HdJsA9vWH-_IW8tb2lBUQP3rRIPeRypT65NVcdM7HGhGes_qteSpAQoMeaImxXIQq3oQkIfrKLX3e7kiYf6N5nakb_A8GiuKbRw/s320/P7062187.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchor down, we've arrived</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">At 11am we entered the South Minerva Reef pass after the wild ride which took us 4 days and 22 minutes.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> The wind had dropped to and easterly breeze of 12 kts and ahead of us lay the flat calm aqua waters of South Minerva.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> Pure Bliss!</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw6b-s24wwYqPxX1DdmNfPlADx859GDGr-xTB7UzIxvuHMVx_rIKBT_xtUi6HlHPdN56bpG-7biDTZ1Ox7CEHJhj3F-LcD6YYZbfD-FvcRVF4jBG35G_AdvR_7uQ82M7P_chJaQ-5Kdzr4EO9qOAG_HQlde1ft_f2MEpZkDMMXJTyo72GNVORPCs8Dw/s4608/P7062190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw6b-s24wwYqPxX1DdmNfPlADx859GDGr-xTB7UzIxvuHMVx_rIKBT_xtUi6HlHPdN56bpG-7biDTZ1Ox7CEHJhj3F-LcD6YYZbfD-FvcRVF4jBG35G_AdvR_7uQ82M7P_chJaQ-5Kdzr4EO9qOAG_HQlde1ft_f2MEpZkDMMXJTyo72GNVORPCs8Dw/w113-h200/P7062190.JPG" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The catch of the day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Follow us on our tracker at:</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"> *************************</font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-80847726800234742532022-05-21T22:50:00.000-04:002022-05-21T22:50:18.138-04:00<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p></div><p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4">South Island Road Trip New Zealand 2020</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4">Hokitika to Invercargill</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="4">August 6th –16th</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Having left the west coast behind we headed up to the start of the Alpine Highway and inland to the famed Arthur's Pass. This 231 klm stretch of road at it’s highest point of 920 metres is known as Arthur’s pass and connects the east and west coasts and is one of the three major routes to do so.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1twp5uRuWvoF9GXYqGKDXtG1yv9Nn5aukakIouAOeGfaM2sYZi_5nLn7OoLwMBBtjT4j8-mprNI3ntKn0Br4YUnyhYkk9VHRfQk9NCpt4cwGrBbVv5vKbMbBqxnNpA9QnqGJU16cARuVe1K-o6HrlbU8uGVIdwWHjz1Rtoq1n9XHmsfU1nlTh-RD9w/s1200/01-P8054497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="1200" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1twp5uRuWvoF9GXYqGKDXtG1yv9Nn5aukakIouAOeGfaM2sYZi_5nLn7OoLwMBBtjT4j8-mprNI3ntKn0Br4YUnyhYkk9VHRfQk9NCpt4cwGrBbVv5vKbMbBqxnNpA9QnqGJU16cARuVe1K-o6HrlbU8uGVIdwWHjz1Rtoq1n9XHmsfU1nlTh-RD9w/w640-h174/01-P8054497.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ61dHcn9ltSrkrvpkyfCxlyfuWSzwvylZqJ7bzOkD3lAQfODwtaBftDYfPdk5Et3ox6e4OXnWWQW7K04l5eCV5p-nB8XlbLMcUsQ7CeYhlJ6temKxm3gVi-FFJG4SIvoYBd0fMpKzTecn2X8N2tFmLEjO1ifZ44BY1cHVyFOHBWChnhEstCO2ZQZWHQ/s1200/02-P8054503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ61dHcn9ltSrkrvpkyfCxlyfuWSzwvylZqJ7bzOkD3lAQfODwtaBftDYfPdk5Et3ox6e4OXnWWQW7K04l5eCV5p-nB8XlbLMcUsQ7CeYhlJ6temKxm3gVi-FFJG4SIvoYBd0fMpKzTecn2X8N2tFmLEjO1ifZ44BY1cHVyFOHBWChnhEstCO2ZQZWHQ/w200-h133/02-P8054503.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">After a quick bite to eat at the historic Stagecoach Hotel we continued on stopping at the major attractions along the way. We marveled at the incredible feat of engineering named the Otira Viaduct, which spans 440 meters of unstable terrain below</font><font color="#000000" size="3">.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBnTSg9lIMEhdV6ZeBz8ObuWQoUXPBCY9oiDxofqbPprHbnL1SG5EsWTJyKcZbvqqtC8v66_GaYyW-_YiINlhQXjgQWaDaq3gE982IMKtuehL-sKKfxUfVQMZ_QykUb1upsNe2zA14p8uGOVynW7moHRo174XhmEcGZJLghhQT6w1_7zteW7dus42MQ/s1200/05-P8054513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBnTSg9lIMEhdV6ZeBz8ObuWQoUXPBCY9oiDxofqbPprHbnL1SG5EsWTJyKcZbvqqtC8v66_GaYyW-_YiINlhQXjgQWaDaq3gE982IMKtuehL-sKKfxUfVQMZ_QykUb1upsNe2zA14p8uGOVynW7moHRo174XhmEcGZJLghhQT6w1_7zteW7dus42MQ/w320-h181/05-P8054513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This area is prone to rockfalls</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEurUNxCuGUfnkNi15nBCsH-k8PffHyVgyexcQUOe1uzFsK-BtDWd53JjZenB96jSn6a-j0v7fuhIWKiJ5Uk9N7OUGuNbsQ2sMTqrlrBZ68VJC6MS_czqe-zZiQiM0mCEkvLY7xkNA8BNq5m3zYDl4k8S1cwbYhcOkmEOXBcMa2-2Nzlauy6uYi7vag/s1200/06-P8054516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEurUNxCuGUfnkNi15nBCsH-k8PffHyVgyexcQUOe1uzFsK-BtDWd53JjZenB96jSn6a-j0v7fuhIWKiJ5Uk9N7OUGuNbsQ2sMTqrlrBZ68VJC6MS_czqe-zZiQiM0mCEkvLY7xkNA8BNq5m3zYDl4k8S1cwbYhcOkmEOXBcMa2-2Nzlauy6uYi7vag/w320-h181/06-P8054516.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty Viaduct</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Once </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOWeBnOp_KCYVV8kvzcgMq2Pbw91w_YH1xb-pYPoEBgInHMfIFeQ1K0_mdNvbjGjq63DdNooUoHDPD96_x5HqIdh4v3zf8D9dGKUl2pnzEwkSQNvyb2xPSy1WXomRK6HccN8KnItJRdAIzV1K9TmsMmK5s2g0WXp-lTZLvNlkBhflbS58hZEZsOcAvg/s1200/07-P8054527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOWeBnOp_KCYVV8kvzcgMq2Pbw91w_YH1xb-pYPoEBgInHMfIFeQ1K0_mdNvbjGjq63DdNooUoHDPD96_x5HqIdh4v3zf8D9dGKUl2pnzEwkSQNvyb2xPSy1WXomRK6HccN8KnItJRdAIzV1K9TmsMmK5s2g0WXp-lTZLvNlkBhflbS58hZEZsOcAvg/w200-h167/07-P8054527.JPG" width="200" /></a></font></div><font color="#000000" size="3">Across the Viaduct was yet another Kodak moment and the chance to get up close and personal with some very cheeky birds known as Kea. These cute parrots love to chew on anything that takes their fancy including rubber on van roofs. </font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">They are also adept thieves stealing hiking boots left outside trampers tents as well as pulling out the tent tiedowns in the middle of the night. But they are so cute you have to love them anyway.</font></p><p><br /><br /></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Mz7QBT9iGtxdczyu3MHsCzle-VsDrU7QK3p7wQBJpDDfmEDaY--xLMpHtS_Acp_Aq0MbJZDpWbceKTU5J7MUxhK0rTFSjVbVGFp9arV8sJ8k48Xe3jDC9Vm3eY_f1xxRkPr3Wup5yF8skVW83IlQIVIG636mQ_Ci0h3kfMYDK6nDMU7FoSLtEIxRGA/s1200/08-P8054529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Mz7QBT9iGtxdczyu3MHsCzle-VsDrU7QK3p7wQBJpDDfmEDaY--xLMpHtS_Acp_Aq0MbJZDpWbceKTU5J7MUxhK0rTFSjVbVGFp9arV8sJ8k48Xe3jDC9Vm3eY_f1xxRkPr3Wup5yF8skVW83IlQIVIG636mQ_Ci0h3kfMYDK6nDMU7FoSLtEIxRGA/w113-h200/08-P8054529.JPG" width="113" /></a></font></div><font color="#000000" size="3">From here we continued on to Arthur’s Pass Village and got the low down from the friendly folk at the tourist info hub on a few hiking trails and waterfalls to stop at on our journey east.</font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> First up was the Chapel of the Snows and Millennium Falls which occasionally freezes over in winter, but not today. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">After an overnight stop at the DOC campground at Klondyke Corner which was nothing spectacular, it was back to the village to visit Bridal Veil Falls and Devils Punchbowl Falls then further east to the DOC camp at beautiful Lake Pearson, passing by alluvial deltas and snowcapped mountains along the way.</font></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEsl2Hd7sgLyEAvggiQOsezaWMQQqMg0CWRuqUKMc3x9J1KXkXYVWFOLJIPl30j0BLDK1-bhChpY4Tefpb7qOxzZWALPoiucvalwFaLV-_K8VGjpinm6b2NbVmGnnHxO4rxsGbNLevF0Pm6S6Anw1_VRqXQ_-IlM7fykahCWnIgPlY-VTeW379tirnA/s1200/09-P8064543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEsl2Hd7sgLyEAvggiQOsezaWMQQqMg0CWRuqUKMc3x9J1KXkXYVWFOLJIPl30j0BLDK1-bhChpY4Tefpb7qOxzZWALPoiucvalwFaLV-_K8VGjpinm6b2NbVmGnnHxO4rxsGbNLevF0Pm6S6Anw1_VRqXQ_-IlM7fykahCWnIgPlY-VTeW379tirnA/w113-h200/09-P8064543.JPG" width="113" /></a></div>Our next target was Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, but not before we stopped at the famous Kiwi Pie shop in Sheffield. Wow what a delicious collection of pies they make. No wonder there was a line up to get in the door.<p></p><p> From Sheffield we turned right passing through the quaint towns of Geraldine and Fairlie before a quick stop at Lake Tekapo, and inland again to Mt Cook where we stopped for the night. It had been a long day’s drive through drop dead gorgeous countryside of the Canterbury Plains. The DOC campground at Mt Cook was the dearest we had stayed in so far at $30 per night but it was the only gig in town to be on the doorstep of the Hooker walking trail.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmORYe3JxmU0TCWEi0kdKZB7b4HIQ_82YmtvG-wvcqJ88hIXH5xXrAIU2eHK9rKM-pnuNXCZRSu2ECJkZuq9EmrN0Wpjrr_9k9uBUCnnpJuVMDtALJLQCoowG8lSRq540znJlt6JQVebSymRRMtcmfupwyHuFlInTE0mGfWBvQ1UG8RJy3FXxLtuUjGQ/s1200/15-P8074593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmORYe3JxmU0TCWEi0kdKZB7b4HIQ_82YmtvG-wvcqJ88hIXH5xXrAIU2eHK9rKM-pnuNXCZRSu2ECJkZuq9EmrN0Wpjrr_9k9uBUCnnpJuVMDtALJLQCoowG8lSRq540znJlt6JQVebSymRRMtcmfupwyHuFlInTE0mGfWBvQ1UG8RJy3FXxLtuUjGQ/s320/15-P8074593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Pie Shop</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0llxyOqpSMJ-Y5gwA_-DCCDr_waGMQ7xXqsWGsYMGNdjOSHedWgg2sPwohgszm_dWJnL4qDiXPavNxw38LOUVYlV_PHxa_0oxeCVrKCJwzEXyHO1I3ZhOAKxoSTq7iZ-jolqqsonDKFZier3Zf9CyxdBWV7HRqqxWQaGSm96lRgR62SijLeiA-mloMw/s1200/16-P8074587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0llxyOqpSMJ-Y5gwA_-DCCDr_waGMQ7xXqsWGsYMGNdjOSHedWgg2sPwohgszm_dWJnL4qDiXPavNxw38LOUVYlV_PHxa_0oxeCVrKCJwzEXyHO1I3ZhOAKxoSTq7iZ-jolqqsonDKFZier3Zf9CyxdBWV7HRqqxWQaGSm96lRgR62SijLeiA-mloMw/w320-h181/16-P8074587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chowing down on a pie</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6oT9IWJgL5RaxKbW5-CF3OVCd9EDeo_sSZWpPkiFGLF5YsFYw_xXHOGzFXthJsi1YNfwz67uhnon1k7pw8hmsUcLJiXx3D0XW697FQonCSNJGZQCTTcH2nPeltyX02HQblVsWc1ffZVY4Yati4_KFm8cP1MvkKmXyogbXIEH1zKBD4str0FGH_CZWg/s1200/26-P8084656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6oT9IWJgL5RaxKbW5-CF3OVCd9EDeo_sSZWpPkiFGLF5YsFYw_xXHOGzFXthJsi1YNfwz67uhnon1k7pw8hmsUcLJiXx3D0XW697FQonCSNJGZQCTTcH2nPeltyX02HQblVsWc1ffZVY4Yati4_KFm8cP1MvkKmXyogbXIEH1zKBD4str0FGH_CZWg/s320/26-P8084656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below walking the Hooker Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxEffxl6JaZvZzNjahd4qH8tFzBC35i2dFCln8V3XC3fIlH6d9-UmtVtyVU011w8Onq65YypRntyCVXT8vXXeHTRt3kjky0mrOdSRkyBiBXYtSmAjyfLxjawVT-W3Xg-O40q5fZEUjIMcMp2LVOUQGN4qKlDZBFqMyM1aowbNlAFQV4i65Z4gePHedQ/s1200/27-P8084705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxEffxl6JaZvZzNjahd4qH8tFzBC35i2dFCln8V3XC3fIlH6d9-UmtVtyVU011w8Onq65YypRntyCVXT8vXXeHTRt3kjky0mrOdSRkyBiBXYtSmAjyfLxjawVT-W3Xg-O40q5fZEUjIMcMp2LVOUQGN4qKlDZBFqMyM1aowbNlAFQV4i65Z4gePHedQ/s320/27-P8084705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmgz4PNQQncJl1a-zStnE4ix_8DmiE3jOASjzaMhkknVKjlZ-ZD9ig0i34aueN4xqhbI_gsWvfwqX8ZNfdVcKPEBoOi1773ql1xaWs7jzC04fQzzFTZHdiMEm3ElVZb1gczA0TcTl7JOfmrmCMa2qfu-SGrhP5MwyM5A5WgkG4-o8ssnw6BxkQlXCxw/s1200/28-P8084686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmgz4PNQQncJl1a-zStnE4ix_8DmiE3jOASjzaMhkknVKjlZ-ZD9ig0i34aueN4xqhbI_gsWvfwqX8ZNfdVcKPEBoOi1773ql1xaWs7jzC04fQzzFTZHdiMEm3ElVZb1gczA0TcTl7JOfmrmCMa2qfu-SGrhP5MwyM5A5WgkG4-o8ssnw6BxkQlXCxw/s320/28-P8084686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The trail is10klm round trip and took us roughly three hours to complete. Treking over three swing bridges with views over Lake Mueller and past avalanche prone Mt Sefton the trail winds through old moraine ridges with the vegetation changing as the valley floor becomes wider. The trail ends with fab views over iceberg speckled Hooker lake. We sat there for a while and even dipped our hands in the very ice cold waters. Then it was time to retrace our steps back to our trusty RV for a spot of lunch and some well earned quality time with our diesel heater.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTl7m13dh5AGgyUxJ5U_-a6WEUv742uVYToP1PM5hEWtN05AkEDTYQwbsVI8QAg-uRlc_6tRTNjFkVRmFBljBadog0S5pmPASLnIucvmq4BID74HU6l5w00snfx_NTC5hiokoK6DfrYEh97bFH5xhJ8dvzGSTx5ovQ2jM3aZAIE891ecg619AliXFxg/s1200/34-P8084751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1133" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTl7m13dh5AGgyUxJ5U_-a6WEUv742uVYToP1PM5hEWtN05AkEDTYQwbsVI8QAg-uRlc_6tRTNjFkVRmFBljBadog0S5pmPASLnIucvmq4BID74HU6l5w00snfx_NTC5hiokoK6DfrYEh97bFH5xhJ8dvzGSTx5ovQ2jM3aZAIE891ecg619AliXFxg/w189-h200/34-P8084751.JPG" width="189" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Cook & Tasman Glacier</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Next on the agender was a short drive to the Tasman Glacier. </p><p> Liam was all walked out when we got there but I soldiered on and tackled the 367 steps to the top for the “had to be seen to be believed” views over the alpine lake and with the glacier and Mt Cook in the distance.</p><p>The 23 klm Tasman Glacier is the longest in New Zealand. A half way stop on the way down at the Blue Lakes which have now turned green due to algae growing was greatly appreciated by my poor old knees.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnRdKty4TFxtADI0ZMfRio94sZtJvlGhmx1EQFcc52yU8Wb_1TpnToKyNnZ0qXt3wTU1p2Az-cKo0EDukHR7tgKgk-joAmDDkBIdY2zF2AV-wtPlSMiP0MNrFLrJZ43NxuLJ1G-tof9LDu2tHrsbL2iVy1l_Qyj34R_QklT1YXQcZMrGHwgZEhw0new/s1200/32-P8084746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnRdKty4TFxtADI0ZMfRio94sZtJvlGhmx1EQFcc52yU8Wb_1TpnToKyNnZ0qXt3wTU1p2Az-cKo0EDukHR7tgKgk-joAmDDkBIdY2zF2AV-wtPlSMiP0MNrFLrJZ43NxuLJ1G-tof9LDu2tHrsbL2iVy1l_Qyj34R_QklT1YXQcZMrGHwgZEhw0new/s320/32-P8084746.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasman lake with Iceburgs & giving my knees a rest after all those stairs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vt49oYbjrybPO2dKy5M7MvLvKxsxerb687t648z1Eu-77wmvG8ALMX3ck6D6kOOYg14zkN9rrv3WrhL7IbZeyVnqDjFG9UCG7a2UNPwjIRNTKibHD5GSa2z6tTrD02k7PpJErkXbs2eO9WwaQX9_-VCHi3ALatIrpxMS1HRXCMteamSxzokhGXR9yg/s1200/33-P8084747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vt49oYbjrybPO2dKy5M7MvLvKxsxerb687t648z1Eu-77wmvG8ALMX3ck6D6kOOYg14zkN9rrv3WrhL7IbZeyVnqDjFG9UCG7a2UNPwjIRNTKibHD5GSa2z6tTrD02k7PpJErkXbs2eO9WwaQX9_-VCHi3ALatIrpxMS1HRXCMteamSxzokhGXR9yg/s320/33-P8084747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOONmc5mKw7E1MeGvzCwgHLOzfA5Aeocqvqn_3Ah6URI2J9kQw5y_f2u2S2Z_04IQMxlK7DijyRUahmqPnzofkO4yby3_Jyc0SVy_wZBOekQe7e4Hl9G308RWmN2kOZd3aXyvokwBLt6nTJ1uLaemtAKvtM6oatVzhlbD2y0wJQX2-gJKVdUauZsaUPA/s1200/24-P8074639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOONmc5mKw7E1MeGvzCwgHLOzfA5Aeocqvqn_3Ah6URI2J9kQw5y_f2u2S2Z_04IQMxlK7DijyRUahmqPnzofkO4yby3_Jyc0SVy_wZBOekQe7e4Hl9G308RWmN2kOZd3aXyvokwBLt6nTJ1uLaemtAKvtM6oatVzhlbD2y0wJQX2-gJKVdUauZsaUPA/s320/24-P8074639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo</td></tr></tbody></table>As the day was wearing on and we were to be overnight guests with fellow cruisers, from Dash, Starlet and Ocean Fever who had rented a house in Wanaka for a weeks skiing, so we needed to get cracking, </p><p>Our last stop of the day was at Lake Tekapo with its beautiful light turquoise colours thanks to the snow melt and glacial silt. </p><p>It reminded us of the water colour in the Bahamas. Here’s a fun fact, Lake Tekapo is one of the sunniest places in New Zealand with sunshine hours averaging more than 2,400 each year. File that little gem away, you never know when that question will come up in a quiz or on The Chase.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LWrBNrv8Q-8aLWjLr0QMgpP-ZUFEOoTN3S9u4TafvRoRrcKewyRYrNvAHcPXz_Ku5JMWD5YeWdjWQd4JeAiBrhe1zWRQE8dNdXnHpDWBTly1zgEjjbBPJPorcESfY5hkJsaCZzD_Si1RRHkwG1I6bqpGJCD8-VMKXH_9kjBCsSpmlfytBypxHzVyUw/s1200/21-IMG20200807104847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LWrBNrv8Q-8aLWjLr0QMgpP-ZUFEOoTN3S9u4TafvRoRrcKewyRYrNvAHcPXz_Ku5JMWD5YeWdjWQd4JeAiBrhe1zWRQE8dNdXnHpDWBTly1zgEjjbBPJPorcESfY5hkJsaCZzD_Si1RRHkwG1I6bqpGJCD8-VMKXH_9kjBCsSpmlfytBypxHzVyUw/s320/21-IMG20200807104847.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to the Lindis Pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After a fun night and great dinner with our buddies we headed off to Queenstown via the Lindis Pass which links the Mackenzie Basin with Central Otago. The actual pass crosses a saddle between the Lindis and Ahuriri rivers at an altitude of 971 metres. </p><p>The scenery was outstanding with a dusting of snow on the surrounding mountains. The pass was closed later in the day due to black Ice and snow, so were lucky to get across. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Arriving into Queenstown we checked into the Lake View Holiday Park which we’d call home for two nights. We rode the Skyline Gondola to the top, for excellent views over the township and lake with The Remarkables as the backdrop. This gondola boasts as being the steepest cable car ride in the southern hemisphere, yet another little bit of trivia for you. While in town we also caught up with friends Jennifer and Mark from Starlet as well as Kellie and Mike from Dash who had now moved camp to Queenstown for more skiing and we splurged on an exhilarating helicopter ride to the top of the Crown Mountain Range landing on the snow. Man was it cold up there.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKc3u2ckN2wPV-3Gjmd9QabH5RHQX5Lastcm2xebW71mrL8Tcspd6FiJMPb5wN-OeXfQLFToIVRBEfhP9xMTWqXByX_rPQCFa1lhWiKXXBPUEI1QOVWYwG9VvpQzlVjQXKjT1jeJMziavi-d5TZpnsEkDNqtnRl99eCv7sbLYXyOxtBubN80peGvY1w/s1200/38-P8094774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKc3u2ckN2wPV-3Gjmd9QabH5RHQX5Lastcm2xebW71mrL8Tcspd6FiJMPb5wN-OeXfQLFToIVRBEfhP9xMTWqXByX_rPQCFa1lhWiKXXBPUEI1QOVWYwG9VvpQzlVjQXKjT1jeJMziavi-d5TZpnsEkDNqtnRl99eCv7sbLYXyOxtBubN80peGvY1w/s320/38-P8094774.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the gondola ride</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItZL2uDrIGyxBo0U8IgJYBiYIYW1lh-5OfSwD9rEmMbKguvwm-OjPeWa6h02_6TXbRRi2JILclL9k8ieKfAxsVA41sO4apf59O9PQ_DICQHMwAf68s5AMZpyaVyynJgXXcX7YXueXgbvGS3mUt_zqdSD5JPAiw4TATtljg7KXnsUZsYiYasT6t2At-A/s1200/42-IMG20200809202207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItZL2uDrIGyxBo0U8IgJYBiYIYW1lh-5OfSwD9rEmMbKguvwm-OjPeWa6h02_6TXbRRi2JILclL9k8ieKfAxsVA41sO4apf59O9PQ_DICQHMwAf68s5AMZpyaVyynJgXXcX7YXueXgbvGS3mUt_zqdSD5JPAiw4TATtljg7KXnsUZsYiYasT6t2At-A/s320/42-IMG20200809202207.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinks with cruising friends from Dash & Starlet in Queenstown</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnXyzBB30-7pJUawfRACLrr2D9hnFv1B0KxHe5zjzQdGH5KcGBntrSiKQBWpl19uXAuy6XTBMwbEaW4gg6zcOESxSslnlq2a4M0hye7S9PyYEXOL6f_7-vDDj8wITnATmfryi2623ffa0AWKNiV0FantE2g1yDDxBakbDXO_k0G8fn1DwZDUpFTGdrQ/s1200/44-P8104840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnXyzBB30-7pJUawfRACLrr2D9hnFv1B0KxHe5zjzQdGH5KcGBntrSiKQBWpl19uXAuy6XTBMwbEaW4gg6zcOESxSslnlq2a4M0hye7S9PyYEXOL6f_7-vDDj8wITnATmfryi2623ffa0AWKNiV0FantE2g1yDDxBakbDXO_k0G8fn1DwZDUpFTGdrQ/s320/44-P8104840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up ,Up and away</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgQ8ul4DBbBy6_qIZMm8bM6QpBD1OFLxxAeugcOKSgoEpOklv6tRSay0P8dhjmd1IGzMIYby5iPgz9YJjPm79TLP-scQ4ktCEikTzWcnt5PgiRIqMJ8vMju6NDyW7ZxiGZzgz13qRkBTwbpY3lrrjFBfn2TSVBZIXmg_5DfhL8kGUVXHY6MI6ykNSew/s1200/40-P8104794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgQ8ul4DBbBy6_qIZMm8bM6QpBD1OFLxxAeugcOKSgoEpOklv6tRSay0P8dhjmd1IGzMIYby5iPgz9YJjPm79TLP-scQ4ktCEikTzWcnt5PgiRIqMJ8vMju6NDyW7ZxiGZzgz13qRkBTwbpY3lrrjFBfn2TSVBZIXmg_5DfhL8kGUVXHY6MI6ykNSew/s320/40-P8104794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo4alTX8xHCnq41NAGI-UdGzYlMmtlgC0Kua83JPQshxb1gJMhqHyicsuBZqaKGDLykDxX9yhkRwoCZ3wp_Dp1ZmLIvRTDMxTw478Q5XuCWxPBZtFXM2anm8UB9R6s7z9jHoFPq-qHgIu9wTGAoO7Wtt3XgGNq7IxHruTy-qSBfy8HEA65FMsEkWo9A/s1200/22-P8074621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo4alTX8xHCnq41NAGI-UdGzYlMmtlgC0Kua83JPQshxb1gJMhqHyicsuBZqaKGDLykDxX9yhkRwoCZ3wp_Dp1ZmLIvRTDMxTw478Q5XuCWxPBZtFXM2anm8UB9R6s7z9jHoFPq-qHgIu9wTGAoO7Wtt3XgGNq7IxHruTy-qSBfy8HEA65FMsEkWo9A/s320/22-P8074621.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></div><p></p><p>Leaving Queenstown behind we headed south and then east to Fiordland and the major attraction of Milford Sound. </p><p>From Te Anau it was a long drive into Milford 120 klm each direction with many roadworks along the way but the scenery was just jaw dropping. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGJygwvmA2DAxzgSBNfULuTVaFYx0_-V_qf4HB236yvBw2qcwdl0rDqdgIJR9cdju1r97UjNsezw29Rh1FCTPeZeZ0sMh1JL-Q5jeu_oC29B3GwpkEEqOQxzyz7ULOoeVtYJgDrM4BCkuHHqE85jiDWBiMYu6n5sB_4kcoL6fHfQeShG438q-nT_rHA/s1200/52-P8110078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGJygwvmA2DAxzgSBNfULuTVaFYx0_-V_qf4HB236yvBw2qcwdl0rDqdgIJR9cdju1r97UjNsezw29Rh1FCTPeZeZ0sMh1JL-Q5jeu_oC29B3GwpkEEqOQxzyz7ULOoeVtYJgDrM4BCkuHHqE85jiDWBiMYu6n5sB_4kcoL6fHfQeShG438q-nT_rHA/s320/52-P8110078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the road had subsided</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Not wanting to drive after 3pm because of icy winding roads we stopped at Walker Creek campground for the night. Having booked a cruise on the sound for 10am the next day we hit the road early and made it there with half an hour up our sleeve.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNGK75l4Uh9VJQFA4R4scLfR1K3iNfI9xQjJZIEkqeSmt6F7wg3nRkM55KE3WsYnq2eoS9ZZuYAuklOfUYrOgcG7ow_gXGPjf1MNEBwiBiH_nBWMFaZO1lIuuD9XnPheNIA_PaATfOViy-7mrwiBL0XwW3FY6na61qCNC9E5Of90YfbRJGh3hmpda8w/s1200/45-P8110029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNGK75l4Uh9VJQFA4R4scLfR1K3iNfI9xQjJZIEkqeSmt6F7wg3nRkM55KE3WsYnq2eoS9ZZuYAuklOfUYrOgcG7ow_gXGPjf1MNEBwiBiH_nBWMFaZO1lIuuD9XnPheNIA_PaATfOViy-7mrwiBL0XwW3FY6na61qCNC9E5Of90YfbRJGh3hmpda8w/s320/45-P8110029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The cruise lasted a couple of hours and we saw dolphins, seals, penguins and got up close, personal and wet with a couple of waterfalls as well. </p><p>Having seen what there was to see in this sleepy little place we retraced our journey, back through the Homer Tunnel which is yet another feat of engineering which took 19 years to build and along the winding roads to the campground at Deer Flats.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ2z_-4FWAN9sTMkc9RNmpsZK5z0Ne2nPoFCo2hhbkvY2hsnM55KNmA8yDN9N6Waw5f_gRoW5fHnIHme3TjFjqaGQ6cD-L2Y8yFexftKh_AA7cPy9JRJ5PskudngwSmEljrB_ClxDzo4zp247gWwq3lQ0Lj33Mt1sEkvMEgx3cIb8nHSZKl3IzyspDg/s1200/48-P8110046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1200" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ2z_-4FWAN9sTMkc9RNmpsZK5z0Ne2nPoFCo2hhbkvY2hsnM55KNmA8yDN9N6Waw5f_gRoW5fHnIHme3TjFjqaGQ6cD-L2Y8yFexftKh_AA7cPy9JRJ5PskudngwSmEljrB_ClxDzo4zp247gWwq3lQ0Lj33Mt1sEkvMEgx3cIb8nHSZKl3IzyspDg/s320/48-P8110046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mitre Peak in Milford Sound</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw8Cf1KuqEKHqY73GvgItZ2g9Nqyfw4DeDgPL7_5qU2Uu_oCvWUc627sQSMIUq1Hw2d4xn5_i17Ds_vudpk7M0CKsUqtG_uAl69WRNr7o538HGsFhyyXIHehaNzKHyrAkVNMcnxnHiRZCz-9nhqFUnfV_3YpNl0dZuEhmMPrN6dnHWZnvJMt35uZ3ew/s1200/49-P8110064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw8Cf1KuqEKHqY73GvgItZ2g9Nqyfw4DeDgPL7_5qU2Uu_oCvWUc627sQSMIUq1Hw2d4xn5_i17Ds_vudpk7M0CKsUqtG_uAl69WRNr7o538HGsFhyyXIHehaNzKHyrAkVNMcnxnHiRZCz-9nhqFUnfV_3YpNl0dZuEhmMPrN6dnHWZnvJMt35uZ3ew/s320/49-P8110064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Homer Tunnel entrance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT__seH6Sx3CCX1ux9Dz0DFa5fgaCVi4Ddu4RDnI_dCtblivrUIKq2Mu7y_N8ed1zYwizcxpiTAyrkyuH7w9ZaRimNR555CmR0I_mb6X0MS77QHhDOta2GYLEYjGE_cXhFaqccmWg2ssJFhaiFbd_h542_pEMUGCTj3gvW6d18wHzl4iu8nK7Xyi7utg/s1200/51-P8110066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT__seH6Sx3CCX1ux9Dz0DFa5fgaCVi4Ddu4RDnI_dCtblivrUIKq2Mu7y_N8ed1zYwizcxpiTAyrkyuH7w9ZaRimNR555CmR0I_mb6X0MS77QHhDOta2GYLEYjGE_cXhFaqccmWg2ssJFhaiFbd_h542_pEMUGCTj3gvW6d18wHzl4iu8nK7Xyi7utg/s320/51-P8110066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tunnel is 1.2 klm long and passes through solid rock of the Darren Mt Range</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n7nLlDqqdM2uTImipdz2R1J1c-dPTc_ELM2AqtQW4yt059C3S0lIIth_iedDYPvgKqwUEy1FLoGXTan0POY6xJTrAPJ6ysgzg080jqd6I8I15ApJI7rFXxaBiSuv5jHwitDANBFhpnWDEWIdr_OqUf67GXx18qlKssYdUIGh-sPAFc1gyqmzG6wfkA/s1200/56-P8120105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n7nLlDqqdM2uTImipdz2R1J1c-dPTc_ELM2AqtQW4yt059C3S0lIIth_iedDYPvgKqwUEy1FLoGXTan0POY6xJTrAPJ6ysgzg080jqd6I8I15ApJI7rFXxaBiSuv5jHwitDANBFhpnWDEWIdr_OqUf67GXx18qlKssYdUIGh-sPAFc1gyqmzG6wfkA/s320/56-P8120105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Next morning we awoke to the big freeze.</p><p> Yep overnight the temps had plummeted and all around us resembled a winter wonderland of glistening frozen vegetation. It was just beautiful with the sun shinning on it.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Along the way back we stopped at Mirror Lake which as the name suggests reflects a mirror image of the snow capped mountains across the valley in the still waters of the lake. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-ff7CMHoz3XamN0jrBY7CC010cipbVarSgl2SAeGXvZF894jrup0MI8qXu_jAHOWX9v-8Qg86VXKRI1pjxEiic2xqVbxPncjfeZUAw-b-9PBvZ6dvM2uf-_rgTTIsk6dqNDVkgndhPjp2N4ujLkWep7NfNVbBU0yfK1ITiyEoupQTGyE0SyixGMBw/s1200/55-P8120101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-ff7CMHoz3XamN0jrBY7CC010cipbVarSgl2SAeGXvZF894jrup0MI8qXu_jAHOWX9v-8Qg86VXKRI1pjxEiic2xqVbxPncjfeZUAw-b-9PBvZ6dvM2uf-_rgTTIsk6dqNDVkgndhPjp2N4ujLkWep7NfNVbBU0yfK1ITiyEoupQTGyE0SyixGMBw/s320/55-P8120101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mirror Lakes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tSUjYtxRnV5rHojxU2ktbETJtfuhZ7b9fCiB5ABBclUluQ47vwwVjnd4qdHu-I7f9rVge4oHxPQNcNIezHjLvOa68M-A6UCuGP0eXtcWX6UK6HTLzPHeYLU1h8t_ehoPnzFIn6ChZ70Ll3HQCvbukr4SnBgKFlkpxB6KQsPr5xDog9gdZuUtQSaHQw/s1200/54-P8120093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tSUjYtxRnV5rHojxU2ktbETJtfuhZ7b9fCiB5ABBclUluQ47vwwVjnd4qdHu-I7f9rVge4oHxPQNcNIezHjLvOa68M-A6UCuGP0eXtcWX6UK6HTLzPHeYLU1h8t_ehoPnzFIn6ChZ70Ll3HQCvbukr4SnBgKFlkpxB6KQsPr5xDog9gdZuUtQSaHQw/s320/54-P8120093.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vJHMWEySePV5CzvHhDr__86aigJtEN7aJiYeZzsdiwQkYWqYd2Cappgisv4ZHmStF8eyuIZAlYjLjhj9KAsL9zOiAOkJjON8BwICO_GR73LENmBto9Mg0dv7voO87as0mUc0sSOCXUWD0u1J04J8YW-nB5ZB61o_E-OLor_Ob_6YKHeiPhaaf8CKGQ/s1200/57-IMG20200812135209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1200" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vJHMWEySePV5CzvHhDr__86aigJtEN7aJiYeZzsdiwQkYWqYd2Cappgisv4ZHmStF8eyuIZAlYjLjhj9KAsL9zOiAOkJjON8BwICO_GR73LENmBto9Mg0dv7voO87as0mUc0sSOCXUWD0u1J04J8YW-nB5ZB61o_E-OLor_Ob_6YKHeiPhaaf8CKGQ/s320/57-IMG20200812135209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>By the time we got back to the junction town of Te Anau our tummies were rumbling.We found a lovely park along the shores of Lake Te Anau backed by the snow capped mountains of Fiordland and set up for a very scenic lakeside BBQ lunch.</p><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9daBpwfmGd12e6H8zctV8v1LBJGHLd6aBnsHhSb3Aljn4uuwsNOzRCROG2s7zhwKvB6jBhJeyvYmsVOi4fXB69m1_SdLvuJv2GSWQzfvO3_15RNiSuphcjagE9bHA2vnYBoGUDZqqu76hK_wC971dPOKdgj1CyPSKucJL57V_yUwDRX3dLSERl86S0Q/s1200/58-P8120117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="1200" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9daBpwfmGd12e6H8zctV8v1LBJGHLd6aBnsHhSb3Aljn4uuwsNOzRCROG2s7zhwKvB6jBhJeyvYmsVOi4fXB69m1_SdLvuJv2GSWQzfvO3_15RNiSuphcjagE9bHA2vnYBoGUDZqqu76hK_wC971dPOKdgj1CyPSKucJL57V_yUwDRX3dLSERl86S0Q/w640-h229/58-P8120117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_duN3M4zyN5v39gx0nR4D4hlAWy93oQHkgf5ySIdovGQ15HzRTZ43h7EuZeMstu1DoYcVDrpvdCckbFfxROCy2IQdpJnXfOxkqtQ5Wpn_Nl4JF1b4yUzKnRrIMVfAs0K7ShundphPtmoPGxCDDG4ZHcFVHRnMUf7o0A7QS8wpFuI9rCBVhk3vSaHbqQ/s1200/59-P8120119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_duN3M4zyN5v39gx0nR4D4hlAWy93oQHkgf5ySIdovGQ15HzRTZ43h7EuZeMstu1DoYcVDrpvdCckbFfxROCy2IQdpJnXfOxkqtQ5Wpn_Nl4JF1b4yUzKnRrIMVfAs0K7ShundphPtmoPGxCDDG4ZHcFVHRnMUf7o0A7QS8wpFuI9rCBVhk3vSaHbqQ/s320/59-P8120119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer farm on the way to Bluff</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomoKxQSNvucoAqVulctUtZbIAyQ4Iz2yU0TNtZPVWRpqnyKGdT2LLurPll0d3DbQdy7EaPmWtAjL4PuXvh6q0hABkSCCm4YkR6LgODxcS6ZtBqcBg4vf9nYfD60pPLgj6iuXg8Lz8FUKj1G-u-6rrwHNOeOyWvpY1Nj_-RemieOazvfqpz08aFcJIhA/s1200/62-P8130131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomoKxQSNvucoAqVulctUtZbIAyQ4Iz2yU0TNtZPVWRpqnyKGdT2LLurPll0d3DbQdy7EaPmWtAjL4PuXvh6q0hABkSCCm4YkR6LgODxcS6ZtBqcBg4vf9nYfD60pPLgj6iuXg8Lz8FUKj1G-u-6rrwHNOeOyWvpY1Nj_-RemieOazvfqpz08aFcJIhA/s1200/62-P8130131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFkgRluCC4TM_5PqgEFMhNSdaQVlR-DhAPuSM7C978rWWDm9LkW8N29TkF_onfHSfz3OiNcaA48DvUFG31CHRB4mjdsS4pzNdhKVqUrfmXE33K5FJ9awLhO00TM2rcwrUN-gwv82pdS6kVvE_VKlJeE3f6NTNu_OyLED9C3neeUlxvreJLSYHG74FyQ/s1200/64-P8130165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFkgRluCC4TM_5PqgEFMhNSdaQVlR-DhAPuSM7C978rWWDm9LkW8N29TkF_onfHSfz3OiNcaA48DvUFG31CHRB4mjdsS4pzNdhKVqUrfmXE33K5FJ9awLhO00TM2rcwrUN-gwv82pdS6kVvE_VKlJeE3f6NTNu_OyLED9C3neeUlxvreJLSYHG74FyQ/s320/64-P8130165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Day 20 of our roadtrip had us arriving in Bluff, the most southern town on NZ’s South Island. <p></p><p>It is famed for it’s huge Oysters but do you think we could buy them anywhere in town ..not a chance. The oyster season we found out runs from late March to August. Oh well there were still other things to do in town.</p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">We checked out the Maritime museum, drove up to lookout on Bluff Hill, stopped at the Pilot station and visited Sterling Point with its famous mileage signpost for many cities across the globe and yes we got the photo. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X5Vi6pUkfUJrBoCS3GdH5wHb8tFq3AleTrdNbE_tvkMGb0SQ6fG3n7c0r1w3XCpQF2eQt8AKaVCA-D2E8rqhaL6ro1IMXicsc43P2wEUHVpakF8Hv4nPYCmdq5XTR2a6gay-H6F8yP1fkPerO1aBJDj4Fw_O9Vghz71wHBG0f4ewI17PbWy8oQBhUw/s1200/62-P8130131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X5Vi6pUkfUJrBoCS3GdH5wHb8tFq3AleTrdNbE_tvkMGb0SQ6fG3n7c0r1w3XCpQF2eQt8AKaVCA-D2E8rqhaL6ro1IMXicsc43P2wEUHVpakF8Hv4nPYCmdq5XTR2a6gay-H6F8yP1fkPerO1aBJDj4Fw_O9Vghz71wHBG0f4ewI17PbWy8oQBhUw/s320/62-P8130131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Next stop was Invercargill for the night. We explored what was on offer in the town, that being Queens Park, a 80 hectare parkland which includes a Japanese garden, an animal farm, a waterpark, a myriad of sculptures and bird aviary and the list goes on. We spent a couple of hours here and still didn’t see it all.<p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpaN8CO1FAgUG-KZ72ZbswYC-DHGT8EQJHa_znpoXibnhEeRhXJuqZ2BAWswXPRl3-WBh6Ii5eOX87iVA3brldw0xibp25A_f1F1DHb8m8U8238sY5BzOKGF0go_ekTOv_yeO-ItYOKZtA3WyG215lYicPzb4d2PcrUeteL47bEYsYV9lKaQHLTEsvA/s1200/68-P8140167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpaN8CO1FAgUG-KZ72ZbswYC-DHGT8EQJHa_znpoXibnhEeRhXJuqZ2BAWswXPRl3-WBh6Ii5eOX87iVA3brldw0xibp25A_f1F1DHb8m8U8238sY5BzOKGF0go_ekTOv_yeO-ItYOKZtA3WyG215lYicPzb4d2PcrUeteL47bEYsYV9lKaQHLTEsvA/s320/68-P8140167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2fccWw3WajCQSQTwffd_mf9h_UJgSapBTQ_G33gcdNeO7tW_3pEcHtCib27_-2zZe1EGM1IwxO77lUEiQMOq_XS4sLSx22qUxxvMJ70hxzzVfq8gksDUsBqbc-j1dW7AE9um3QdXoO3BP2-LVRng-zGXhYrKj4V7ONE-uPguyhUJWUUlkMY6P1EceQ/s1200/71-P8140196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2fccWw3WajCQSQTwffd_mf9h_UJgSapBTQ_G33gcdNeO7tW_3pEcHtCib27_-2zZe1EGM1IwxO77lUEiQMOq_XS4sLSx22qUxxvMJ70hxzzVfq8gksDUsBqbc-j1dW7AE9um3QdXoO3BP2-LVRng-zGXhYrKj4V7ONE-uPguyhUJWUUlkMY6P1EceQ/s320/71-P8140196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkWxty44hgHBLn2z6mw6bCejUEI7jbRJf4habi0Bm4J57u8TDDz3xGlQUU_97HWhlpdFDtDpnKK7v7Ke2UZyC7yrQvEUUuG0Yv8BagwknmJhVUjMVWWBLqpfHFAaFVfte-Bdd_LO8tKR_NkvSQ_Qoep5-sndpydohGimVNRRxnSp5aBV8YklZyyUNRA/s1200/72-P8140219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkWxty44hgHBLn2z6mw6bCejUEI7jbRJf4habi0Bm4J57u8TDDz3xGlQUU_97HWhlpdFDtDpnKK7v7Ke2UZyC7yrQvEUUuG0Yv8BagwknmJhVUjMVWWBLqpfHFAaFVfte-Bdd_LO8tKR_NkvSQ_Qoep5-sndpydohGimVNRRxnSp5aBV8YklZyyUNRA/s320/72-P8140219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Just up the street was 1889 Water Tower, that actually looks more like a lighthouse. It was built to supply water to the town in the event of a fire.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8jNSEAbqy65n7jt7NMpKTOftM_-Ikj_VWaTArNa-X4k_S9EyOP77thOIJUlt6POzlwjKX_D8o6XYN06s-e21lKc4j101Cl4we3rghNJj8Irkw80EoN2JmnIQPwxgr7IfvQzdDGf_-bHJz86giJP9FnN8-uGOIQJ0ws9U93755qEycEePKistEUvhOg/s1200/73-P8140226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="846" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8jNSEAbqy65n7jt7NMpKTOftM_-Ikj_VWaTArNa-X4k_S9EyOP77thOIJUlt6POzlwjKX_D8o6XYN06s-e21lKc4j101Cl4we3rghNJj8Irkw80EoN2JmnIQPwxgr7IfvQzdDGf_-bHJz86giJP9FnN8-uGOIQJ0ws9U93755qEycEePKistEUvhOg/s320/73-P8140226.JPG" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBSescGX_xLtObJLi98yUxIATJQ6PeYIt1c-lZAZgGIDna1CeeDFj8KeJsEJLGciRnYXx0cy6eWv_jnNMHY6x7jxOs6ICg9PEm6qxfvNee8uDvyeq-OlT2kVr4z9MNMRJo_wgwXrlvl4v5axoOddzx5Xuae7BRMD24poHnjNC4Sdv6yyAKNrF-BopaA/s1200/74-P8140231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBSescGX_xLtObJLi98yUxIATJQ6PeYIt1c-lZAZgGIDna1CeeDFj8KeJsEJLGciRnYXx0cy6eWv_jnNMHY6x7jxOs6ICg9PEm6qxfvNee8uDvyeq-OlT2kVr4z9MNMRJo_wgwXrlvl4v5axoOddzx5Xuae7BRMD24poHnjNC4Sdv6yyAKNrF-BopaA/s320/74-P8140231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Leaving Invercargill in our wake our next major destination would be an area known as the Catlins. So stay tuned for the next blog post.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p><br /><br />Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-34025062986295428142022-05-09T22:09:00.000-04:002022-05-09T22:09:23.971-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4"> <br /><br />South Island Road Trip New Zealand 2020</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4">And We’re Off</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">July 27th – August 6th</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAqqdvLJKMMe_MpSfjvklKeQHwHfJ_6fpCn4OGkGQprP9UI0nBN8Ssvk5OrJtwaI7H8vB_2uTovbQh2waenkG4GL6Xps3ToeJ1gwh8Jq3F-XBfaRCzlKNxB34oZkgwr4WMNIgPll0695VhgHfDVR2hRAOyGL9-pAOdgAsyaGxUHIHZkQQ066bPcLSxA/s1200/01-IMG20200727092048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAqqdvLJKMMe_MpSfjvklKeQHwHfJ_6fpCn4OGkGQprP9UI0nBN8Ssvk5OrJtwaI7H8vB_2uTovbQh2waenkG4GL6Xps3ToeJ1gwh8Jq3F-XBfaRCzlKNxB34oZkgwr4WMNIgPll0695VhgHfDVR2hRAOyGL9-pAOdgAsyaGxUHIHZkQQ066bPcLSxA/w200-h150/01-IMG20200727092048.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Southern Alps</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Buve0HUDOAmNnoDCjyQyFOMn8WlDlzSg274OvPH_WrUFeOnlrrdWpABdxkOuI1oJsg1buW8ovL26V_5QG6eNyE6YpcL36dufch26_lmfbqEGgOehAtQ9Ant7YgsMJBFjhvZnWEyhBr8anc3KVup97teazzdNvCoA44x1EjJOEovJMfYsXR50kb3qg/s1200/02-IMG20200727123457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1200" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1Buve0HUDOAmNnoDCjyQyFOMn8WlDlzSg274OvPH_WrUFeOnlrrdWpABdxkOuI1oJsg1buW8ovL26V_5QG6eNyE6YpcL36dufch26_lmfbqEGgOehAtQ9Ant7YgsMJBFjhvZnWEyhBr8anc3KVup97teazzdNvCoA44x1EjJOEovJMfYsXR50kb3qg/w200-h194/02-IMG20200727123457.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam at the helm of our trusty steed</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3">And so on July 27th we boarded our Air New Zealand flight and winged our way from our base in Whangarei to Christchurch on the south island arriving around 10am. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="3">After completing the necessary paperwork at the Britz depot and a hands on tour of the van itself we were off. First stop the supermarket and then on to our pre-booked “Top 10” Holiday Park for two nights and a celebratory tipple of Champers. Our adventure was about to begin.</font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRd6j37sdhzdlWFYPZxBjEJNY3yTrIu8Ii8KNSfWbmNLDCZRPdRgvoIi-AHN0gR1XhVP744FaYxDMQ6QlLVlBk79HNjCj1nHB_P9-gA3ZtC3fsD_67_GswEtKh-2XJIWhyfaXvdOyjIku_Dl4xLjVvH97VBarwSHB3OStDGORRUV1Jbt7F0fRlidNsg/s1200/10-P7294124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1200" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRd6j37sdhzdlWFYPZxBjEJNY3yTrIu8Ii8KNSfWbmNLDCZRPdRgvoIi-AHN0gR1XhVP744FaYxDMQ6QlLVlBk79HNjCj1nHB_P9-gA3ZtC3fsD_67_GswEtKh-2XJIWhyfaXvdOyjIku_Dl4xLjVvH97VBarwSHB3OStDGORRUV1Jbt7F0fRlidNsg/w200-h131/10-P7294124.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from The Gondola</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />We spent three days in Christchurch doing all the touristy things which included taking the city tram ride to see the sights, riding the Gondola 862m to the top of Mt Cavendish to take in the views of the southern Alps, the city landscape and the town of Lyttelton and its surrounds. </p><p>Sadly the fog rolled in as we reached the top of the cable car ride and a good hour later it was still as thick as pea soup. The best we could do was to wait a while longer and enjoy lunch and the exhibits that were on offer up there. The fog never did lift so down we went. It was a real shame as the views from up there would have been spectacular.</p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvT2m-XesCTTP0oWO7WSU5hS8YBeopMzLtKOv5xNLrvJBKmi7riApSQmuyF_MYq-ZBsEKm3sZGKb1OuLcCiAT0qoiiS0-H43t8usIedMyAf3uPQ1L1D8XklODWayg-aDsbsI3EwL99QW7of80w7U7FMb_F4MG3jHnv5YqBiOjikadaNDEBwK9BPVpCw/s1200/11-P7294134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvT2m-XesCTTP0oWO7WSU5hS8YBeopMzLtKOv5xNLrvJBKmi7riApSQmuyF_MYq-ZBsEKm3sZGKb1OuLcCiAT0qoiiS0-H43t8usIedMyAf3uPQ1L1D8XklODWayg-aDsbsI3EwL99QW7of80w7U7FMb_F4MG3jHnv5YqBiOjikadaNDEBwK9BPVpCw/w200-h113/11-P7294134.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Architecture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWiD5Wd7BH8mQoUadT2ABfN6L5w6kTYOxqIZA2Z-zbvUQb4VCoz35ocLOA8Q_DUABrKUyHOjmJwICVXC4VwtXIRAuaBH5ZSWOD1XAL5xvXY7iVqkDxFJ0AxYUvbtct9Z4Wvo1hJ9RkznkDyq_Ec8eYKw8LDLsASu8FV7UBpYQRwagH9iMbjz6_eV_DQ/s1200/12-P7294137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="865" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWiD5Wd7BH8mQoUadT2ABfN6L5w6kTYOxqIZA2Z-zbvUQb4VCoz35ocLOA8Q_DUABrKUyHOjmJwICVXC4VwtXIRAuaBH5ZSWOD1XAL5xvXY7iVqkDxFJ0AxYUvbtct9Z4Wvo1hJ9RkznkDyq_Ec8eYKw8LDLsASu8FV7UBpYQRwagH9iMbjz6_eV_DQ/w144-h200/12-P7294137.jpg" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Botanical Gardens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4HHlC0OOMn0c0KNets3Mf9WPgiMf0T44Nm7bLuDhzt0xP-RVsluEOwhHzqtVcXnH19UO8RLR50R1G33GjXmPABJqwiqAoiPUZp2juXHdYJOf4guvWkNtsEsmpXBXmUPVc5ycZuxYJDvCi1eh-CVeCYZXwrDDSxuMRWcNyuUmxZJuDM6dnhkadL_TPQ/s1200/13-P7294140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1031" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4HHlC0OOMn0c0KNets3Mf9WPgiMf0T44Nm7bLuDhzt0xP-RVsluEOwhHzqtVcXnH19UO8RLR50R1G33GjXmPABJqwiqAoiPUZp2juXHdYJOf4guvWkNtsEsmpXBXmUPVc5ycZuxYJDvCi1eh-CVeCYZXwrDDSxuMRWcNyuUmxZJuDM6dnhkadL_TPQ/w172-h200/13-P7294140.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Victoria Statue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYn-fIdeZv6YuMSZZfgvMU9FnVe6eGxlR2h2ByiXg-HygU_3cSaVsV7Wc9rwaX2okiQC4gSdRIzY4C-ytYi14-nz02Aq-RlDHLI4glzeouyXRn6Sxs8nG05H8V-Ho7JlK5kegepr4nnSFey7WY58FMnyrB2TADoXy11JnhvU8EhTTn3UaHEbSE_kwlg/s1200/14-P7294163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYn-fIdeZv6YuMSZZfgvMU9FnVe6eGxlR2h2ByiXg-HygU_3cSaVsV7Wc9rwaX2okiQC4gSdRIzY4C-ytYi14-nz02Aq-RlDHLI4glzeouyXRn6Sxs8nG05H8V-Ho7JlK5kegepr4nnSFey7WY58FMnyrB2TADoXy11JnhvU8EhTTn3UaHEbSE_kwlg/w113-h200/14-P7294163.jpg" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riverside Centre</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">The following day we took the very winding and steep road, Liam was not fussed on that road at all, out to the historic town of Akaroa on the Banks Peninsular some 80km from the city. </font></p><p><font size="3">This cute little French influenced town sits on the side of the lake and is full of cafes and restaurants, renovated facades and nicky nakky tourist shops. </font></p><p><font size="3">Having been settled by French pioneers way back it is French right down to the street names and heritage houses. From here it was another taxing 80km drive back to Christchurch after which Liam enjoyed a well earned couple of drinks!</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGr-LLHtRf0yDGlyeIVfRtiT5WIHM8ZHxCJkSUP_-wZ4D5UygpIoNiPiXhecwH8OiTxp5r-9vMHi2HdULGxsRYHKXfQKkdE7X6Qnn2lcN_2yWmlO-c5bbSTTD4Tnlvdp6Me4m-PRtG0pEUzCTRrGC7lJ9RmrJ08hupYVpwHHX8SUnm5w6Kx63PIKhrA/s1200/03-P7284069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGr-LLHtRf0yDGlyeIVfRtiT5WIHM8ZHxCJkSUP_-wZ4D5UygpIoNiPiXhecwH8OiTxp5r-9vMHi2HdULGxsRYHKXfQKkdE7X6Qnn2lcN_2yWmlO-c5bbSTTD4Tnlvdp6Me4m-PRtG0pEUzCTRrGC7lJ9RmrJ08hupYVpwHHX8SUnm5w6Kx63PIKhrA/w200-h113/03-P7284069.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French house Akaroa</td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"><br /></font><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6s-V8Fx1n0O1WciTL22yrThhKZrcTNDZiaGLhzFJLEIOneI8b3rN2UNBGEV9rLMtHm8aX-Vs1AokqWfZMpIePKU6o02rdXRIHZBbdPbgF1hyWAxWUzl6lpN1nu2s_qiY-LGZFJ3R-DdYREVnc4bzAvIYl01LZc2S9bBCHpv9poYAQQ2FTgOdXvBsqg/s1200/05-P7284071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="1200" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6s-V8Fx1n0O1WciTL22yrThhKZrcTNDZiaGLhzFJLEIOneI8b3rN2UNBGEV9rLMtHm8aX-Vs1AokqWfZMpIePKU6o02rdXRIHZBbdPbgF1hyWAxWUzl6lpN1nu2s_qiY-LGZFJ3R-DdYREVnc4bzAvIYl01LZc2S9bBCHpv9poYAQQ2FTgOdXvBsqg/w200-h99/05-P7284071.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akaroa Harbour</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ei8Tlye7bm4h1EPR3Z1i1QghMZqmIeyYr08qaDwsihNzD1oGR5jCCss95pn6kOvv63QQiFhkBgq3m6ekBc2mTip0p4V-B2OFM5vJr9SwBQyjYRhTBXZIIOVGhiL4dnGCKmFrx3pZr049j72t4CFROFC5UasZw1HNxjlBfMOhL5zHSRVLmYNmve02fg/s1200/06-P7284090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1200" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ei8Tlye7bm4h1EPR3Z1i1QghMZqmIeyYr08qaDwsihNzD1oGR5jCCss95pn6kOvv63QQiFhkBgq3m6ekBc2mTip0p4V-B2OFM5vJr9SwBQyjYRhTBXZIIOVGhiL4dnGCKmFrx3pZr049j72t4CFROFC5UasZw1HNxjlBfMOhL5zHSRVLmYNmve02fg/w200-h104/06-P7284090.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silo Accommodation</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmVbV2g7dSe15F_9A0KBe-TAgG_rknelOp9WPrMi4Gbz5ZC5jMYMNVp5PQgLFBkG4kF-YLFnY_E9kw_U2dVdXSJdDIn4IoL5krG5-CeICHLSOW4N1dnBYGoQQEV7g3mrF00E9x3SHr7kmumLhCZO1zMlCbVeO6nxuXI5kQhy7dFKovN-hmWNoDkWHAg/s1200/15-P7304193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmVbV2g7dSe15F_9A0KBe-TAgG_rknelOp9WPrMi4Gbz5ZC5jMYMNVp5PQgLFBkG4kF-YLFnY_E9kw_U2dVdXSJdDIn4IoL5krG5-CeICHLSOW4N1dnBYGoQQEV7g3mrF00E9x3SHr7kmumLhCZO1zMlCbVeO6nxuXI5kQhy7dFKovN-hmWNoDkWHAg/w200-h113/15-P7304193.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Mts heading north</td></tr></tbody></table>So now that we’d settled into our RV and had provisioned up it was time to head north along SH1 on the east coast to our planned Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite at Marfells Beach near Cape Campbell. And what a great setting. The campground was right alongside the beach and had all the amenities we needed, showers, loos, picnic tables and BBQs all for just $8 pp. It was a steal. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1U7WDNVq89d2kU3JIMKBs5m75tLjKxD71dtPhdFNLUYoDlV_avsVjUSiNOerNiDWAN7xJxVlzbTUC2_eL6c6cszmdy5qTchVz6TbhfYfkO7ko3MjVHD1fUzV3ZqH1gI2nwAJvoNjXH8kSshYoKU9GLKzG3NGvCqmsnGiZbBNNePBvp8fBCvlkCQscg/s1200/16-P7304202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1U7WDNVq89d2kU3JIMKBs5m75tLjKxD71dtPhdFNLUYoDlV_avsVjUSiNOerNiDWAN7xJxVlzbTUC2_eL6c6cszmdy5qTchVz6TbhfYfkO7ko3MjVHD1fUzV3ZqH1gI2nwAJvoNjXH8kSshYoKU9GLKzG3NGvCqmsnGiZbBNNePBvp8fBCvlkCQscg/w200-h113/16-P7304202.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendly workers along the way</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfAIUYpo9EoaTWNGH7zg1DzaU6i8Mre9th45cZUtYB9bAtSI1_0VFZnnmdqSK3sGCXdnsv4x9qwCCKNgJafkWLdxBS5dQH1Xw3D1_9WRlSw3Mr6n3Q8pOCVxamcoVZ0gXZuZIliZqYRSifsssH1Ac_45OBuianPwUNSXy8upgrq08XQa3Wk7RUGuoCg/s1200/17-P7304203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfAIUYpo9EoaTWNGH7zg1DzaU6i8Mre9th45cZUtYB9bAtSI1_0VFZnnmdqSK3sGCXdnsv4x9qwCCKNgJafkWLdxBS5dQH1Xw3D1_9WRlSw3Mr6n3Q8pOCVxamcoVZ0gXZuZIliZqYRSifsssH1Ac_45OBuianPwUNSXy8upgrq08XQa3Wk7RUGuoCg/w200-h113/17-P7304203.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marfells Beach Beach Campsite</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4XbDSqDaO2kC5CA8-xQkMZXkgqOgCtBlp-azXC5Rc8TkwRs7NXjFSZXH6dJ7Ih1B4DB0iacNWb-qovo6kteBlwdCvZSZXJRkH3PPSn9QMBJxegwWP55bxw9bXGfC2xzYB-61ne1IuyU7-MWUvJkRiwdRyao1zJMCdOlRohgEBYFfvQ4JNI0mgQ9mxw/s1200/18-P7314213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4XbDSqDaO2kC5CA8-xQkMZXkgqOgCtBlp-azXC5Rc8TkwRs7NXjFSZXH6dJ7Ih1B4DB0iacNWb-qovo6kteBlwdCvZSZXJRkH3PPSn9QMBJxegwWP55bxw9bXGfC2xzYB-61ne1IuyU7-MWUvJkRiwdRyao1zJMCdOlRohgEBYFfvQ4JNI0mgQ9mxw/w200-h113/18-P7314213.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As we soon found out some DOC campgrounds have a host person while other more remote sites run on an honesty system where you put your fees in the envelope supplied and into the money box . These campgrounds are scattered all over both the north and south islands and being the time of year we were travelling there was no need to make a reservation.</p><p><br /></p> <p><font size="3">A little further north is the town of Blenheim, the gateway to NZ’s famouus Marlborough Wine Region. Here we caught up with cruising friends Brenda and David who we’ve know since our time in the Mediterranean. They still have there boat Bandit but our now land lubbers and Vintners running Whitehaven Vineyard. We had a lovely evening with them reminiscing on times gone by. Whilst in the area we also popped into the Cloudy Bay cellar door and saw two of our other favorite vineyards, Matua and Stoneleigh.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWDETosagpZQnyQ-yiHFF-OlETvFpkJvfkuZgVu1vwLaeQf1onn7oPWk2j8jSfTNkmG02mj3tbyZ6NAsjbpwdOeldQEAKzw07BjyfYQkG4bynFeF75glt_8wfJ2zMiw5kNySDvdN6eZpUpOBZBRj3C24nEDjhPxXOCkMFkN42_SvTmhWBADbk1ysu_g/s1200/19-P7314226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1200" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWDETosagpZQnyQ-yiHFF-OlETvFpkJvfkuZgVu1vwLaeQf1onn7oPWk2j8jSfTNkmG02mj3tbyZ6NAsjbpwdOeldQEAKzw07BjyfYQkG4bynFeF75glt_8wfJ2zMiw5kNySDvdN6eZpUpOBZBRj3C24nEDjhPxXOCkMFkN42_SvTmhWBADbk1ysu_g/w200-h143/19-P7314226.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with Brenda & David</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievFV1opVeJ6ChFHS98lCkbhg4soXXzpQeKqkyo8J2AiFcUPVnwgHrVrvWR8eYHwovoQlWUgqgrq86x4Zd3VRoVCWNBsYKQi52O0bo2Fu8wh6DuvUy0SmsaM61Bq2DLWeG3jSD4rkqG405u8ZKgxWsanGXwEmd2prK0NTNG_HoG-n8L4MXCOa9-9CUsQ/s1200/20-P7314224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1200" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievFV1opVeJ6ChFHS98lCkbhg4soXXzpQeKqkyo8J2AiFcUPVnwgHrVrvWR8eYHwovoQlWUgqgrq86x4Zd3VRoVCWNBsYKQi52O0bo2Fu8wh6DuvUy0SmsaM61Bq2DLWeG3jSD4rkqG405u8ZKgxWsanGXwEmd2prK0NTNG_HoG-n8L4MXCOa9-9CUsQ/w200-h171/20-P7314224.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barrel says it all</td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsfR7hhlkqd-hi3TU9WmFG057JH8iW_BDlXHglXR9_i0-wCef2ZMGBSehVGfhOJWZknFzzuAxuMCPHNMXEmqrt_qRM8Hd6-4e1u62G-s932PDGUVfjXDKOiGKJKe1KDj0XxujUfRBHnf9HcC2amZE4fGOO7XyUHZsuRBD99MnKp1Xff85uHerz_dO0Q/s1200/21-P7314217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsfR7hhlkqd-hi3TU9WmFG057JH8iW_BDlXHglXR9_i0-wCef2ZMGBSehVGfhOJWZknFzzuAxuMCPHNMXEmqrt_qRM8Hd6-4e1u62G-s932PDGUVfjXDKOiGKJKe1KDj0XxujUfRBHnf9HcC2amZE4fGOO7XyUHZsuRBD99MnKp1Xff85uHerz_dO0Q/w200-h113/21-P7314217.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over Picton </td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3">Leaving Blenheim behind we had a pit stop in Picton then it was on to the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive around the Marlborough sounds and through to Nelson for a replacement house battery as the current one was in its death throws. We were now heading across the top of the south island and on to the west coast, stopping overnight for free camping along side the Buller River and taking in the Swing Bridge across the Buller George the next morning. </font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLANCyWZW8RINGU92tXVi6CrzbsgM420Lm1TMYX2v1I1sHBM5Hq_qQGpqIaL1M4AhaGqFWUI1cCgct_1a09mqnVKYWnYORy-BbGU6UE_N66G0tI1_bB4t62u0xIqxparjiH45SgcRPZiBAYiE1kIyk_wje6CqWBZ-vgmXSmhKVE54kSaxgT3OT-v0R4w/s1200/22-P8024236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLANCyWZW8RINGU92tXVi6CrzbsgM420Lm1TMYX2v1I1sHBM5Hq_qQGpqIaL1M4AhaGqFWUI1cCgct_1a09mqnVKYWnYORy-BbGU6UE_N66G0tI1_bB4t62u0xIqxparjiH45SgcRPZiBAYiE1kIyk_wje6CqWBZ-vgmXSmhKVE54kSaxgT3OT-v0R4w/w200-h113/22-P8024236.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Swing Bridge over Buller Gorge</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3">The bridge is the longest swing bridge in New Zealand and spans the river at 110m and is suspended 20m above the rushing waters below. </font></p><p><font size="3">Liam has a fear of heights so he sat this one out</font><font size="3"> while I toddled over the wire swing bridge which really does swing and along the the Faultline loop walk, taking in geological and historical sites dotted throughout the heritage park, including Whites Creek Faultline which was the epicentre of the 1929 Murchison earthquake where the ground rose 4.5 m. It was nice to get out of our van and stretch the old legs I must say.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua1IXSjovm9zKZAkrVzOfOfPuM-UKgZMJYNXK2pz1KC6u5ZUgFdsMTU4wL8cS1aeNglKpDNE9HY57oc6y6iQMJAIxO0zRWrUaZNK14TeGyAAzb5Wdzt7T7K-qZKxE_VncbfL5-SKwi_X-zXrHitvKNp5uphlp6FzItYD3Uqa8fzp_QJBILRfuN3hP4g/s1200/25-P8024282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua1IXSjovm9zKZAkrVzOfOfPuM-UKgZMJYNXK2pz1KC6u5ZUgFdsMTU4wL8cS1aeNglKpDNE9HY57oc6y6iQMJAIxO0zRWrUaZNK14TeGyAAzb5Wdzt7T7K-qZKxE_VncbfL5-SKwi_X-zXrHitvKNp5uphlp6FzItYD3Uqa8fzp_QJBILRfuN3hP4g/w200-h113/25-P8024282.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skinny blind corners</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET_Cb07ZbLe2aQe6RCFFgnggUChchtky_Lnro9J3yvVBNh9a1YgvfKtZw75FnQwWFp9YanSKXSt4bJCFXlLRLaR5xQhHcxanPKtwjR2bFDTjoV9fexo0eQgNfQ_vx2wTG0LpSgMBLh0D-9R5FkMfB4whqC59WKf8aIZMMOLNCAgSXfiPGhjHGh4NKNA/s1200/24-P8024264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET_Cb07ZbLe2aQe6RCFFgnggUChchtky_Lnro9J3yvVBNh9a1YgvfKtZw75FnQwWFp9YanSKXSt4bJCFXlLRLaR5xQhHcxanPKtwjR2bFDTjoV9fexo0eQgNfQ_vx2wTG0LpSgMBLh0D-9R5FkMfB4whqC59WKf8aIZMMOLNCAgSXfiPGhjHGh4NKNA/w200-h113/24-P8024264.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One lane bridges were everywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><font size="3">Moving further west we had a squiz at the township of Westport but decided to push on down the scenic coast road SH16 to Pancake Rocks in the Paparoa National Park. </font></p><p><font size="3">This entire stret</font><font size="3">ch of coast is just vista after vista, bend after bend. Pancake Rocks rates very high on the tourist attraction ladder and to put it simply it’s weathered layer upon layer of compressed limestone rock, known as stylobedding, which is continuously pounded by the unrelating Tasman Sea. And yes as the name suggests these rocks really do look like stacks of pancakes.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S9T_Ku3FseM7mk7prEmWzBEJZx1D3QVA9A7JCU6ddPjQzORPItWoCYQVTk1hHNLs3HaJ45SxtysGeASLwrrJn-Jwdyay-R77s45xnB2wu4iN0A1OzCnj7DvxETg-FwI1cg79MAScefFK8qchadwLF4Rn3U6GAcrrPoWUuMas36H0tDQMF5XJny-ayw/s1200/28-P8034329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S9T_Ku3FseM7mk7prEmWzBEJZx1D3QVA9A7JCU6ddPjQzORPItWoCYQVTk1hHNLs3HaJ45SxtysGeASLwrrJn-Jwdyay-R77s45xnB2wu4iN0A1OzCnj7DvxETg-FwI1cg79MAScefFK8qchadwLF4Rn3U6GAcrrPoWUuMas36H0tDQMF5XJny-ayw/w200-h113/28-P8034329.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful but rugged coastline</td></tr></tbody></table><font size="3"> It’s a wild place on a very inhospitable coastline complete with massive surging blowholes and you really do get a sense that Mother Nature does indeed rule the roost here.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTYtM1pndh1FJeXAB26czKoW49KZkKxnISC8lmgMRndgra0GJ6MeXsT7M4LEkFHFBIxPqsg1-JOfF-RlQsnEFFvKs99nCxhdzDa-RrZ2FiYVSHPdTrOjRNPocBU--GcVJeGetc41MlatoXo6cb72Cg6gc-zst-45jDYyX1nL2mBwb5CxWZGOI6xqayQ/s1200/26-P8024312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTYtM1pndh1FJeXAB26czKoW49KZkKxnISC8lmgMRndgra0GJ6MeXsT7M4LEkFHFBIxPqsg1-JOfF-RlQsnEFFvKs99nCxhdzDa-RrZ2FiYVSHPdTrOjRNPocBU--GcVJeGetc41MlatoXo6cb72Cg6gc-zst-45jDYyX1nL2mBwb5CxWZGOI6xqayQ/w200-h113/26-P8024312.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancake Rocks</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwxZkmeC9He-LoV8vivcPhAu2paRcJBGWdsEOEiaTUMgVSZ2O1_wrpYwEKkAUJJgGhIxrv4WD-NQfdXPqQU7gXOlWL6xkJUd-3hS1w8UXJGRwa7DDQNkXHdZix7tiBOPMEthZ7saRMx-XW21kJ65fP9w0egNDYdteP0pZbRSagKSN5cbRzJaj6qxNCA/s1200/27-P8024325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwxZkmeC9He-LoV8vivcPhAu2paRcJBGWdsEOEiaTUMgVSZ2O1_wrpYwEKkAUJJgGhIxrv4WD-NQfdXPqQU7gXOlWL6xkJUd-3hS1w8UXJGRwa7DDQNkXHdZix7tiBOPMEthZ7saRMx-XW21kJ65fP9w0egNDYdteP0pZbRSagKSN5cbRzJaj6qxNCA/w200-h124/27-P8024325.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blowholes</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3">Next up on our agenda was the coastal town of Greymouth some 46 klms further south. This is the largest town on the entire west coast sprouting all the major supermarket chains, petrol stations and everything else that the smaller towns lack. It’</font><font size="3">s more of a pass through destination rather than a destination itself. Mind you it is the end of the line for the 223klm Tranz Alpine rail journey which begins over on the east coast in the city of Christchurch. It is rated as one of the world’s greatest train journeys.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Having done some provisioning and refueling we headed a few K’s out of town to Brunnerton the site of the Brunner Coal Mine. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Back in March1896 an explosion ripped through the mine killing 65 men working there, almost half of the underground workforce. The cause some said was determined to be a charge that was let off in part of the mine where no one was supposed to be working but many miners not involved in the explosion said that it was Fire Damp, methane gas which forms when decaying plant material turns into coal which then becomes explosive when mixed with a certain amount of oxygen. </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsoH-DexHzkfiZIhmi9BhHz70Iul8YZ8U-FY_gSS38iv8T2qiyZs6-0d6M2EyBfLKcTTVQ0JfFJKDuGTFtia-F0gRVaXFVYiRRnHZqtxure_bFjb9Rzw1cPeNeyYx-6B_bUhWj1gDK_zoiXEuUZjO0cC35qGC7swmZM_VJ07FqBLLx0FIEKmfHAVdkw/s1200/29-P8034343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsoH-DexHzkfiZIhmi9BhHz70Iul8YZ8U-FY_gSS38iv8T2qiyZs6-0d6M2EyBfLKcTTVQ0JfFJKDuGTFtia-F0gRVaXFVYiRRnHZqtxure_bFjb9Rzw1cPeNeyYx-6B_bUhWj1gDK_zoiXEuUZjO0cC35qGC7swmZM_VJ07FqBLLx0FIEKmfHAVdkw/w113-h200/29-P8034343.jpg" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brunner Mine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mAgO9tKZcDeq5tWwxsEm50ja0afocTcBpu4IOFOhyPcbNp-MJTDiX1A0EbO2HYLDwh3IiDIGAFhNNvnSsNklbvOCeQyjG7Yx2_pnDsa3iRkYorriwBQ2oiYULJ_9WT3dMOb0-kztZI-SRhVHNb11PXU-Wbi6p8ppwm883B4r9tiKReR0TMtb10lnrQ/s1200/30-P8034347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1200" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mAgO9tKZcDeq5tWwxsEm50ja0afocTcBpu4IOFOhyPcbNp-MJTDiX1A0EbO2HYLDwh3IiDIGAFhNNvnSsNklbvOCeQyjG7Yx2_pnDsa3iRkYorriwBQ2oiYULJ_9WT3dMOb0-kztZI-SRhVHNb11PXU-Wbi6p8ppwm883B4r9tiKReR0TMtb10lnrQ/w200-h206/30-P8034347.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the mine</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubvd_GiJsBRcYQVklFOllywX6KLbTsZK_shods-1zbFNQUf5jCiWdS6Z5XEBkqBBnuYm9FjiUz9VydwZWoNfalCXrQuJH1qBtb4yx1lKbCaYSiUTIao1PuKYjTgwZNz33-Qcs6vkml0tq0FGIIPbPTmrFLgpIRdqIM6d44LJDnsy7bCrvHpoUNGZ-Pg/s1200/31-P8034357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubvd_GiJsBRcYQVklFOllywX6KLbTsZK_shods-1zbFNQUf5jCiWdS6Z5XEBkqBBnuYm9FjiUz9VydwZWoNfalCXrQuJH1qBtb4yx1lKbCaYSiUTIao1PuKYjTgwZNz33-Qcs6vkml0tq0FGIIPbPTmrFLgpIRdqIM6d44LJDnsy7bCrvHpoUNGZ-Pg/w113-h200/31-P8034357.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>There was no damage to the above ground buildings at the site as the explosion was so deep inside the mine itself. When the rescue crews arrived they found that railway line and trucks were twisted and smashed.<p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iGHz1KafBZYbbcLG2wQOOwKaVOuR2LkMISwnV-rlX5IlQYAVW6Ta5PMvDm7rBZqn5Kl9_7QBrWDOmV6AINkUjNTeQPO3ztmQ_AexGPu-SGTtqhznTRGcSgT9ZidpjbftWZnn9pIuo1yemJaAvQ47AKrGdyxjka6DFmt0pFumYUmgSbVlRS1M_Za6iw/s1200/35-P8034368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iGHz1KafBZYbbcLG2wQOOwKaVOuR2LkMISwnV-rlX5IlQYAVW6Ta5PMvDm7rBZqn5Kl9_7QBrWDOmV6AINkUjNTeQPO3ztmQ_AexGPu-SGTtqhznTRGcSgT9ZidpjbftWZnn9pIuo1yemJaAvQ47AKrGdyxjka6DFmt0pFumYUmgSbVlRS1M_Za6iw/w152-h140/35-P8034368.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The brick kiln</td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>The explosion was huge and some bodies could only be identified by their clothing The Brunner Mine disaster was the deadliest mining disaster in New Zealand’s history. The mine closed in 1906, however there are still a few structures at the site including the coke ovens have been preserved at the historic site.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <p><font size="3">Rather than rush off down the coast road again we decided to spend the night in Greymouth. The council have a freedom camping park right on the shores of the beach and so far this little spot tucked away for those in the know was yet another winner. Thankyou Greymouth council. </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yMP0VdezHHbMzlA78byjLB5H5QE4e87pSOgQ8Ki8JMLHiUZIpeu9gPmHk7Y94w52tU5fQDGC35AL8dCSIz8Gn38WjbxTUWVQl0hZujQQN7rn6HElG6Q5cxaxxMqHlTjT9YvKv5wf6PS-cFnd8-t0JtVOIi1AJb_0CVgPvWuVBQiuGW3siBdoGBr1wQ/s1200/40-P8044424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1200" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yMP0VdezHHbMzlA78byjLB5H5QE4e87pSOgQ8Ki8JMLHiUZIpeu9gPmHk7Y94w52tU5fQDGC35AL8dCSIz8Gn38WjbxTUWVQl0hZujQQN7rn6HElG6Q5cxaxxMqHlTjT9YvKv5wf6PS-cFnd8-t0JtVOIi1AJb_0CVgPvWuVBQiuGW3siBdoGBr1wQ/s320/40-P8044424.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hokitika would be our next stop. The cute seaside town is well known for it”s three day driftwood arts festival during January and for its beautiful buildings built during the gold rush era of the 1860’s. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmnLgDOKq2lHqG-astbsi3rJ4ftXLj16UG-a0jKIP5OlbTQThBWyuzdUMdEzw2f4jVviwg3yTp7zh1_vDGzpPbTomU6p04lUIIIgtKMgbQpw5fEKbg2YtEwO6HXXdg49WuiF81O2hJe39oBbmzS0W5QxcKNDBZqf28CxoB0cSx38FsIYmdoe212Xnmg/s1200/42-P8044432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1124" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmnLgDOKq2lHqG-astbsi3rJ4ftXLj16UG-a0jKIP5OlbTQThBWyuzdUMdEzw2f4jVviwg3yTp7zh1_vDGzpPbTomU6p04lUIIIgtKMgbQpw5fEKbg2YtEwO6HXXdg49WuiF81O2hJe39oBbmzS0W5QxcKNDBZqf28CxoB0cSx38FsIYmdoe212Xnmg/w188-h200/42-P8044432.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main street</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After a lazy wonder through the streets and a bite of lunch down at the beach it was time to find a spot for the night. </p><p>As the town has a strict no overnight camping rule we headed 10kls south to the DOC campground at beautiful Lake Mahinapua. </p><p>We settled in just metres from the waters edge and gazed across the lake to the snow covered alps in the distance. Such a tranquil setting and we had it all to ourselves.</p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUnGYXBg3bQM-FDkD9o2WuLAdI0xr8hnre3wn7it09sp2yZaIy_0SH3-tjtabKaST_B92Y9pbMpdUwwhfyv0lzBUn9oKKqj5VmwgmccJopntwtgf2wgBWqVhFRJv82lT5kwSWZfBUHjXMrA4huTG7KPZRf7E0nERze54Y3F5HQA8TlahzgEeNPklhVA/s1200/36-P8044398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUnGYXBg3bQM-FDkD9o2WuLAdI0xr8hnre3wn7it09sp2yZaIy_0SH3-tjtabKaST_B92Y9pbMpdUwwhfyv0lzBUn9oKKqj5VmwgmccJopntwtgf2wgBWqVhFRJv82lT5kwSWZfBUHjXMrA4huTG7KPZRf7E0nERze54Y3F5HQA8TlahzgEeNPklhVA/w200-h113/36-P8044398.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping at the waters edge</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><font size="3">Up early next morning we were off to visit the West Coast </font><font size="3">Treetop Walkway.</font><font size="3"> </font></p><p><font size="3">We booked our tickets via the Grab One site which offers discounted tickets to many tourist attractions throughout NZ. We saved $12 on each ticket using this site.</font></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="3"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v-BQa3a3MU6C22Mh3aJ_VoVT00f91rvkBBlMAYtd4r6KYQEK2t_kY7J8r0Fvt_FK-S4Yk8Eo8t0kB08_RWNc6ej1QA1HCCybXuNJHQt4OYxPSeW4my5f4MgOEF-JljWo35JCnjqRPxZpyrVcD4JkeI2dLd152ybBL_KOdLz7NxEJthBr2mg3lsCEAQ/s1200/37-P8044402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v-BQa3a3MU6C22Mh3aJ_VoVT00f91rvkBBlMAYtd4r6KYQEK2t_kY7J8r0Fvt_FK-S4Yk8Eo8t0kB08_RWNc6ej1QA1HCCybXuNJHQt4OYxPSeW4my5f4MgOEF-JljWo35JCnjqRPxZpyrVcD4JkeI2dLd152ybBL_KOdLz7NxEJthBr2mg3lsCEAQ/w113-h200/37-P8044402.jpg" width="113" /></a></font></div><font size="3">The walkway opened in Dec 2012 having taken just five months to complete. Built in Australia then shipped to the west coast it was assembled using cranes and 13,500 bolts and took just six weeks to put the massive structure together.</font><p></p><p><font size="3"> It was designed by the same engineer and architect team who built four similar structures in Australia. The walkway meanders through the treetops at a height of 20 mtr above ground, its a very enjoyable stroll which took us about 45 mins from go to wow. </font></p><p><font size="3">The birdlife and lookouts had fabulous views but the best was from the top of the 40 metre </font><font size="3">observation tower. Needless to say Liam didn’t venture up it with me.</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh9eeL_gnTgWq4o6z0ezMUoXumqDPGP9r1UBBcvEwLfFAIb-ypBMXRTv5aT_cQsFWJT5fb6EOMaqEMp1qZ_yr1o3dDAvqF7OFFQbgDCRUb0zAugAmOstfv1An5bqsPitgs2YGK53SACpYl91B4rFCCqx1NEPeOrUbx4L9qws1oNRcGWCdfNMjww6Z0w/s1200/38-P8044409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh9eeL_gnTgWq4o6z0ezMUoXumqDPGP9r1UBBcvEwLfFAIb-ypBMXRTv5aT_cQsFWJT5fb6EOMaqEMp1qZ_yr1o3dDAvqF7OFFQbgDCRUb0zAugAmOstfv1An5bqsPitgs2YGK53SACpYl91B4rFCCqx1NEPeOrUbx4L9qws1oNRcGWCdfNMjww6Z0w/w200-h113/38-P8044409.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from 40 metres</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJz9W8fq7Ws_0o-SwLs5YtYngCf4-sfhUFTLn9nkm4c48GInX_8Dap03wVfmS0BWc0USZTWrRxc0i3BF62r2v8jrQPWs4Ut6R08kr16-7oYKPnwPcx1kkW_XcNzKDH1bLHyRqNGANYrFxGjkNIpSMRjTAhhkyPjOpCzBMG1vSp4ZZtEvM_YQPqlqzQ/s1200/39-P8044415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpJz9W8fq7Ws_0o-SwLs5YtYngCf4-sfhUFTLn9nkm4c48GInX_8Dap03wVfmS0BWc0USZTWrRxc0i3BF62r2v8jrQPWs4Ut6R08kr16-7oYKPnwPcx1kkW_XcNzKDH1bLHyRqNGANYrFxGjkNIpSMRjTAhhkyPjOpCzBMG1vSp4ZZtEvM_YQPqlqzQ/w200-h114/39-P8044415.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam happier down here</td></tr></tbody></table><p>From here we drove out 33klms to the Hokitika gorge but on the way out the heavens opened and by the time we got to the carpark it was torrential. We sat for an hour and then abandoned our plans and headed to our campground at Hans Bay–Lake Kaniere for the night. We’d try for the gorge again tomorrow.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4li7lBMFCT35xvhUcMD_jr2PPs9x6rsd6eyuEsRRgVd_tUgJJ42dM97nGbB7Uv4vFWYaJNh9PN9mFInI7SUwU128VldB9k50z7zEymI_E-Ez0q6zMqqcUEfeKyoExKesJcADAnfXqFZr-qoXtBcfDt1mi3r9K_KxHhq-zbnj5lFTcqDvqbHbu7YKDw/s1200/43-IMG20200805085521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4li7lBMFCT35xvhUcMD_jr2PPs9x6rsd6eyuEsRRgVd_tUgJJ42dM97nGbB7Uv4vFWYaJNh9PN9mFInI7SUwU128VldB9k50z7zEymI_E-Ez0q6zMqqcUEfeKyoExKesJcADAnfXqFZr-qoXtBcfDt1mi3r9K_KxHhq-zbnj5lFTcqDvqbHbu7YKDw/w200-h150/43-IMG20200805085521.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above and below on the way to the Gorge </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr-28zJYc3upp7Lp_GL32DX5EkBwBiPhud7CLUlSGoFvgqI_n2eZp_x6P10dh6uq9ky_TUUzR313e_An3HTyrWRlmyqclSNxJ8EVHzF4GqpAH-STxTdhlRmxUz0ftxjdmP6IM9M56IU9TURE9iU0berRhDIla3S_F-KnxJVOMBU0PukX-_QUEduRBcA/s1200/44-P8054461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1200" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr-28zJYc3upp7Lp_GL32DX5EkBwBiPhud7CLUlSGoFvgqI_n2eZp_x6P10dh6uq9ky_TUUzR313e_An3HTyrWRlmyqclSNxJ8EVHzF4GqpAH-STxTdhlRmxUz0ftxjdmP6IM9M56IU9TURE9iU0berRhDIla3S_F-KnxJVOMBU0PukX-_QUEduRBcA/s320/44-P8054461.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cows ambling across the road</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The morning brought clear skies with a backdrop of snowy alps. We packed up the van and headed back out to the gorge and this time the gods must have been smiling on us.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxvW5kSUoSkxhd5ceu8tpr7x8GkjN0IZoMoJ9MvEXx6awZxFMIImTcSPyDm2eEWi58V6og8WSSxQN_-vYBUW3Oq5VTjKk5lIIUzSPgKBI7DOWJR-pJekhj9MWku5IxRsTAAnrKobmVuAFWksm_XfoiLjEaXAVz8xonYyCiT_KOQYkrzIP5LaIhU8OXQ/s1200/46-P8054440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxvW5kSUoSkxhd5ceu8tpr7x8GkjN0IZoMoJ9MvEXx6awZxFMIImTcSPyDm2eEWi58V6og8WSSxQN_-vYBUW3Oq5VTjKk5lIIUzSPgKBI7DOWJR-pJekhj9MWku5IxRsTAAnrKobmVuAFWksm_XfoiLjEaXAVz8xonYyCiT_KOQYkrzIP5LaIhU8OXQ/w200-h113/46-P8054440.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a view to wake up to</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3Sp6V0kOT8uMCKeL3wDETXnT9Rz2npUoc_962qUbxwQMtNVAj3GQ7jv4gIMcUN_ieTEUctLXmJS24BJgLE0Pxz7R0yOT8668QfJ_bT8m2QTsThldeXcfcgn9Ma1PJxWTMio8Z2bIZ045B_VMkzuX5ZgMMKEIq7j76lzHy1PhzVurWFMHy32bFBc3A/s1200/47-P8054448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3Sp6V0kOT8uMCKeL3wDETXnT9Rz2npUoc_962qUbxwQMtNVAj3GQ7jv4gIMcUN_ieTEUctLXmJS24BJgLE0Pxz7R0yOT8668QfJ_bT8m2QTsThldeXcfcgn9Ma1PJxWTMio8Z2bIZ045B_VMkzuX5ZgMMKEIq7j76lzHy1PhzVurWFMHy32bFBc3A/w200-h113/47-P8054448.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Cook in the distance</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">Half a million years of glacial movement has carved out this porcelain white ravine and hues of turquoise water sparkled in the sunlight.</font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KZHwjiNC5bb-eDEfcrqhhuZL72oiesQC8FbVF-tFUgTU54PtAFwnPiduzK8YNGKkr0THSXYBgNLiLsC9RrhvM2W6OPjO1h3tM92GmNcBIQj831mvkwikfJCi7_YGE2xui_6BMtXEYiJmlstjyKN00JzARHqxQ44ytMEc8luFUyMF8NMzc4z8LKIrw/s1200/48-P8054466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4KZHwjiNC5bb-eDEfcrqhhuZL72oiesQC8FbVF-tFUgTU54PtAFwnPiduzK8YNGKkr0THSXYBgNLiLsC9RrhvM2W6OPjO1h3tM92GmNcBIQj831mvkwikfJCi7_YGE2xui_6BMtXEYiJmlstjyKN00JzARHqxQ44ytMEc8luFUyMF8NMzc4z8LKIrw/w200-h113/48-P8054466.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over the gorge</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzo9slKVwrB8WjlbK9SK0GZGOEqsgEYSNLVseLksI6NqtEeZl1nVpLuOmpcd0RJGT5hq7llqyhNIa5KiU8hjmzCENAkLkPmwpZaAgYEO-lp7YLtwr1E1Ur0TP7yeXAyf1U7nqfNniENMpZnlEWm2EfoNQ_hDWMIYu6dJsP83TA7HOZ7GxOPHzUYSVkg/s1200/49-P8054479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzo9slKVwrB8WjlbK9SK0GZGOEqsgEYSNLVseLksI6NqtEeZl1nVpLuOmpcd0RJGT5hq7llqyhNIa5KiU8hjmzCENAkLkPmwpZaAgYEO-lp7YLtwr1E1Ur0TP7yeXAyf1U7nqfNniENMpZnlEWm2EfoNQ_hDWMIYu6dJsP83TA7HOZ7GxOPHzUYSVkg/w200-h113/49-P8054479.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aqua waters of Hokitika Gorge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>It didn't take long to take in the sights and we were soon back on the road to Hokitika for a late breakfast and then on to famed Arthurs Pass. </p><p><font size="3">So stayed tuned for the next installment of our South Island road trip.</font></p> <p><font size="3"> <font color="#ff0000"> **********************************************</font></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font> </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-49039080978177675762022-04-26T00:02:00.038-04:002022-05-09T19:22:08.176-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" face="Segoe Script" size="4">South Island Road Trip New Zealand 2020</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">July – September 2020</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">With the Covid lockdown finished and NZ’s borders firmly remaining shut to any overseas visitors the tourism industry across all sectors was bleeding badly. Something had to be done and quickly. So a campaign was launched to entice Kiwis to “See Something New, New Zealand”. AKA go checkout your own backyard.</font></p> <p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IQZv8y8TBPjCd5M3vbMYPMtn9atAlYGda5bdvDwnG9nKKS22IPAbxGW4RfgfExkgBweSzTPR7YmHu2HxjuKzy9dhL5eju0qZUMNZ3wfQm8WhPl1eHiwxIuow8u_-a9u3osVShri5AbxTXgsqWDgFl0RaGmgjPiopazi4gj5jIm_6M5FcxNGbFs0J3A/s1109/IMG_4401.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="1109" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IQZv8y8TBPjCd5M3vbMYPMtn9atAlYGda5bdvDwnG9nKKS22IPAbxGW4RfgfExkgBweSzTPR7YmHu2HxjuKzy9dhL5eju0qZUMNZ3wfQm8WhPl1eHiwxIuow8u_-a9u3osVShri5AbxTXgsqWDgFl0RaGmgjPiopazi4gj5jIm_6M5FcxNGbFs0J3A/s320/IMG_4401.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to climb on board</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3">During the month of May a</font><font color="#000000" size="3">dvertisements flooded our TV screens, radios and newspapers with amazing hotel deals, discounted flights as well as a host of outdoor activities. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">But the one that grabbed our attention the most were the next to nothing deals on Campervans and RV’s.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> These particular deals however were only being offered to NZ drivers license holders. So what do resourceful Aussies do.. we got off our butts and applied for a NZ license and viola the RV doors were flung open to us.</font></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xn54k8hNcIsBjgJ046I2GHLorG4_HCmrqvwiYxMXwiF8O1Gmet7R6xafvlVF7OTnA5mlA1PdIkOWsbnrMQ_UPABklRuTtBF87sk7LujuBG16p7Thfk7WlQfgWjIowWRR0Q2JWsJzO4r51_DEz07CC1idOj1SYsCNHfwL_m59FahJvQvSWrZcp0XRog/s1172/IMG_4402.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1172" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Xn54k8hNcIsBjgJ046I2GHLorG4_HCmrqvwiYxMXwiF8O1Gmet7R6xafvlVF7OTnA5mlA1PdIkOWsbnrMQ_UPABklRuTtBF87sk7LujuBG16p7Thfk7WlQfgWjIowWRR0Q2JWsJzO4r51_DEz07CC1idOj1SYsCNHfwL_m59FahJvQvSWrZcp0XRog/s320/IMG_4402.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Layout of our RV</td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">After pouring over the various companies, van sizes and amenities offered we settled on a 7.2 m Britz “Frontier“. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">It could accommodate six but as we like a bit of space figured this would definitely suit us down to the ground especially as it had two separate seating areas, the dinette behind the drivers cabin and one at the rear with wrap around seating. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">So we booked it on June 9th with a holding deposit of $1, ( paying the remainder a couple of days before our pickup) and started counting down the days until our adventure would begin.</font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000" size="3"> ***********************</font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-8720680752623992962021-10-11T22:39:00.000-04:002021-10-11T22:39:07.636-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" size="3"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"> July 2020 “Life goes back to Normal”</span><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></font></p><p><font color="#ff0000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#ff0000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"></font></p><div style="text-align: right;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxaoAZSKLe-vN6nfYr6BxoqUF0GFmcz30AKgOJwlbJSWHkE5PzU_JTObdBx2UKY3ItQF_u-KERfk9jcikagJq0C1IPQMf1SYutFuAZj1MvZPEn989Acx8fwzvzl0veoZoNVLJIt8JH-FT/s2048/IMG20200704142524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxaoAZSKLe-vN6nfYr6BxoqUF0GFmcz30AKgOJwlbJSWHkE5PzU_JTObdBx2UKY3ItQF_u-KERfk9jcikagJq0C1IPQMf1SYutFuAZj1MvZPEn989Acx8fwzvzl0veoZoNVLJIt8JH-FT/s320/IMG20200704142524.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: left;">The 4th July rocked around and it was time for yet another party, this time to celebrate American Independence Day. </span></font></div><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">Held in the grounds of Riverside Drive Marina the Cruiser’s Band played everyone’s favourite tunes until just after sailor’s midnight at 9 pm.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">The entertainment included some open mic tunes as well as a sparkly show of midriffs from the marina girls who’d been taking Belly Dancing classes, it was quite a show. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">With a plethora of pot luck dishes, complimentary beverages and BBQ, no one left hungry.</font></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">During the early part of July, we hit the bitumen for a two week road trip with our American best buds Vandy and Eric from S/V Scoots. As far as plans went we’d be heading south of Auckland with no agenda that was set in stone. Having sussed out and booked a couple of Air BnB’s for the first few nights, we loaded up their car, affectionately known as Baxter and hit State Highway One.</span></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAjNUbnOt3j6nism_9OUPEUdeuHsqlHXUu1c82ICLpWE38dQuBQEovujCQFzJZBqWLG7Nauw1qv5EfLvZL_whTK4vZ5qTt44bqyJk0UUFrCbU1ZUGxHuv98vyawcbhfdmV73lpfIvGmMl/s1200/01-P7073621.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAjNUbnOt3j6nism_9OUPEUdeuHsqlHXUu1c82ICLpWE38dQuBQEovujCQFzJZBqWLG7Nauw1qv5EfLvZL_whTK4vZ5qTt44bqyJk0UUFrCbU1ZUGxHuv98vyawcbhfdmV73lpfIvGmMl/w320-h181/01-P7073621.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maori painting on Mt Maunganui</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">Our first stop was “sunny” Tauranga although it really wasn’t living up to it’s name when we arrived with the rain tumbling down and all. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">After a longish drive pretty much all day we checked into our accommodation for the night ready to explore the sights of Tauranga and it’s surrounds the following day. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsPaB6y4qFIruK5xr4jH1EKsKJrkej765wfm21ork0BbMVPnpZnT-x8bGz5m4B4zpL1y17xthhbSv_2kB5FGUEOuByZ1pH7-lkO4Eo2k5NjYOWMESFaFUQuPQzefqFlLWCj2hMnk0mcP7/s1200/02-P7073625.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsPaB6y4qFIruK5xr4jH1EKsKJrkej765wfm21ork0BbMVPnpZnT-x8bGz5m4B4zpL1y17xthhbSv_2kB5FGUEOuByZ1pH7-lkO4Eo2k5NjYOWMESFaFUQuPQzefqFlLWCj2hMnk0mcP7/s320/02-P7073625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Setting out early we headed to Mt Maunganui, climbing the 232m steep sided extinct volcano which has awesome views across the entire coastline of the of the Bay of Plenty. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">With well marked hiking trails crisscrossing the mount there was no excuse not to see it all.</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uQdVBKaVI4ZyCSK3Lk2UjCd-NtjP5xpkW9sLkaVWGjaoAgEgPuRa2-m9vNVsOXfGwjB3zqfrBJQLAXZ8q5VFxNWenVuL9CeyFwUo91MKtMcKYHudqpl7ldK7hkzbfDr-H4bR1iIp3iAQ/s1200/04-P7073635.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uQdVBKaVI4ZyCSK3Lk2UjCd-NtjP5xpkW9sLkaVWGjaoAgEgPuRa2-m9vNVsOXfGwjB3zqfrBJQLAXZ8q5VFxNWenVuL9CeyFwUo91MKtMcKYHudqpl7ldK7hkzbfDr-H4bR1iIp3iAQ/s320/04-P7073635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric, Vandy & Liam on the trail at Mt Maunganui </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lunch was at one of the many eateries down in the beachside town and then we headed off to the Classic Flyers Aviation Museum just out by the airport. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Filled with dozens of aircraft types both working and static along with memorabilia from a bygone era, the self guided tour was worthy of the $15 pp entry fee and the couple of hours we spent there.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxel63XBskdCPXEwycRwgTogSmGAxXfk3yqaipxddJvZHGUei_DLsisRDtaQQYIKsaH8pP_NqhnWRoHOnt5SkmtpQAYJ6jZ0Prga_PBiTSWwJDPba5SXjagz4DI-dmULGVvkjJ8NfkA4S1/s1200/05-IMG20200707154905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxel63XBskdCPXEwycRwgTogSmGAxXfk3yqaipxddJvZHGUei_DLsisRDtaQQYIKsaH8pP_NqhnWRoHOnt5SkmtpQAYJ6jZ0Prga_PBiTSWwJDPba5SXjagz4DI-dmULGVvkjJ8NfkA4S1/w320-h240/05-IMG20200707154905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCFpQP6McraOKuunT4AzsDUXr5RN4rJh3nUxFuJwh32OLplzpApie4416XdS3j4F7O6R10KfCZdg9-NQmhq7tXr1gGkar-7DFMmHQKP2fPCgVsQFqV0SvLyDMS2AEnAxppLglzUAwCwlQ/s1200/07-IMG20200707152348.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCFpQP6McraOKuunT4AzsDUXr5RN4rJh3nUxFuJwh32OLplzpApie4416XdS3j4F7O6R10KfCZdg9-NQmhq7tXr1gGkar-7DFMmHQKP2fPCgVsQFqV0SvLyDMS2AEnAxppLglzUAwCwlQ/w320-h240/07-IMG20200707152348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrZSB_Gj9OVIxvvoOeKG5q6A3KUNMw-ucQVuqJmLiGQg9KyPMcwn0ymacpvRmNNLF7AcnP7EzQ6RU6z3HD0Q7qDDrDscxN50lP2IutZijP1pdSZTRtNBUtuXp_Pdh2ELCPho-M_FzVmhz/s1200/09-IMG20200707150448.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrZSB_Gj9OVIxvvoOeKG5q6A3KUNMw-ucQVuqJmLiGQg9KyPMcwn0ymacpvRmNNLF7AcnP7EzQ6RU6z3HD0Q7qDDrDscxN50lP2IutZijP1pdSZTRtNBUtuXp_Pdh2ELCPho-M_FzVmhz/w320-h240/09-IMG20200707150448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhQP128xHshUzkxchgvPIVUQj425OIme3lN5LZ7raHb4RGg7T0b0fiDtEmBxjUz-_2V_bgAUkDiysQlD6SaUyvsIPXFNpOQ74kaoQBNykyOcBaA7U5xeD-KBtUxzTdHftOLHmJL9-HvVH/s1200/11-P7083641.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhQP128xHshUzkxchgvPIVUQj425OIme3lN5LZ7raHb4RGg7T0b0fiDtEmBxjUz-_2V_bgAUkDiysQlD6SaUyvsIPXFNpOQ74kaoQBNykyOcBaA7U5xeD-KBtUxzTdHftOLHmJL9-HvVH/w320-h154/11-P7083641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy paddlers</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">The following morning we stopped for a cuppa with a former colleague of Liam who lives just out of town and is the source of many of Liam’s forwarded jokes.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are on Liam’s joke email list then you for sure would have seen the email address of Bruce in Sunny Tauranga. It was great to catch up with Bruce and Maureen and enjoy their hospitality once again.</span><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">From Tauranga we followed State Hwy Two along the winding shore and deep fast flowing gorge of the Waioeka River which is a kayakers paradise in these parts. And yes, we did see a few paddlers along the way and concluded they were all nuts.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2derrQkQpm99UfQXQkpvQhMst4vWP3CFUl9e_jJ3JM4MuvVySP_1VubajEeyBzhd7mQ-AvwxWm1VvqFcDYZJHUNslZt8x_HZ1kf1cP0hWaMcExagY6bTqrFu4pA3lWYp19G9wqkkYUAS/s1200/12-P7093648.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1200" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2derrQkQpm99UfQXQkpvQhMst4vWP3CFUl9e_jJ3JM4MuvVySP_1VubajEeyBzhd7mQ-AvwxWm1VvqFcDYZJHUNslZt8x_HZ1kf1cP0hWaMcExagY6bTqrFu4pA3lWYp19G9wqkkYUAS/w269-h227/12-P7093648.JPG" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the deck at Vineyard Vista </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Arriving at our Air bnb <em>Vineyard Vista</em> in Hexton we couldn’t have been happier. The former family home sat at the end of a small country road surrounded by farmland and vineyards complete with automatic lawnmowers, aka sheep. After the hustle and bustle of the big smoke of Tauranga it was a welcome change to hear nothing but the odd bleat of sheep. Ahh the serenity.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Day four saw us stretching our legs just down the road in <em>Greys Bush Scenic Reserve</em> which is one of the most popular and accessible Dept of Conservation reserves in the Gisborne area.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">The reserve is a nesting, resting and feeding habitat to a plethora of both native and introduced bird species including Magpie, Kingfisher, Gold Finch and the list goes on. Seasonally the rare North Island Kaka can also be spotted. A full circuit of all the tracks in the reserve only took around an hour.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHKykHWhQA4tBgkoiwM26FcIWIYM_nFXTaOzzHP9hNJ8IlRsycKTcT1sX9R2c-dY9F7WXmMEwtk4rVokyLdKycLH045VWjHuEFaKysPnMk81AXaE3BG0dKWybDYdJmE4ZuL0MWvEuoMHL/s1200/13-P7093668.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHKykHWhQA4tBgkoiwM26FcIWIYM_nFXTaOzzHP9hNJ8IlRsycKTcT1sX9R2c-dY9F7WXmMEwtk4rVokyLdKycLH045VWjHuEFaKysPnMk81AXaE3BG0dKWybDYdJmE4ZuL0MWvEuoMHL/s320/13-P7093668.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citrus groves everywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next we were off to Gisborne, winding our way past the many citrus orchards along the way. Gisborne which sits on the edge of the Bay of Plenty seemed to us a slow paced city. In 1769 this was the first part of NZ sighted by Cpt James Cook.</span></p><p><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><font color="#000000"></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaadBjxtTNC_9smCyirRVqZP4cCrS2y9C7JIR9wOaqn6AcTo69fJbXENnyqdC_E8IPEjc6YLXUBX-K79W4EcX5Cc5NwYWI39RUeSrsTzGPF6WoZGcN5PozQEUf1PSgtrlkbex7mR11Qzr/s1200/14-P7093679.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaadBjxtTNC_9smCyirRVqZP4cCrS2y9C7JIR9wOaqn6AcTo69fJbXENnyqdC_E8IPEjc6YLXUBX-K79W4EcX5Cc5NwYWI39RUeSrsTzGPF6WoZGcN5PozQEUf1PSgtrlkbex7mR11Qzr/s320/14-P7093679.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Cook Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a result of fertile soil and hot summer temps a large wine industry has sprung up in this region. This area is famous as a Chardonnay producer. Along with the vines the surrounding hills also support a booming forestry industry. </span></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Gisborne harbour port of Eastport is the second largest log exporter in NZ. Each year it exports between three and five million tonnes of logs. A lovely waterfront walk graces the foreshore and a memorial to Captain James Cook with an adjoing garden dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks is just a short stroll further on.</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="4">Three hours south at Hawks Bay is the bustling Art-Deco city of Napier, here we made camp for two nights. Back in 1931 Napier was hit by a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Lasting just two and a half minutes the inner city almost completely demolished with 258 lives lost. </font></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="4">The quake raised some areas of the surrounding land by two metres turning roughly 4,000 hectares of sea-bed into dry land. The enormous task of rebuilding the city is the reason for the Art Deco flavour of Napier today. That style of architecture was chosen not only for its beauty and simplicity but also because of its strength. </font></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font color="#000000" size="4">There was a lot to see and do during our stay here. Starting off we signed up for the Art Deco tour. We strolled the streets with our tour leader who imparted a wealth of knowledge about the style of the buildings and their facades.</font></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlwrv8mUm4m7PPdWga-ZzOCDrmd13LhVrUWpZTsgqBEOnmVQrK8q_ocUpNr-YoftnwIsiInJOjh55GTkNSeg6GAMj8neR8N-m72KH4HFemBIkpSbLzUBWa70O9KePBaucdLLnOMr2cXXc/s1200/17-P7103712.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlwrv8mUm4m7PPdWga-ZzOCDrmd13LhVrUWpZTsgqBEOnmVQrK8q_ocUpNr-YoftnwIsiInJOjh55GTkNSeg6GAMj8neR8N-m72KH4HFemBIkpSbLzUBWa70O9KePBaucdLLnOMr2cXXc/w170-h247/17-P7103712.JPG" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlwrv8mUm4m7PPdWga-ZzOCDrmd13LhVrUWpZTsgqBEOnmVQrK8q_ocUpNr-YoftnwIsiInJOjh55GTkNSeg6GAMj8neR8N-m72KH4HFemBIkpSbLzUBWa70O9KePBaucdLLnOMr2cXXc/s1200/17-P7103712.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p><font color="#000000" size="4">The Daily Telegraph building was definitely one of the major players of the show with it’s zigzags, fountain shapes and symmetrically patterned façade.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Another favourite was the National Tobacco Company building which combines Art Deco with motifs of Art Nouveau. Roses, bulrushes and grapevines framed the elegantly curved entranceway. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">There were dozens of the soft pastel facades dotted around the main streets and all you had to do was look up to enjoy what was on offer. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4krKYH6QxPNbWFgMYTu0-DECgYmj2PU9I56htK6fDcfZaI9bhuBXNjqLS922BKyZfU19GVl8CR8AxuIxePmRIhBKg_Bv-KUZbCKl0XW4_ODILwsJy995q20uhP2XaWd4Rn9mVOV7da4r/s1200/22-P7103730.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4krKYH6QxPNbWFgMYTu0-DECgYmj2PU9I56htK6fDcfZaI9bhuBXNjqLS922BKyZfU19GVl8CR8AxuIxePmRIhBKg_Bv-KUZbCKl0XW4_ODILwsJy995q20uhP2XaWd4Rn9mVOV7da4r/s320/22-P7103730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkEYK8Jrf3tm3GpRy499rLlORlMDQka510gnPMr7rwfHWbFleEfic7IlLMXAKVwTVkMkjfJ_quIHnNU31gkQ1O_s7wLwCCIrYo6Z0b0uRT1naGHdiHmeoTb2vDKvg2v4Hz-UP3EBDu5sx/s1200/28-P7103748.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1200" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkEYK8Jrf3tm3GpRy499rLlORlMDQka510gnPMr7rwfHWbFleEfic7IlLMXAKVwTVkMkjfJ_quIHnNU31gkQ1O_s7wLwCCIrYo6Z0b0uRT1naGHdiHmeoTb2vDKvg2v4Hz-UP3EBDu5sx/s320/28-P7103748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span><p style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">After pounding the pavements we moved on to the Hawkes Bay Museum where we took in the excellent earthquake exhibition and accompanying film. The lookout up at Bluff Hill gave us a birdseye view over the bay, the port, the city and the beautiful snow capped mountains beyond</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTutSrbHWiarGT4oKRnwX2Z7hNasHLmokqFl819I8Uy8BXWi4-mVM90IbCseIUKtnnaHfvrqmlpaFvbk5NziqSBT0jmCTBVzbGu998zDaaEuBgJoPe4c2LV6TkwrnrrcOOZKGA599lDSZ/s1200/27-P7103742.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTutSrbHWiarGT4oKRnwX2Z7hNasHLmokqFl819I8Uy8BXWi4-mVM90IbCseIUKtnnaHfvrqmlpaFvbk5NziqSBT0jmCTBVzbGu998zDaaEuBgJoPe4c2LV6TkwrnrrcOOZKGA599lDSZ/w320-h147/27-P7103742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Another big hit with us was the National Aquarium of New Zealand. It is home to over 100 species of aquatic and land animals from both New Zealand and around the world.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> One of the main attractions is the huge glass fronted Oceanarium where divers put on an amazing show while feeding the various assortment of reef fish, sharks and stingrays.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font color="#000000" size="4"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9XeNM-TYCuQ0JuauhYU6q0WRGwggW_RxcAbU3snirmYUm7PjkbV3uSrBq8k8mBcHRL6bKdLJihXes9f4x8hvAopIXjOyH6lzipbLqs2EQCgt9Vh2H_bebGDfT5jKBcWQ_vzBDO1LkfJn/s1200/31-P7123772.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9XeNM-TYCuQ0JuauhYU6q0WRGwggW_RxcAbU3snirmYUm7PjkbV3uSrBq8k8mBcHRL6bKdLJihXes9f4x8hvAopIXjOyH6lzipbLqs2EQCgt9Vh2H_bebGDfT5jKBcWQ_vzBDO1LkfJn/w320-h213/31-P7123772.JPG" width="320" /></a></font></div><font color="#000000" size="4">Meanwhile over at the Penguin Cove exhibit we got an up close view of the antics these ever so cute little blue penguins as they dart and dive happily through the water.</font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"> There are a plethora of other exhibitions as well, including Coral Reef, Rocky Shore, Reptiles and Amphibians and Native New Zealand Icons, just to name a few. You need to put aside at least 2-3 hours to fully explore place.</font></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uHRYmOaAjYgNWRre0QljKjOC9XuQj-yLM_q4CwCf5WBngu97icKdJk6n1_t4vmoKCKGMXK_gmjdN3r0oQzQXHpJwURuY84yp0E_9KuDWKIAGwgA_wgEWhyphenhypheniS_IGjPRJgid4EPjP3HpPf/s1200/34-P7123791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uHRYmOaAjYgNWRre0QljKjOC9XuQj-yLM_q4CwCf5WBngu97icKdJk6n1_t4vmoKCKGMXK_gmjdN3r0oQzQXHpJwURuY84yp0E_9KuDWKIAGwgA_wgEWhyphenhypheniS_IGjPRJgid4EPjP3HpPf/s320/34-P7123791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PQQ0fcHzrWMO0YiBn1LhO6NutOeTa3dJSpivyHtUNVgyVFpeL27cVTYg7BRHWO4YgMAlW-O5piII6uJjRz-1TWI5gr_Au8duAQnmOW-COTqVGaYCtDN4myTwk5teadUj4xPpfGNncZOg/s1200/36-P7123806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1200" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PQQ0fcHzrWMO0YiBn1LhO6NutOeTa3dJSpivyHtUNVgyVFpeL27cVTYg7BRHWO4YgMAlW-O5piII6uJjRz-1TWI5gr_Au8duAQnmOW-COTqVGaYCtDN4myTwk5teadUj4xPpfGNncZOg/s320/36-P7123806.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><font color="#000000"><br /></font></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfQVW4-PrD_RD1pPi315EvvS11oztjh_yiuOSDv0yHTyOUCXj05knUP8h2kFDMhfWDzQAQOxgzCAE27BHthaZyRFHo21Vu6PRZ99k9DHLQfoWgKRxeJA5SXoxiN3ENa09ZP7jXWf31msh/s1200/37-P7123869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfQVW4-PrD_RD1pPi315EvvS11oztjh_yiuOSDv0yHTyOUCXj05knUP8h2kFDMhfWDzQAQOxgzCAE27BHthaZyRFHo21Vu6PRZ99k9DHLQfoWgKRxeJA5SXoxiN3ENa09ZP7jXWf31msh/s320/37-P7123869.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><font color="#000000"><br /></font></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3u_vDo3J6dH5Akw1SvpYEEy4ubpiVRpe2pl-a3W4g_5fqnODSN-z2gTPP_g_-Hq0v5xer3TKUWh3fUSKE5TmBXTa6CEN_MX8L53ACijSoPhTvso5n1sa2WbvanYxUfS_N_EQ8zN_BwWj/s1200/43-IMG20200711134419_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3u_vDo3J6dH5Akw1SvpYEEy4ubpiVRpe2pl-a3W4g_5fqnODSN-z2gTPP_g_-Hq0v5xer3TKUWh3fUSKE5TmBXTa6CEN_MX8L53ACijSoPhTvso5n1sa2WbvanYxUfS_N_EQ8zN_BwWj/s320/43-IMG20200711134419_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><font color="#000000"><br /></font></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><font color="#000000">Wh</font><font color="#000000">ile we were in the Napier area we also visited Mission Estate, NZ’s oldest winery. Formerly a seminary owned by the Marist Order it is now Hawkes Bay’s largest winery. Tastings cost $10 pp but you do get to go home with a boxed souvenir embossed wine glass and the wines weren’t half bad either.</font></span></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EJVRK0EcFTlrQDROZmOXdAeA8kELXhkWMM14GVXrl2OoXzgu95APP0YRhUxNyPyO5HE2uK_2KU0VdYU20NkhhnlTAaBZERldsT9_0-SButyicSiDjodCHEh9qcJF0C21gs8-Z2VMz2pq/s1200/47-P7143942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="809" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EJVRK0EcFTlrQDROZmOXdAeA8kELXhkWMM14GVXrl2OoXzgu95APP0YRhUxNyPyO5HE2uK_2KU0VdYU20NkhhnlTAaBZERldsT9_0-SButyicSiDjodCHEh9qcJF0C21gs8-Z2VMz2pq/w216-h320/47-P7143942.JPG" width="216" /></a></div><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand was to be our last main destination and here we’d rented a house for two nights. It was a huge place with views over the lake complete with a log fire. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">As the weather was rather chilly we made very good use of the fireplace. The Taupo region, like Napier also had lots to see and do.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">The highlights for us was taking a lake cruise to the ten metre high Maori rock carvings etched into the cliffs of Mine Bay, stopping at Wairakei Terraces and immersing ourselves in the varying degrees of naturally thermal heated silica pools (sorry no photos as it was a bit risky taking the camera in with us) followed by a stroll through the geothermal park known as Craters of the Moon. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7MdP2FnLL26mxa4OaOa_K78-IxfNI9vXVMZqioyCXuTbYfwlCMGq1Egz4uX8grhAFgODS93E7doCl9xicW5cIeku_rfhiZKYRomxHAgrMcm-1pvtUPwCvCIgvG31JnGDalZ-CJXXwTp0/s1200/50-P7143960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7MdP2FnLL26mxa4OaOa_K78-IxfNI9vXVMZqioyCXuTbYfwlCMGq1Egz4uX8grhAFgODS93E7doCl9xicW5cIeku_rfhiZKYRomxHAgrMcm-1pvtUPwCvCIgvG31JnGDalZ-CJXXwTp0/s320/50-P7143960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Next up was the former site of the Aratiatia Rapids where the hydroelectric power plant of the same name now stands. I say former as the Waikato River was diverted slightly to accommodate the hydro plant, and the gorge where the rapids once flowed is now dry. However being present as the mighty Wiakato River hydro flood gates opened releasing thousands of litres of water into the dry gorge below had to be seen to be believed. It is truly spectacular.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzw8eQYl9cQcGnyjIZ69eQKGqotWzeOd_bZivNL8IHOQa1B87ozi62IU0yAfiojQQ3etCe62tHXHnHdQGhX-74UWdMtnqfkZbFR6ItQhFeT-N4cvj-c2e8xCEHp4Lhn7euvF3QAOl448p/s1200/51-P7143967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzw8eQYl9cQcGnyjIZ69eQKGqotWzeOd_bZivNL8IHOQa1B87ozi62IU0yAfiojQQ3etCe62tHXHnHdQGhX-74UWdMtnqfkZbFR6ItQhFeT-N4cvj-c2e8xCEHp4Lhn7euvF3QAOl448p/s320/51-P7143967.JPG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5Kv6gwrDzF-1ACs8XQsFBar7iGa9ohSjLhEDfILUywxkxv9aNSIPU0jvtDLrmG3D_InK7YiHKaMfcLdAY_weS_o7sCS4nd1xRkBxGfHfaIogTuY00kMud_hQ-1RTO4koegLm8s_XT3Dy/s1200/55-P7143975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5Kv6gwrDzF-1ACs8XQsFBar7iGa9ohSjLhEDfILUywxkxv9aNSIPU0jvtDLrmG3D_InK7YiHKaMfcLdAY_weS_o7sCS4nd1xRkBxGfHfaIogTuY00kMud_hQ-1RTO4koegLm8s_XT3Dy/s320/55-P7143975.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVSYkgVt9S-MnMTQbZBpJfwCsy2mY97cHE6-N-T2JpeFrXxjANeN4xk90yxBh1GDSSk0fzAaJpBc87_s8993BCowDBXxRyu7gEMxNR2AYsQSfHhp94VTKrzvSDbvvDw-dyig87rHdoetn/s1200/52-P7143968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVSYkgVt9S-MnMTQbZBpJfwCsy2mY97cHE6-N-T2JpeFrXxjANeN4xk90yxBh1GDSSk0fzAaJpBc87_s8993BCowDBXxRyu7gEMxNR2AYsQSfHhp94VTKrzvSDbvvDw-dyig87rHdoetn/s320/52-P7143968.JPG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M1HYzTqPXRiRVl5HzeQtjNR2zQUoiF2-L2_U_pVNOhf978IXG9Zk1mhQgoxQZHNyNB4mNP3snWN1vVUldtQpqatH6vUW9eQizSFnic5HHI7THQHhpTYSKXkMen-98JhI13Ma6ELUZRl6/s1200/53-P7143971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_M1HYzTqPXRiRVl5HzeQtjNR2zQUoiF2-L2_U_pVNOhf978IXG9Zk1mhQgoxQZHNyNB4mNP3snWN1vVUldtQpqatH6vUW9eQizSFnic5HHI7THQHhpTYSKXkMen-98JhI13Ma6ELUZRl6/s320/53-P7143971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The gates open three times a day in winter and four during the summer months. As an aside there is a scene from The Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug which shows the dwarfs escaping from their captors by hiding in barrels which were thrown downstream in the Aratiatia Rapids. And for the finale of this region... that was witnessing the immense power of rushing water as it is squezzed into a narrow chasm, then dropping 10 metres over the Huka Falls to the calm waters of the Waikato as it wends its way 425 klms to the west coast and the Tasman Sea just south of Auckland.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7qVYqMmc14ZKam1vLnt_TfRtJoUHVrrxwW_-RmhoQSpioOYsFKNyFaSiifi-U-4ga4LNNeeJmkDLx7nCgh8hyphenhyphenoPc90CTFFiyNXpuq3Jb-WpAUq5yST9x_5BhjlYrp6hg4ffPQ3X6KgM-/s1200/46-P7133937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7qVYqMmc14ZKam1vLnt_TfRtJoUHVrrxwW_-RmhoQSpioOYsFKNyFaSiifi-U-4ga4LNNeeJmkDLx7nCgh8hyphenhyphenoPc90CTFFiyNXpuq3Jb-WpAUq5yST9x_5BhjlYrp6hg4ffPQ3X6KgM-/s320/46-P7133937.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us at the top of Huka Falls and below is a tourist jet boat at the base of the falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-wYRijWVplvLvE0ONvGQPllOLTMBzS3ssvrA94kxJwViey8tqh7r4cPlyTjE4A0yi_wXIONbABanaNUcyelipUic07-111P9OF_ZnQ6Vcxcc4uoAPdSfmWgqM-cnRIpHb9FufRJ6MFvF/s1200/78-P7133926-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-wYRijWVplvLvE0ONvGQPllOLTMBzS3ssvrA94kxJwViey8tqh7r4cPlyTjE4A0yi_wXIONbABanaNUcyelipUic07-111P9OF_ZnQ6Vcxcc4uoAPdSfmWgqM-cnRIpHb9FufRJ6MFvF/s320/78-P7133926-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q2toLY7rrKIncCKX17vZApG8lJXPji2nslQ7nT1Ca7RfHjjOTM9h6kbtxRdft9rYU0AOqS3rdGoBOMPaX5_jD9P8zmxnHFTavkP8wDMOJVb2f-0puUm-Nq7yYs3PulqKbPDZ2ABbVvf5/s1200/66-P7164014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q2toLY7rrKIncCKX17vZApG8lJXPji2nslQ7nT1Ca7RfHjjOTM9h6kbtxRdft9rYU0AOqS3rdGoBOMPaX5_jD9P8zmxnHFTavkP8wDMOJVb2f-0puUm-Nq7yYs3PulqKbPDZ2ABbVvf5/s320/66-P7164014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the spa at our accommodation in Raglan</td></tr></tbody></table><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Leaving the Taupo region we ventured south stopping at the Tongariro National Trout Centre for a quick but interesting visit before making our way north for our second last night of the trip in the seaside town of Raglan.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">Our final night was spent just south of Auckland before arriving back to Whangarei where GWTW was waiting patiently for us the following afternoon. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4">We had a fabulous trip in company with friends Eric and Vandy from “Scoots” who we can’t thank enough for all the laughs, the fun times and the lion’s share of all the driving. Thanks guys, we can’t wait to do it all again somewhere, sometime in the future.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDdnJX8-9YinTvG8Ddg4a4fVh205M5HJm1ejqw_P0-tIRFGgqSWmz_wkCbN6xv1tjzaAJpC3SNeNGe1mlv8Y8ljLrCnOlFAVnqzuT5taNfBeZmQAhD9eS8mNiPjIDGwU4kSkcyJqLtT6X/s719/75-P7123811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="719" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDdnJX8-9YinTvG8Ddg4a4fVh205M5HJm1ejqw_P0-tIRFGgqSWmz_wkCbN6xv1tjzaAJpC3SNeNGe1mlv8Y8ljLrCnOlFAVnqzuT5taNfBeZmQAhD9eS8mNiPjIDGwU4kSkcyJqLtT6X/w144-h209/75-P7123811.JPG" width="144" /></a></div><font color="#000000" size="4"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirwrd_yWH-1Gaoyc4R3qhQyc7nc9nW-FLNNXH9EcI2rRHNMmPUHgjU6Y1JCNlrBsomNKdNbzIOGDlMSI6bxysOoXQTIDzeZUHh-X9llwSkxGsD6-SAYF-CSgZoKhq_9JfDlCIomLPa3Dx/w181-h320/15-P7103697.JPG" width="181" /></font><font color="#000000" size="4"></font><font color="#000000" size="4"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Edil5bmMKA_cCp2mSLMPxnOsTpuZ9eIsPADKL2Mmapgdzj8eJxobEmW2r9r5x_O2HBjYCT7iv6oge06Mm6S7VU0onwZ_zAoNvjLhKTUMytNSnRWGr9LSBZkS52-QvKTljhBlSvcBhjtn/s1200/18-P7103713.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Edil5bmMKA_cCp2mSLMPxnOsTpuZ9eIsPADKL2Mmapgdzj8eJxobEmW2r9r5x_O2HBjYCT7iv6oge06Mm6S7VU0onwZ_zAoNvjLhKTUMytNSnRWGr9LSBZkS52-QvKTljhBlSvcBhjtn/w113-h319/18-P7103713.JPG" width="113" /></a></font><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: red;"> *******************</span></span></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"> </font></p><p><br /><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"> </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="4"><br /></font></p><font color="#000000"><p><br /></p></font><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">.</font></p></div>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-21845820008432245222021-06-08T21:41:00.108-04:002021-06-09T00:11:27.675-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" face="Segoe Script" size="4">Life in the New World</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">May & June 2020</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J3DamvkFSEl-QzGyLXpRw2HxSJfnXO-dTv9LMYAeGiHgLuE9zKa2ht89gbIt_qJHYJxq2EXU0qmvBu5RBreod7guRKAwJYjoQ180Tjpkt3acqXl5N_s1qj99rWmDpzZY8x65d4QierBj/s1200/01-IMG20200520132216.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4J3DamvkFSEl-QzGyLXpRw2HxSJfnXO-dTv9LMYAeGiHgLuE9zKa2ht89gbIt_qJHYJxq2EXU0qmvBu5RBreod7guRKAwJYjoQ180Tjpkt3acqXl5N_s1qj99rWmDpzZY8x65d4QierBj/s320/01-IMG20200520132216.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the animals wore masks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">After lockdown finished the celebrations began. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">The marina staff who had entrusted the running of the our marina to three trusted souls in their lockdown absence orgainsed a fancy dinner out at Sails, Whangarei’s poshest restaurant for us, Eric and Vandy from Scoots as well as Dave from Rewa. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">The boys had taken charge of all things requiring maintenance over several weeks</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc7oGtBUMzcspEpVt9NPYD02Yx1FW2K0mTpSobJgLVb4nL9i241-d1RfIlvR7uOSmHllEZoN0e8E2XWsi4dmeLfA69as-q_ywzOxUNS4xq5sGcjZZsLLn1amjm74hU5atk0k3ajUJjqkf/s1200/03-IMG20200612212218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc7oGtBUMzcspEpVt9NPYD02Yx1FW2K0mTpSobJgLVb4nL9i241-d1RfIlvR7uOSmHllEZoN0e8E2XWsi4dmeLfA69as-q_ywzOxUNS4xq5sGcjZZsLLn1amjm74hU5atk0k3ajUJjqkf/s320/03-IMG20200612212218.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankyou dinner at Sails </td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Liam was in charge of general maintenance issues, Eric was postmaster, parcel delivery and electrical breakages technician and Dave ran the finance side of things which included washing and sorting laundry and shower money.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqxlf_SOci0GST4fFCOPUZDKIRzKzNp1kP0OzOOapjnghO2U-o9dz3DBhWuCDIUIwotPr9JtxpiXu0KZdpbIjhXrGgLTuyeD6u8vIkDRkCtDNBc6i7swh6i5EHbknLjx4s8bC6stE3Gfc/s1200/07-P6193361.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqxlf_SOci0GST4fFCOPUZDKIRzKzNp1kP0OzOOapjnghO2U-o9dz3DBhWuCDIUIwotPr9JtxpiXu0KZdpbIjhXrGgLTuyeD6u8vIkDRkCtDNBc6i7swh6i5EHbknLjx4s8bC6stE3Gfc/s320/07-P6193361.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new three hole putting green</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Many upgrade projects were hatched during this time and included a major upgrade to our floating party barge to replace the current flooring and turn it into a putting green complete with pro grade AstroTurf. That was a win win for we golfing sailors. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">June 19th clocked around and it was a big day on the social calendar. Pretty much all the boats at our marina from 19 nationalities were “Dressed’ for the occasion .</span></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBE_ooreHFnWK2tL-xxsUS3tgkU4Vw2iq-THd5dsxjjpYHT1ZHX4p1tG_ufVjN_IY-cWQ6_KRA1BJWIjW64zR7Z5J8kGdNDas3LRqpf3lAdb9NbqJGEqdw1V6x-yWJeYVLCD86ghYwhU2/s1200/04-P6193349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBE_ooreHFnWK2tL-xxsUS3tgkU4Vw2iq-THd5dsxjjpYHT1ZHX4p1tG_ufVjN_IY-cWQ6_KRA1BJWIjW64zR7Z5J8kGdNDas3LRqpf3lAdb9NbqJGEqdw1V6x-yWJeYVLCD86ghYwhU2/s320/04-P6193349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats dressed with GWTW below</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn8quhQHBI_92o17VcRN_H-WBZetUZfzTiZt1qfCUKb3yspdU0IVhGUu2pBG6HtwTxWvmOMCk8gemPUBHJBJzbaAl_p2ULrBW69KviYi1vmTXbXUxhQxuW391lKhDkH7e_VW-owF7nYP5/s1200/08-P6193370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxn8quhQHBI_92o17VcRN_H-WBZetUZfzTiZt1qfCUKb3yspdU0IVhGUu2pBG6HtwTxWvmOMCk8gemPUBHJBJzbaAl_p2ULrBW69KviYi1vmTXbXUxhQxuW391lKhDkH7e_VW-owF7nYP5/s320/08-P6193370.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">On GWTW each country’s flag that we have visited since leaving Australia in 2006 was hoisted and that totaled 69 flags. Good thing we have a tall mast! The creative people in the marina painted giant “Thankyou Whangarei” banners which were strung up between the yachts and the scene looked very festive indeed.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXthxfyLSP7fl-oow3W8NIwiMaH28JVgcjnzy6AyrojUHlFPzAN7oyDZz4SO2gqDmgY8G7w7Jqnwic603KvR9bwn0Zo-bi3xjf6eVfsRjU3AO3i5v5KbacejkyGKMHNS1U9k4KB0oo9XI/s1200/13-IMG20200620152837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXthxfyLSP7fl-oow3W8NIwiMaH28JVgcjnzy6AyrojUHlFPzAN7oyDZz4SO2gqDmgY8G7w7Jqnwic603KvR9bwn0Zo-bi3xjf6eVfsRjU3AO3i5v5KbacejkyGKMHNS1U9k4KB0oo9XI/s320/13-IMG20200620152837.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bSo9Tr_zV7vyhjlst6pwvYTY_RCSjCbnsNa-Vc_zVMZJgVbHN9N6deCsWcismrCvaYh_pWsaVC8nwQtZHD1cpvKJ3CNj7FNf5AJaoMfNu6J5N9wRHc3zPlqw5gS1DBU77SeuUc7sibjK/s1200/15-IMG20200620152904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bSo9Tr_zV7vyhjlst6pwvYTY_RCSjCbnsNa-Vc_zVMZJgVbHN9N6deCsWcismrCvaYh_pWsaVC8nwQtZHD1cpvKJ3CNj7FNf5AJaoMfNu6J5N9wRHc3zPlqw5gS1DBU77SeuUc7sibjK/s320/15-IMG20200620152904.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">From that day on many a party was organised and yes we cruisers know how to party to the max. The kickoff event was essentially a big “Thankyou” to the people and the city of Whangarei for hosting the community of International cruisers based here during the lockdown period, and for not throwing us to the wolves when the world was being ravaged by Covid. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8879mBGOTiYknnLyjnex52I03idkg0_1l2qQIG0TiYOoDMJk5X4oxYBkTUpNtaegh3qit-S17qSNiOwLJeaqfSd32BcZATwwJSn6sXR7TSAZFJbwVztdMYnWfrjTxuagKUpMvRyzqaf6o/s960/IMG_1587.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8879mBGOTiYknnLyjnex52I03idkg0_1l2qQIG0TiYOoDMJk5X4oxYBkTUpNtaegh3qit-S17qSNiOwLJeaqfSd32BcZATwwJSn6sXR7TSAZFJbwVztdMYnWfrjTxuagKUpMvRyzqaf6o/s320/IMG_1587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Held on a drizzly Saturday morning under the shelter of the canopy bridge which spans the Hatea River, the Mayor of Whangarei Sheryl Mai, along with NZ Customs & Immigration officers, several of the boys and girls in Blue, members of the public and the local press turned up for the occasion.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the beautifully painted banners now hangs in city’s Council Chambers.</span></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij-BiDlEgX3I_OG8y-YvROieWRdWAhRs1yOTmT5gPkX16GJI3bYbvQI5894hU0HiIXIM_gbX1_jyStddiX2jpXMacUlH1UpCM8ZdGULgA46e_IyRog5SVi0c5ELZA_1l4QLilCcxOIut8/s1200/09-P6203381.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij-BiDlEgX3I_OG8y-YvROieWRdWAhRs1yOTmT5gPkX16GJI3bYbvQI5894hU0HiIXIM_gbX1_jyStddiX2jpXMacUlH1UpCM8ZdGULgA46e_IyRog5SVi0c5ELZA_1l4QLilCcxOIut8/s320/09-P6203381.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below the Cruiser's Band</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9GVZe7nbM2RWJSYnI63gg0OL1-YRTCRkuFnjeA6cgJIPCV4O1cV3soXtqlEIEI2BmWNzQlbslVJx-IJkzzj0gtthIj8SKlvAxyZQLMCGm5HkLp9tC17kFRKJXMOmVyRRis6EvIV60Bdc/s1200/11-P6203387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9GVZe7nbM2RWJSYnI63gg0OL1-YRTCRkuFnjeA6cgJIPCV4O1cV3soXtqlEIEI2BmWNzQlbslVJx-IJkzzj0gtthIj8SKlvAxyZQLMCGm5HkLp9tC17kFRKJXMOmVyRRis6EvIV60Bdc/s320/11-P6203387.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-31eVM5ejjA_NZ_lp6JLqtTgq6ll8PP_mgVPABOITEAQA3LJ1QXTzMHC-tFR3pvNc64ZqzCBlEYpAyrnbTX2mVqYMSlrPV9V5t5x1nY0NJ8CFpRWz8XFoK0hCLmYdj4EcqLbgXQhHqMU/s1200/12-P6203397.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-31eVM5ejjA_NZ_lp6JLqtTgq6ll8PP_mgVPABOITEAQA3LJ1QXTzMHC-tFR3pvNc64ZqzCBlEYpAyrnbTX2mVqYMSlrPV9V5t5x1nY0NJ8CFpRWz8XFoK0hCLmYdj4EcqLbgXQhHqMU/s320/12-P6203397.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customs officers said it was a pleasure to have us all in NZ</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">Once the speech’s and blessing of the fleet by a Maori Elder were done and dusted the ‘”Cruisers Band” aka “Riverside Drive Marina Band” filled the air with a string of catchy tunes that even the diehard toe tappers couldn't resist and there was dancing in the streets, well on the bridge to be more correct. It was a great<font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"> couple of hours. </font></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEViBTm6wugKnHN0WhP8o6cRXxkZjv-d7899OehJt6yxzq5R9qXsaLkhEIe8lASpCsstl78CLQcdlgr4uVnV7CN96w3JGbCdRXeqanBgCCmhzstyStAjM4HF-Ccplf66V872kzUYUQfam_/s1200/16-IMG20200620223352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEViBTm6wugKnHN0WhP8o6cRXxkZjv-d7899OehJt6yxzq5R9qXsaLkhEIe8lASpCsstl78CLQcdlgr4uVnV7CN96w3JGbCdRXeqanBgCCmhzstyStAjM4HF-Ccplf66V872kzUYUQfam_/s320/16-IMG20200620223352.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam showing his style with manager Sharron</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"></font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithNbI_LPPDJb3rAQDM8yGKjUwY32DumibJ0nhd7k8OGM-r57i2zzfVgnWEeKVBqQAF8J01yUimeNcfg-TuQKpH57-q_gMfkQikb_o05gXmxfiWchAyBT6vwfTTTSWEIyJMR3Y9KpbZD0J/s960/IMG_0361.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithNbI_LPPDJb3rAQDM8yGKjUwY32DumibJ0nhd7k8OGM-r57i2zzfVgnWEeKVBqQAF8J01yUimeNcfg-TuQKpH57-q_gMfkQikb_o05gXmxfiWchAyBT6vwfTTTSWEIyJMR3Y9KpbZD0J/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave and me hitting the floor at the dinner dance<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3">Later that evening the neighbouring marina organised a pot luck dinner and BBQ and the band once again preformed . Sunday night the fun continued with the Whangarei Cruising Club being the venue of choice for the celebratory Dinner and Dance night. With over one hundred in attendance we partied hard and danced the hours away.</font><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> <font color="#ff0000"> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%</font></font></p><p><font color="#ff0000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Arial" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><br /></div>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-49688047198696801452021-02-23T23:11:00.043-04:002021-02-23T23:40:14.921-04:00<p><font color="#f79646" face="Segoe Script" size="4">The Covid 19 edition. 2020 the year that wasn’t</font></p> <p><font color="#f79646" face="Segoe Script" size="4">Living through Lockdown and whatever else came next.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">March 25th – October 8th 2020</font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIIVVzVsHwX_hQEKVxV6nNI4NPGzrsybb5SNaaZYsFu9oiyY05mkPOt30yX4V7dclRL9j-1zhj9Zd-BNk6To7VCpLN2gn9MtV6PoCv2A-RZE8qC0n-nLyDWvrQaRUUMt0PSHgdOTtKeaX/s2048/IMG20200331074503.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIIVVzVsHwX_hQEKVxV6nNI4NPGzrsybb5SNaaZYsFu9oiyY05mkPOt30yX4V7dclRL9j-1zhj9Zd-BNk6To7VCpLN2gn9MtV6PoCv2A-RZE8qC0n-nLyDWvrQaRUUMt0PSHgdOTtKeaX/s320/IMG20200331074503.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy Covid morning</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s just over a year now since Covid 19 engulfed planet earth and consequently reshaped our lives and the way that everyone has lived since Adam was a boy.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">As you all know we are still in New Zealand and to be honest we can’t think of a better country to be in to sit out this pandemic.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Backtracking just a little I'll fill in the gaps of how NZ has got to where we are today. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> NZ’s first case reared it’s ugly head on February 28th. As of January 29th 2021 this island nation has recorded 2,305 cases with 1950 confirmed cases and 355 probable ones. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE44gN36mp-1W5K1onOKiD1C1rTcSp7zoVx93CtDZant010eq1LOvgh_86DKk15_JnPrCK5-zX99cjL52y_VSuzSKgFMOoezQcObF5w7xDuC3vQAIlnzS-QZooMWbucXt8_d4cugzXetSg/s992/IMG_3040.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="992" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE44gN36mp-1W5K1onOKiD1C1rTcSp7zoVx93CtDZant010eq1LOvgh_86DKk15_JnPrCK5-zX99cjL52y_VSuzSKgFMOoezQcObF5w7xDuC3vQAIlnzS-QZooMWbucXt8_d4cugzXetSg/s320/IMG_3040.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RV's lined up at ASB stadium to be used as self isolation units for NZ returnees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>To date 26 people have died from the virus. The <font color="#000000" size="3">pandemic here peaked in early April with 89 new cases per day and a total of 929 active cases.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">On March 19th the entire New Zealand border was closed with the exception of returnin<font color="#000000" size="3">g citizens and residents.</font></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"></font></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpA1N_ab4_xV_TUC1YgIUnwgWfjPeSiCSflGmfyv5ojUmf9azeBcC49_llSoXzUSHkvoKbk74leHeBYEuH412Xj4zL2p2uC5jQRJXWWfT42QqP6NasmMdP7vvu79om1SHcs1WQHJVTuRj/s1600/IMG-20200320-WA0003.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpA1N_ab4_xV_TUC1YgIUnwgWfjPeSiCSflGmfyv5ojUmf9azeBcC49_llSoXzUSHkvoKbk74leHeBYEuH412Xj4zL2p2uC5jQRJXWWfT42QqP6NasmMdP7vvu79om1SHcs1WQHJVTuRj/s320/IMG-20200320-WA0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday boy Liam</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3">March 20th was Liam’s 69th birthday so a few of us got together at a local Thai restaurant to celebrate. It was a really fun night but little did any of us know this would our last night out for a very long time.</font><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">A four level alert system was introduced on March 21st to manage the outbreak in New Zealand. Two days later the nation was put on notice that we were now entering Alert Level 3 and that within 48hrs would move to Alert Level 4. </font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">This announcement sparked mass panic buying in the supermarkets as every man and his dog raced against time to stock up for the foreseeable future. Roads were clogged and carparks overflowed. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Within a day the shelves were pretty much stripped bare. There were no paper products left at all nor disinfectants, hand wash, sanitizers or face masks. Stables such as rice, pasta and canned goods as well as meats, vegetables and long life products were no where to be seen except in overflowing shopping trolleys stuck in snaking checkout queues. It was madness.</font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">And as the clock struck 11:59 pm on March 24th 2020 New Zealand plunged down the rabbit hole head first into a nationwide lockdown.</font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UzfRqgUfaY3Ma3va4Ja1f_xFmXfIPwoZcA3DEtCg-p21AweQjbojuUQKdQPfBfpkIxywxN-rr_8-m-Kc8NAzRPXQ05yp6YGUE_bWIQtPULHnaQuMrqdLQc8zPKSKslV-Nn_AiY1RFG5n/s1070/IMG_3046.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1070" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UzfRqgUfaY3Ma3va4Ja1f_xFmXfIPwoZcA3DEtCg-p21AweQjbojuUQKdQPfBfpkIxywxN-rr_8-m-Kc8NAzRPXQ05yp6YGUE_bWIQtPULHnaQuMrqdLQc8zPKSKslV-Nn_AiY1RFG5n/s320/IMG_3046.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty roads</td></tr></tbody></table>We awoke the next morning to deafening silence.<p></p><p> There were no cars on the normally busy roads, except of course for essential workers, no planes or helicopters zoomed across our Whangarei skies and no chatter from early morning walkers as they strolled past the marina.</p><p> Well there actually were no walkers to hear.</p><p> </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67-c3m7lDGcjTnm71rdR2n9kGbNRl-plxeLq1DRq84z-4-jQ2FnZ_QwON80CiMFAf__YDCQWLsK-afxdm6t7wyby8RT5wn2E0r9bgDbyCU08kgGkT-fTRYRBSf1gSBaKLGlznjNhvnOJg/s976/IMG_3044.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="976" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67-c3m7lDGcjTnm71rdR2n9kGbNRl-plxeLq1DRq84z-4-jQ2FnZ_QwON80CiMFAf__YDCQWLsK-afxdm6t7wyby8RT5wn2E0r9bgDbyCU08kgGkT-fTRYRBSf1gSBaKLGlznjNhvnOJg/s320/IMG_3044.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty playgrounds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The sound of happy kids squealing in the playground just meters from our marina berth was also silent. </p><p>The playground along with many other public spaces had been roped off with “Danger” red tape.</p><p><br /></p><br /><p>Overnight the New Zealand we knew had changed. We were now in our own little world, our bubble along with the occupants of thirteen boats who also shared our dock. Our dock is gated and only assessable to those who have a key. Believe me it was kept it kept firmly shut to the outside world during Level 4. </p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">The day before lockdown commenced our marina appointed Liam, Dave from Rewa and Eric from Scoots as the interim managers. Liam would be in charge of everyday maintenance, Dave looked after money laundering from the communal bathrooms and laundry facilities while Eric was the receiver of mail and parcel deliveries as well as all things electric in nature.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"> As you would already know online purchases soared during lockdown and here in the marina was no different. So Eric was a very busy guy. It was quite a responsibility on the three boy’s collective shoulders given the size of the Town Basin Marina. It was also quite the honour for the three of them to be chosen as part of the “Trusted Trio”.</font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5K-Ue0UzkyDwDIsKwRkMIHTyVKtyilAyFevbUn-vson8vEaxakk7VSK403ts4PjZWeV8JCqlvov_BCuU0fMnTMc2f12OZJAKOjALRz4Y6GliPRfmJ-uOQD0UZgod8dJisuyLHJDvsr1V/s2048/IMG20200331184230.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5K-Ue0UzkyDwDIsKwRkMIHTyVKtyilAyFevbUn-vson8vEaxakk7VSK403ts4PjZWeV8JCqlvov_BCuU0fMnTMc2f12OZJAKOjALRz4Y6GliPRfmJ-uOQD0UZgod8dJisuyLHJDvsr1V/s320/IMG20200331184230.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuesday "Happy Hour "</td></tr></tbody></table>So how did we spend our time during five weeks of lockdown? Well we felt it went pretty fast. We just kinda thought of it as a long ocean passage. On our dock there were 27 people and we were a close knit bubble. <p></p><p>We socially distanced but still managed to have fun. The usual “Happy Hour” on Tuesday evenings had a different take. </p><p>We all either sat on the bows or stern of our boats chatting to our bubble buddies next-door rather than the usual get togethers on communal area at the end of the dock fondly know as the Barge Inn.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">Boat projects flourished as chores that had been on the list for eternity finally made the “might as well do it now” list. Potted gardening became a big thing. Our normally bare dock sprung to life with veggie gardens and potted colour. At least once a week our sails were unfurled to dry out from passing rain showers. The last thing we wanted were moldy sails.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm57Ui3Zopnqa6rDPI6t-n8dicWIuYiouuzygFM3t5kJ9tt-fEyYY01Rce1kjIah8hA-aymnYGum1qvNjCC6bRzaaFivN3RQtsZGDxF_dsmlSz5IdlCXx91iILXoRsmMWu_ke0OENlFF5/s1024/IMG-20200613-WA0001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Virtual sailing during lockdown" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm57Ui3Zopnqa6rDPI6t-n8dicWIuYiouuzygFM3t5kJ9tt-fEyYY01Rce1kjIah8hA-aymnYGum1qvNjCC6bRzaaFivN3RQtsZGDxF_dsmlSz5IdlCXx91iILXoRsmMWu_ke0OENlFF5/w240-h320/IMG-20200613-WA0001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Those way more talented than me with sewing machines took on tasks such as fashioning new sun awnings, re-covering cushions and couches and tailoring professional looking dinghy covers. <p></p><p>The interest in musical instruments increased two fold with many finding talents they never knew they had.</p><p>As birthdays and anniversary's rocked around our now extended family all celebrated, socially distanced of course.</p><p> Baking became the new norm with enticing smells wafting through the air. And as the internet providers advertised endless data plans at very competitive rates streaming became a big part of everyone’s life here in New Zealand.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3">During level 4 exercise was allowed but only in your local neighbourhood. So the majority of our dock took up walking “The Loop”, a pathway which follows the banks of the Heatea river and covers roughly 6 klm, at least once and sometimes twice a day.</font></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoftuxaGLWth3AYDHkmLvtzxBcKyB0mkjwbJiYe3qHuUFG0wOQuThSjuvWOI6y5KesgnsI-QkrB2NSOV0Uo26QNwkb44REFoFiRBdzDUwk_oL0NpWyV-MgnbdYn2tq1HReLBQRaZ5y548f/s2048/IMG20200331184205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoftuxaGLWth3AYDHkmLvtzxBcKyB0mkjwbJiYe3qHuUFG0wOQuThSjuvWOI6y5KesgnsI-QkrB2NSOV0Uo26QNwkb44REFoFiRBdzDUwk_oL0NpWyV-MgnbdYn2tq1HReLBQRaZ5y548f/s320/IMG20200331184205.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Lockdown birthdays on our dock. Above Eric From "Scoots" and below Lisa from 'Argo"</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ00-dEBELR5_qm7Gv00n-nTIvpWp2IntbR1kz-Nf9TIhB1tJC0rymLlxCHv_aCS_Qvfm4chp1vKHoMZshGJ2Y_4KGWnFaqa_qd251_vKCyuDRf-ZfTUacU8wcvWoDnQN0in-4mODyKKk3/s2048/IMG20200602170409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ00-dEBELR5_qm7Gv00n-nTIvpWp2IntbR1kz-Nf9TIhB1tJC0rymLlxCHv_aCS_Qvfm4chp1vKHoMZshGJ2Y_4KGWnFaqa_qd251_vKCyuDRf-ZfTUacU8wcvWoDnQN0in-4mODyKKk3/s320/IMG20200602170409.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">The message from our government was to stay safe and be kind.</font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JMCzMmqjqucrxbb7JPuIQqXT-C9EhEcQ1YUC9dqaZG4IiDT_5sXi274EvtXQ2Gr5QlOYHKV9X-iG1MDIgzoF2IeF46MQIDDR6btsTNmyTLOSQHhKiFfF-KX-vDG0QbrNtDtR85emCkxb/s2048/IMG20200416101054.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JMCzMmqjqucrxbb7JPuIQqXT-C9EhEcQ1YUC9dqaZG4IiDT_5sXi274EvtXQ2Gr5QlOYHKV9X-iG1MDIgzoF2IeF46MQIDDR6btsTNmyTLOSQHhKiFfF-KX-vDG0QbrNtDtR85emCkxb/s320/IMG20200416101054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a bear in there.....</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">The nation was encouraged to put toy bears in front windows to make both children and the grown ups smile as they walked for their daily exercise.</font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">Bears were to be seen not only in household front windows but on hedges, attached to letterboxes, in shop fronts and pretty much everywhere. </font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">The "Be Kind" message really took off and was advertised across all media platforms ..and it worked a treat.</font></p><p></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFp99w30EV6Qc50ToJSkDqxeUtxN5Jjwihk1ZYvMafEKUySqZj7sEP_kKSzBX8QdE9BaBsMFK8BVKQHZ7GjWEEsP27gh1DDgY-EKJBkZCP0Tnihwy4bVftXVCvYLP3IXnpS_0Q9h2Ur0G/s2048/IMG20200412100945.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFp99w30EV6Qc50ToJSkDqxeUtxN5Jjwihk1ZYvMafEKUySqZj7sEP_kKSzBX8QdE9BaBsMFK8BVKQHZ7GjWEEsP27gh1DDgY-EKJBkZCP0Tnihwy4bVftXVCvYLP3IXnpS_0Q9h2Ur0G/s320/IMG20200412100945.jpg" /></a></div><p>Both Easter and Anzac Day came and went but even so the Easter Bunny left baskets of goodies for each boat on our dock. </p><p>The note inside our basket read ...</p><p>Good Morning and Happy Easter!</p><p>The Easter Bunny and team would like to assure you that they are Covid aware and appropriate measures were employed during the preparation of your basket. Assembly took place with the utmost care, in a sanitary burrow, far below ground. All bunnies involved used appropriate PPE ( Personal Protective Equipment)</p><p>So please enjoy these goodies knowing they were prepared with your health and safety foremost in mind. </p><p>Your ever caring, Easter Bunny.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyIuXU5Mye9R30qBfuT5Z1s_AKtsL9ChgfeeoP4XPR5xT71s546qaz3DUU5bRyAcHBldkwAwLBUGWlIhxrSIHQyuo9J-8YSUhUuzkgn7hvoNTYv53qWDLg9NGCzcJqCdGz3CPrsPjEz-E/s2048/IMG20200425091832.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyIuXU5Mye9R30qBfuT5Z1s_AKtsL9ChgfeeoP4XPR5xT71s546qaz3DUU5bRyAcHBldkwAwLBUGWlIhxrSIHQyuo9J-8YSUhUuzkgn7hvoNTYv53qWDLg9NGCzcJqCdGz3CPrsPjEz-E/s320/IMG20200425091832.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anzac Day toast with Bernice & Grant on Sea Flair</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As there were no traditional services for Anzac Day the nation was asked to stand, candles in hand, at the end of their driveways as the dawn broke. For us that meant standing on our deck. <p></p><p>Later in the morning Liam related to our non Kiwi / Aussie dock family the meaning and the importance of the day and played the last post over the loud speaker. </p><p>And of course this was followed by a thimble of rum for any fellow dockers who wished to imbibe.</p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font color="#000000" size="3">On April 27th the nation moved to Alert Level three where we stayed for two weeks. Many rejoiced as fast food outlets like McDonalds and KFC reopened. The queue of cars at the drive throughs had to be seen to be believed.</font></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHJ56rJPUSIgGnxf0-NjCrL0N5PuHFbXnQz3xssRGBLp1HRIBl0dMgNY1_uiCM3GRMBwLpNdceeFHNInihuWQenA281n9dzQugib66KsSkxN6XY2lR1n3IaBDuQeaGLAfhXv8eHSX5aen/s2048/IMG20200612113538.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHJ56rJPUSIgGnxf0-NjCrL0N5PuHFbXnQz3xssRGBLp1HRIBl0dMgNY1_uiCM3GRMBwLpNdceeFHNInihuWQenA281n9dzQugib66KsSkxN6XY2lR1n3IaBDuQeaGLAfhXv8eHSX5aen/s320/IMG20200612113538.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Last ..on the golf course again</td></tr></tbody></table><font color="#000000" size="3">NZ entered Alert Level 2 on May 14th and we once again hit the golf course for a much needed round or two</font> <font size="3">. </font><p></p><p><font size="3">On June 8th the Ministry of Health announced that there are no active cases of Covid 19 in the country and at 11.59 pm the country moved to Alert Level 1. </font></p><p><font size="3">Restrictions on work, school, sports, domestic travel and gatherings size were lifted, however the borders remain closed.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlohkkplxn-kPtwQQYDW1QqfLH0enGjEE8nU46-Av9XDYkwLgHsMKArvbJIYSfylikhx1abzkQoZVvkhC29i0LTHF4BWmjMhAb7DnJF3ouTlCpSsBAGrODEwjyAQJCdr3cbSJnV1E28Ac/s5472/DJI_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlohkkplxn-kPtwQQYDW1QqfLH0enGjEE8nU46-Av9XDYkwLgHsMKArvbJIYSfylikhx1abzkQoZVvkhC29i0LTHF4BWmjMhAb7DnJF3ouTlCpSsBAGrODEwjyAQJCdr3cbSJnV1E28Ac/s320/DJI_0293.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is of all our "Bubble Buddies" on our dock during lockdown. We had shirts made up to mark the one period of time in 2020 that we will never forget.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Life for New Zealand had essentially returned to normal. However there were a couple of hiccups in August for those living in and around Auckland and on August 12th the city moved back to Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country went back to Level 2 as a precaution. Auckland remained in lockdown until August 30th. Because of various clusters that popped up in the city the Alert Levels for that area yoyoed between Levels 3 and 2.</p> <p><font size="3">Then finally on October 8th Auckland joined the rest of the country at Alert level 1 . And that pretty much sums up the how, the when and the why New Zealand crushed the virus so well. The whole nation has their collective fingers crossed that it stays that way for a very long time.</font></p><p><font size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p><p><font size="3"> <span style="color: #ffa400;"> **********************</span></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-74274659405921836872020-10-24T22:20:00.001-04:002020-10-24T22:20:30.530-04:00<p><font color="#0000ff" size="4"><font color="#0000ff" size="4"><font face="Segoe Script">Life on the Hard….. and then the World Changed !</font> </font></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff" size="4"><font color="#0000ff" size="4"><font color="#333333"> 3rd February to 25th March 2020.</font> </font></font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">Once Liam arrived back in NZ at the end of January we only had a couple of days to get our ducks in a row before our haul out at Harbourside Boatworks here in Whangarei. </font></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV4PIBzM8jGb-trS9l8lZ_fIFq88rjCxFZJukhon7g6ulYzetYfjwet8PxL62nZebS-jVio_iLggi7aUW3Vj46_0PvZxOOMTIP1DKdB0TNWrB09CzpE5YXJFIUE4o0zqbl7rk2ZrumBwe/s1200/01-IMG20200203164525.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV4PIBzM8jGb-trS9l8lZ_fIFq88rjCxFZJukhon7g6ulYzetYfjwet8PxL62nZebS-jVio_iLggi7aUW3Vj46_0PvZxOOMTIP1DKdB0TNWrB09CzpE5YXJFIUE4o0zqbl7rk2ZrumBwe/w320-h240/01-IMG20200203164525.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWTW having a power wash before the work starts<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><font color="#333333" size="3"> </font><span style="color: #333333;">Months ago we’d done the ground work and had lined up the services of Glenn, who owns Maconaghie Marine, along with his workmate Alister who builds America’s Cup Boats. We knew we had struck the jackpot with this dynamic and talented duo. GWTW would be in excellent hands for her fiberglass repairs, one of which in our anchor locker manifested itself while in French Polynesia, and was exasperated last year on passage from Fiji to NZ.</span></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">We figured perhaps two to three weeks work and we’d be back in the water and cruising again. Well as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men….</font></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><font color="#333333" size="3">After consulting with a structural engineer and agreeing with his plan the work began. At this stage I'll mention that we also decided to undertake some work on a beam on the topside of cockpit roof as well.</font></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><font color="#333333" size="3"> This “beefing up job” would be quite technical due to the fact that multiple layers of unilateral carbonfibre strips needed to be laid which in turn meant for long curing times to finish the job. This would then be followed by sanding, fairing and ultimately painting. We also had to build a tent over the back half the boat to give relief from the wind, hot sun and rain and that would take a few days to build before the job could start.</font></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96MFC-I2EI5pOmaKm8UUvhFBRlQt1wIArJfvDAfVnftYOpvNzof7WKO0giJdeQTnTrkMLwJqVKsOZt37dWFNTv8PPDTqjGQ8iHC-vRQFlmMNfGDHlgsq3p4ytK49r-jj3DyElBwDzMjY/s1200/14-DSCN6938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96MFC-I2EI5pOmaKm8UUvhFBRlQt1wIArJfvDAfVnftYOpvNzof7WKO0giJdeQTnTrkMLwJqVKsOZt37dWFNTv8PPDTqjGQ8iHC-vRQFlmMNfGDHlgsq3p4ytK49r-jj3DyElBwDzMjY/s320/14-DSCN6938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><font color="#333333" size="3"><div><font color="#333333" size="3"> Above and Below : Our tent starts to take shape</font></div><br /></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWwvjkN5lS79TwCOSGuBTgrZVLED07qsP0sldyjPVhyphenhyphenoJLiX6-T3P0gYji2AnZB3GKscaHtM9DuN6zPumJD9qhHZVu3fYK8saTkYSQdxxFAVRVdr60HDPpTzGWkMbbhyphenhyphen-owrW2EXLicoc/s1200/05-IMG20200313165517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWwvjkN5lS79TwCOSGuBTgrZVLED07qsP0sldyjPVhyphenhyphenoJLiX6-T3P0gYji2AnZB3GKscaHtM9DuN6zPumJD9qhHZVu3fYK8saTkYSQdxxFAVRVdr60HDPpTzGWkMbbhyphenhyphen-owrW2EXLicoc/w314-h236/05-IMG20200313165517.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffl3-WTO8s_jWcaqSaEJf9-zndCTOx9xbjy7vIZyxCtgPPsHEJEPrw7PzM84CxJIKarqoAKlj5PwBVg8imfX_SW85AdHmTqJrT8NX8UXGg2qbGG2DgUW5lXKrCOwYDtbFLE30EyHTK7qE/s1200/06-IMG_0773.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffl3-WTO8s_jWcaqSaEJf9-zndCTOx9xbjy7vIZyxCtgPPsHEJEPrw7PzM84CxJIKarqoAKlj5PwBVg8imfX_SW85AdHmTqJrT8NX8UXGg2qbGG2DgUW5lXKrCOwYDtbFLE30EyHTK7qE/s320/06-IMG_0773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Above : The original area of delamination needing repair & below the completed job before painting.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgMtkRCskkvaAPTZRLSGG7RPcZfAMCZqYmKJ55VCbLXA2kXEJ4DlufNFpups_-lFfm1bLLnsx56kpc8TBamRkuz5R8PCRuFjW4gwFNyRU3JZP3gAq1-nJqFG8qpzS_Wo1U7nXe042HUe4/s1200/07-IMG_0926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgMtkRCskkvaAPTZRLSGG7RPcZfAMCZqYmKJ55VCbLXA2kXEJ4DlufNFpups_-lFfm1bLLnsx56kpc8TBamRkuz5R8PCRuFjW4gwFNyRU3JZP3gAq1-nJqFG8qpzS_Wo1U7nXe042HUe4/s320/07-IMG_0926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz3u7We8FijdI88Zm7Z7nH9l9j-wY7PqOTFaMQb7avD2qjEbqrNKGD-c70tn7xeXKdy8uwRcaX-rQEphm0NXbVXrYuc1MH-IDpNxlH0QItZ80UBphCg0NE9-1PTMrAKUdkGxfYTloLDOy/s1200/10-IMG_0967+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz3u7We8FijdI88Zm7Z7nH9l9j-wY7PqOTFaMQb7avD2qjEbqrNKGD-c70tn7xeXKdy8uwRcaX-rQEphm0NXbVXrYuc1MH-IDpNxlH0QItZ80UBphCg0NE9-1PTMrAKUdkGxfYTloLDOy/s320/10-IMG_0967+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> Above and Below : Glenn and Alister building the new beam on the cockpit roof.<br /><br /><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lzJk8KLWThj17Jx64O9iz8fSrUNsl3x1foF-_O2tQJgw8HjAf1MSs9-94y2UklJgS_G5SSCIctuw1Vr4eEmA5dWT2SZJQc_-FE_z3j3PqvHeoLrB36-t25LmuT1XY2xwJS-7NrPj6kKu/s1200/02-IMG20200309070410.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lzJk8KLWThj17Jx64O9iz8fSrUNsl3x1foF-_O2tQJgw8HjAf1MSs9-94y2UklJgS_G5SSCIctuw1Vr4eEmA5dWT2SZJQc_-FE_z3j3PqvHeoLrB36-t25LmuT1XY2xwJS-7NrPj6kKu/s320/02-IMG20200309070410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />On the odd occasion mother nature brought the boat work to a standstill as the weather was too wet, too windy or just too hot. She was not always in our corner. But sunrises like the photo left made up for the bad days.<p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">Most of the time though the work was coming along nicely and while the boys toiled away with sanders, vacuums and resins, we being mere bystanders improved our golf by playing twice a week whenever we could as well as having the odd social day out in town and on the water</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs58d9dxsCCOA9HFnKrOpqZ6jC6AJjNbV6V_gycsc-_WJGmum-MUixbsP7pf6gdCKj5LOPgT3TE2vbemsXz-T4m3ZXKoGF_sZ_rdNZcGpIeNN-vn9UZDWxAdfD41ZsrfXbsM_PyxqFtExi/s1200/03-IMG20200309123046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs58d9dxsCCOA9HFnKrOpqZ6jC6AJjNbV6V_gycsc-_WJGmum-MUixbsP7pf6gdCKj5LOPgT3TE2vbemsXz-T4m3ZXKoGF_sZ_rdNZcGpIeNN-vn9UZDWxAdfD41ZsrfXbsM_PyxqFtExi/s320/03-IMG20200309123046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#333333" size="3"> Above : GWTW is the cat on the left. The photo was taken from Julie and Lee's boat Stray Cat.</font><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">As the weeks rolled on news of Covid 19 was increasingly being reported in the media but at this time we felt it was no big deal being as far away from Wuhan as we were. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">Our PM Jacinda Ardern and the Director General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, had the reigns firmly in hand. They were on the front foot when it came to keeping everyone in New Zealand safe.</span></div><p><font color="#333333" size="3">But over the coming weeks as we now all know, the sky was about to fall on this planet we call Earth.</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">Our work on GWTW was moving at a good pace, however the news of a growing pandemic was niggling at the back of everyone's minds. Would the tentacles of the virus reach to the shores of Aotearoa and what would happen if it did. That was the million dollar question. </font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">We didn’t have have to wait long to find out. By this stage we had been out of the water for seven weeks and one day</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">On Monday March 23rd the PM announced that all of NZ was to translon to Alert level 3 and within 48 hours would move to Alert level 4 lockdown ( the highest level in NZ). That announcement set the nation on edge as well as making for mild panic as everyone pushed the stocks on the supermarket shelves to the limit. </font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">For us, we needed to make a huge decision. Do we stay on the hard for who knows how long or reluanch with GWTW’s work unfinished. We contacted our car rental company saying we may be returning the car in the next two days and they offered us a fab deal to keep the car during lockdown, from $30 to just $10 per day. I guess any money is better than none for them. But what was the point of keeping the during car during lockdown when you can’t go anywhere. To their dismay we declined the offer. </font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">During the last few hours of freedom we ummed and ahhed re staying in the boatyard but figured the smart call was to make a bee line back to the marina. The remaining work would have to wait and the rental car would be going back.</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDYx32KK6RFT9uCb8oTXqAXKzXPE34XtqYL7FK6xnYVbXGNaCpWC2xIrb_CnVUEpnOjoiLvf0y2ReHDvbxf8PNhgwZZpcAYEJvA4409Z8ToXlThjSsb6FYZ2oexvFTvy11Ec33W2W-iR1/s1200/16-DSCN6944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDYx32KK6RFT9uCb8oTXqAXKzXPE34XtqYL7FK6xnYVbXGNaCpWC2xIrb_CnVUEpnOjoiLvf0y2ReHDvbxf8PNhgwZZpcAYEJvA4409Z8ToXlThjSsb6FYZ2oexvFTvy11Ec33W2W-iR1/s320/16-DSCN6944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above : Last chance to change our minds about splashing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIGr7w25lNnYEu5hXnc1fjxAUq2HQxbm4S9p5JromCKq4qiFKk4hIgVS6TY2a_Doyvt-RIuCUnphYTFAc6PmeCnrYd7QRl7TYRQecCgTDr6PhDwX9lXYbi92WL4LkJxj_hqVzPpPLQ06/s1200/15-DSCN6943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIGr7w25lNnYEu5hXnc1fjxAUq2HQxbm4S9p5JromCKq4qiFKk4hIgVS6TY2a_Doyvt-RIuCUnphYTFAc6PmeCnrYd7QRl7TYRQecCgTDr6PhDwX9lXYbi92WL4LkJxj_hqVzPpPLQ06/s320/15-DSCN6943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Above : Committed and on the trailer, back to the water we go.<br /><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">At midday on March 25th we were relaunched with all our tent scaffolding insitu. Motoring back to the Town Basin Marina we definitely got a few odd looks. </font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGqsxUnRtGvgeMWHedt1EppKHWCc-tn2Nmh0p-fyhiL6WsiEZUxrD_H4ceaoFdx1buoN2FEZwQLHWwdgy443PjpYM2o0MI0YJF4mhyphenhyphenXz9twrw11KjX-s5fYEPMjkzQYE8goBksNS7_bw-/s1200/12-IMG_1005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGqsxUnRtGvgeMWHedt1EppKHWCc-tn2Nmh0p-fyhiL6WsiEZUxrD_H4ceaoFdx1buoN2FEZwQLHWwdgy443PjpYM2o0MI0YJF4mhyphenhyphenXz9twrw11KjX-s5fYEPMjkzQYE8goBksNS7_bw-/s320/12-IMG_1005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#333333" size="3"> Above : Safe and sound back in the marina with our unfinished beam.</font><p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">At 11.59 pm on March 25th 2020 life as we knew it changed. The entire country went into lockdown and an eerie silence settled over New Zealand.</font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nHRBXqB1tfRnmVigwCIeR3QDYYdgNxtdiCt1eKAtkkYhlYk1lrvYswTqW0SreOfN_nucTbyRgitTLAMu8xnqyFSP82Y5YvMwOb9Hyrs2Faz-wYzwkhh-PN85Q9oqxUC8haomUWPIHd7w/s1200/1-IMG_2514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nHRBXqB1tfRnmVigwCIeR3QDYYdgNxtdiCt1eKAtkkYhlYk1lrvYswTqW0SreOfN_nucTbyRgitTLAMu8xnqyFSP82Y5YvMwOb9Hyrs2Faz-wYzwkhh-PN85Q9oqxUC8haomUWPIHd7w/s320/1-IMG_2514.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font><p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">Follow us on our tracker at : </font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff" size="3"> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><br /></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-37526229779479552482020-09-15T01:11:00.000-04:002020-09-15T01:11:13.763-04:00<p><font color="#ff0000" face="Papyrus" size="4"><b>Where Does the time Go</b></font></p><p><font color="#333333" face="Arial" size="3">December – January 2019 / 2020.</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">It seems like just yesterday I turned 60 and now another birthday had rocked around. Our friends here at the marina put on a late afternoon party aboard Dave’s boat Rewa and then we all adjourned to the ‘Barge Inn”, a floating platform at the head of our dock, for pizzas and cake. What a fun evening it was and I really didn't feel any older. </font></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr-OyGDe40vTzQLrfkw0QBCrGNWJ0-ON54Nh_ozregIMDt-Ja7vMnDhq2yhWZZ8EM4DpnuwT-7tcAikceKnEhARZHfP954g-XjmgIyN2jnrzyDs8zGpw13DKqJcwF-mcbV1JsV4OeGfct/w256-h192/03-IMG20191208190908.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="256" /> <img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatiCQsaLQdXSX3jErGBKjQTgcOZ7A8E9TsmXmbffyD9ujavXDyZWD5MdGI83CW5bcx0d-IGM5tXJ9jAncR6ifvIyM4ctT-R9YluaOxR8y1L4n0XNRnrs72uuKDG7IpHAqeQP1IesfrGA3/w256-h192/04-IMG20191208203812.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="256" /></div> Sixty One and still looking good<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUkW8-tYr-LaFdwP77YJ_2SA2N18Tf4UFifO3KBXzjPJEbSqCFXqtuHG4QAEwQpPzVgJ3RzBAnbgJU0QW5ikz8GN_wEdm5W0x_0DUvPvmPhxM789Dx3EagxdK1QQ3uET3_3uMIDyBviiG/s1200/11-IMG20191211094414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUkW8-tYr-LaFdwP77YJ_2SA2N18Tf4UFifO3KBXzjPJEbSqCFXqtuHG4QAEwQpPzVgJ3RzBAnbgJU0QW5ikz8GN_wEdm5W0x_0DUvPvmPhxM789Dx3EagxdK1QQ3uET3_3uMIDyBviiG/w154-h205/11-IMG20191211094414.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333;">Over the previous months our trusty dinghy of 15 years slowly developed a terminal air leak and sadly the time had come to retire our floating car and buy a replacement. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;">We would have liked to have been able to purchase the same brand, however ‘Swift’ is not available in NZ, so we opted for another popular brand, a Highfield. As it had to be shipped from the USA it was touch and go whether it would arrive before our flight back to Australia.</span></p><p><span style="color: #333333;">Luckily it was delivered the day before our departure. The commissioning would have to wait until our return in January.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszsMaJaaAoo9i7KOUgnbhN2y3FXZO4gQP4LQgIH55mkkWALZOwQ18mHjqTAjS36MydQ6pV3YtwoxhBxotBbYOhdrRv7sdiJRFiPSF8utISxSY5OJdiMMqQxPoJIXZrGUKtNOzj-vaqX0v/s1200/09-IMG20191210183200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszsMaJaaAoo9i7KOUgnbhN2y3FXZO4gQP4LQgIH55mkkWALZOwQ18mHjqTAjS36MydQ6pV3YtwoxhBxotBbYOhdrRv7sdiJRFiPSF8utISxSY5OJdiMMqQxPoJIXZrGUKtNOzj-vaqX0v/w205-h154/09-IMG20191210183200.jpg" title="Old faithful dinghy on left & new one on right" width="205" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3lIcwaNm3el3B-rYLDQwD-wuobtKhmHuW4iAfZwit7DkCU08VE1H77bvG9Eb8b1FCdOnBMKecGcvUrEfKEknZEeh-CLNNwpQd0lxIrgqfTg6cgRqNfiLgSedDUUWd1V1zFtgrFgXZ11l/w193-h256/10-IMG20191211094359.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="193" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Dinghy fleet owners for a short while and Liam taking the fittings off our old faithful.</span></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">Our direct flight from Auckland to the Gold Coast went without a hitch and we spent a fun week with long time friends Susan and Nick. Though I’m not so sure that our hard working livers would agree. Amongst other activities we had a great night out on Susan and Nicks boat for the local Christmas parade of boats around the canals where they live.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI3VtVfEtliBs2aN9vSOx_8Frm9RClYST_NSDZEXR3_wGSzZ4zouDrXb2p39wqlNU2s2M9ZtGZKpQlXCyE2GBXErtOVDjJRBPWCy-xQzFo98zj4VrnJxMdd2-0NTfVBTlH_hYkQcNp_a5/s1200/07-PC143302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI3VtVfEtliBs2aN9vSOx_8Frm9RClYST_NSDZEXR3_wGSzZ4zouDrXb2p39wqlNU2s2M9ZtGZKpQlXCyE2GBXErtOVDjJRBPWCy-xQzFo98zj4VrnJxMdd2-0NTfVBTlH_hYkQcNp_a5/w256-h144/07-PC143302.jpg" width="256" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj409wJ8cqdRMzJsvYgPWXbSul3kothJS8Y7xUUyMYJkKSbVDBMqE65zI8wgUwv4pwMV6lnOdGiox-GGIuy0n3tShCm-vShe0ro4z3DAIwSIcaNk3JUWUclR3uOQ1aRdN4eWbND95wMuquT/w256-h144/06-PC143300.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="256" /></div><br /><span style="color: #333333;"> Above : Getting into the Christmas spirit & Below : Lunch by the beach at Burleigh Heads .</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9HeLsr5m1zqaPXesymRyjpG5OQR3fh17RFI0CJ23yBv7GBIdnILXNfvDzza43YS4jTy6CVrWcQ5tSm7iGr2kwZaBGKAeo6x6uKGLhtdGCMKqT0VC-oWgf0nKpIC0fg_KKJUlyKhdJKPt/w154-h205/21-IMG20200109125118.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="154" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycTby-0hWwUoCTZyIyViAJUunXbfZKCQS7VU6uJXXC70laNCtpUy5inUq70fnnHANjAxjG5y0ufWuiSBG4MftkqzvFjAfwwGJ5E2tAUNwxNPdgycfv_4I_uad84vmjn1p4iq2LOLsU2n9/s1200/20-IMG_20200915_153425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1200" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycTby-0hWwUoCTZyIyViAJUunXbfZKCQS7VU6uJXXC70laNCtpUy5inUq70fnnHANjAxjG5y0ufWuiSBG4MftkqzvFjAfwwGJ5E2tAUNwxNPdgycfv_4I_uad84vmjn1p4iq2LOLsU2n9/w256-h204/20-IMG_20200915_153425.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">From the GC it was down to Sydney</font><span style="color: #333333;"> for Christmas and New Year, catching up with friends and family. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekwf-3MrYBNK6lYui2iSp53Zd1xmV_nYpnqIEIF-y22uSBCxg8dycdVkflSm0UX13nX0F0Yn6NV9eFmUSR1DgCX-6LszJn6aFqhjC2lYtvvsiq06kizKrrHQw7VYjFvxRElsT0u1W7ZDf/s1200/05-P1153321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekwf-3MrYBNK6lYui2iSp53Zd1xmV_nYpnqIEIF-y22uSBCxg8dycdVkflSm0UX13nX0F0Yn6NV9eFmUSR1DgCX-6LszJn6aFqhjC2lYtvvsiq06kizKrrHQw7VYjFvxRElsT0u1W7ZDf/w256-h144/05-P1153321.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9zIgXHoYK7_1QyZnuUYmHkoP1R2ljGYNeH8V2KEVvQ-fykRNm92xC4UG7Yl2I2ZHGfrPLS6uEHlE2h06ATOOIihz65Zr0tBwNy37da-CUUu7e9NFqPLLoA9fSRo0Sf4qp0lgPbUBDA_O/s1200/13-IMG_20200915_152411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9zIgXHoYK7_1QyZnuUYmHkoP1R2ljGYNeH8V2KEVvQ-fykRNm92xC4UG7Yl2I2ZHGfrPLS6uEHlE2h06ATOOIihz65Zr0tBwNy37da-CUUu7e9NFqPLLoA9fSRo0Sf4qp0lgPbUBDA_O/w164-h160/13-IMG_20200915_152411.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><br /> Spending time with Liam's grand kids is always a hoot<br /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;">On the spur of the moment we spent the week from Boxing day to New Year living in our apartment that we've had continuously rented since we bought it 1997. Our current tenants of eight years were holidaying on the NSW south coast and kindly agreed to let us house sit in their absence. It was so nice to spend time there and finally enjoy the views over Sydney Harbour, which was the very reason we bought the apartment in the first place. Maybe one day we will actually retire there ourselves.</span></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3S7XFeoDQCX9rT0USKgHOkkgsk7-pXfTv79uZqD4jPg3Jkcldwxv5zsQluSegq6jHQvD3cBI6mGTmYAVe-d0WFep4rzYX34ZPDdOB2XFvGYpRY0jc2L7qKGWi8VKbziRPmjAd_MpTq5V/s1200/14-IMG_20200915_152547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1200" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3S7XFeoDQCX9rT0USKgHOkkgsk7-pXfTv79uZqD4jPg3Jkcldwxv5zsQluSegq6jHQvD3cBI6mGTmYAVe-d0WFep4rzYX34ZPDdOB2XFvGYpRY0jc2L7qKGWi8VKbziRPmjAd_MpTq5V/w320-h134/14-IMG_20200915_152547.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP16zMKiSjzeTcimXoFORW8m_Mb-gxYo8H2isHn8hyphenhyphenAe9pKn5TpiKlnBr8cim6wXOU9dwomRLE35d7GXWMxGNDsUbG4NBeaKzk7c6USC00uTsmGZl1HpZuIUp9pvWgWQk9ul5rEwbSTehyphenhyphen/s1200/15-IMG_20200915_152638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1200" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP16zMKiSjzeTcimXoFORW8m_Mb-gxYo8H2isHn8hyphenhyphenAe9pKn5TpiKlnBr8cim6wXOU9dwomRLE35d7GXWMxGNDsUbG4NBeaKzk7c6USC00uTsmGZl1HpZuIUp9pvWgWQk9ul5rEwbSTehyphenhyphen/w256-h155/15-IMG_20200915_152638.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /> The view from our apartment on Boxing day for the start of the Sydney - Hobart yacht race. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVWM26sbKU1Pj3l4-QP3J4qkWSJUfyEq4ZNaHfwpvkXGKrU0kDnDbUkFDO1frUbPUMQncaz5rRcuqecJ8wiqkTMBANjAHZ-X-NVXyqU4qxYrS8fxNBRK8uKkf85qkxpoH9v5QC1RBMo8m/s793/02-FOREIGN202001020937000553158431398+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="793" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVWM26sbKU1Pj3l4-QP3J4qkWSJUfyEq4ZNaHfwpvkXGKrU0kDnDbUkFDO1frUbPUMQncaz5rRcuqecJ8wiqkTMBANjAHZ-X-NVXyqU4qxYrS8fxNBRK8uKkf85qkxpoH9v5QC1RBMo8m/w256-h155/02-FOREIGN202001020937000553158431398+%25282%2529.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwzkNs_eOH2DqvUHufPa5rICCQMIakslb4xxTXyCLvcpkUF0wgoeQkpwlul-sLvvUCpHtvbOt6WHwE_KsAa33GzKkM4tJi2-LWc5pZvVxOGoIJw7aVd4UxI7DnXRsqhI8xwIk4fJqNsFW/s720/01-thumbnail.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwzkNs_eOH2DqvUHufPa5rICCQMIakslb4xxTXyCLvcpkUF0wgoeQkpwlul-sLvvUCpHtvbOt6WHwE_KsAa33GzKkM4tJi2-LWc5pZvVxOGoIJw7aVd4UxI7DnXRsqhI8xwIk4fJqNsFW/w256-h144/01-thumbnail.webp" width="256" /></a></div><br /> Sydney Harbour fireworks NYE 2019 & below sharing the night with friends Sue and John<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6tZZhSV1EtXH6QQwSRNCuyZ9saRsy_1qR_feRAl9HlUwZrnP6ihHai6u8-yurZGI3wbLUuTg8L_bSMRhN9e_tK2IHHNVwtwiRn5EH5iAgXrmREyZVcVKBZRkH8Dn3PC49IzbLLuRY3aN/s1200/08-DSCN6925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6tZZhSV1EtXH6QQwSRNCuyZ9saRsy_1qR_feRAl9HlUwZrnP6ihHai6u8-yurZGI3wbLUuTg8L_bSMRhN9e_tK2IHHNVwtwiRn5EH5iAgXrmREyZVcVKBZRkH8Dn3PC49IzbLLuRY3aN/w256-h192/08-DSCN6925.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFeakBDeSgRvre2lwwfh1PExagNTKxvAtDennB9ahyphenhyphenXj-ylh8b7rJixiUHnkyE1GyCx_wkgAwSSsCJA3qSRLhhaLlo7U44wOWFySOWLQUc4zsD0XYWAiw5LRIjzu1htsh4nShVg5Euinb/s1200/16-IMG20191228101259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="1200" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFeakBDeSgRvre2lwwfh1PExagNTKxvAtDennB9ahyphenhyphenXj-ylh8b7rJixiUHnkyE1GyCx_wkgAwSSsCJA3qSRLhhaLlo7U44wOWFySOWLQUc4zsD0XYWAiw5LRIjzu1htsh4nShVg5Euinb/w400-h218/16-IMG20191228101259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #333333;"> Above : Aquatic Yoga Class at Manly beach.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;">Below : The anchorage off Manly beach harbour side and looking out towards Sydney Heads</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_rlxDAMNMekkKuTVzQRrYa_W6LbMLO4RxMhtcXc98i5R0PRMdSsB_nop8EpSYBFm2Mvq3XU1xAgAN3yprNbMukheqsDTn_a1Wb3GkjdSpyZ_ciDTSnLKvgj7b-txCC43BXANFTtSj4Vf/s1200/17-IMG20191228101344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_rlxDAMNMekkKuTVzQRrYa_W6LbMLO4RxMhtcXc98i5R0PRMdSsB_nop8EpSYBFm2Mvq3XU1xAgAN3yprNbMukheqsDTn_a1Wb3GkjdSpyZ_ciDTSnLKvgj7b-txCC43BXANFTtSj4Vf/w256-h192/17-IMG20191228101344.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX5hw5hQbByRNQz890aDDRO8BxMBUOQow-ts01Khvd2f3Lo8K_dYs4vspwp8rG-Ld_m0iXPE-Yjhi1Z4yIF3z5w4oJ0pucZreL-4VO591lIwVhegQ099Rltm7o374zB3MYoWtj8mC2hvm/s1200/18-IMG20191228101321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX5hw5hQbByRNQz890aDDRO8BxMBUOQow-ts01Khvd2f3Lo8K_dYs4vspwp8rG-Ld_m0iXPE-Yjhi1Z4yIF3z5w4oJ0pucZreL-4VO591lIwVhegQ099Rltm7o374zB3MYoWtj8mC2hvm/w256-h192/18-IMG20191228101321.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRChKaoQwepzWXcCIV1YvsoIVUIYb3j9vplqybUWMoL-JK6mg0g1KoVexoDHfCflIHqBXDBG3mzN5Db0h7HoPDCwRnkIc91zHNK5BdpxpfSxzUbhzT2y7anAC8ms1pX11vtVcDCgALL9Zf/s1200/19-IMG20200101115635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRChKaoQwepzWXcCIV1YvsoIVUIYb3j9vplqybUWMoL-JK6mg0g1KoVexoDHfCflIHqBXDBG3mzN5Db0h7HoPDCwRnkIc91zHNK5BdpxpfSxzUbhzT2y7anAC8ms1pX11vtVcDCgALL9Zf/s320/19-IMG20200101115635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #333333;"> Beautiful Balmoral beach clouded in smoke from the devistating bushfires</span><p></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">As the days rushed by my condensed Aussie visit wrapped up and before<font color="#333333" size="3"><font color="#333333" size="3"> I knew it I was boarding an Air New Zealand flight and winging it back to Whangarei. Liam was set to join me back on GWTW two weeks later. In the meanwhile I had lots of jobs on board to occupy my alone time.</font></font></font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3">Follow us on our tracker at :</font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></font></p><p><font color="#333333" size="3"> <font color="#ff0000"> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%</font></font></p>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-34332769501957363782020-05-03T23:45:00.000-04:002020-05-06T00:04:42.024-04:00<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;">Exploring the Bay of Islands New Zealand.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">20th November – 6th December 2019</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our clearance into Opua, NZ was as seamless this time as it was last year. The NZ Customs, Immigration and Bio Security personnel are the best we have come across worldwide. Regardless of the fact that there were 18 boats at the dock eagerly waiting for clearance, the officials were all smiles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Once our turn rocked around and we were done and dusted we moved GWTW into her allocated berth in the Bay of Islands Marina, the place we’d be calling home for the next couple of days. Having exhausted our freezer supplies we figured a meal out was the order of the evening. The local yacht club which we remembered from last year, had a good menu at cruisers’ prices so we strolled on up. Sadly it was closed for a private function, a wedding. Bummer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ok, that’s when plan B came into play. We knew the General Store next to the YC did a good pizza, but sadly they had just sold the last one and were now closing up for the evening. Double bummer. The fish and chip takeaway was next on the list, can you guess, yep closing too. Sounds like alfresco canned food dining on the good ship GWTW tonight. Oh well. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS01usuui-jabwheLURVfHWogFtlCJPmRrM_ckw7ZF3HGfgPxArpKNik8bjtw7qflEX_jUu-qholiEAGpBI24KoookAjEbNA7qNmEuVdeO6cu24bhZcno7vlGsoZN0AXCdnzTJzI4u_bWR/s1600/1-IMG20191123191020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS01usuui-jabwheLURVfHWogFtlCJPmRrM_ckw7ZF3HGfgPxArpKNik8bjtw7qflEX_jUu-qholiEAGpBI24KoookAjEbNA7qNmEuVdeO6cu24bhZcno7vlGsoZN0AXCdnzTJzI4u_bWR/s320/1-IMG20191123191020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good deed of the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So as we strolled a bit further down the road a pale blue convertible came buzzing around the corner complete with bride and groom. The car, a beautiful old Triumph Herald, coughed and spluttered, stopping just across from us, what a way to start married life.<br />
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Liam and another passerby came to their rescue pushing the car along ‘till it burst back into life and the happy couple were once again on their way. Good deed done for the day, it was time to go crack that bottle of bubbly and celebrate our arrival back into New Zealand.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The next few days were filled with meeting all the folks from the boats we’d heard over the airwaves on our journey south from Fiji, as well as re-provisioning, washing down GWTW, doing laundry and generally soaking up all the mod cons of first world living. We also bought a cruising guide named "Spot X Cruising" which covers the Three Kings Islands and the east coast from North Cape through to East Cape in the Bay of Plenty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Bay Of Islands is located in the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand, and is comprised of 144 islands and rocky outcrops. Some islands are privately owned, some are national parkland with numerous hiking trails and others have the odd house surrounded by rustic farmland with stone walls. The drawcard towns on the bay’s edge are Kerikeri, Paihia and historic Russell, the original capitol of New Zealand way back when.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The first European to visit the area was Captain Cook back in 1769, and this was also the first area in NZ to be settled by Europeans in the 18th century. The missionaries arrived in 1814 and they were followed by whalers toward the end of the century.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">These days this area is extremely popular with boaters as well as tour operators, and we were about to go out and see the place first hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our first stop was in Orokawa Bay on the peninsular of the same name. It was a lovely spot, tranquil and very sheltered from the north which is why we chose to anchor here. With only two or three houses ashore there was not a human to be seen. Apparently dolphins and a pair of Orcas frequent the bay, although the only wild life we saw were a few ducks who came a calling several times a day. Our internet provider, “Skinny”, had an excellent signal in this bay so we were well connected to the outside world.</span><br />
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The following day we moved around to the opposite side of the peninsular to Parorenui Bay for a change of scenery as the wind was forecast to come in from the west.<br />
There are no homes here and we were the only boat anchored.<br />
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A pebble beach complimented by a vast expanse of grass greeted us on arrival.<br />
A stroll ashore in the afternoon provided wonderful views across the bay and islands beyond, as well as a good phone signal from the highest point.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking for a cell phone signal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy8pbas6AIJenMaQjlPu5Qu3yUoQJ62fkuQSZwKe2HcCul4gkUwEUnxa8ZiPR5nTz_DhPsVqpNKXOqPww233JZyMxvyUPCzjDOAAFNCkA_l4TvXI5EuZmdsP1Pua5mXfhQoOf0pQeFyE_/s1600/04-PB253178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="1200" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy8pbas6AIJenMaQjlPu5Qu3yUoQJ62fkuQSZwKe2HcCul4gkUwEUnxa8ZiPR5nTz_DhPsVqpNKXOqPww233JZyMxvyUPCzjDOAAFNCkA_l4TvXI5EuZmdsP1Pua5mXfhQoOf0pQeFyE_/s400/04-PB253178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pebble beach with icy water to dip the toes in</td></tr>
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It may seem that we were rushing through the anchorages, but to be honest, when we moved from one to the next it was usually only a stones throw away. We’re talking a few kilometers at most and anything over five or six would be called a long passage, requiring a G&T after the anchor was set!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And so moving on we plopped the anchor down in pretty Omakwiw Cove. Backed by a pine clad shore and a vast drying expanse of sand at low tide there were a few interesting walks ashore. One path on the left side of the bay led up steps to a trail which brought us out at a very old and interesting cemetery, “Te Rautawa Urupa” perched on the headland. </span><br />
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The graves were adorned with trinkets, plastic and glass flowers as well as fresh ones and curios from the deceased’s past.<br />
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One headstone had a guitar etched into it while others had children's toys encasing the site. Some of the graves dated back to the 1800’s.<br />
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It was an interesting way to spend the afternoon.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our next stop on the agenda was in cozy Otehei Bay, Urupukapuka Island. We’d read in our guide book that a decent sized café / bar sat at the head of the bay, so we jumped in the dinghy to check it out. A meal ashore would be a bit of a treat if they were open and lucky for us they were. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Explore tourist ferry, we were told arrives at 1240 and it was suggested by the friendly staff that we should put our order in asap, which we did. We chose a table overlooking the lawn with GWTW sitting quietly at anchor as a backdrop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Right on time the ferry arrived and a goodly number of patrons disembarked. This place is popular with hikers, kayakers, cruisers and the tourists, so it seems. We had a lovely lunch complimented by a chilled bottle of Matua Sav Blanc. The menu was very good and the prices quite reasonable given the remote location. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here comes Scoots</td></tr>
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The same afternoon our friends onboard S/V Scoots were arriving back from their passage from Fiji and we decided to surprise and intercept them, and escort them into the marina.<br />
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We’d been tracking them via our AIS system on board so we knew where they were and how fast they were sailing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was a great moment when we saw Vandy and Eric’s happy smiling, but tired faces. They had had a long passage in less than ideal conditions but they had arrived safely home. Now all our ducks were back in a row again. We too had booked into the marina so we could catch up and have dinner with V&E and it was just like old times. We love you guys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Over the coming week we mooched around a few more islands including beautiful Roberton Island, Hahangarua Bay on Moturua Island and Paradise Bay back over on Urupukapuka Island.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">By now it was early December and time to start nudging our way down the coast towards Whangarei. Hoping to catch a nice Kingfish or two on the sail down it wasn’t long before all hopes were dashed as we lost our last Rapello lure when the knot joining the line and trace parted ways.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below the view from the lookout at Roberton Island</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiXtzriL_WXJgiZ2YGxS43qn-SsdKrofP8IbknAPg_8_PN8DoxJpaqG_HHoRityEcqcRZ2tdp5u08UErLvD9bwjrYcYeUlw0Tk8RHKLQ4ovOvfgaDVxVQcXD8rlXOkuSWD-sTseKqkiky/s1600/19-PB283230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiXtzriL_WXJgiZ2YGxS43qn-SsdKrofP8IbknAPg_8_PN8DoxJpaqG_HHoRityEcqcRZ2tdp5u08UErLvD9bwjrYcYeUlw0Tk8RHKLQ4ovOvfgaDVxVQcXD8rlXOkuSWD-sTseKqkiky/s320/19-PB283230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoX0MpYbSgTLw-X5FT_eyyCDq6gyCOQwQSyf1_qZMTisQYR-3dRXhMNHCwQlbWgK2ud5VA_ksXX4ojAoMsBKYG3q-0c3iUY_zPiCb2nl-WaDAykl9lqnq_RaQx00p11NDzgfmEILGlt46/s1600/23-PB293247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoX0MpYbSgTLw-X5FT_eyyCDq6gyCOQwQSyf1_qZMTisQYR-3dRXhMNHCwQlbWgK2ud5VA_ksXX4ojAoMsBKYG3q-0c3iUY_zPiCb2nl-WaDAykl9lqnq_RaQx00p11NDzgfmEILGlt46/s400/23-PB293247.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how the "well to do folks" get to their holiday homes or Batch as they call them here</td></tr>
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We had three more stops before arriving in Whangarei, the first being at the old whaling station in Whangamumu Harbour.<br />
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We originally planned to stay the night here but the wind had increased and the bottom holding was rock and shale and that’s not great.<br />
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After our mini explore of the whaling station ruins we decided we weren’t really comfortable staying the night here. So after a bite to eat off we went again, this time heading for Sandy Bay in Whangaruru Harbour, four hours away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUg7ZXl_ZUqNWUSIdIe-JSEofweaLAEVzHaG3ftjydNaoy8jfeWMCfL8G6N9YIhWPbnMTRU_JILkqHe9ZYIWHQZqM-FtxZAhuK2VEVMSVVC4lfbmSml4jMR4tCglziiCp1GOubLmGzrux/s1600/PC023262+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUg7ZXl_ZUqNWUSIdIe-JSEofweaLAEVzHaG3ftjydNaoy8jfeWMCfL8G6N9YIhWPbnMTRU_JILkqHe9ZYIWHQZqM-FtxZAhuK2VEVMSVVC4lfbmSml4jMR4tCglziiCp1GOubLmGzrux/s320/PC023262+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remains of the whale oil vats</td></tr>
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This turned out to be an excellent choice due to the predicted gale force northerlies arriving at zero dark thirty. We put out 130 ft anchor chain in 12 ft of water and we didn’t budge an inch. Hands down, nothing beats anchoring in sand or mud.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As the wind was still blowing dogs off chains the following day, we figured there were worse things to do than just staying put and waiting for the elements to calm down.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH7lGLz_PR6MYA8PoW0lqq4iifRbT9VQjYU0Vi8BVk4W9oWD1m2zYQEvqwwmNiA7OscpQAwLZzugNXLHydNSAq2eYDe_A45OrnbcGmZUh9fwSrrwmCNeNVvIra5DZAFsZer2x01ZhSzA3/s1600/24-PC043273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH7lGLz_PR6MYA8PoW0lqq4iifRbT9VQjYU0Vi8BVk4W9oWD1m2zYQEvqwwmNiA7OscpQAwLZzugNXLHydNSAq2eYDe_A45OrnbcGmZUh9fwSrrwmCNeNVvIra5DZAFsZer2x01ZhSzA3/s320/24-PC043273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On our last ocean passage of the year the fish gods came to the party and just before rounding Whangarei Heads Liam landed a nice size Tuna. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So fresh sashimi with sundowners that night as sat at anchor tucked up in Urquharts Bay beneath the stunning headland.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb2iRZRa23lWkruxyQJJTMv8BngC5x_bhOWgR6mcsvCVsaZKyWAbeubph13iX4NinTE4-jdRdSvLDoekQvubjZ-FimO8RFvkSLKY5fDRdjll9sSTsph6PdX-9mufetJHukIEoRhbyyv58/s1600/26-PC043289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb2iRZRa23lWkruxyQJJTMv8BngC5x_bhOWgR6mcsvCVsaZKyWAbeubph13iX4NinTE4-jdRdSvLDoekQvubjZ-FimO8RFvkSLKY5fDRdjll9sSTsph6PdX-9mufetJHukIEoRhbyyv58/s320/26-PC043289.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles as we head into Whangarei, the headland entrance in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V_xSUDc73AapiJoprOn8lW2cMcC6yUGUYdXV318yxk5UlbC5ZsOj_6cGxJlLlPyatIxrBwGAiIJJIqQwT3UlwxQ9Tc6BaCpGmTSlvqs_wKCyJlCoFdOJ3Z2Hg6XdwGDNC4Gj7b1fXKDj/s1600/27-PC043291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V_xSUDc73AapiJoprOn8lW2cMcC6yUGUYdXV318yxk5UlbC5ZsOj_6cGxJlLlPyatIxrBwGAiIJJIqQwT3UlwxQ9Tc6BaCpGmTSlvqs_wKCyJlCoFdOJ3Z2Hg6XdwGDNC4Gj7b1fXKDj/s320/27-PC043291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Urquhurts Bay</td></tr>
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Next morning we had a quick haulout at Marsden Cove Marina as we were planning to change our insurance company from Pantanius USA to Pantanius Australia. To do that we needed to have a surveyor come along and inspect the boat and tick all the boxes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, once the hydraulic trailer pulled us out and it leveled off on the flat of the haulout ramp, there was a almighty bang accompanied by the odd “what the f*%*k was that?” </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It turns out the the repair to the anchor chain locker that Liam had done way back in French Polynesia in 2017 had slowly been delaminating and today was the day it let go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There was no gaping hole or anything light that, the repair area had just kind of gone spongy like a wedge had been pushed in between the layers of laminate. It was a sickening sound and a sickening feeling to say the least. Still, its nothing that time, money and good tradesmen couldn’t fix. And New Zealand is definitely the right place for that to happen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMhlG-YeBsZ6Rcp7jwjCMmupDLWGgc-4ZZSgUNL0xc0P6ZTNQekpKqhFkz6PLyudL74Jjcb9CCWSjKEC_7NNru0lXtxxL84aAGUqBGd6CSSJzUYYR5rWcDltdcseWIvUZkzEghvu63bX/s1600/28-PC053292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsMhlG-YeBsZ6Rcp7jwjCMmupDLWGgc-4ZZSgUNL0xc0P6ZTNQekpKqhFkz6PLyudL74Jjcb9CCWSjKEC_7NNru0lXtxxL84aAGUqBGd6CSSJzUYYR5rWcDltdcseWIvUZkzEghvu63bX/s400/28-PC053292.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dream house</td></tr>
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Our last night at anchor was spent in a little bay called The Nook, a few miles up river from Whangarei Heads.<br />
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It’s a delightful spot with a<br />
“If I could buy it I would” waterfront house sitting pretty as punch just behind GWTW.<br />
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That evening we toasted our good health, a great six months of cruising Fiji and our safe passage back to New Zealand. There was no reason to dwell on the day’s events ‘cause sometimes shit happens.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next morning we toddled further up the river to the Town Basin Marina and slotted back into our normal berth as if we’d never left. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was great to be home again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><i><b>Cruisers Info :</b></i></span> </span> “Spot X Cruising NZ”, available online or from Cater Marine Opua or Burnsco Chandlery Opua and Whangarei. $44.99 NZ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Catamaran haulout yards in Whangarei</span> : Marsden Cove, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Harbourside Boat Works & Norsand use trailers and Port Whangarei Marina uses a travelift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">GWTW has hauled at Marsden, Harbourside and Port Whangarei.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Marinas in Whangarei:</span> Town Basin Marina is the popular choice for catamarans and can accommodate up to 65 feet in length on floating docks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: blue;">^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-27650008442475677182020-04-13T18:55:00.000-04:002020-04-13T19:30:36.184-04:00<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><strong>On The Road Again : Fiji – New Zealand Passage 2019.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">14th – 20th November 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">After being handed our clearance papers by Customs, we departed Port Denarau Marina at 1230 pm on November 14th. The run south to Opua on the north island of New Zealand would see at least 1200 nautical miles disappear under our keels. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Due to an impending weather system roaring up the Tasman Sea we were hoping that the voyage would take five and a half days. </span><br />
Our friends on the yachts Scoots, Velic and Rewa elected not to leave as they were pretty sure they couldn’t out run the front due to arrive in NZ’s north on November 21st.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5faqeZ9XHqydQvyou1xqK8jt0LqIWgyS_8WGnit9eHU_Dh6XEAZIwjQyXHQNwx_swku1MAOy0Qwkn5nEOVyB55yxDeQUEO-Vf9yFJZSV4EEYJeZ9yArN2BNzZR0XspUR6-ALRQzT_RKDK/s1600/01-DSCN6898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1054" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5faqeZ9XHqydQvyou1xqK8jt0LqIWgyS_8WGnit9eHU_Dh6XEAZIwjQyXHQNwx_swku1MAOy0Qwkn5nEOVyB55yxDeQUEO-Vf9yFJZSV4EEYJeZ9yArN2BNzZR0XspUR6-ALRQzT_RKDK/s320/01-DSCN6898.JPG" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing beats a shower in the sunshine</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">So off we went all by ourselves</span> . <span style="font-size: small;">A power boat had left the marina about an hour before us and called on the radio to let us know that for a couple of miles after exiting the reef pass at Momi Bay the seas were very confused, and they were. Boisterous or sporty we’d call it . </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few hours later the conditions remained the same so we furled our forward sail, the jib to halfway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our boat speed sat nicely on 8-9 knots but the sea state was rough with a swell of 1.5 meters <span style="font-size: small;">and the wind had climbed to 17 knots. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A tad uncomfortable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Day two was much better. The seas had laid down overnight and it was a picture perfect day, blue skies and warm sunshine. With the wind a south, south easter at 15kts GWTW slid along under full mainsail and half jib at speeds of 10-11knots. Our 24 hour run showed we’d swallowed up 212 nautical miles. Yeeha! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAbxbf6PibvKAm9jtXc0KQjPkaAy1dcl1HeCK3UNrQwQk4v0WzkS4kFD_8jIHYDFRqYahyzeQFdWY59cpUVmbrdRquZ6VHkx8Ia93etsrIh4RFZD6IFQ-KCBaep0E6rQ-bUWFiXRelZet/s1600/07-DSCN6914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAbxbf6PibvKAm9jtXc0KQjPkaAy1dcl1HeCK3UNrQwQk4v0WzkS4kFD_8jIHYDFRqYahyzeQFdWY59cpUVmbrdRquZ6VHkx8Ia93etsrIh4RFZD6IFQ-KCBaep0E6rQ-bUWFiXRelZet/s320/07-DSCN6914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music time while the washing dries</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We kept on trucking along like that all day and night. We were in the groove. The night watch was uneventful except for two fatalities of flying fish landing on the deck. It was clear skies above with the light of the full moon dancing on the waves. Perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Day three and four were much the same with respective 24 hr runs sitting at 209nm and 173nm. Over the course of the fourth day the wind slowly died, the seas flattened right out and the “iron maiden” came into play. Yes, the engine was fired up and motor sailing came into play on and off for the remainder of our passage. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMqRiheT2l0DRVzHnTJOW9BmY0p2s6l-lAGSf3xXbluZW985p9ShVsOhmShAJosphlT3eS5n7rzSVS4y0imxXGwVrp-DTwXD21psNAspIPjQ8zewsySlOhyxmopffQmvFwJW4CT4q0sMv/s1600/06-DSCN6910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMqRiheT2l0DRVzHnTJOW9BmY0p2s6l-lAGSf3xXbluZW985p9ShVsOhmShAJosphlT3eS5n7rzSVS4y0imxXGwVrp-DTwXD21psNAspIPjQ8zewsySlOhyxmopffQmvFwJW4CT4q0sMv/s320/06-DSCN6910.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eerie haze and sunset from the Aussie fires</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We could have sailed, albeit slowly but we are not purists like some especially when you want to make port before the weather turns to custard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So far the fish count was still zero but we were being treated to some spectacular blood red sunsets due to the smoke haze from the bushfires ravaging Australia.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuhLaaRiD7LNysCfotWj7_Nk9cvrGSC3pkKEUR8UWMieNPCM0fmrdss_ISSgEXWmkFGIEsSlg5tU3ebH-BVbfFDo2GZSfCtq8QE7kNdBAJgTGJxp4zWLau1AaP0-sQi8Su0986vloBPoI/s1600/08-PB193143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1200" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuhLaaRiD7LNysCfotWj7_Nk9cvrGSC3pkKEUR8UWMieNPCM0fmrdss_ISSgEXWmkFGIEsSlg5tU3ebH-BVbfFDo2GZSfCtq8QE7kNdBAJgTGJxp4zWLau1AaP0-sQi8Su0986vloBPoI/s320/08-PB193143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On our last evening at sea the fishing duck was broken as Liam landed a good sized Tuna.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We now had just 87 miles to the finish line and were rugged up to the hilt as the mercury steadily dropped the closer we inched to NZ. The sea temps too had plummeted from 25c in Fiji to a chilly 15c.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">At 0930 on Nov 20th we pulled in to the Opua Customs Dock. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The passage had taken us five days and twenty one hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We’d beaten the weather system, caught a fish, enjoyed some fabulous sailing and arrived one hour behind boats that had left Port Denarau 24 hours before us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was great to be back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMt1FKXPN-qICGklwZHjcDCHisM_DizHOMCGYP97Q9KAvzUXsABZJqQcamm72rWQSqMkdTkr8ODcbVdp4-DujiyDou6E180yYO0D9mWbgqs0IZjUqmntgu9fFjEYGIkNX6jopQzCelwXf/s1600/09-PB193146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMt1FKXPN-qICGklwZHjcDCHisM_DizHOMCGYP97Q9KAvzUXsABZJqQcamm72rWQSqMkdTkr8ODcbVdp4-DujiyDou6E180yYO0D9mWbgqs0IZjUqmntgu9fFjEYGIkNX6jopQzCelwXf/s320/09-PB193146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #9b00d3; font-size: small;"> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-52995942043013886062020-04-04T22:16:00.000-04:002020-05-06T00:20:12.630-04:00<span style="color: red; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;">Fun and Games over, time to explore the Yasawa Islands</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">19th September – 14th November 201</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">9</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa9Xr_LbKUtNmBJlUUfxYDMXNHjdqyMieSewAMf4ikFHLtD-IZ01nSV4VcB9jJpUXHDmVLt6LW5dttbfeMLrYACxSHt_NSn6PiY5hhkqTf6jroDzWJLckOfnTG5lItgiyQ0-C_z1n8n0Q/s1600/05-P9292581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJa9Xr_LbKUtNmBJlUUfxYDMXNHjdqyMieSewAMf4ikFHLtD-IZ01nSV4VcB9jJpUXHDmVLt6LW5dttbfeMLrYACxSHt_NSn6PiY5hhkqTf6jroDzWJLckOfnTG5lItgiyQ0-C_z1n8n0Q/s320/05-P9292581.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Following a rather hectic week at the Musket Cove Regatta we decided a little bit of chillout time was required. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">We stayed put in the bay for just over a week which my no means was a hardship. and enjoyed all the resort amenities making good use of both the pool and golf course. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">With the majority of the yachts having moved on it was nice not to be cheek by jowl for a change. The highlight of our weeks’ R&R was most definitely the nightly visits by a pair of Giant Manta Rays.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">They arrived promptly around 9pm mesmerizing us with their endless graceful tumble turns illuminated by our blue underwater lights. As they went through their routine they hoovered up masses of tiny plankton. It was magical to watch their antics and we had the best seats in the house. See the video below.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8ccHRCK0E8wYtZ7D-edO6X8nR7z5UeEl_axtI1U7syeIdVvDgpGV8RKPU9DutoLlHSPF8TAiQAF20GF8U-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVBMkAQFDIG3b83kHr5lAUCy1oPf8Uwm-2cEwck6c2EsoQONbhGWy63OM7NUrUgkNyqeAPWPguk0NNgveZpo9waXgQUIb7DWeepl3S5O-txfuvWVsi_sW_GHqo12fuhpxFbIU-zJhxOmc/s1600/01-P9282546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVBMkAQFDIG3b83kHr5lAUCy1oPf8Uwm-2cEwck6c2EsoQONbhGWy63OM7NUrUgkNyqeAPWPguk0NNgveZpo9waXgQUIb7DWeepl3S5O-txfuvWVsi_sW_GHqo12fuhpxFbIU-zJhxOmc/s320/01-P9282546.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchored at RoRo Reef</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Over the coming weeks we slowly cruised up and down the Mamanuca and Yasawa chain of islands. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmtk2SYdWDHlRXVW1uR8Btl9C3L8d23erxun-8f831YAHf7-TR9oCm6jibKKY1IU8j0MDdkUqPBXQ784SUxwdI4Z6KeCjxVkWNsTEid4Ttnubhi5h6GTnz9XCKrrbCS9UFiEm173C_vTz/s1600/07-P9302619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333;">Most often we had anchorages to ourselves. We stopped once again at beautiful Ro Ro reef, also known as “Cloud Nine'’ and enjoyed cooling off in the brochure blue waters.</span></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below the Gin clear waters of Ro Ro Reef</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">From there we sailed up to Monuriki island where the movie “Castaway” was filmed. About the only thing remaining these days from the film set are the coconuts spelling out “Help Me” </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IWKPlIxwo-1NXVV5HfePamPf1r_y4S_GPEOxm3wqoRLOyGfnYT0nS5bxgsZ65g6AIJImpkUNLNoPs5pyg6x8aVxxAb_g2-iZZiO0NcWpgC_CzbwshpMvu6QALRNJDzb1hf-Kj_EHXvU6/s1600/41-PA233023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IWKPlIxwo-1NXVV5HfePamPf1r_y4S_GPEOxm3wqoRLOyGfnYT0nS5bxgsZ65g6AIJImpkUNLNoPs5pyg6x8aVxxAb_g2-iZZiO0NcWpgC_CzbwshpMvu6QALRNJDzb1hf-Kj_EHXvU6/s200/41-PA233023.JPG" width="112" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anchored off the beach at Monuriki Islands</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Weeks earlier an underwater volcano in Tonga erupted and spewed thousands of tons of pumice into the surrounding waters. That pumice had taken weeks to disperse as it floated west with the ocean currents pushed along by strong easterly winds. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIYlWWwXxj2JNBs7A1dglUoky0rQi6Oe7tG6NIoI2NhB4qrXVSoZ_dR1VYdVtEMgxTS6mO60oWvyy2HcHJP_BPI5ueouvn3x7eoRybSdsj5jQxiAvU9LwA4vM2LW3X6nijh3lngBpotAc/s1600/13-PA042684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1200" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIYlWWwXxj2JNBs7A1dglUoky0rQi6Oe7tG6NIoI2NhB4qrXVSoZ_dR1VYdVtEMgxTS6mO60oWvyy2HcHJP_BPI5ueouvn3x7eoRybSdsj5jQxiAvU9LwA4vM2LW3X6nijh3lngBpotAc/s320/13-PA042684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how the beaches of Blue Lagoon used to look before the pumice arrived</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSZbxrPjXlRy5dd97lPaNZ5ce2ZRKW3FBvcCaSzDnR3cEBeykJatV1HrELiO50VDTsbFA3N4gqZLKK41dVf52H72GUNkeCGqYWsMGo4gfS5iwgMXJ2Ubnjh_kMs3V3zXt_6DCrr0xzQpb/s1600/14-PA042666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSZbxrPjXlRy5dd97lPaNZ5ce2ZRKW3FBvcCaSzDnR3cEBeykJatV1HrELiO50VDTsbFA3N4gqZLKK41dVf52H72GUNkeCGqYWsMGo4gfS5iwgMXJ2Ubnjh_kMs3V3zXt_6DCrr0xzQpb/s320/14-PA042666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">As we journeyed north it was beginning to impact western Fiji and rafts of pumice were appearing all through the Yasawa Islands. In particular the Blue Lagoon area was hardest hit with all the beautiful beaches covered in chunks of both big and small brown pumice. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_Ya2Y-Ou6OlkhVo8Kw2K07s5-SWPslDsAFbaBkjjLSSNBeaSjHmTi-yaCpvju_t923XBGue28gkM1N1labfr82zIUC4qvax3TiUUFofv2X4kiHdL7h0ojxRN9lll9id2IZX4rUGvPGay/s1600/11-PA042673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1200" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_Ya2Y-Ou6OlkhVo8Kw2K07s5-SWPslDsAFbaBkjjLSSNBeaSjHmTi-yaCpvju_t923XBGue28gkM1N1labfr82zIUC4qvax3TiUUFofv2X4kiHdL7h0ojxRN9lll9id2IZX4rUGvPGay/s320/11-PA042673.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above and below shows rafts of pumice in the Blue Lagoon area</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziPceszqMKz1BAP1dTVrVPx1e7874eW6ol2mK6qopUQ_BJMmntvACLmcWUJs9lWz_VEeeuEK6OrO0xHuktIVDKQs2a2HWk2C2hZ8QgnWvCSxqc1E36ZvCKEXCfMoBMTjmR7sQVwg-5kPF/s1600/12-PA042679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziPceszqMKz1BAP1dTVrVPx1e7874eW6ol2mK6qopUQ_BJMmntvACLmcWUJs9lWz_VEeeuEK6OrO0xHuktIVDKQs2a2HWk2C2hZ8QgnWvCSxqc1E36ZvCKEXCfMoBMTjmR7sQVwg-5kPF/s320/12-PA042679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8neoGY6wO60g1oWhsWUhj7dN_7milH719Lp4gjlstiMohugDNLyBaCNE7GIttxv-ihvB64VV2Uwi-rVLNQ5S7L9fjHvZ01UKdoRQoJScFsPqt8gp8QAfg6WxYlnLOIuHAiEXyUhYqDSf/s1600/26-PA092804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8neoGY6wO60g1oWhsWUhj7dN_7milH719Lp4gjlstiMohugDNLyBaCNE7GIttxv-ihvB64VV2Uwi-rVLNQ5S7L9fjHvZ01UKdoRQoJScFsPqt8gp8QAfg6WxYlnLOIuHAiEXyUhYqDSf/s320/26-PA092804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmEWntKedTniygGII5FZoUy280-jYzVGiXBVokm6g_wawznlMduJFMt4CPHPpxyhJr3ptmX3FOrRHMWv8ifBcE4NKj4beRejdCAy7Xqkzz_nDYWt_6FrW9bmedOs4jW5yhhP98nlwbrID/s1600/28-PA102824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmEWntKedTniygGII5FZoUy280-jYzVGiXBVokm6g_wawznlMduJFMt4CPHPpxyhJr3ptmX3FOrRHMWv8ifBcE4NKj4beRejdCAy7Xqkzz_nDYWt_6FrW9bmedOs4jW5yhhP98nlwbrID/s320/28-PA102824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">As we were once again hunkered down by strong winds we signed up with the Natalya resort for a private boat trip to the Sacred caves of Sawa-I-Lau on an island of the same name.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM_2q9JtObCSH4Xc5eefVi5bctSsV7FNRt6AR95SFvKr8S6alOFC57ZuyuenfodvgoGWFn_cuVp2suY6jFiYbahVejdlURTbaMQw8oXKzfavlNmtewSHHczyLfE0BVFyOoweAlDD6Nbgx/s1600/19-PA082753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="749" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM_2q9JtObCSH4Xc5eefVi5bctSsV7FNRt6AR95SFvKr8S6alOFC57ZuyuenfodvgoGWFn_cuVp2suY6jFiYbahVejdlURTbaMQw8oXKzfavlNmtewSHHczyLfE0BVFyOoweAlDD6Nbgx/s320/19-PA082753.JPG" width="199" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEWsmgIsQz-spgZ85UtKL9lYBj_PzJYQHINzS8q6q0KnoCc703SndCO46kNwioBkS68zYqwaT6NoSibwTkNApDe7pa9meD2ao9KE0_8yMMyIpA1FU4IDf4mFuorvZjNcqXfmTqNFvd9qD/s1600/24-PA082790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEWsmgIsQz-spgZ85UtKL9lYBj_PzJYQHINzS8q6q0KnoCc703SndCO46kNwioBkS68zYqwaT6NoSibwTkNApDe7pa9meD2ao9KE0_8yMMyIpA1FU4IDf4mFuorvZjNcqXfmTqNFvd9qD/s320/24-PA082790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Similar to the Thai Hongs the open cave roof</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LSbWmh6o1j6epP-pvg-qekzhgopI_AFOLWyWCsT50kIVxk6KwslVBx987u41ByWL6CghI8CE8fmekVkoSAzqqshB8KCwNdEB62n2DI1Qzi8oQ2sP3H7OVNxoSy0kYqYgULKAXxye46wP/s1600/22-PA082767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LSbWmh6o1j6epP-pvg-qekzhgopI_AFOLWyWCsT50kIVxk6KwslVBx987u41ByWL6CghI8CE8fmekVkoSAzqqshB8KCwNdEB62n2DI1Qzi8oQ2sP3H7OVNxoSy0kYqYgULKAXxye46wP/s320/22-PA082767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A_H3c6lIokmA1u7zCKoorCdaD8ersWVWilVvWs-G0m2NqBcDqroM8R1OUVszYa8pp01q7rVe3J9-Nhd9bjeQB2CBx0p3Qo1hnpt_JvkKb301npyeYzZy3YB1SEvNct1-AY4J0fcnDy48/s1600/23-PA082780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1200" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A_H3c6lIokmA1u7zCKoorCdaD8ersWVWilVvWs-G0m2NqBcDqroM8R1OUVszYa8pp01q7rVe3J9-Nhd9bjeQB2CBx0p3Qo1hnpt_JvkKb301npyeYzZy3YB1SEvNct1-AY4J0fcnDy48/s320/23-PA082780.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGH5UTTuFaTML1xGxb8i66FlW2b0EPMeWV4Xu70ycupabBVtK8vqUuAdpYoTEIp8JIn83Tee7uwAsGDp_hckfEPSyo9YjpLWHrQOPMeX0bKmcR6wD2Xr1zcFhceRIbXynXr0g0FcZCCid/s1600/25-PA082798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGH5UTTuFaTML1xGxb8i66FlW2b0EPMeWV4Xu70ycupabBVtK8vqUuAdpYoTEIp8JIn83Tee7uwAsGDp_hckfEPSyo9YjpLWHrQOPMeX0bKmcR6wD2Xr1zcFhceRIbXynXr0g0FcZCCid/s320/25-PA082798.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the stall holders at the cave bagging up my latest jewellery purchase</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Swimming in the caves reminded us of being back in Thailand. These caves were similar to the Thai Hongs were the roof of the cave is open to the sky and there are tunnels and narrow swim throughs which take you deep inside the cave itself.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">The water in this cave was downright chilly compared to Thailand.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAJlqy_qbgD_qS_cuPwGe6wTSdOuPz2bZDFrQx4gwqFZSCnPevuAXl5cBS3tiIS20afGqWW7Z0yJo0tKucEPfZjHgyo-C8aMJL_iiaxCulg4ohK0AMNV8swEZRyRxsXLFWzncRMN6kuMj/s1600/47-PA253044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAJlqy_qbgD_qS_cuPwGe6wTSdOuPz2bZDFrQx4gwqFZSCnPevuAXl5cBS3tiIS20afGqWW7Z0yJo0tKucEPfZjHgyo-C8aMJL_iiaxCulg4ohK0AMNV8swEZRyRxsXLFWzncRMN6kuMj/s200/47-PA253044.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Village Chief & Annie</td></tr>
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f <span style="color: #333333;">To the north of Blue Lagoon we visited the village of Malakati where we sort out the chief, who was snoozing at the time, to present our Sevusevu gift of Kava root, also known as Yaqona, along with gifts of rice and sugar and a few pairs of much appreciated magnified reading glasses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">When a visitor arrives into a village for the first time it is mandatory that the traditional Fijian protocol of Sevusevu be performed. The dried root of the Yaqona plant, aka Kava, is pounded into a powder and mixed with water to produce what resembles very muddy water. This is then poured into a large bowl known as a Kava bowl and passed to the village participants now sitting crossed legged in a circle using a communal bowl. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">The drink is mildly intoxicating and causes various degrees of relaxation the more that is drunk. Both men and women drink Kava and it is usually drunk in the evening after dinner.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Below are some village photos</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eftOfFpJryGbEdygsxfTRXP2vTwlCdyV2sB2CUhAdeFn85var1Q5FAaKmamKc3GvpBol8JyQMNa3TwpNVsYQmEzzmn2IL4VchiTKRRulYYBGfK-vsjuJnxzuqtnMJ6YuU62mUjni2Hgk/s1600/50-PA253050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eftOfFpJryGbEdygsxfTRXP2vTwlCdyV2sB2CUhAdeFn85var1Q5FAaKmamKc3GvpBol8JyQMNa3TwpNVsYQmEzzmn2IL4VchiTKRRulYYBGfK-vsjuJnxzuqtnMJ6YuU62mUjni2Hgk/s200/50-PA253050.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA46dwkAhDvgu-a30J77etsvi44WVug_TPwRrBZEwCbRSpn8i5IaVftIoyES9vh-OEkbsTzqjDxVJragfQYFjOqLFB7b5nNQk_hPV2gkShMBoHgof67pQsqKxBRlfhWe2aBhTMeSYfdmt_/s1600/51-PA253053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA46dwkAhDvgu-a30J77etsvi44WVug_TPwRrBZEwCbRSpn8i5IaVftIoyES9vh-OEkbsTzqjDxVJragfQYFjOqLFB7b5nNQk_hPV2gkShMBoHgof67pQsqKxBRlfhWe2aBhTMeSYfdmt_/s200/51-PA253053.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_bZWz-nxZj9uEu2fEEUghpOQ2fPwJXoYNtT8r4B1znAw9pYt5f8nPhyb6Jt3ITvJsz10vCo2QFSvB8JRbhbPngS5ckGbI6u-wsYopiRbyEwEvOq8nG_5SqfxUg-FmPeRYgbknYt-C62O/s1600/53-PA253056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1200" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_bZWz-nxZj9uEu2fEEUghpOQ2fPwJXoYNtT8r4B1znAw9pYt5f8nPhyb6Jt3ITvJsz10vCo2QFSvB8JRbhbPngS5ckGbI6u-wsYopiRbyEwEvOq8nG_5SqfxUg-FmPeRYgbknYt-C62O/s200/53-PA253056.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with 80 year old Lily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg3KKoVLz2zU9DaoO28W3uzg5QoSMh5K3WKV_nxGnmhhirSigoH9ncz4EXzKKau_sK9IXcpQ5UEu1Fmn4bdzvDfxiSrP3AURMXpomrs48bNpyYt0_2TZAFMvfhdD6VJcCZIelsCEiaefC/s1600/56-PA253072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg3KKoVLz2zU9DaoO28W3uzg5QoSMh5K3WKV_nxGnmhhirSigoH9ncz4EXzKKau_sK9IXcpQ5UEu1Fmn4bdzvDfxiSrP3AURMXpomrs48bNpyYt0_2TZAFMvfhdD6VJcCZIelsCEiaefC/s320/56-PA253072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam giving the locals outboard fuel as they had run out</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Moving further north to the top of Yasawa island we stopped at Cololeva Bay with its dazzling white sands and aqua waters where we sat out a few days of heavy wind. A few locals came by one arvo and after a bit of monitory negotiating came back after dark with a truck load of fresh lobster. Sadly a goodly number were way undersize. Needless to say both parties were very happy with the outcome.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaXopADZ0liL1GSSnNwDDnEBRfvC0fkwVnQcyI91dS1LGIOM7npQ3DxHGRebUKishoP317gYp_wNgUDd5Vdx5GQ1wU9QvPTIoJ1HvixjdLdV00_qP-768arwIJq4cDBEByII3Gsaf8Shr/s1600/39-DSCN6876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaXopADZ0liL1GSSnNwDDnEBRfvC0fkwVnQcyI91dS1LGIOM7npQ3DxHGRebUKishoP317gYp_wNgUDd5Vdx5GQ1wU9QvPTIoJ1HvixjdLdV00_qP-768arwIJq4cDBEByII3Gsaf8Shr/s320/39-DSCN6876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical sunset in the Yasawas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyPcyT7ypHjuD7R9hZWKa1NB8jp4J-JcJUCMKrsOch69evbAvB1j8G-kQTwp5Ihpb4fzhhe5haRJKIpUZcj-rpfkVCpuqNz8K0mJl7I28AW645zvu6V2ofxuZAcMLTRhxu7QlbPcvl6KP/s1600/17-PA042736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyPcyT7ypHjuD7R9hZWKa1NB8jp4J-JcJUCMKrsOch69evbAvB1j8G-kQTwp5Ihpb4fzhhe5haRJKIpUZcj-rpfkVCpuqNz8K0mJl7I28AW645zvu6V2ofxuZAcMLTRhxu7QlbPcvl6KP/s320/17-PA042736.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the bigger Lobsters from the nights catch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABL4gsTAVdnzjMtxKWR-96YZIQlLF6RfqLSnb1T6Fi69tQmKp3hjFmukooShNcYe95aFYgMujFL3ODFAHADtFkDu9YPfEPUmHjR4zX6UXeVwJMG_okHqb-NPD6KXmX3lHX4uKKIV3T01C/s1600/35-PA132853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1200" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABL4gsTAVdnzjMtxKWR-96YZIQlLF6RfqLSnb1T6Fi69tQmKp3hjFmukooShNcYe95aFYgMujFL3ODFAHADtFkDu9YPfEPUmHjR4zX6UXeVwJMG_okHqb-NPD6KXmX3lHX4uKKIV3T01C/s320/35-PA132853.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White sands and aqua water of Cololeva Bay</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">We had gone as far north as we could so it was time to turn around and backtrack down the chain. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">As we mooched back down from Cololeva Bay we were accompanied by pods of dolphins , at least twenty if not more. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegIw-A5DpvdFFJV1MnPxRoWy_VbqA1Hfmk3sdjihVnDPPjlNdFbF98Y-lhhnMeMgU_bHMxkDHIy1SOvFFGb1sm9zuIK4lFt7wW1M5v-QO4Woh4f_MzA4J-MuiGwx5eoyE0Gg5PvVBP8kj/s1600/36-PA142855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegIw-A5DpvdFFJV1MnPxRoWy_VbqA1Hfmk3sdjihVnDPPjlNdFbF98Y-lhhnMeMgU_bHMxkDHIy1SOvFFGb1sm9zuIK4lFt7wW1M5v-QO4Woh4f_MzA4J-MuiGwx5eoyE0Gg5PvVBP8kj/s320/36-PA142855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0B0981L1KzrX9ERtgydLaEeXbLgW1JMbTkJ9U7Umr9kA2hz6ZW1jcQH2Tap9h6wPE6D0pDaUctTZuCI8ZhzbtGHAf23VsdoEfOiWVfrxCm_FBhnbcQFh0OtfgKwehcD9G03Nkh3nLwqO/s1600/29-PA102835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0B0981L1KzrX9ERtgydLaEeXbLgW1JMbTkJ9U7Umr9kA2hz6ZW1jcQH2Tap9h6wPE6D0pDaUctTZuCI8ZhzbtGHAf23VsdoEfOiWVfrxCm_FBhnbcQFh0OtfgKwehcD9G03Nkh3nLwqO/s320/29-PA102835.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Namatya Bay</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;">After dropping the hook in scenic Namatya Bay we jumped into the dinghy to snorkel the reef and came across a fisherman and his daughter spearing fish in the shallow waters. We yelled hello from the dinghy and the gentelman beckoning us over introduced himself as Pastor Simi from the local village. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">After a bit of a chat he said he was in need of some bigger fish hooks, so of course fetched some from GWTW. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">Liam asked if there were lobster in the bay and the Paster said that tomorrow he and his two daughters would come and show us where. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE2LOthr5EI6bLJNqSCGMgO5S3FfMaAJWn8f9kC6CEziZ8cCWix6vadEZqfpOe-rd9j4iMlBOHwWbVAYm8oydKsBmydiwDuuS8apXsXp4Z-8FvFpLMJj0kKovbZ5d7WBnuycjjCmv4EuO/s1600/30-PA122840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE2LOthr5EI6bLJNqSCGMgO5S3FfMaAJWn8f9kC6CEziZ8cCWix6vadEZqfpOe-rd9j4iMlBOHwWbVAYm8oydKsBmydiwDuuS8apXsXp4Z-8FvFpLMJj0kKovbZ5d7WBnuycjjCmv4EuO/s320/30-PA122840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Simi's ever smiling daughters</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Next day they turned up on the beach around ten and while Liam and Simi went hunting I entertained his very well mannered daughters on board Gwtw.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Eventually many hours later and with all my guitar skills exhausted and two packets of chocolate biscuits devoured by the girls Liam showed up with three good sized lobsters. The good Paser also took a few home too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1C0LtKMopP07OivxfBvaFVKkU28zu8_dDKMLBtFXUnA6rfz109U_FvvlUcOIJKn29nbka9p1buAmr1QKLeNxACJ4WHPsDy7VtssWGS858mFY264uRZrBeOJofwf0u1k-OkY2nYyAP_V1/s1600/32-PA122843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="950" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1C0LtKMopP07OivxfBvaFVKkU28zu8_dDKMLBtFXUnA6rfz109U_FvvlUcOIJKn29nbka9p1buAmr1QKLeNxACJ4WHPsDy7VtssWGS858mFY264uRZrBeOJofwf0u1k-OkY2nYyAP_V1/s200/32-PA122843.JPG" width="158" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Simi asked if we ever back this way could we bring them a couple of swim fins and goggles. The girls put in a request for a guitar if that was possible, but not a new one they added</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Well we will certainly pack some if we make it back to Fiji again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dmfVc8Ck7VH3ReSjQfiRLBjG7BdI8azuxGDguhZY1Atjjkgk2zRMX4u9lToKjiTWAAvD5T0Md2Mq8xEZ0ri3LbMnpupbMRt0c36jEnS-0eOfho7syKni5W7fnxyePEy0XCMuek3urR7z/s1600/09-P9302637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dmfVc8Ck7VH3ReSjQfiRLBjG7BdI8azuxGDguhZY1Atjjkgk2zRMX4u9lToKjiTWAAvD5T0Md2Mq8xEZ0ri3LbMnpupbMRt0c36jEnS-0eOfho7syKni5W7fnxyePEy0XCMuek3urR7z/s200/09-P9302637.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Stopping for a few nights at the cruiser friendly Octopus Resort on the north west side of Waya Island. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">We enjoyed snorkeling the reefs and partaking in the resorts Happy Hour. The resort is super friendly to cruisers and the bay is a great anchorage with 30ft of water over sand. We highly recommend this as a stopover when sailing up and down the Yasawa island chain.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nNuThDox4zKjvbIEYmedVRMcXdTxmj5KlkhxxuLyNfSHMf1cNCfVyglyKafEk0_-daUnSWZ2kFJE-t3MKAyDEBOUp2frc1NwZcUfyW0l-4KM7KUveOTGKtKG-wBH-Wf_fss6Vgn8Uq7O/s1600/10-PA012647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nNuThDox4zKjvbIEYmedVRMcXdTxmj5KlkhxxuLyNfSHMf1cNCfVyglyKafEk0_-daUnSWZ2kFJE-t3MKAyDEBOUp2frc1NwZcUfyW0l-4KM7KUveOTGKtKG-wBH-Wf_fss6Vgn8Uq7O/s200/10-PA012647.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundowners at Octopus Resort</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDZme9ayTLnxpwq4Dahz3F96LOnlxXzIdI-3Gmm-wxY_djyxjp_yiAt0js1yY9D1iXdgN_hKARSg9VEQVYU5lfNXEMtazWQaBKiJvRUPRK5avuik9KYWUwu-Dv8yvpjgOWMd_V3r08zg5/s1600/08-P9302635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDZme9ayTLnxpwq4Dahz3F96LOnlxXzIdI-3Gmm-wxY_djyxjp_yiAt0js1yY9D1iXdgN_hKARSg9VEQVYU5lfNXEMtazWQaBKiJvRUPRK5avuik9KYWUwu-Dv8yvpjgOWMd_V3r08zg5/s320/08-P9302635.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #333333;">From here it was back down to the anchorage off the Manta Ray resort where we indulged in their ever so sumptuous Friday night Pizzas. Pizzas are cooked to order starting from 4pm and as a bonus happy hour goes from 5pm to 7pm.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">With just one more stop before heading back over to the big smoke of Port Denarau, stopping for the night at Castaway Island made for the perfect last snorkel of the season.</span><br />
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As luck would have that night we received an email from cruising friends we'd met by chance while anchored in Coff's Harbour way back in 2006, We'd just left Sydney and were making our way to Darwin to begin our sailing adventure around the world.<br />
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Well Greg and Lisa had loosely stayed in touch over the years but apparently followed our blog site and our tracker which showed us currently being in Fiji. Their son Lachlan was to be married at Plantation Island this coming week and they kindly invited us to the wedding.<br />
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We lept at the chance to see them again after all these years. Honestly where have all those years gone. So off we went to help celebrate. It was a great couple of days meeting up with all the family again. And the beach wedding was just perfect with the sun setting as the Lachlan and his new bride took theirs vows in beautiful Fiji.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9MUn7tcIaCjOESztwJ0M2uepBq4h-58ayNB2YqqiJfYM1i05Fb80FIQstQ0yGMMP5rbsY5IuY9bC9MnAOYYzZRvTAGgTaOj7YSsih27vaweG7uRDqO-bqgWb1sO4JcG_EmsU93EVQo_r/s1600/IMG20191108165723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9MUn7tcIaCjOESztwJ0M2uepBq4h-58ayNB2YqqiJfYM1i05Fb80FIQstQ0yGMMP5rbsY5IuY9bC9MnAOYYzZRvTAGgTaOj7YSsih27vaweG7uRDqO-bqgWb1sO4JcG_EmsU93EVQo_r/s320/IMG20191108165723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us with Greg and Lisa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmThZaikxE_Pmu-DZole6lqPhR87Bcmw_71HuDImitlJ6XN80GSdT8pb_HvPD9LJ3i60-LR3VB5cfqPkftgCbzcmDvl4egMOYGOFJlnl4s-HcRcun4047IVvV7b4Nfacy6_G9qMoATcu_/s1600/IMG20191108171648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmThZaikxE_Pmu-DZole6lqPhR87Bcmw_71HuDImitlJ6XN80GSdT8pb_HvPD9LJ3i60-LR3VB5cfqPkftgCbzcmDvl4egMOYGOFJlnl4s-HcRcun4047IVvV7b4Nfacy6_G9qMoATcu_/s320/IMG20191108171648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a place to get married and the bride below wore a vintage gown</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfJUvKVilDQdxncVdaBidKF3D1SRwfBcCNQLitJjV6k9GCSS4dF_3ol97mnIZN40cTGrrAKrufw0hyQ8yCtgqikm6IfqMF-ZJ_wksUATZPLJtEa2FndfX_FbzKCXaO9Afy0cCEgFcR30j/s1600/IMG20191108175113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfJUvKVilDQdxncVdaBidKF3D1SRwfBcCNQLitJjV6k9GCSS4dF_3ol97mnIZN40cTGrrAKrufw0hyQ8yCtgqikm6IfqMF-ZJ_wksUATZPLJtEa2FndfX_FbzKCXaO9Afy0cCEgFcR30j/s320/IMG20191108175113.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiglPYlDL7-EbQO6mDaiInyM6FP0zdJBZCqoO9dJ_K2nNxdKwbb_W9CsRxaaqZhmVmJFuIWwu_KRV9TIfU_YRMXyz2_uAkot293QVX3t5CHUaWjGftcpkAJnP3id3YQ3b9dJNNIaT5jh9c/s1600/IMG20191108175646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiglPYlDL7-EbQO6mDaiInyM6FP0zdJBZCqoO9dJ_K2nNxdKwbb_W9CsRxaaqZhmVmJFuIWwu_KRV9TIfU_YRMXyz2_uAkot293QVX3t5CHUaWjGftcpkAJnP3id3YQ3b9dJNNIaT5jh9c/s320/IMG20191108175646.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTVdNE1tDnfALOWjTZB4csdc7f4eK8RQ6cHmUwqK22TNN0bol9H_4NKhhF2_6-J5r4wRGND87v2TIi5hmnwF5rcQX1iw3dJRcTQNOIeL6gx1RIR6BbmhOCVqrt9OGBJDt7RQNUA-Tg8NM/s1600/1-1-unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="558" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTVdNE1tDnfALOWjTZB4csdc7f4eK8RQ6cHmUwqK22TNN0bol9H_4NKhhF2_6-J5r4wRGND87v2TIi5hmnwF5rcQX1iw3dJRcTQNOIeL6gx1RIR6BbmhOCVqrt9OGBJDt7RQNUA-Tg8NM/s400/1-1-unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole gang after the ceremony</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusqAMrIJTahr-D_1iTf1Ekn1T9BPeITa49q81qjlM1EAYI0IhNiuIC5RuXG1leQQ8y9dzXINbfcixAjdQN7kqev9JVkjtzH_c7FuZ73dB8foF6_cM-nxFArnNUj3lwVr6oQM6zgLstKx9/s1600/37-PA142966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusqAMrIJTahr-D_1iTf1Ekn1T9BPeITa49q81qjlM1EAYI0IhNiuIC5RuXG1leQQ8y9dzXINbfcixAjdQN7kqev9JVkjtzH_c7FuZ73dB8foF6_cM-nxFArnNUj3lwVr6oQM6zgLstKx9/s320/37-PA142966.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">It was now early November and time to start looking for a suitable weather window to head back down to New Zealand once again. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">With our berth previously booked at the Denarau Marina team GWTW nuzzled into the dock and settled into life on the land and all that comes with it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kOKplRlmgPTW4oY8T9LQ73rgsHfQ1EvygS4WqOW9mIJMJ0F_q3RpkB5C6TgPaOU8B35NE9INtks4QLHGwYqOtwWwArXot8uD9ABLnU7tVYffVRmPrFymPKC8mFcV8Qf4x1a_IcWo34o-/s1600/IMG20191031182020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kOKplRlmgPTW4oY8T9LQ73rgsHfQ1EvygS4WqOW9mIJMJ0F_q3RpkB5C6TgPaOU8B35NE9INtks4QLHGwYqOtwWwArXot8uD9ABLnU7tVYffVRmPrFymPKC8mFcV8Qf4x1a_IcWo34o-/s320/IMG20191031182020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">There were regular get- togethers with fellow cruising friends in the various restaurants around the boardwalk of the port and intense studying and discussions of the weather patterns.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"> Last minute trips on the bus were made into Nadi town for supplies for the upcoming passage south and arrival forms for NZ customs, Immigration and Biosecurity were downloaded, filled in and sent on their way through cyberspace to the various border security departments in the Land of the Long White Cloud.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_MMkzi22nXLS0fnmwXSfa7P664UqrCvn_Lg7FR5XwbjwcecGGGab1AsycwH-BHzbTLN8NONIZPrA_v629FPoio9m_gGs7Qh6QIR1kkrF9wr9oA3On9JeBtD41uDnMp3-7vpoe9Y9s0PD/s1600/IMG20191111182839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_MMkzi22nXLS0fnmwXSfa7P664UqrCvn_Lg7FR5XwbjwcecGGGab1AsycwH-BHzbTLN8NONIZPrA_v629FPoio9m_gGs7Qh6QIR1kkrF9wr9oA3On9JeBtD41uDnMp3-7vpoe9Y9s0PD/s320/IMG20191111182839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Then the whole thing became a waiting game. Some boats took off on what they thought was a great window only to get the crap kicked out of them halfway to NZ. It’s a nasty piece of ocean sometimes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"> Others including us patiently sat and sat and sat until the magic window appeared. For us that window was a narrow gap which saw us depart Fiji on November 14th. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">We’d spent four wonderful months plying Fiji’s waters and mingling among her tremendously friendly,smiling, happy people They say all good things come to an end and for us this was it </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">So until we meet again it’s Moce Fiji and Vinaka.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3od9FCCyEVezVRU4CoHLQNWKnr2-C37EjLeokbXXI_auhWIqR1bF6ecYCssQJvRgveI6Mrw3kyf-arO40McCHw2w1n8YWNv7UqyiNkSyTh1LGincVv6aphL5uv5bSDEBGpO7_8aQTn1L/s1600/55-PA253065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1200" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3od9FCCyEVezVRU4CoHLQNWKnr2-C37EjLeokbXXI_auhWIqR1bF6ecYCssQJvRgveI6Mrw3kyf-arO40McCHw2w1n8YWNv7UqyiNkSyTh1LGincVv6aphL5uv5bSDEBGpO7_8aQTn1L/s320/55-PA253065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"> <span style="color: red;"> **************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-34611377588016648022019-11-26T01:23:00.002-04:002019-11-26T01:23:35.773-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Segoe Script; font-size: medium;">Musket Cove Regatta Week : Party, Party,Party.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">13th –18th September 2019</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz6E0B0vtD6g_q6fbAoYKaeOXroeTRjufkqubO2Zq411LBeU1-rNoXqW-gBW_3XT_wY-LoAGWy3S9CCjjzEzyrjBIoNxIM7PuYTgHaSt1uiGHtpwgi0sFOxZWsYjFpH4okxPvHQjF8ckA/s1600/01-01-P8312161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz6E0B0vtD6g_q6fbAoYKaeOXroeTRjufkqubO2Zq411LBeU1-rNoXqW-gBW_3XT_wY-LoAGWy3S9CCjjzEzyrjBIoNxIM7PuYTgHaSt1uiGHtpwgi0sFOxZWsYjFpH4okxPvHQjF8ckA/s320/01-01-P8312161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hole punched right through the port hull into the bow locker</td></tr>
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Having spent a week in the Port Denarau marina where the final repairs to the hole in our port hull were completed, it was time to head back over to Musket Cove for the annual race week.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Below are a few pics of the superyachts that were docked in Port Denarau marina during our stay. There were plenty more including Dragonfly 73m, Legacy 50m, Pursuit tender to Legacy aka the toy boat or fast support vessel 51m. she also has a chopper,, Deniki 52m, Drumbeat 53m , Clan V111 45m and the list goes on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rsA8ke01IeLTuUZL-V23gRuJozVeXfLRmQx3aHE0Ix65w3iQb-vmug4-7ERTTRmM_rgatzqyMULFacje3vnlQSGcr1UTL5RG5-amSaYcDPxsYRhSiXzNQaCeHF5iQlwQ40TrjG8wx-D3/s1600/02-02-P8312169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rsA8ke01IeLTuUZL-V23gRuJozVeXfLRmQx3aHE0Ix65w3iQb-vmug4-7ERTTRmM_rgatzqyMULFacje3vnlQSGcr1UTL5RG5-amSaYcDPxsYRhSiXzNQaCeHF5iQlwQ40TrjG8wx-D3/s640/02-02-P8312169.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Senses" owned by Google complete with chopper is 60 m long</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOxGK4jo3vTs2WmhN4EZlaovvq8425eRJyZDea3YY5h8J_3TNIQfg32bFaBzPD9NLQE28Qg4mruIR0ZyGXgE7xgBnKvdPE4S6BHsT_cpC4RjsRzZfpHmAz1T6xUcNjuEi1WP6083JXRaG/s1600/03-03-P9012171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOxGK4jo3vTs2WmhN4EZlaovvq8425eRJyZDea3YY5h8J_3TNIQfg32bFaBzPD9NLQE28Qg4mruIR0ZyGXgE7xgBnKvdPE4S6BHsT_cpC4RjsRzZfpHmAz1T6xUcNjuEi1WP6083JXRaG/s640/03-03-P9012171.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superyacht Sportsfisher "Lanakai " is 39 m long</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5gkhxbSEIIALEFv81tijEwteSYP6Sc56iCbG5g7O8AeYgc9RPcwNgQ0RyQJl4clrnDOWqMZRsMIVqQGzg0IkFbmTohjL8JgxE_EP6QQjvcoelYL6vzLFO2aBNRcROptlncLPgBOTqfSl/s1600/05-05-P9052186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5gkhxbSEIIALEFv81tijEwteSYP6Sc56iCbG5g7O8AeYgc9RPcwNgQ0RyQJl4clrnDOWqMZRsMIVqQGzg0IkFbmTohjL8JgxE_EP6QQjvcoelYL6vzLFO2aBNRcROptlncLPgBOTqfSl/s640/05-05-P9052186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashanti, above & below is having her bow sprit removed for varnishing, she's 34 m long</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OPCcu1xUhyphenhyphenoSLvLfheMOci9dVC7H6eJY_eP6Oeuc8EERtkGiSW9TUdWBv99srwon_fp8-9A7eg8hLu8mKSUfq1_OuiNGsWeHNwvk1f9PrFGJj-wbA1owXPpVPaKa6cEx1w6CFTAElSNK/s1600/06-06-P9052190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OPCcu1xUhyphenhyphenoSLvLfheMOci9dVC7H6eJY_eP6Oeuc8EERtkGiSW9TUdWBv99srwon_fp8-9A7eg8hLu8mKSUfq1_OuiNGsWeHNwvk1f9PrFGJj-wbA1owXPpVPaKa6cEx1w6CFTAElSNK/s640/06-06-P9052190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Musket Cove Regatta is a highlight for most sailors regardless of whether you are a full on racer or just a cruiser.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> It’s the premier event on Fiji’s sailing calendar. Actually to be honest it’s probably the only thing on Fiji’s sailing calendar. With non stop events day and night the place turns into party central.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The regatta is sponsored by various businesses from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand which gives the event a bit of an international flair, so to speak. When it comes down to the participants well, that’s truly international. You won’t find any of the big boys who follow all the high end racing circuits here, it’s pretty much just our kinda people, cruising boats.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As GWTW hung up her racing shoes many moons ago we, along with 13 other friends were invited to be part of the crew on Rewa. Rewa as you’d know from reading previous posts belongs to our American friend Dave. She is a 64ft ketch and weighs in at around 50 ton. So once she gets moving it takes a long while to slow her down, something that paid off during one of the lighter air races. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKqMps0_Nu-eRuOlBH_3MIDz2b234xjhrQ_Xixe5Bu7rXZJTRfwbttLypL24nUZhP9-79iE6IfICtoqatLaWqZp9-_Pdhzc9TCDnqM7Jx5KGDqaLxCFpFBlwiCUrpqgH2M_20bZIXu6PD/s1600/08-07-P9122201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKqMps0_Nu-eRuOlBH_3MIDz2b234xjhrQ_Xixe5Bu7rXZJTRfwbttLypL24nUZhP9-79iE6IfICtoqatLaWqZp9-_Pdhzc9TCDnqM7Jx5KGDqaLxCFpFBlwiCUrpqgH2M_20bZIXu6PD/s320/08-07-P9122201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were jam sessions on GWTW</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVTPUfDgDjqVUStZNnjPgKPGSYmXnetrI7VlkqQZagZvTNYp5RHyrM8yY92wRZOkAwGWNX91xqrl4dVL-jez7zWOHSh31cJC-xC66PyHx0xELlfSm0jVmNtw3rJN1AT3nuQLik3XM7Mse/s1600/18-18-P9142264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1200" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVTPUfDgDjqVUStZNnjPgKPGSYmXnetrI7VlkqQZagZvTNYp5RHyrM8yY92wRZOkAwGWNX91xqrl4dVL-jez7zWOHSh31cJC-xC66PyHx0xELlfSm0jVmNtw3rJN1AT3nuQLik3XM7Mse/s320/18-18-P9142264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Followed by a performance in the island bar during Happy Hour</td></tr>
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</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As I mentioned earlier, during race week there were all sorts of events happening. Breakfast, lunches and dinners were provided by the sponsors most days.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Happy hour at the island bar was a big hit each evening and activities such as hobbie cat racing, coconut husking, island fun run, or walk if that was more your style,</span> it <span style="font-size: small;">drew a big crowd as did the golf challenge. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">There were also lots of fun things to keep the cruising kids occupied as well. But the main event was the yacht racing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">There were three races, the first being to Beachcomber Island,a two hour downwind race from the start line.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> It was ear marked with a pirate theme so water cannons, water balloons, pistols, deck wash hoses and anything that involved the wet stuff was fair game in close quarters from the start line to the finish line.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> Once at the island a buffet lunch was served followed by the prize giving, then it was a casual sail back to Musket Cove and get ready for the evening activates.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC2GoLtRceyNhgumC5mqHYMdKmBeXhKO4E5AhWgmNUkq_0bda2CgzLKn4EqnUHQvpN8ipE6Um9LpONLY0bpeesg2q7-uX4KisHZgtptvsjfTWpFbb9qMnB6BM_0Rk94vu3Jqtw5rinRUi/s1600/10-10-P9142216.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC2GoLtRceyNhgumC5mqHYMdKmBeXhKO4E5AhWgmNUkq_0bda2CgzLKn4EqnUHQvpN8ipE6Um9LpONLY0bpeesg2q7-uX4KisHZgtptvsjfTWpFbb9qMnB6BM_0Rk94vu3Jqtw5rinRUi/s320/10-10-P9142216.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water toys at the ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihncZut-rDA6C3o7e0gRiDbV3NF-93oclynA3reJvS9_2v7JWBf3MVz09ANze3qPFabXXF2mWOTtGF8loYNrNxA5K0QxsGMm8My2HctMwDHOBntKxWFjDE9qYQ4poEFbo59Zn3cGRFo9_m/s1600/12-12-P9142226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1200" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihncZut-rDA6C3o7e0gRiDbV3NF-93oclynA3reJvS9_2v7JWBf3MVz09ANze3qPFabXXF2mWOTtGF8loYNrNxA5K0QxsGMm8My2HctMwDHOBntKxWFjDE9qYQ4poEFbo59Zn3cGRFo9_m/s320/12-12-P9142226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave with daughter Tessa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRqrvbGLygqWGfhMa60AqYq57sgepv4rjnjZdGWxkkbbsFcHuhNiLIaq0g7IYmX-AawEnh30LaLN_F0uoOdIfn6Y3o9UqBO0FWrPHN6lK8FHvp7OzHEy2OfJQ8uP5Wr0p-Twfi9xTptGn/s1600/13-13-P9142229.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRqrvbGLygqWGfhMa60AqYq57sgepv4rjnjZdGWxkkbbsFcHuhNiLIaq0g7IYmX-AawEnh30LaLN_F0uoOdIfn6Y3o9UqBO0FWrPHN6lK8FHvp7OzHEy2OfJQ8uP5Wr0p-Twfi9xTptGn/s320/13-13-P9142229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a cute couple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGl2O_TTFhajQUSj1IQSGMp7L_TrYH3pJhqkK8O6L80XmVre4LFv1EiJzrZ6eYk-TYnh1on8WJctd1FHnOGFyNS6_vUSKlIJaBIgSdA_OPU4c06HFoTF1dxFJLd0oRZuwdJBUuIRrcjaF/s1600/09-09-P9142210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGl2O_TTFhajQUSj1IQSGMp7L_TrYH3pJhqkK8O6L80XmVre4LFv1EiJzrZ6eYk-TYnh1on8WJctd1FHnOGFyNS6_vUSKlIJaBIgSdA_OPU4c06HFoTF1dxFJLd0oRZuwdJBUuIRrcjaF/s640/09-09-P9142210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls of Rewa : Tessa, Judy, Laurie, Heike, Me & Vandy<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59V286LN6cHZa3mKXruq_9PIFAwGaXczG6knjTJM7TpFywfzHewfBHrWbxjED09qhq4-8ng3LAUL3wyKl8A5-kGTKPtvFS0zEia791-KIsXBFMZbuTSupI8Ag3M5IyfRtz1aduVr_dSwV/s1600/16-16-P9142238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59V286LN6cHZa3mKXruq_9PIFAwGaXczG6knjTJM7TpFywfzHewfBHrWbxjED09qhq4-8ng3LAUL3wyKl8A5-kGTKPtvFS0zEia791-KIsXBFMZbuTSupI8Ag3M5IyfRtz1aduVr_dSwV/s640/16-16-P9142238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Left: Eric, Heike, Liam, Dave Me & Vandy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8Ijwb4O_k6drKeaZbFY6r6KAg58B5_vSQP3hhOE0P8fobFU-3XE6isMeKqbjUOwqZu7Gtw9xHs7wHOsp-OShM7Athk5am0POqwdx_odtAIPpzZvynb7pwyFd1zYaYvMyMj8nAl4P2ky7/s1600/14-14-P9142234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1200" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8Ijwb4O_k6drKeaZbFY6r6KAg58B5_vSQP3hhOE0P8fobFU-3XE6isMeKqbjUOwqZu7Gtw9xHs7wHOsp-OShM7Athk5am0POqwdx_odtAIPpzZvynb7pwyFd1zYaYvMyMj8nAl4P2ky7/s640/14-14-P9142234.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew of Impi having fun</td></tr>
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Race two was a 20 mile triangle course. The weather was extremely sporty and even had Rewa on her ear. Those of us with previous racing experience took it in our stride, however we all felt for Dave’s sister who had just flown in from the States. She had never been on board a yacht before and now she was resembling a pigeon in a loft that had uninvited guests sizing her up as a meal. There were a few close calls during the race when a couple of boats came within spitting distance. Not a good thing in such boisterous conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M6EJrqpgDZ6jTVKRls-0vZYoZE9YRPx6bRSUDQ-dEJDfRYg3idHd8cQrwcU9UHI3KrqC2iqxXS0G4Vq3RcA9U51ke-FzIbPGtKBbMnlwMqQDgMGn-nzQfGGV7ksE59GyehZVb8Ekcb5V/s1600/20-20-P9162308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M6EJrqpgDZ6jTVKRls-0vZYoZE9YRPx6bRSUDQ-dEJDfRYg3idHd8cQrwcU9UHI3KrqC2iqxXS0G4Vq3RcA9U51ke-FzIbPGtKBbMnlwMqQDgMGn-nzQfGGV7ksE59GyehZVb8Ekcb5V/s640/20-20-P9162308.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit too close for comfort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22fw0ZjxEPk2Ts5vOz8dWUikvdjMdOs9aNYeBO9M2NaPIUGpdANweeQjvxDOgiB5kUr1f4NIHUPw9BvU20LJmeHCuxgNb2G8Ef5K8tN0wcWWT9TQ00TyucaEPbS8VXBEelvYTjnqvzvZ6/s1600/19-19-P9162289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22fw0ZjxEPk2Ts5vOz8dWUikvdjMdOs9aNYeBO9M2NaPIUGpdANweeQjvxDOgiB5kUr1f4NIHUPw9BvU20LJmeHCuxgNb2G8Ef5K8tN0wcWWT9TQ00TyucaEPbS8VXBEelvYTjnqvzvZ6/s640/19-19-P9162289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smidge overpowered to say the least</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_yi1gu5yPkyzvJgOYn3vg4fzlEp9ZW7dFknHoVoXZNlW5Tp-usjlHosYKWKEiZoj2qUj3tmmRCW6RfkN3kuk7xNZ894WQR5VLxkBBxXpwV237qGUmxZSY8g3uJRQeMX5iRfnfrR8tuFd/s1600/21-21-P9162319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_yi1gu5yPkyzvJgOYn3vg4fzlEp9ZW7dFknHoVoXZNlW5Tp-usjlHosYKWKEiZoj2qUj3tmmRCW6RfkN3kuk7xNZ894WQR5VLxkBBxXpwV237qGUmxZSY8g3uJRQeMX5iRfnfrR8tuFd/s640/21-21-P9162319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heike ready on the mizzen sail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL4lsMPlJn4sz_zBzTszfIy8zCUY6mjhx5fOJMIIF3zodTIZ9rMlWeQV74mk26UB2PTcnc6DTopXRyhhsWlu7BEKUTEVHNOJe_Kz_aukSORSjP3N6vavJHnFvLzikxyZLDDNGwrHCrmXT/s1600/22-22-P9162321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL4lsMPlJn4sz_zBzTszfIy8zCUY6mjhx5fOJMIIF3zodTIZ9rMlWeQV74mk26UB2PTcnc6DTopXRyhhsWlu7BEKUTEVHNOJe_Kz_aukSORSjP3N6vavJHnFvLzikxyZLDDNGwrHCrmXT/s320/22-22-P9162321.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam takes the helm</td></tr>
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The final race was around the island and the fleet left in extremely light airs. Rewa got a good start and her 50 ton momentum paid off well as we ghosted past the lighter weight boats and just kept on rolling.<br />
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<br />
That was until the forces of nature intervened and we eventually slowed to a full stop. We had every sail up that we could but without a good breeze she was hard to get going again.<br />
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So the bar staff, Dave's daughter Tess and hubby Nick were relieved from deck duties and put to work in the galley making Bloody Mary's for everyone. Man were they tasty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddfubksYj_DtCjeR161WYoo8wO_wdWDlp3V61jiXYA9q5b7gezMSl2FkyQZ-T3Bg-2dEjK4ML9UMoaVlBmTL96xYkfa65F5oYhDmVqzSOFSRdy99cnxWOvEalrX2xZHpSPQsYSqdtFeX4/s1600/27-27-P9182441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddfubksYj_DtCjeR161WYoo8wO_wdWDlp3V61jiXYA9q5b7gezMSl2FkyQZ-T3Bg-2dEjK4ML9UMoaVlBmTL96xYkfa65F5oYhDmVqzSOFSRdy99cnxWOvEalrX2xZHpSPQsYSqdtFeX4/s640/27-27-P9182441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdwj4TyO0hgneLwwTow7Gl57-Y8w7idFUo6VIIsrhDnsc9itJ6Sa0Rrn-cyVeq5lVuiYgzjekQ91mcJToxtdBsITd3-bGyw13sJTH2t6Z1-MwUcba3DR_N6C0hLp61PQI4QjHfV9WdpMx/s1600/28-28-P9182452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdwj4TyO0hgneLwwTow7Gl57-Y8w7idFUo6VIIsrhDnsc9itJ6Sa0Rrn-cyVeq5lVuiYgzjekQ91mcJToxtdBsITd3-bGyw13sJTH2t6Z1-MwUcba3DR_N6C0hLp61PQI4QjHfV9WdpMx/s640/28-28-P9182452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQLHUu5yErgpxIztzmfH5vPf1c3KreG0vkdGKBeRlfpSZE0YoYV-yIjefQupP-YXdvePj5eLiIlQkO_YNczf0eJrBmNsMXNKmkx34VKA_bdqcIkacU1_GiFf-0pYp-64YZt96ofa55eri/s1600/29-29-P9182456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQLHUu5yErgpxIztzmfH5vPf1c3KreG0vkdGKBeRlfpSZE0YoYV-yIjefQupP-YXdvePj5eLiIlQkO_YNczf0eJrBmNsMXNKmkx34VKA_bdqcIkacU1_GiFf-0pYp-64YZt96ofa55eri/s640/29-29-P9182456.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rolled this boat even with his spinnaker was up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf8LXHbM939XUo6VXQC7ASTwhR6Ngw6MUZIU7DoRhibvR4hHNnC0dCx7DQSeks78pxVJIK9o1qGLOnJX9tVlIOZMlqUiOVCvdEWaiZaVg2L3T9Rf8Nbel6pE8C2_gMzssGTT22-ZkcZ_B/s1600/26-26-P9162358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyf8LXHbM939XUo6VXQC7ASTwhR6Ngw6MUZIU7DoRhibvR4hHNnC0dCx7DQSeks78pxVJIK9o1qGLOnJX9tVlIOZMlqUiOVCvdEWaiZaVg2L3T9Rf8Nbel6pE8C2_gMzssGTT22-ZkcZ_B/s400/26-26-P9162358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race drinkies</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sadly Rewa did not win any race prizes but had there been trophy’s for the best onboard music, in house adult beverages, jokes and humor or nibbles then we would have definitely cleaned up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The race week concluded with an amazing sunset followed by another huge and tasty buffet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fireworks lit up the sky and late night dancing went till you could dance no more. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCE3A9stiLlr6NbpsC-8ayPktLECDJjjpYVPaRYeoa7oRHvos6iovuItWaVgvCU0felQgqLolQcgaE2K5ikaNJVvieq3fYiRjwU4WDB23_FALMQxCqxjIXAooSipGxCocOE1DD_KXJVCZ/s1600/34-34-P9182475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCE3A9stiLlr6NbpsC-8ayPktLECDJjjpYVPaRYeoa7oRHvos6iovuItWaVgvCU0felQgqLolQcgaE2K5ikaNJVvieq3fYiRjwU4WDB23_FALMQxCqxjIXAooSipGxCocOE1DD_KXJVCZ/s640/34-34-P9182475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sensational sunset<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rewa 2019 Musket Cove Regatta crew</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The whole thing from go to woe had been a real hoot and the most fun regatta we’d partaken in in years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Would we recommend it, you bet we would.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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*******************************Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-32444804785456570752019-11-05T02:45:00.002-04:002019-11-05T17:13:47.722-04:00<span style="color: red; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong>Moving on to Western Viti Levu</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;">Fireworks, Parties & Altercations with Fishermen .</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"> 13th – 28th August 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Leaving Beqa and the sharks behind we headed back over to mainland Fiji and on to Robinson Crusoe Island for their weekly dinner and fireworks show. As much as we are not resort hounds it is nice to have a meal ashore and experience a tad of Fijian culture.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The resort is run by an aussie lady who makes a real effort to welcome yachties to come in and enjoy the island. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The dinner was terrific and there was an over abundance of food. The food was spectacular with dance troops, singing, fire juggling, kava drinking and a fabulous finale of fire power on the beach at 9pm. All in all a great night ashore in a well protected anchorage.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kava drinking was really not my bag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing above and the finale fireworks below</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Next stop was Musket Cove on Mololo Li Island about a three hour run west of the Viti Levu in the Mamanuca Group of islands. Musket Cove is home to all sorts of events and is a very popular spot for yachts and superyachts to lay at anchor for extended periods of time. The resort here is another yacht friendly place and for $20 FJ you can become a lifetime member of the yacht club and have full use of all the resort amenties and restaurants, It’s a great deal, probably the best we’ve ever heard of. So of course we joined.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As I said its <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">quite the gathering place for people like us. Catching up with friends whom we’d not seen for a while was great . Among those from New Zealand were Mark and Jennifer from the motor yacht Starlet. Jennifer was celebrating her 60th birthday and they’d booked a villa on the island for the event which was followed by a fully paid dinner on the cruisers island bar & BBQ. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group of cruisers at Jennifer's birthday party</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Roughly thirty of us were invited to the event and believe me they put on a great party. Starting with an open bar and nibbles in the villa followed by dinner on the island where the yachtie musicians rocked the dance floor for a few hours. Another fun night out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">While here we also caught up Eric and Vandy from Scoots and their visiting family from the USA. The weekly Pig roast dinner was highly recommended was being held one night so we all signed up. Well worth the money and the fun, laughs and jokes with our favourite friends went on all evening.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGaSWVeLXv-xfD1neTBEFkHiDTqMD2vUDxTHiPsGq-hOgOE3uujX012jHvGZQIGFXRPAxCthTEDsmgY-s1VsFM9HNcnWdJzaXrP29FcOx2b622-vLhX6xmEJk-D5w-vdX3rID6vtbWB4J/s1600/12-P8151927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGaSWVeLXv-xfD1neTBEFkHiDTqMD2vUDxTHiPsGq-hOgOE3uujX012jHvGZQIGFXRPAxCthTEDsmgY-s1VsFM9HNcnWdJzaXrP29FcOx2b622-vLhX6xmEJk-D5w-vdX3rID6vtbWB4J/s320/12-P8151927.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R team Rewa, Scoots and Us</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Next up it was time to move on the the rest of the island chain so off we hoped along with a couple of other yachts and headed over to Mana island just a stones throw away for a day of diving and snorkeling. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We stayed an extra day while the others went back into the Mana lagoon which is not a favorite spot of ours. Next morning we pulled up the anchor and decided on stopping at Navandra but enroute we had a not so slight hiccup . </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Just after tacking the jib sail from one side to the other in rather boisterous conditions we were both inside studying the charts to avoid any lurking reefs, which there are plenty of in these parts.</span><br />
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Suddenly we felt solid impact and heard a loud bang, and just as we stuck our heads up a moderate size fishing boat slid down our port side. Shit, we’d hit him!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His bow punched right through our port hull</td></tr>
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In that couple of minutes of not being stationed at the helm disaster had struck us. The fishermen, three of them were all asleep and anchored right on our track. How dare they. Ten feet either side and we’d have missed their boat completely. The fishing boat's bow had put a thru and thru hole in our port bow. All he had lost was his anchor rope.<br />
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He very excitedly began his pursuit of us, loudly yelling and waving his arms. We dropped our sails and pulled over into a small cove, where another cat was anchored, and the fishing boat, definatly not by invitation rafted alongside as we hastily deployed our fenders to ward off more damage to our hull..<br />
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Ron, the main man, attempted to jump aboard but we fended him off, he was in an incredibly agitated state and we sure didn't want him on our boat.<br />
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We were glad we anchored in company with the charter boat Big Blue who were very helpful in giving us police phone numbers etc as well as sound advice on how to handle this mishap and interacting with this excitable fellow.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The skipper, Ron, was beyond hysterical, claiming serious damage to his vessel, though that was difficult to really tell as it was really a piece of floating crap. Anyway, we were totally at fault and after much negotiation he finally agreed that we'd compensate him to the tune of FJ $1500 around AUD $1000. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">For sure it was probably double what he was entitled to but we simply wanted the matter and him to go away. From the shake of hands he was our new best buddy. He called us daily on the phone to ascertain when we would be back to pay him and even started calling Liam mate!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Fortunately repairs to GWTW were arranged to be completed in Port Denarau a few weeks later at a very reasonable cost. In the meantime Liam and a fellow cruiser Hank from S/V Harlequin did some interim fiberglass repairs once we arrived at the protected anchorage of Blue Lagoon further up the island chain. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hank & Liam fibrerglassing the hole</td></tr>
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Overall, we were very lucky. Had Ron's boat collided with the centre of our boat, rather than the port hull, who knows what the outcome would have been. Possibly sinking the fishing boat, certainly dismasting GWTW and prematurely ending our cruising. Worst case scenario would be people overboard, and many of these folk don’t swim too well. Doesn’t bear thinking about, really. Lesson learnt… keep a good lookout for reefs and fishing boats!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">After the incident we continued on to Blue Lagoon, where parts of the original movie of the same name were filmed. And yea we all showed up to watch the movie the resort put on for us. My WE were young when we watched it for the first time . While we were here we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary with a whole bunch of friends at the Natalya Resort and even had the resort band sing us happy anniversary during dinner. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 34th to us</td></tr>
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Our days were spent chilling out, playing music jam sessions ashore, taking walks to the windward side of the island and snorkeling the nearby reefs . It was a great few days in a beautiful place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruiser music at happy hour in the resort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anniversary dinner with our friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk ashore with best friends Vandy & Eric from S/V Scoots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great organic veggie gardens at the resort and you can order a box of assorted fruit and veg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lo with her tea house.. great teas and cakes well worth the walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Lagoon anchorage</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-7883241797958701152019-10-24T00:48:00.000-04:002019-10-24T21:11:48.012-04:00<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong>Close Encounters with Tigers and Bulls </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">10th –13th August 2019</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The island of Beqa is roughly twelve miles south of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. This lush and mountainous island is almost circular in shape and it’s large lagoon is surrounded by thirty kilometers of reef. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">There are two attractions which brought us here. Beqa is a diver’s mecca and the Fire Walkers here are said to be the best in Fiji. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We dropped the hook just off the Beqa Lagoon Resort as both Liam and the Rewa crew were pretty keen to get wet and mingle with those who live in the underwater world. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As luck would have it, that evening the resort was putting on a buffet dinner complete with a Fire Walking display with the walkers coming from the nearby village of Rookwa. Of course all the yachts anchored in the bay signed up. Along with the resort guests there was probably around fifty people in attendance.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Just to prove a point that the rocks were indeed hot, hot, hot, water was poured onto one of the rocks and it instantly turned from liquid to steam.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Below are a few happy snaps from the show.This is one circus act that you definitely do not want to try at home.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walkers getting the fire ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying prayers before the show started</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The audience included a local dog </td></tr>
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The show lasted about 30 minutes with the walkers dressed in grass skirts hanging down to their ankles. Personally we didn't think that was such a good idea given they would be trotting across red hot rocks. The fire had been stoked for a couple of hours and the embers were still glowing as the show started. There is quite a legend attached to the Fire Walkers of Beqa which, if interested, you can find the story on the internet googling Rookwa Village Firewalking, “The story of fire walking in Fiji”.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys have very tough feet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAHBzD0Gtewqs818bScmNGwiZBIGfDxLpFdyttvfRbkfDvpGBYmY3lhoNf7Fhyqy8FjuB-zmWy46m0JLYb4Lwzb9VIbARaxhAK3uJdFBzkX1aNhfIndaBUs6YvDbW8BDO-keMui1QJzB9/s1600/08-P8121066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAHBzD0Gtewqs818bScmNGwiZBIGfDxLpFdyttvfRbkfDvpGBYmY3lhoNf7Fhyqy8FjuB-zmWy46m0JLYb4Lwzb9VIbARaxhAK3uJdFBzkX1aNhfIndaBUs6YvDbW8BDO-keMui1QJzB9/s400/08-P8121066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you pick the odd ones out</td></tr>
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Now onto the other main event.<br />
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In this world there are nurses, lemons tigers and bulls both on land and in the water and it’s the underwater ones that are of interest here.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As Liam is the more experienced diver in our family he can relay his story to you fist hand.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I have dived with lots of sharks during our years of cruising, though they have mainly been reef sharks and generally not overly large. Mind you there was a Great Hammerhead who happened along during a pass dive in Fakarava Tuomotus a few years back and that was pretty awesome. However, reef sharks can be aggressive and a 6 or 7 footer with attitude is a serious menace. Especially when you are spear fishing and have nailed a thrashing, bleeding fish. That gets their attention real fast.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">This shark encounter was far more orchestrated. It wasn’t a cheap exercise by any means but the value for money aspect was priceless. Included in the cost, US$180 pp, were two dives, a light snack between dives and all your gear if need be. However in the interest of everyone’s safety you could not use your own regulator or tank. It was mandatory to use theirs.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Once the extremely comprehensive briefing was finished we all piled into the resort’s dive boat and off we sped across the lagoon to an area called The Cathedral. </span><br />
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Around a dozen or so divers dropped down fast to around 60 feet and lined up behind a man-made wall which was some 2 feet high with Go Pro’s at the ready.<br />
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We all knelt and just in front of us was a metal trunk full of large chunks of fish.<br />
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This was manned by two of our dive guides, one who would feed the sharks, the other armed with a lengthy pole to ward off any overly keen creatures. I’m sure you get my drift here. Behind us stood three more guides similarly armed. They certainly gave us an element of comfort.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLfnIEh40qzypMDu6qsfDNSwix8EdOkOUw3GoKj7Gc61tIGb1HPUWWiVg9C4rAJXMYUmaALcsBFgUbRcjkN6TWGOfNqaDbgGXE08rNIHtkPf0OAEXHTXii2KKCLRfSF8PBPBcQ5LXsq1b/s1600/22-19-GOPR1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1008" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLfnIEh40qzypMDu6qsfDNSwix8EdOkOUw3GoKj7Gc61tIGb1HPUWWiVg9C4rAJXMYUmaALcsBFgUbRcjkN6TWGOfNqaDbgGXE08rNIHtkPf0OAEXHTXii2KKCLRfSF8PBPBcQ5LXsq1b/s320/22-19-GOPR1259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guides were always alert</td></tr>
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It was h<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">ard to tell exactly but my best guess would be there were around 30-40 sharks cruising around us, and I mean close, like often less than 10 feet both in front and above us. It felt like we were in a huge aquarium but this time there were no glass walls separating humans from predators.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The gang was all there….bulls, nurses, lemons, reefs and the big kahuna of them all…tigers! </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">So the action went like this.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The diver in charge of feeding would take a chunk of fish from the bin, about twice the size of a loaf of bread, and the big male tiger, around 15 feet long, would cruise slowly by and have the fish chunk almost placed into it’s gaping mouth. Meanwhile the bulls and other sharks continuously circled our group. It was a beyond cool experience, believe me.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tiger chopping down a chunk of tuna</td></tr>
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At times the big tiger was so close as he passed by we could have easily tickled his tummy. The bulls were just plain uber menacing in appearance. They spooked us all. Man they are nasty looking fish, their vibe felt as though they would really enjoy eating us if the guides were not there to keep them at bay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyUPDHZE6jzGHwWvIOMX9qRglzRE_vnfUtj32YUsMeiqsmggxrXNRw_VJ6w7PGYXdX1-TxlV5eyHaSsbyLTedTUnvX-l6Tp1hfNwSLEogEBTuPhbiFL6xSrQi4m8esiBrK7FmYhccCkjL/s1600/17-12-GOPR1254-010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1052" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyUPDHZE6jzGHwWvIOMX9qRglzRE_vnfUtj32YUsMeiqsmggxrXNRw_VJ6w7PGYXdX1-TxlV5eyHaSsbyLTedTUnvX-l6Tp1hfNwSLEogEBTuPhbiFL6xSrQi4m8esiBrK7FmYhccCkjL/s640/17-12-GOPR1254-010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing beats a good jab in the head to keep the Bulls away</td></tr>
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Many times our minders would poke a passing shark, and I'm talking a hefty jab in the side that rippled the shark’s flank.<br />
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Once the tigers had had their fill our food handler took the last chunk of fish and swim quickly away from our group tossing it up for a free for all . <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">It was a take no prisoners moment between the sharks and all the fish. Winner took it all with that last chunk and there was no backing down from those fast bulls.</span> With the dive and shark interaction now over we shark struck divers slowly ascended back to the surface all the time under the watchful eyes of our guides.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">What a fabulous morning it was indeed. The Tigers were definitely the stars </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">So, if you are into spending a bit of quality underwater time with some of natures finest and most feared sharks, Beqa is definitely the place for you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> <span style="color: blue;"> *************************************</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-30299569237917912652019-10-13T21:30:00.000-04:002019-10-13T21:30:04.000-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><strong>Moalo, Kadavu,Ono, Namari and Dravuni Islands</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">1st –10th August 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Our 120 mile sail to <span style="color: magenta;"><strong><em>Moalo</em></strong></span> was uneventful. We were in loose company with two other boats but caught up with Rewa just before entering the tricky pass on the western side. Navionics, one of the navigation programs that we use was absolutely hopeless. It’s a very good thing that we also use google maps overlaid on Open CPN, as well as a Chinese version called Ovitalmap which is just like google earth but uses different satellites for its geographical photography. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Arriving mid afternoon we had good light to enter the rather hairy S-shaped pass through the reef. Once inside we motored into the anchorage just off the village. As the tide was at dead low we were not able to go in and do our Sevusevu as there was no way we could get the dinghy to the shore. We hoped the villagers realized that. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGTxuPuYMFvZ39-_BBaMNcoKQoYlv0FM1kyJCLtDwIljoFj0X-ODgEZQpcUe2Fqh8pLJ-pY7Er_2vDrU0-J-3yGHuZCBHbOF6Do6XdwVoD63HAEY7U2rAfDu30LhL8xeXESuQiSp6xDVs/s1600/10-P8020811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="1200" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGTxuPuYMFvZ39-_BBaMNcoKQoYlv0FM1kyJCLtDwIljoFj0X-ODgEZQpcUe2Fqh8pLJ-pY7Er_2vDrU0-J-3yGHuZCBHbOF6Do6XdwVoD63HAEY7U2rAfDu30LhL8xeXESuQiSp6xDVs/s400/10-P8020811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below villagers collecting seafood at low tide.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Later that evening around 8pm we had a knock on the hull, it was the police. The officer had been called to alert him that there were two yachts anchored in the bay and he’d driven from the other side of the island to check our papers were all in order, and to remind us to visit the village chief and present our Savusavu at 8am the following morning. The bush telegraph is alive and well in Fiji.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3UrK1Hi6S_tNXDnSjM0wxKWFYgXlVDemeJGe_TdhWhr-yHQ2P2AO7q6gLYU_O7S3QW4dd9qWWatoBjmnZdBOGihlGmbK0X-IIrptGCPIh0e8OJpIILCAK4i793YenxlNFIRAe0tUIIgB/s1600/01-P8020790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="1200" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3UrK1Hi6S_tNXDnSjM0wxKWFYgXlVDemeJGe_TdhWhr-yHQ2P2AO7q6gLYU_O7S3QW4dd9qWWatoBjmnZdBOGihlGmbK0X-IIrptGCPIh0e8OJpIILCAK4i793YenxlNFIRAe0tUIIgB/s320/01-P8020790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following Rewa in to do our sevusevu ceromony</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Next morning we did our duty and in we went. The tide was high so we made it to the seawall without a problem.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The village appeared less orderly than our visit to Susui. The buildings were not as neat and tidy and the yards rather unkempt but the people were as friendly as ever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> We met the chief after waiting over an hour. He was very old and frail and was still in bed so his daughter took us through the sevusevu ceremony. We had a quick walk through the village just to be polite and then the rain came down so we hightailed back home. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village fuel depot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam and Dave walking through the village</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This chap was copping up kava root to store until it dried out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fijians are always happy, these people were going out fishing</td></tr>
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We left the anchorage that afternoon for another overnight passage this time to Kadavu, some 78 miles further west.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Along the way we passed many Chinese fishing trawlers as well as longline trawlers that, lucky for us, had flashing lights on the ends of there lines. Often the trawler is a mile or two away from the flashing light which makes it very difficult to know which side of the net to pass. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We arrived at Kavala bay on <span style="color: magenta;"><strong><em>Kadavu</em></strong></span> amidst torrential rain, and that’s how it stayed for the next two days. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">There are several islands that fall under the banner of<span style="color: black;"> Kadavu</span> and they all are encompassed by the southern part of the Great Astrolabe Reef. We would be visiting three before we left the area. Apparently the reef is a divers’ delight but we didn’t get to experience any of it due to the weather and strong eastly winds. We had good Digicel coverage so Liam was able to order a new motherboard for our quickly failing Mase generator. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HI6PhrArCyFhNz6EqsB2u0Adbkoq5hUgd_bzxePhDcLoYWEV7X2BNeU_WIPZxk0iKjXqnFVyQV6sfmtgyqi2KC4VZqmAcJlbTOIduAVxOgUeJ290oYLmXVN99Gw2DBkx5jnb7N8oMdsI/s1600/13-P8060822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Moving north we had an overnight stop at Nabouwalu bay, <span style="color: magenta;"><strong><em>Ono island,</em></strong></span> where we were serenaded by a boat load of children on their way home from school. It was lovely to have them stop by and break into song. </a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The children stopped by both Gwtw and also Rewa on their way home to the village.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The film crew arriving to sus out the island</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;">We also stopped for a few nights at Namari Island where the filming of Swedish survivor series was about to start later in the week. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">We got to talk to the production crew who arrived en masse one afternoon,</span> and having never watch any of the survivor series it was interesting to hear what the contestants have to do to win fishing hooks or tins of food etc..<br />
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The island was off limits to cruising boats for two months from the start of filming, so good thing we were there when we were.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLU8YjUYucV0otBdUH64fCxDVGbGNdaB5SHhF0udiehUmuATUVcsaaR3mlLibH3NyiFvgWiq58O2X-MLfwT9vUR8PIsebm8wuo-eVxiOh9AcESEA33B6gMT7H13wcHk08cVSz3_ApOqHx/s1600/16-P8070835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLU8YjUYucV0otBdUH64fCxDVGbGNdaB5SHhF0udiehUmuATUVcsaaR3mlLibH3NyiFvgWiq58O2X-MLfwT9vUR8PIsebm8wuo-eVxiOh9AcESEA33B6gMT7H13wcHk08cVSz3_ApOqHx/s320/16-P8070835.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home for the survior contestemts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Bll7cX7UdTJNPb2uWN4Nt8KZLm3MCbk0VaBEQXoU4x4waHvnwY1OOJfMQU191k7GRZso1QR5Vb6TPtt77rMLnOMFNvbGBnzYjTBLFL8NtFEH2dcxwcu47NQZTpudAS90EpipSNSBRBCg/s1600/18-P8070829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1200" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Bll7cX7UdTJNPb2uWN4Nt8KZLm3MCbk0VaBEQXoU4x4waHvnwY1OOJfMQU191k7GRZso1QR5Vb6TPtt77rMLnOMFNvbGBnzYjTBLFL8NtFEH2dcxwcu47NQZTpudAS90EpipSNSBRBCg/s320/18-P8070829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below the the crew daytime accomodation & eating tents</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs8Ogq5N5Gj95dcdvYribT-1718D1tQCTPEJiZo5HDdXViDbMV_BQJvdqr-JEBW48yfkJrJkW7EwbntycQmuI-NV772_qr4wGJS3NBALyfzh90_sc1zmvpPswukLzUPZa0NALgZDZRnaq/s1600/20-P8070834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCs8Ogq5N5Gj95dcdvYribT-1718D1tQCTPEJiZo5HDdXViDbMV_BQJvdqr-JEBW48yfkJrJkW7EwbntycQmuI-NV772_qr4wGJS3NBALyfzh90_sc1zmvpPswukLzUPZa0NALgZDZRnaq/s320/20-P8070834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our final island in this group was <span style="color: magenta;"><strong><em>Dravuni.</em></strong></span> A drop dead gorgeous island fronted by aqua waters a long stretch of white sand, and a regular stop on the P&O cruise ship circuit. This was a very prosperous village indeed. The ship comes once a month and the village is invaded by up to a thousand tourists looking for that “ special” island experience. And they have come to the right place.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGvIbQmuR8mnPMC_Xd3DKkhm8d3tMrI3GULFJuc0aJWsvHcUUMLctDxJhzj_JmDMjwToKo1RtHJMqzy49Atz7dsw0Ddm-SZ1KrWl4iYmTd0yL5EgWsedgtsPDBByNWVdV00hosqJtPApm/s1600/30-DSCN6764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1200" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGvIbQmuR8mnPMC_Xd3DKkhm8d3tMrI3GULFJuc0aJWsvHcUUMLctDxJhzj_JmDMjwToKo1RtHJMqzy49Atz7dsw0Ddm-SZ1KrWl4iYmTd0yL5EgWsedgtsPDBByNWVdV00hosqJtPApm/s320/30-DSCN6764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the island while looking for the chief</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our first task along with two other boats was to locate the Chief and engage in sevusevu, a tradition previously outlined and essential in all villages we visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> However, finding the Chief proved difficult, we were told he was working in his garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So with what seemed pretty clear instructions as in “just follow the track you’ll find him”, off we trekked only to take the wrong fork in the road, there had been no mention of a fork in the instructions, and we took the right hand track ending up at the highest point on the island. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nice view and excellent cell phone reception, but no garden and no Chief.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn-oYA7q9CjQLTmiBh5yayFxhJqYTH2bK6EgfpsjIEPwlaVt20LLALgNIHMB8U6-iWfkcrwAafjADoPb-jN3-IJfAhIh9ugu1_lUfGe6r6Hj7fracqbkvnhVtcQ5UAAUIoFxuE26IQKu6/s1600/33-DSCN6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn-oYA7q9CjQLTmiBh5yayFxhJqYTH2bK6EgfpsjIEPwlaVt20LLALgNIHMB8U6-iWfkcrwAafjADoPb-jN3-IJfAhIh9ugu1_lUfGe6r6Hj7fracqbkvnhVtcQ5UAAUIoFxuE26IQKu6/s320/33-DSCN6767.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally we got to do our shortened version of sevusevu</td></tr>
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After nearly three hours of walking in the heat in our sevusevu approved attire we did eventually locate him by taking the other fork in the trail and then the eight of us and the chief, with a hoe slung over his shoulder, happily strolled back to the village for him to accept our offerings of kava.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now this guy was poles apart from the other chiefs we’d met so far. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He sure didn't beat around the bush, in fact the whole thing was done and dusted in no more than a record braking three minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">No village headman to assist in the ceremony, no hand clapping, just a “pass me the kava, ok the place is yours, have a nice stay”.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUCJx0wNLF3WdukWFU1korofMM0jtvYyT-9L__sHl1QUs89LQQ5xTUsll0rcqvsVWvX8lyq_05trZhw3klB-EZFfUzlgAebd0eD74stc4HpVrFRNvmhHZfpyJwiGlJtEFFFDIVvKg8IMx/s1600/1-IMG_0908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1200" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUCJx0wNLF3WdukWFU1korofMM0jtvYyT-9L__sHl1QUs89LQQ5xTUsll0rcqvsVWvX8lyq_05trZhw3klB-EZFfUzlgAebd0eD74stc4HpVrFRNvmhHZfpyJwiGlJtEFFFDIVvKg8IMx/s320/1-IMG_0908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can tell when a village has the spoils of money on tap and the villagers of Dravuni are sorted, big time. They have an elaborate modular dock they assemble to accommodate the incoming launches from the mothership.<br />
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No beach landings or wet feet happening here, no way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrjrusCeoZAF8tKXr5FdNgyMa1DDb2ONJaeMYPxSqPem7pAIP-2CyulgAUmkLu_Tz5bl1JruWba9qs2UKmD4XP3mfoLjXbyK-YZidfsS-GsYMhVegDhyCseBQ5U89_ZxFilc6byosWZOr/s1600/03-DSCN6734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrjrusCeoZAF8tKXr5FdNgyMa1DDb2ONJaeMYPxSqPem7pAIP-2CyulgAUmkLu_Tz5bl1JruWba9qs2UKmD4XP3mfoLjXbyK-YZidfsS-GsYMhVegDhyCseBQ5U89_ZxFilc6byosWZOr/s320/03-DSCN6734.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice soft grass where the tourists spend their time & wooden massage stalls</td></tr>
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Along the foreshore were numerous wooden stalls that when the ship is in sell anything from local crafts to full-on massages.<br />
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We are talking dozens of these enterprises. And the thing we all noticed instantly…beautiful, lush grass and soft underfoot. Can’t have those tourist tootsies stepping on stones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXVOCMYy9H0mgzHonqS09dpEPgD3jYCyRNDYUzbgIZ7Uxs7TcporaCcSRkBihmjdbn8OwWDqZvEG-0-DTYgRc54Rq7Pf6k3bCph-qKzGXVFtXw9SKN_zL6L03sTnvBK8U2r25Wtdo-Wqn/s1600/01-DSCN6737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1200" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXVOCMYy9H0mgzHonqS09dpEPgD3jYCyRNDYUzbgIZ7Uxs7TcporaCcSRkBihmjdbn8OwWDqZvEG-0-DTYgRc54Rq7Pf6k3bCph-qKzGXVFtXw9SKN_zL6L03sTnvBK8U2r25Wtdo-Wqn/s320/01-DSCN6737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theses young girls are playing with phones and tablets</td></tr>
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Also well manicured.and well defined pathways lined with borders of shells and plants. Another standout was the use of mobile phones and tablets.<br />
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Yes, these kids were into modern technology enjoying games on their gizmos just like kids back home. In fact we hardly saw any kids outdoors except for some small boys tossing around a tennis ball, though we suspect we simply didn’t witness all the outdoor activities during our brief stay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2gpHdTdl2g2zB4g7X4J2Wk6GyedlPmRAsRxdQoTiReLSV1kr3KOqrgr0NIGZK2D1-iWW6i6s9OzJZouzSIy2Wad1DDqmMCv5upx6biCothRtBhdklW677Uzy06tHnFvlHpVPy7dwjAtL/s1600/05-DSCN6742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1200" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2gpHdTdl2g2zB4g7X4J2Wk6GyedlPmRAsRxdQoTiReLSV1kr3KOqrgr0NIGZK2D1-iWW6i6s9OzJZouzSIy2Wad1DDqmMCv5upx6biCothRtBhdklW677Uzy06tHnFvlHpVPy7dwjAtL/s320/05-DSCN6742.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Most of the homes were modest and modern.<br />
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The one in this photo looked to be very upmarket with nice curtains and furniture as well as glass windows, something you don't see much of in the villages<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As is often been the case, the women appeared to be the workers, busily weaving mats or baskets for the next load ship load of tourists. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Very few men seem to be actively at work, though they no doubt fish quite often.</span><br />
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The island is very walkable and we had some exercise checking out the sights, ranging from the local cemetery to the veggie gardens and on to the windswept eastern side of the island. Pretty much every island in Fiji the village is on the western side, away from the dominant trade winds.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAZdXs_LqaO2OcPtZN1Hn5YZr9gEzc3EidXQzBC2rT932znU4zMM2p6NXK6HfpcSkQXy1_LVNg7_Uknx4YOeEd8dsqq7IYztqI93pBrDoBZVV198m5JzZ6gSqC7oieBUnA4LHmF8FjOoh/s1600/27-DSCN6743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1200" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAZdXs_LqaO2OcPtZN1Hn5YZr9gEzc3EidXQzBC2rT932znU4zMM2p6NXK6HfpcSkQXy1_LVNg7_Uknx4YOeEd8dsqq7IYztqI93pBrDoBZVV198m5JzZ6gSqC7oieBUnA4LHmF8FjOoh/s320/27-DSCN6743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These pigs are destined for the dinner table at some point</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN3vd2Y9CCymBKh9ipXUDrzSeRDXS2qoRDar_4Jr81t1NZqvi4YI4zo_sp81lBX9ZaOkvO_R6ReleN44SdCUE_cPVzT3sSZNZNvAgpjLQfZAe8RtYbximhelDqsy-txDUAz9dZEp64ErO/s1600/29-DSCN6745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN3vd2Y9CCymBKh9ipXUDrzSeRDXS2qoRDar_4Jr81t1NZqvi4YI4zo_sp81lBX9ZaOkvO_R6ReleN44SdCUE_cPVzT3sSZNZNvAgpjLQfZAe8RtYbximhelDqsy-txDUAz9dZEp64ErO/s320/29-DSCN6745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids just being kids, no Tablets or phones involved in this game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset drinks on the beach with the Rewa crew</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown of thorns starfish found while snorkeling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rarely seen green corals</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graves covered with sarongs, some also had plates and bowls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below the village church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking through the veggie gardens<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local pulling down a few papaya for us</td></tr>
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From what I’ve written it may sound as if we didn’t enjoy this island very much but really we did. We just couldn’t get our heads around how vastly different this village was compared to others we’d visited.<br />
Believe me, this is a beautiful place and well worth spending time here. Just check the P&O schedule before you come!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind%20%20%20Wind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: magenta;"> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-42356196263523821052019-10-08T17:31:00.001-04:002019-10-08T20:22:05.235-04:00<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong>The Northern Lau, Vanua Balavu, Part Two</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">25th -31st June 2019</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-y_AbI0lPZhTgMJzhVFq-3Kh-vomCcMQEMCfJ7eGbCN5x1Gedkz3W3Oc43C6AkxOfmr8-WwFYlrfkD8mDAA3HIlPUATHkUQAhLp67FexhZpUGuMZ7sCqMRC6LUhRN-ERddE7wyGSTR3g/s1600/32-P7270649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-y_AbI0lPZhTgMJzhVFq-3Kh-vomCcMQEMCfJ7eGbCN5x1Gedkz3W3Oc43C6AkxOfmr8-WwFYlrfkD8mDAA3HIlPUATHkUQAhLp67FexhZpUGuMZ7sCqMRC6LUhRN-ERddE7wyGSTR3g/s320/32-P7270649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain rain go away</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our next stop on the island was a visit to the village of <em><span style="color: blue;">Susui</span></em> just a few miles across the bay from Lomaloma. With strong winds and rain forecast a gaggle of boats began arriving into the protected anchorage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back tracking for a minute, the day that we were in Lomaloma, Dave from S/V Rewa who is a regular visitor to these islands each year, caught up with Jacob, the 2IC for the chief of Susui village. Dave mentioned that if a few yachts came to the village could Jacob ask the chief if a traditional pig on a spit dinner could be arranged for Saturday night. His answer was that it would be no problem, consider it done, Jacob said.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very tidy village</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Nine boats in total arrived in the anchorage as the word had spread about the roast pig dinner on Saturday night and everyone wanted to partake. </span><br />
As Rewa, GWTW and Starlet were the first into the anchorage we hurriedly went ashore to meet the village chief and present our gifts of Kava for the traditional Sevusevu ceremony. I briefly mentioned this in a previous post but will explain more about it now.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>Sevusevu</em></span> is a part of daily life in Fijian villages. The ceremony marks respect and acceptance for all occasions from community meetings to healing ceremonies. It is an ancient ritual where the root of the kava or yaqona plant is pummeled into fine grains and then mixed with water to become what looks like muddy water and tastes about the same. It is a relaxant and often induces sleep if overindulged.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R Dave from Rewa, Jacob & Liam before the Sevusevu ceremony</td></tr>
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For cruisers like us the ceremony is an absolute must when anchored near most villages. Here’s what happens next.<br />
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You arrive in the village and ask for the <em>Turaga ni Koro</em>, the village headman who will escort you and your kava bundle to the chief’s house. After a few words from the headman explaining why we are there, we are then invited inside to sit cross legged on the woven mats on the floor.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEDR1bLpiTQ-4kJz_nhL-od_EtLjAH4xDgfdDTiQQXM84VR6XfVTtZHqduGJ685Tyi3WXTwMTetNu0MUHsH3zO74NO7s_-VMQvCFC50dzBIBT6CF3NKgbFTm5P5PzamrtZbczRx0DhAw6/s1600/04-DSCN6694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1200" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEDR1bLpiTQ-4kJz_nhL-od_EtLjAH4xDgfdDTiQQXM84VR6XfVTtZHqduGJ685Tyi3WXTwMTetNu0MUHsH3zO74NO7s_-VMQvCFC50dzBIBT6CF3NKgbFTm5P5PzamrtZbczRx0DhAw6/s320/04-DSCN6694.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob presenting our Kava bundles to the village chief</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More words in Fijian and the headman collects our Kava placing it on the floor in front of the chief.<br />
To cut to the chase, more words and clapping are exchanged between the chief and the headman and we are then given permission to anchor in the village waters, to visit freely in the village and partake in village life and to swim, snorkel and catch fish in their waters.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MagncQ_vrddOu0La3t_9lqDpkYKNEG1yTlH4SO4dT3bIqT9zyO9_w_VmHaVC-zuFz810PXvMpSD6bKH6ry-MvLHyxIgz3VF8TnV0IqVFriGMoRu1WYcEROMrVaf_nXyiEl7MFJEbVgdt/s1600/25-DSCN6695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MagncQ_vrddOu0La3t_9lqDpkYKNEG1yTlH4SO4dT3bIqT9zyO9_w_VmHaVC-zuFz810PXvMpSD6bKH6ry-MvLHyxIgz3VF8TnV0IqVFriGMoRu1WYcEROMrVaf_nXyiEl7MFJEbVgdt/s320/25-DSCN6695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Liam, Nick & Jacob, the village headman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you do not present yourself for Sevusevu it is akin to some stranger pitching a tent in your front yard, using your water and tramping around your gardens without so much as a hello to the occupants of the house. A big no no in other words.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzkfZYdvUNLxXPYGcJRA9i_Rcs-B7aAQmhDgp0mwOSzLRHSXrLUMfvc90A2HjdjM1Pb2-Fdmkv4PEUIkv0SLZ_OQSG8v5DeUw0T960rt5WGSD0aA5Wifr9cWZG8JqPlIYOaR1_kIph_zW/s1600/05-DSCN6696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="861" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzkfZYdvUNLxXPYGcJRA9i_Rcs-B7aAQmhDgp0mwOSzLRHSXrLUMfvc90A2HjdjM1Pb2-Fdmkv4PEUIkv0SLZ_OQSG8v5DeUw0T960rt5WGSD0aA5Wifr9cWZG8JqPlIYOaR1_kIph_zW/s200/05-DSCN6696.JPG" width="143" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARxsItBVOAIxtiklqRsNkHBnWz5zMjZjhMcpuAbqwuwknQzVtdpw9BBAJAQ6slCMETM7wUT3bsFu2E-n5ZlbGMP2hssa04xWFjWhibnNkYnNZDlMFK4_n6wyIsQZdDN6KPXd0s0oq88lS/s1600/27-DSCN6699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1200" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARxsItBVOAIxtiklqRsNkHBnWz5zMjZjhMcpuAbqwuwknQzVtdpw9BBAJAQ6slCMETM7wUT3bsFu2E-n5ZlbGMP2hssa04xWFjWhibnNkYnNZDlMFK4_n6wyIsQZdDN6KPXd0s0oq88lS/s320/27-DSCN6699.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">With Sevusevu completed we were then besieged by a group of village children who showed us around and walked us to the beach on the opposite side of the island. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">They all spoke excellent English as this is the main laungage of Fiji and are taught it at school from an early age. The kids had a old soccer ball and wanted us all to play with them.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P7AyPWgtYblZU66SI29keTHjmG17w2CF7a99ue0QcWHwE7E-mlchZlqNe7iOLZ7PFlOeFlFQX1iPrCjSk7q9FnUgsw57iZEK36H9QqJzmqpsZhryrXrCv1HkxhbD6dWX5ZFRWOsS3Bss/s1600/28-DSCN6700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P7AyPWgtYblZU66SI29keTHjmG17w2CF7a99ue0QcWHwE7E-mlchZlqNe7iOLZ7PFlOeFlFQX1iPrCjSk7q9FnUgsw57iZEK36H9QqJzmqpsZhryrXrCv1HkxhbD6dWX5ZFRWOsS3Bss/s320/28-DSCN6700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above & below beach games with the kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HYCsqtRBb8h889ZNT1wsULULHal_I2f00lIWfUQY1jICmRmTS9ylVb-EhUrmKUZIWKyBlXW8z1FWqTb6q2OCXIOLCdNa4j-Ef2QNx1CO4O_y4LU6X4he852WDlXgDBWuLFPNKHIooqyi/s1600/29-DSCN6704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HYCsqtRBb8h889ZNT1wsULULHal_I2f00lIWfUQY1jICmRmTS9ylVb-EhUrmKUZIWKyBlXW8z1FWqTb6q2OCXIOLCdNa4j-Ef2QNx1CO4O_y4LU6X4he852WDlXgDBWuLFPNKHIooqyi/s320/29-DSCN6704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I tell you these youngsters need to be cloned and sent out to first world countries to demonstrate that you can have fun without the aid of games on your phone or computer or spend hours watching television, and that you don’t need to burst into tears and say<em> its not fair</em> when someone else is playing with the only ball around.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZUXIjzpMg0fLnwn6vvMSwVx7bWsOdbRnK3TH-1tZbAetYDLrsZ9WwGaHyz94bnPDkGm9zhlZQjTcg0Ee6Zdtm_b4xZRGpjDQnAHlxCglDsKVjrQftBsrT-yWn5qe6JKuzVnhzv6NIywZ/s1600/30-DSCN6711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZUXIjzpMg0fLnwn6vvMSwVx7bWsOdbRnK3TH-1tZbAetYDLrsZ9WwGaHyz94bnPDkGm9zhlZQjTcg0Ee6Zdtm_b4xZRGpjDQnAHlxCglDsKVjrQftBsrT-yWn5qe6JKuzVnhzv6NIywZ/s320/30-DSCN6711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuuQUdYo-TQnAlDO1NTLkXdCfFWIAI03vJV75gAAEKzWa4QTLW2ORkRoaRjIg9ukwqqVCgOlaYAv_gX2vhcpWMrry0hcHX9wO_tjR3BdC4lWoaFYi2ZtGfMnBGPt3890xwD3Qk40gQyVV/s1600/31-DSCN6712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuuQUdYo-TQnAlDO1NTLkXdCfFWIAI03vJV75gAAEKzWa4QTLW2ORkRoaRjIg9ukwqqVCgOlaYAv_gX2vhcpWMrry0hcHX9wO_tjR3BdC4lWoaFYi2ZtGfMnBGPt3890xwD3Qk40gQyVV/s320/31-DSCN6712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">They have the most genuine personalities and biggest smiles and play outside whether it’s glorious sunshine or pouring rain. They are happy because they have uncomplicated lives. They captured our hearts.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfpNHCOOtKXT1HyM7BIMG9jLq3mQMqxxsdyp4sFxtWbFFCWX_9KonbsH06PX7RxksXPXYoUhvMOrx0opljjYARhM-JVODzSdLUZZWQeIzFxF-tVHTcd6DbrJnKz07EQrskitmp5DUmctx/s1600/33-P7270654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfpNHCOOtKXT1HyM7BIMG9jLq3mQMqxxsdyp4sFxtWbFFCWX_9KonbsH06PX7RxksXPXYoUhvMOrx0opljjYARhM-JVODzSdLUZZWQeIzFxF-tVHTcd6DbrJnKz07EQrskitmp5DUmctx/s400/33-P7270654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village school was the dinner venue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Saturday night rocked around and the whole village had pitched in to cook dinner for the 33 cruisers who had turned up. It cost $FJ 50 pp and there was more food than you could poke a stick at.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE66_MOgSge1hXcB6I404NQMTKsWVQ5eI6rGyFaZzjeU5pnCUmGgyqA5P6x0zYZ-vZJqTpGJOlVERrLMA3RjN-7fUfKJx3DccTSCJFF-k3uMmYnniv33dRp_X8Liv9oTMFrwfJ235lRU1/s1600/36-P7270657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE66_MOgSge1hXcB6I404NQMTKsWVQ5eI6rGyFaZzjeU5pnCUmGgyqA5P6x0zYZ-vZJqTpGJOlVERrLMA3RjN-7fUfKJx3DccTSCJFF-k3uMmYnniv33dRp_X8Liv9oTMFrwfJ235lRU1/s200/36-P7270657.JPG" width="112" /></a><br />
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The feast included the roast pig, lobster, a variety of fish dishes, chicken, curries and a variety of vegetables cooked in an earthen oven called a Lovo.<br />
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The village ladies and children wore their Sunday best while the men were all dressed in the sulu’s.<br />
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Dinner was held in the school and the 23 children who attend the school put on dancing and singing to entertain us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">All the cruisers were invited to join in the kava ceremony but one by one we ladies excused ourselves leaving the men folk to it.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZuEnl4gcsZEGtkugvtnJjRvdQqmnSrsebdJcejS26R1dqrACOOX9W-45772LgUqpKBby1wJb5Y2q_NNXao95NW0bv9GO4ki_v1ZJ3guKvLCw1alC_6RwD_CEZf1Xh-MwWcHs4-q1XnbD/s1600/07-P7270653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZuEnl4gcsZEGtkugvtnJjRvdQqmnSrsebdJcejS26R1dqrACOOX9W-45772LgUqpKBby1wJb5Y2q_NNXao95NW0bv9GO4ki_v1ZJ3guKvLCw1alC_6RwD_CEZf1Xh-MwWcHs4-q1XnbD/s320/07-P7270653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies with baskets of cooked veggies and the pig</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXgd3Ty5Tmjk-lxiHQK-KLPu6gMPa_SQyJzSTwu4IRHsD_hFpDYgRRZ4NqkN03atUjnzz31543sUHu3TfN9RmIw1vM1cVfMo3ibpDfcZh3gbLRz7fgedTqyodnwUgByuxny0f3f4UIEKU/s1600/38-P7270661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXgd3Ty5Tmjk-lxiHQK-KLPu6gMPa_SQyJzSTwu4IRHsD_hFpDYgRRZ4NqkN03atUjnzz31543sUHu3TfN9RmIw1vM1cVfMo3ibpDfcZh3gbLRz7fgedTqyodnwUgByuxny0f3f4UIEKU/s320/38-P7270661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruisre's join in singing with the children</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveS7AxuJZViT8bUEF9Ayn1bkR0tHSHce4Ox45LkchyAZRsTqe85LiVC0XxQSUG8yqO-U6A5bJ_EN_4Y_7mEELgBa6-ilUdk1fabmY9Qy9gv1WItGFm62St8oN7OFWwjyFw9gzhW4T0mbm/s1600/39-P7270662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveS7AxuJZViT8bUEF9Ayn1bkR0tHSHce4Ox45LkchyAZRsTqe85LiVC0XxQSUG8yqO-U6A5bJ_EN_4Y_7mEELgBa6-ilUdk1fabmY9Qy9gv1WItGFm62St8oN7OFWwjyFw9gzhW4T0mbm/s320/39-P7270662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner ready to be served</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMR5GfcUbz7-J8kyeGGUc48-mf2vApooaEJGVy3OLtm-KXGVdSsn0hLhJthIKwjerYJSnyKeWorDKUi-fuIpLy9ki8kQ_Sg-uk7Ncsu-nGIs5Gou7mRWr4n42IhuooNJGBQVc2JifrlOd_/s1600/37-P7270658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMR5GfcUbz7-J8kyeGGUc48-mf2vApooaEJGVy3OLtm-KXGVdSsn0hLhJthIKwjerYJSnyKeWorDKUi-fuIpLy9ki8kQ_Sg-uk7Ncsu-nGIs5Gou7mRWr4n42IhuooNJGBQVc2JifrlOd_/s320/37-P7270658.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the men sitting and drinking Kava. Can you spot the non locals?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsuZa2pBHqcrk0v6u4kjPx8coE7A_HBek525iq642KVa__8JklcHa28VAXdoSWX-mqZa6GTmY2t1D4IAO2L1nE8Yehjg3ueBsZpvcOHQaAX2MiICDuNkNP8p6Yg5rEcsZQrfDHHnuu0rL/s1600/09-P7270660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsuZa2pBHqcrk0v6u4kjPx8coE7A_HBek525iq642KVa__8JklcHa28VAXdoSWX-mqZa6GTmY2t1D4IAO2L1nE8Yehjg3ueBsZpvcOHQaAX2MiICDuNkNP8p6Yg5rEcsZQrfDHHnuu0rL/s320/09-P7270660.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the big Kava bowl in the centre, Everyone uses a small communal bowl to drink from.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rkAeqnHBpnyvEMw9T7s9xtRil7fWyLQPvMK9zQWjL0UfqKUQ-JqwIvhyphenhyphenLiAnfOxkky178JSnz4MRlMJMM5HyOKftcDI-lzImmU3D-cFgRZ-5bFOH_YhA3ie1ihB561Zk-o0OwprLxzXw/s1600/40-DSCN6722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rkAeqnHBpnyvEMw9T7s9xtRil7fWyLQPvMK9zQWjL0UfqKUQ-JqwIvhyphenhyphenLiAnfOxkky178JSnz4MRlMJMM5HyOKftcDI-lzImmU3D-cFgRZ-5bFOH_YhA3ie1ihB561Zk-o0OwprLxzXw/s320/40-DSCN6722.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the church with some of the kids. The church is the grey building on the left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The following day, Sunday, about ten cruisers fronted up for church. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Unlike churches we've seen throughout the south pacific this one was just a small corrugated iron building. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Actually it was more like a big garden shed, but if that's all you have then that will do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The service was all in Fijian but the even so the singing was lovely. Afterwards we were split into two groups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the school teaches took one group to her home while we were invited to have Sunday lunch with Jacob’s family. Another great meal was consumed and we felt it was a real privilege to be included in their family life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2KvfEEqJT6E362_Ngqx6CW5agLEviHBLcBBDdQUoX7rnyNIQev9eixLsJUFiFPHCQBaUbeWABFtqJhCemWn4sK0asIGsCgxHcB_BXlVLcNGtrR74nlc3xh7z-uoRdKTN81UjGq3D51L3/s1600/41-DSCN6726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2KvfEEqJT6E362_Ngqx6CW5agLEviHBLcBBDdQUoX7rnyNIQev9eixLsJUFiFPHCQBaUbeWABFtqJhCemWn4sK0asIGsCgxHcB_BXlVLcNGtrR74nlc3xh7z-uoRdKTN81UjGq3D51L3/s320/41-DSCN6726.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday lunch with Jacob's family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL3hk9wy8d1TWB5s7LSJcIYf6pTmtR_poL0J4sObJ4bAveTlevMnjOMdfaxDZCWdWvzGS084KQ4bqEJHEh6XsOOxBbetRcrtBbr2ff-HSQiFawPkgAr4zV8IV185kaiWu3J33FUyy6CIg/s1600/1-IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL3hk9wy8d1TWB5s7LSJcIYf6pTmtR_poL0J4sObJ4bAveTlevMnjOMdfaxDZCWdWvzGS084KQ4bqEJHEh6XsOOxBbetRcrtBbr2ff-HSQiFawPkgAr4zV8IV185kaiWu3J33FUyy6CIg/s320/1-IMG_0429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our host family, just missing Jacob's brother and grandfather who had gone fora after lunch nap</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Over the next few days the village ladies baked bread for us and gathered fruits and vegetables for our dwindling stocks. Liam and Dave from Rewa set about fixing some plumbing and electrical issues at the school. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP7hJ0i46YHzNvwikc4wZuNN6UoW4LJn3WUccU5PP-J-BSwkE7tyvof005KcXZ9ox6S3-cM2r7_mNJzPuKJWWGRW63_e9cP9UvHndAEq73xmT4TswHshauoX0nT8h1NfVbL9bBVGFc0Kx/s1600/42-DSCN6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="998" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTP7hJ0i46YHzNvwikc4wZuNN6UoW4LJn3WUccU5PP-J-BSwkE7tyvof005KcXZ9ox6S3-cM2r7_mNJzPuKJWWGRW63_e9cP9UvHndAEq73xmT4TswHshauoX0nT8h1NfVbL9bBVGFc0Kx/s320/42-DSCN6727.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">All good things come to and end would soon be time to move on again. But before we did we made one last trip into the village, we’d found a Fuji Film logoed soccer ball buried in our storage area in the bow and deservedly gave it to the kids, now they would have two balls to play with. Their eyes lit up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As we pulled up the anchor all the kids and the adults lined the beach and waved and shouted goodbyes. In return we waved madly, blew kisses and honked our air horn. It was a teary moment for all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We'd had a wonderful time interacting with this small village over the past six days and the friendliness and kindness of the people of Susui will remain in our hearts for a very long time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgHZ20q_I30BNu2O5un92CGxdZEZ2enaGSQuc9JF40HYCgFtZeWlJ5frqrryAUZe5XEsJO6oECmtu-hG1lAMWqJPG6OSrXKZV-0NfNNoGOPGkCzWBI2bfOP42D6emJqG33vA45jUcKDYN/s1600/43-P7300678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="1200" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgHZ20q_I30BNu2O5un92CGxdZEZ2enaGSQuc9JF40HYCgFtZeWlJ5frqrryAUZe5XEsJO6oECmtu-hG1lAMWqJPG6OSrXKZV-0NfNNoGOPGkCzWBI2bfOP42D6emJqG33vA45jUcKDYN/s640/43-P7300678.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susui village nestled among the trees</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvtL7eManhbEtHNzcKDE_8LTaE2YPryPC9YhrmHXrsqLHzXDBQdx8QGNkFOuuLYV6YELcixC0KztFbiPJSnDuuPacp4l9eHSjldn7J685vfEDZlrlMEgF_WThi0q9MQh3KeKCGkh1gOke/s1600/45-P7300688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvtL7eManhbEtHNzcKDE_8LTaE2YPryPC9YhrmHXrsqLHzXDBQdx8QGNkFOuuLYV6YELcixC0KztFbiPJSnDuuPacp4l9eHSjldn7J685vfEDZlrlMEgF_WThi0q9MQh3KeKCGkh1gOke/s320/45-P7300688.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_DiwpblIknvZH1GBky5zyXB8TNDP06R2hybqjuIXMuWsJt6sBjLH_4_k6nAy7artWLf5tQiAVxsB-Sny0eOtcHnQmtigHhKXj9Hw-iDuayTJynN0lb_GjMLw_mmfrfkhkeBFaqootR5s/s1600/46-P7300686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="767" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_DiwpblIknvZH1GBky5zyXB8TNDP06R2hybqjuIXMuWsJt6sBjLH_4_k6nAy7artWLf5tQiAVxsB-Sny0eOtcHnQmtigHhKXj9Hw-iDuayTJynN0lb_GjMLw_mmfrfkhkeBFaqootR5s/s200/46-P7300686.JPG" width="127" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
Next stop for just one night was at the island of <span style="color: blue;"><em>Avea</em></span> roughly half way up the east side of the Island.<br />
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We went ashore with the crew from Rewa to a delightful spot in a semi enclosed lagoon. Sundowners and beach frisbee made for a very relaxing afternoon'<br />
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From here we retraced our track around to the <span style="color: blue;"><em>Bay of Islands</em></span> on the western side. Here were found a particularly good snorkel spot with amazing fish life and stunning bright orange fan corals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtKfzDMGLrz_8Qe2dB6lpUwixcRa_vozKZAVxJue74jNhWzhdDWdhfuMq1K3gHaYalgXN6gWSDzBL4A7uLLDTyaO5m6soVKMhtKmt33qbEWum4cZ3T3YLmHrzrE9_c1XEtEz1hMKOhuY0/s1600/56-P7310777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtKfzDMGLrz_8Qe2dB6lpUwixcRa_vozKZAVxJue74jNhWzhdDWdhfuMq1K3gHaYalgXN6gWSDzBL4A7uLLDTyaO5m6soVKMhtKmt33qbEWum4cZ3T3YLmHrzrE9_c1XEtEz1hMKOhuY0/s320/56-P7310777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky outcrops in the Bay of Islands</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiqbGmZUQgRUASSGqJffLMY-KnMXwIL6gK9Ri7KhrgGMf3hNdOE8tQviEujnW8U1-RHnSXPrSGzDT7GfP5YsZx_8cya3k-MUXlu9cfOCFoDAqOM0F0MzPwUwPQj75xSsL9ugcQpuobW3y/s1600/55-P7310762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1200" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiqbGmZUQgRUASSGqJffLMY-KnMXwIL6gK9Ri7KhrgGMf3hNdOE8tQviEujnW8U1-RHnSXPrSGzDT7GfP5YsZx_8cya3k-MUXlu9cfOCFoDAqOM0F0MzPwUwPQj75xSsL9ugcQpuobW3y/s320/55-P7310762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sadly we could only afford to spend a few hours here before leaving the northern Lau group for an overnight passage to the next island of Moala, some 120 miles to the south west.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvXy-kKaLltN4J4mJa1cNtK-cFbZLA_l9gtDyCKZ-1todiK4KN9-Q_Z7JsAg4T6nWgQj7O2rTDSSX7OkbNAuJ1NsloIqa8ZSV9Ydm27j55-LsTqKQ6liMl8iyjEkFxGqjC5dhvEwOsF1d/s1600/59-P7310786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvXy-kKaLltN4J4mJa1cNtK-cFbZLA_l9gtDyCKZ-1todiK4KN9-Q_Z7JsAg4T6nWgQj7O2rTDSSX7OkbNAuJ1NsloIqa8ZSV9Ydm27j55-LsTqKQ6liMl8iyjEkFxGqjC5dhvEwOsF1d/s320/59-P7310786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-30961574802470569982019-10-07T00:25:00.001-04:002019-10-08T17:24:44.032-04:00<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong>The Northern Lau Islands : Vanua Balavu . Part One</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: medium;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">20th –25th June 2019</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXos5DoZqSHUpeahitoo_4oHrjegJkyrtU8APDx1FWvKirmWmeaJUTvS5oiW6wV56KAPDbsRdi3bn-9FFeZOj5Do-IuJmmacgFLh6_sNMvR3_f5c7_EElfv-zdETUTO3r8a3IVUbki4sa/s1600/1-IMG_0876_LI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1200" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXos5DoZqSHUpeahitoo_4oHrjegJkyrtU8APDx1FWvKirmWmeaJUTvS5oiW6wV56KAPDbsRdi3bn-9FFeZOj5Do-IuJmmacgFLh6_sNMvR3_f5c7_EElfv-zdETUTO3r8a3IVUbki4sa/s320/1-IMG_0876_LI.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The red arrow on the right side of map is Vanua Balavu</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Pretty much this remote eastern group of Fiji Islands is so far off the beaten track that the people who live here rarely see white people like us. And when they do they are usually from yachts like us during the cruising season. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As there is no port of entry anywhere close by and it is forbidden to stop anywhere in Fiji before clearing in with customs and Immigration, sailing back here from either the west or the north is usually hard yakka beating into the prevailing east-southeast trade winds. Luckily for us the day we chose to head over the weather gods and King Neptune were on a day off, so we became “turn key” sailors and motored the 70 miles east without a drop of saltwater landing on our decks.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenS5EKAyLjKPcsxbribVUAPVYCfrm4H2J3MaaOkcC7gvBBa3NaLrG2NL-vobkQuDHC2XKeD3p6E4caj9QMlTs2V1SM8wNd1-fmjbW7UCV3_b5PY-0cVsTXYY3tHSfkFNIPnYZ2X_ZhFkg/s1600/01-P7210617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="1200" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenS5EKAyLjKPcsxbribVUAPVYCfrm4H2J3MaaOkcC7gvBBa3NaLrG2NL-vobkQuDHC2XKeD3p6E4caj9QMlTs2V1SM8wNd1-fmjbW7UCV3_b5PY-0cVsTXYY3tHSfkFNIPnYZ2X_ZhFkg/s400/01-P7210617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first anchorage in Vanua Balavu</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Vanua Balavu is the third largest island of the Lau group and the largest of the Northern Lau. Encircled by 130 miles of reef, there are only three navigable openings into the lagoon and we entered via the north western entrance anchoring for the evening in a well sheltered bay on the northern tip. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The island is volcanic by nature with rich dark soil, thermal springs and limestone undercut cliffs which reminded us of our time spent cruising the scenic islands of Phang Na Bay, Phuket, Thailand.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">In company with friends from S/V Rewa we decided to scope out the eastern side of the island before returning to the beautiful Bay of Islands on the western side. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAZmrAmOt7qGEezYsGxK-FiZkKW1XC1aXDugvuNAxtmd702AXZZ6lQ00VGzBcwL5SEFgZ6BKJXhB9kZytHQDphKAciVjzivejmmvG50B8ehf7-j18ZufP7m3mlyYON9wlsg3a2fS4_NlC/s1600/13-DSCN6668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAZmrAmOt7qGEezYsGxK-FiZkKW1XC1aXDugvuNAxtmd702AXZZ6lQ00VGzBcwL5SEFgZ6BKJXhB9kZytHQDphKAciVjzivejmmvG50B8ehf7-j18ZufP7m3mlyYON9wlsg3a2fS4_NlC/s320/13-DSCN6668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Our first stop was to <em><span style="color: blue;">Bavatu Harbour</span></em> which is more of a fiord like bay rather than a harbour. There is no village here or shoreside dwellings, only two homes perched way up high on the ridge. The water here, is as it is in most of Fiji is deep, 50 –70 feet being the norm. It was a pretty aqua colour and the bay rich in flora and fauna. In years gone by a coconut plantation surrounded the bay but after the ravages of cyclone Winston in 2016 most of the coconut trees and the plantation were destroyed.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfEfnYgTv9lu5pxe6EjMQXZA3rHbGRydJ4DAXQwlCzjqDFpsCRgVYes-0c3uSUHrrgNB-pXOo7aoW33n6aGaQCW5fYLgIpv3jAKG5JOaLni9V7dYZ5BwapigCkaekbsOqfcZ48pY0WFKd/s1600/1-IMG_0869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="428" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfEfnYgTv9lu5pxe6EjMQXZA3rHbGRydJ4DAXQwlCzjqDFpsCRgVYes-0c3uSUHrrgNB-pXOo7aoW33n6aGaQCW5fYLgIpv3jAKG5JOaLni9V7dYZ5BwapigCkaekbsOqfcZ48pY0WFKd/s200/1-IMG_0869.jpg" width="115" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">So what is the attraction for stopping here I hear you say? Absolute tranquility and a thriving bird population including the endemic Fijian Barking Pigeon, which actually does sound like man’s best friend woofing, and the striking Orange Dove with its olive green head and dayglow orange body feathers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTObGdtEwAhEyUfO2uhunUN5nXUVAJGsADE-5rWHsd-3Zpm6ylDcUaz-H2Dzu2zwnnjgUqYtYw6-f1kOCV0g7r5Wuz8uk7M-0eNbtNy7OC18mp62JRgpJQxngBVTefZYyWVd81Fwjq0Oap/s1600/2-IMG_0868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="779" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTObGdtEwAhEyUfO2uhunUN5nXUVAJGsADE-5rWHsd-3Zpm6ylDcUaz-H2Dzu2zwnnjgUqYtYw6-f1kOCV0g7r5Wuz8uk7M-0eNbtNy7OC18mp62JRgpJQxngBVTefZYyWVd81Fwjq0Oap/s320/2-IMG_0868.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barking Pigeon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We had never seen or heard of either until our avid bird watcher Vandy from S/V Scoots told us about them. We stayed here for 3 days and soaked up the beauty of the bay. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdhvNtb_OSfg1oQJskTiBwjzBw8zaYxb1RRwhWIOTFGBvF1jDB6JVh8K5nTXNHlsVx2KMpyAKCquwjQIFHbe3qYO8BH0DpRdyCiMDfMRHWahI61IMDj_VKrfXYEYdD8fkvqw4imuol6Ss/s1600/06-DSCN6647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdhvNtb_OSfg1oQJskTiBwjzBw8zaYxb1RRwhWIOTFGBvF1jDB6JVh8K5nTXNHlsVx2KMpyAKCquwjQIFHbe3qYO8BH0DpRdyCiMDfMRHWahI61IMDj_VKrfXYEYdD8fkvqw4imuol6Ss/s320/06-DSCN6647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Sometimes Shop' was an apt name for this shop no longer in use</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Liam went out diving with a few other cruisers and we hiked up the 271 purpose built steps to reach the relatively flat area of the former plantation which is now home to grazing cattle, pigs, sheep and horses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A small settlement sits in the midst the former plantation and three or four locals live here to tend to the animals. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GrxC0FC2pL1QCXjFE_jvv9VlOpybPCrDWIbBmS5DbL0Bu_vfbNMEqoD83QgoaW5opTL9m5Cnq8EW9JLBz0P6NsAZFg_ekrzTSULOEBA9F6HUeWdxb0fQuL7h4HNjEWFsJ7LjIVAGHZZA/s1600/12-DSCN6667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GrxC0FC2pL1QCXjFE_jvv9VlOpybPCrDWIbBmS5DbL0Bu_vfbNMEqoD83QgoaW5opTL9m5Cnq8EW9JLBz0P6NsAZFg_ekrzTSULOEBA9F6HUeWdxb0fQuL7h4HNjEWFsJ7LjIVAGHZZA/s320/12-DSCN6667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We certainly didn't make it to the top in 56 seconds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdojaUr5rWIS5jFLZyXqtM-a7xrL5uh8276WdsT7ZM99x911AKogdQZtR8THGX94eGPRwHp7qdAWtTnu8Z1ZN1i3Xi49lNdyDyMQOGjKVN8nnZOciFbsBZDuDM4NV-WnG1tDsatdFVmXO/s1600/02-DSCN6636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdojaUr5rWIS5jFLZyXqtM-a7xrL5uh8276WdsT7ZM99x911AKogdQZtR8THGX94eGPRwHp7qdAWtTnu8Z1ZN1i3Xi49lNdyDyMQOGjKVN8nnZOciFbsBZDuDM4NV-WnG1tDsatdFVmXO/s320/02-DSCN6636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long way up, it was hard on the knees</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMYRdaUHVSXttBVpDwUllXey8Hv-sjtYBh3u5uvzCDJXYolG3-rzGGtYhtwtV1HNr9BDGFiRNO4LN0JcnZ3_p1VIYP0h3tKKwM2gcv84xER00LWYwOxNj3wt21yEkb-7pFm19BApvsVN/s1600/04-DSCN6642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMYRdaUHVSXttBVpDwUllXey8Hv-sjtYBh3u5uvzCDJXYolG3-rzGGtYhtwtV1HNr9BDGFiRNO4LN0JcnZ3_p1VIYP0h3tKKwM2gcv84xER00LWYwOxNj3wt21yEkb-7pFm19BApvsVN/s320/04-DSCN6642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKcp3rNA4Ed4doF_xkBRKn0crMv08O305xeyUJmBBoC7qyLwBrmgajtM2g9qLH50eZJbJ32YRT4vU_3qW4AtjRcw_o31pNV1wr7QvWFxHYUbnBtMBvQ17ly1kpJ6LNMQEfDwP7VNEwKqY/s1600/05-DSCN6643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKcp3rNA4Ed4doF_xkBRKn0crMv08O305xeyUJmBBoC7qyLwBrmgajtM2g9qLH50eZJbJ32YRT4vU_3qW4AtjRcw_o31pNV1wr7QvWFxHYUbnBtMBvQ17ly1kpJ6LNMQEfDwP7VNEwKqY/s320/05-DSCN6643.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3FlmeRO-sluNUm67n-l5TavOTJ2-_Wih-P0VQcNIFzI5fC9NBHeY89kP4h8LVN80Kh5SUM4Pv1pTTscAPM8UHHzE2zJ9TELNCPzJLmR7yLaD4vwjYUC9TT20WQ3CMSWx-C9LSUEJlxMP/s1600/11-DSCN6665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3FlmeRO-sluNUm67n-l5TavOTJ2-_Wih-P0VQcNIFzI5fC9NBHeY89kP4h8LVN80Kh5SUM4Pv1pTTscAPM8UHHzE2zJ9TELNCPzJLmR7yLaD4vwjYUC9TT20WQ3CMSWx-C9LSUEJlxMP/s320/11-DSCN6665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who you looking at?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLnZshLG7RzegNWPLNnoKTKhpnEZDKvaCCEk8wwS0cG27LOy0EWRv1ROZfIpoqOe2xtN2eUQQqWmD7mPoZ_JBsmB8qwHSLWgqE_5Fsbq2BZ2AUkLsFn9CbPUy1gLVUl_xF4M8iLUQCB9d/s1600/09-DSCN6660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLnZshLG7RzegNWPLNnoKTKhpnEZDKvaCCEk8wwS0cG27LOy0EWRv1ROZfIpoqOe2xtN2eUQQqWmD7mPoZ_JBsmB8qwHSLWgqE_5Fsbq2BZ2AUkLsFn9CbPUy1gLVUl_xF4M8iLUQCB9d/s320/09-DSCN6660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are quite a few trails to follow up here and we took the one which led to the west side of the island.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The birds eye view from high up on the cliff face of the extensive reef and the pretty Bay of Islands below was nothing short of spectacular. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6h2M8ivtYM7FuKahXQVwe699q7aNGqweJ9hjYdg2zkK1nsZpmlhRrcjwf94uiZjndcdn1Lm52OfJtpK9-EcNxCeAc2Dt_WhLky2hKIwcKdVjPzDPXYpCB-MF9P-m6u9c0jd2btHzydzO/s1600/10-DSCN6661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="1200" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6h2M8ivtYM7FuKahXQVwe699q7aNGqweJ9hjYdg2zkK1nsZpmlhRrcjwf94uiZjndcdn1Lm52OfJtpK9-EcNxCeAc2Dt_WhLky2hKIwcKdVjPzDPXYpCB-MF9P-m6u9c0jd2btHzydzO/s400/10-DSCN6661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out over the Bay of Islands</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_JR3vEzmr6lqEonmAj6olTKAIaMIdfjzXXcfJCcyjQVPiec_BnvLY3_OFHae2SQbnPS-eEUeHN9Lvj-_KkKpfyQpe9rJGsCo5q7YKG9FECXz4U3Z6ZKla7n-LvQ0mS6kiqMLFHobHVgk/s1600/07-DSCN6652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_JR3vEzmr6lqEonmAj6olTKAIaMIdfjzXXcfJCcyjQVPiec_BnvLY3_OFHae2SQbnPS-eEUeHN9Lvj-_KkKpfyQpe9rJGsCo5q7YKG9FECXz4U3Z6ZKla7n-LvQ0mS6kiqMLFHobHVgk/s320/07-DSCN6652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The lone grave of Kenneth James Allardyce sits towards the end of this trail. This gentleman was the retired former Secretary of Native Affairs for Fiji who, after many years of service took up a slower pace of life as a plantation owner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">He became suddenly gravely ill and sadly died before medical help arrived, and is buried at a spot he had previously requested overlooking his beloved plantation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>Lomalomo,</em></span> the main village on the island was our next destination.The course to get to the village from our previous anchorage zig zags across waters littered with numerous reefs lurking just below the surface. These reefs are like sharks just waiting to take chunks of your fiberglass from any sailor who doesn’t have a keen lookout on the bow and accurate charting. Luckily we had both and arrived at the anchorage fully intact. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUWwHNJSXJqaGDTtfmgHg3K9SLINe2du_kzqpKt_vx4Zf9XS1meZ2oZ6klqnM6n_qN4YE6Q-2mCueyQ5NEVBhoKFjfEgnzggr032_5OsuUBEbnPMZckfIceL1uXt2dZpENS6ZlQ3DMPEc/s1600/15-P7240633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="1200" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUWwHNJSXJqaGDTtfmgHg3K9SLINe2du_kzqpKt_vx4Zf9XS1meZ2oZ6klqnM6n_qN4YE6Q-2mCueyQ5NEVBhoKFjfEgnzggr032_5OsuUBEbnPMZckfIceL1uXt2dZpENS6ZlQ3DMPEc/s400/15-P7240633.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Just as we dropped anchor the cargo ship which services the island every two months arrived. Our veggie supply was getting low so the chief cook and bottlewasher was looking forward to perusing the shelves of the local store later that afternoon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">On the dock was a long line of ute’s, fuel drums, propane cylinders, boxes and people. The ship carries everything from new cars to building supplies and everything in between. It was quite the sight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">After settling GWTW down we headed in for a walk around the village. Not knowing what to expect in relation to attire we donned our most respectful clothing. Liam in shirt and sulu, a traditional style sarong worn by most men in Fiji and yours truly wearing a long dress reaching below the knees and covered shoulders. We were greeted by happy faces and laughter from small children. One woman came up to me and said she loved my hair, in particularly the colour. I guess I really stood out in the crowd with my white locks when everyone else’s is black.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Tyra0d1CSK1agz4tEtwEhdhyydQDsYLnhkgDCVlqI-zLDSmbk58lOuOAmM49HLIsIhd0lPPUlXpJW_4YbCazu52rjcRVg1xO-N5UrxcR3a_ava_6jlCp55-cSwg9VqWuYMdYzZ-H0y13/s1600/16-P7240634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Tyra0d1CSK1agz4tEtwEhdhyydQDsYLnhkgDCVlqI-zLDSmbk58lOuOAmM49HLIsIhd0lPPUlXpJW_4YbCazu52rjcRVg1xO-N5UrxcR3a_ava_6jlCp55-cSwg9VqWuYMdYzZ-H0y13/s320/16-P7240634.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the two stores in the village, this was the best one behind the church</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The tour of town didn’t take long and nor did my visit to the two supermarkets. I use that term loosely I might add. Most of the produce was already gone and there was no lettuce, salad greens or fruit at all which did disappoint me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I did manage to purchase potatoes, onions, eggs and bok choy which appears to be a real staple in the Fijian diet. If you can’t get what you want rest assured there is always an abundance of bok choy available.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh948fdSBGukB0DM2sGoh4bDNrVPb7wOAknJjCf0RzzuZ349HkWq4l3zI4T0_UzgNkL27Vck_2u2T9EDuHrE_ZrpqcdwQKdbTVD_iXMj_djN31bVNgy4JV0xjRb7vM_3NzjusZjWy6pMaR0/s1600/19-P7240642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh948fdSBGukB0DM2sGoh4bDNrVPb7wOAknJjCf0RzzuZ349HkWq4l3zI4T0_UzgNkL27Vck_2u2T9EDuHrE_ZrpqcdwQKdbTVD_iXMj_djN31bVNgy4JV0xjRb7vM_3NzjusZjWy6pMaR0/s320/19-P7240642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam & Dave strolling down the main street</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk8u-uCyzEijxXNeGG7zAPh0UpaNkH-brID7i1g3ryC7OwsI00u51YoBOkHyJOtsYbgFYia_QUscQ4Jk4kA_MQunaYXce3SR6t01YJLwDE0SNrc7S9GXr_Q9rTjpbtJPWLxIyxbJjheVf/s1600/20-P7240645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk8u-uCyzEijxXNeGG7zAPh0UpaNkH-brID7i1g3ryC7OwsI00u51YoBOkHyJOtsYbgFYia_QUscQ4Jk4kA_MQunaYXce3SR6t01YJLwDE0SNrc7S9GXr_Q9rTjpbtJPWLxIyxbJjheVf/s320/20-P7240645.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy kids in the back of the truck<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK5T1g4Io8ugRAdvEUPnX2qQJk2g4Vj2K6R11FH37Qrsx7_n4Yj1CKkceiYCPWauhhTVxomdwRITEiyFJtPEz6PcyN8GvEh5qd8CKo4RF6MquEe5zdSA4iaDi-4KprjXQS5v07bPtz6Sj/s1600/2-IMG_0877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="1182" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkK5T1g4Io8ugRAdvEUPnX2qQJk2g4Vj2K6R11FH37Qrsx7_n4Yj1CKkceiYCPWauhhTVxomdwRITEiyFJtPEz6PcyN8GvEh5qd8CKo4RF6MquEe5zdSA4iaDi-4KprjXQS5v07bPtz6Sj/s400/2-IMG_0877.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the main reasons for coming to this village was that we were part of the Sea Mercy group from NZ delivering donated supplies from various companies back there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our group brought dozens of reading glasses, an assortment of various types of clothing for men, woman, children and babies including a few hundred bras of all sizes, toothbrushes and toothpaste and the list went on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMGyLeY7wtxX_cH2Bi2WxEZjp4MkEV24scvteTqUdPi3I8qk_22Ow3sdoAgzTyTDZZbaC9wv0QJYyF7viOH5r7MEdWsxvqX29trZjodC-lbNHHxzciquqfITgJ11D8FZjrsTA5MChXq-x/s1600/1-GWTWDSC_1444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMGyLeY7wtxX_cH2Bi2WxEZjp4MkEV24scvteTqUdPi3I8qk_22Ow3sdoAgzTyTDZZbaC9wv0QJYyF7viOH5r7MEdWsxvqX29trZjodC-lbNHHxzciquqfITgJ11D8FZjrsTA5MChXq-x/s320/1-GWTWDSC_1444.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bag full of bras</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k8Peoc9J2ukqe3UrXhC43UAWdJto_XiqrQCiR9MoM5fTeqCQbn0azzNq5mLvDr66ed7RbC-AHeUat2fj2Q11Ltj1qaf3RuCenDtPLmQHHY9KGPN2LBLpbOONvNjBJ3v3Diypw6v5c6Mf/s1600/2-GWTWDSC_1467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k8Peoc9J2ukqe3UrXhC43UAWdJto_XiqrQCiR9MoM5fTeqCQbn0azzNq5mLvDr66ed7RbC-AHeUat2fj2Q11Ltj1qaf3RuCenDtPLmQHHY9KGPN2LBLpbOONvNjBJ3v3Diypw6v5c6Mf/s320/2-GWTWDSC_1467.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading up a passerby's truck with the donation bags</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGCHV5Vjsc7i1lyN5F-HGzZmJyVnC5xAa0-YzLRJSlL5JHKUTmKEqeuUsdTvg2T0gFTc7PocJhM6BPTC4VpzUfaohSwsCHpd59Im-rUMA35205uNzPLM9Qa15No2-7f7-fhXiGGzrHCop/s1600/3-GWTWDSC_1504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1200" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGCHV5Vjsc7i1lyN5F-HGzZmJyVnC5xAa0-YzLRJSlL5JHKUTmKEqeuUsdTvg2T0gFTc7PocJhM6BPTC4VpzUfaohSwsCHpd59Im-rUMA35205uNzPLM9Qa15No2-7f7-fhXiGGzrHCop/s320/3-GWTWDSC_1504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our side the health clinic with the staff and crew from Rewa</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">We delivered it all to the local health clinic where the items were warmly received and would be distributed to the needy of the community. It felt really good to be able to help these people in such remote islands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind" target="_blank">https://aus-share.inreach.garmin.com/GoneWithTheWind</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"> **************************************</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2955682495622440807.post-76378289974171769762019-08-30T03:05:00.000-04:002019-08-30T03:12:25.706-04:00<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;">Time To Go Cruising : The Eastern Side of Fiji</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;">Savusavu, Viani Bay, Albert Cove and Taviuni</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">8th –31st July 2019</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise as we were leaving Musket Cove</td></tr>
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Following the family visit it was nice to have the boat to ourselves again with no fixed agenda.<br />
Leaving Musket Cove marked the start of our Fiji cruising season which would see us heading to the eastern more lush and remote areas of the country.<br />
I say lush because the eastern islands get way more rainfall than anywhere else in Fiji, and remote because that’s just how it is. There are no high end tourist resorts, no fancy marinas, not many roads and very little chance of spending money. Pretty much the only people who visit way over here are cruisers like us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KwIxrOnTAv1hRedhN7-wf99h-PATJ7YlJaCDLvj8dBKBfr7XAdUPTwnh5od9CIP7FmFF7MgEbHNPKc_L8FKELwI_j5BnqdPUzOhFu8QyRr_urslxMpHHZdP0iFK4VCXqciN9tDi7_bYf/s1600/02-P7080307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="1200" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KwIxrOnTAv1hRedhN7-wf99h-PATJ7YlJaCDLvj8dBKBfr7XAdUPTwnh5od9CIP7FmFF7MgEbHNPKc_L8FKELwI_j5BnqdPUzOhFu8QyRr_urslxMpHHZdP0iFK4VCXqciN9tDi7_bYf/s320/02-P7080307.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing the city of Lautoka on our way north</td></tr>
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After a monotonous seventy three mile, ten hour motor job due to a complete lack of wind, we traversed the west and northern sides of Viti Levu passing both Nadi and the industrial city of Lautoka. We finally turned off the engines and dropped the anchor at Nanunanu – I – Cake Island where we spent our first night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObPoQa9JQmpVQb966YVHTTmbAK4phZBixKWa8aWymQ1Exm6MaI0khSAM1XFydowiIvO-yF3rPvucXQj5ROiVWKGGea2mT5ar9LuKgleNFjBSsCSPMnVaLy-CEFqqiZlxLNq72hjKJhWZd/s1600/03-P7080311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObPoQa9JQmpVQb966YVHTTmbAK4phZBixKWa8aWymQ1Exm6MaI0khSAM1XFydowiIvO-yF3rPvucXQj5ROiVWKGGea2mT5ar9LuKgleNFjBSsCSPMnVaLy-CEFqqiZlxLNq72hjKJhWZd/s320/03-P7080311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand mining operation north of Lautoka</td></tr>
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We briefly caught up with friends Matt & Karen from “Where 11” before hitting the hay.<br />
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The following day was another epic one.<br />
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At least we did get to sail for most of the 80 mile reef strewn hike across to Savusavu.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrI_c2mlQrh81XnmAiiO2iUMIWgSLJVwO9xYIQU9a9AmJHektZDzhQKvwRyn-is4cVSSVODLH67FbTj5vUtnWfZbkHN7QChZtID5-yJKy1Z9qEqoyr6MajNUUrDBq63KR2JD57FRpe9z4/s1600/05-P7090322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrI_c2mlQrh81XnmAiiO2iUMIWgSLJVwO9xYIQU9a9AmJHektZDzhQKvwRyn-is4cVSSVODLH67FbTj5vUtnWfZbkHN7QChZtID5-yJKy1Z9qEqoyr6MajNUUrDBq63KR2JD57FRpe9z4/s320/05-P7090322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travesing this skinny stretch of reef was hairy with very strong currents</td></tr>
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The small town of Savusavu is located on the south side of the Island of Venua Levu which is the northern of the two main islands of Fiji.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Savusavu is the only port of entry for eastern Fiji and sits on the banks of a narrow but deep body of water, almost a tributary of the larger main bay <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">one could say. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">There are many mooring balls here and one smallish dock known as The Copra Shed Marina which accommodates maybe a dozen boats. We arrived just on dusk and were lucky to spot a vacant mooring in the near darkness. A helpful chap who noticed us struggling to pick up the ball with it’s very short line thankfully came out to help us tie up for the night. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eJ2TsNyJ7ipy6tx3zpRmttLB0i7a7ZDapE3tCh0_wTRfQo3yq-auQzcufWYVQqIZ-OFutn1-1w7lz_Geo-ePIOw9x2w7wM61xEJU-ySm1X7_Tx7OlQS0uyt7xYS7as0cEp_Rm_WctGvw/s1600/13-P7120350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1200" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eJ2TsNyJ7ipy6tx3zpRmttLB0i7a7ZDapE3tCh0_wTRfQo3yq-auQzcufWYVQqIZ-OFutn1-1w7lz_Geo-ePIOw9x2w7wM61xEJU-ySm1X7_Tx7OlQS0uyt7xYS7as0cEp_Rm_WctGvw/s320/13-P7120350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow mooring area in Savusavu</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6Je5oodRJOi1eCl0jl2fmxsrNn5k8Mw4r5bIyJgn0DtsslqNDcJpQo1XhA48bNknBi3TDIWw9qJc5bbRwkeTQBTvhueYXwW7dKBUZla8qyHwWPoNFiL0Qz922SlvSFNmuNWQvBFpBdlm/s1600/12-P7120345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6Je5oodRJOi1eCl0jl2fmxsrNn5k8Mw4r5bIyJgn0DtsslqNDcJpQo1XhA48bNknBi3TDIWw9qJc5bbRwkeTQBTvhueYXwW7dKBUZla8qyHwWPoNFiL0Qz922SlvSFNmuNWQvBFpBdlm/s320/12-P7120345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Copra Shed Marina which was actually a copra shed in days gone by</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JkLYFBDGXGV8izSKWeOJcpdqLq3ZSnO7avvsMGiQiNWw7HbBd4DZhqpjcruGO4VmrZmh4dZQruoe9Huanjy5Pzzp4OGlPTPpA1kKiTjt8_q3DmSpiLPK7vTL8VD127yeX6d3Mbt2RT4H/s1600/11-P7120344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="1200" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JkLYFBDGXGV8izSKWeOJcpdqLq3ZSnO7avvsMGiQiNWw7HbBd4DZhqpjcruGO4VmrZmh4dZQruoe9Huanjy5Pzzp4OGlPTPpA1kKiTjt8_q3DmSpiLPK7vTL8VD127yeX6d3Mbt2RT4H/s320/11-P7120344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWTW on a mooring ball, Savusavu</td></tr>
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We stayed for a couple of days and wandered around town stocking up on fruit and veggies at the produce market and buying a few bundles of Kava root, which I’ll explain the significance of in the next post, as well as fresh bread from the bakery and a few supplies from the the two small supermarkets which sit opposite each other.<br />
Nothing like a bit of in your face competition. Town is somewhat small. The main drag follows the waterfront with the bus depot and a string of shops nestled either side. In twenty minutes you’ve pretty much seen it all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wzn238zKVPZuEtM2sCiMbNwrMtC-LtfZnWMREVKXh_LaJW6DIAjjwk_U67ZY7jSZItoma46nMxbzQTq2zsNmes3r-8aZUfxfQTPFxb5GemOwS_K-73sTw5Zr6oiiviXQkbCiUNun6xrT/s1600/08-P7120338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Wzn238zKVPZuEtM2sCiMbNwrMtC-LtfZnWMREVKXh_LaJW6DIAjjwk_U67ZY7jSZItoma46nMxbzQTq2zsNmes3r-8aZUfxfQTPFxb5GemOwS_K-73sTw5Zr6oiiviXQkbCiUNun6xrT/s320/08-P7120338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Produce market with Kava bundles hanging from the rack</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcuL2XEAWy0eSxEvPb86el4740InxRAGQ3ZNaanCzkchmetOgwULu2r_Q09Uu5LtwS5hCdC3J6tWkBk8V7R4IplA_rqy1IpkFJIMPlwGytTk1nA9urHFIyTXsP70LS9lwxCC_Yd0_FPhw/s1600/10-P7120341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcuL2XEAWy0eSxEvPb86el4740InxRAGQ3ZNaanCzkchmetOgwULu2r_Q09Uu5LtwS5hCdC3J6tWkBk8V7R4IplA_rqy1IpkFJIMPlwGytTk1nA9urHFIyTXsP70LS9lwxCC_Yd0_FPhw/s320/10-P7120341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main street Savusavu</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m06zQK1pVv2aY9ZgF8iSv-2H_tINrJV-wPUqiQzKSCZyTlQiA_ONUQgzV66Wsm3x71VPhHL61py_eFFIW-9Nvc23IWoLxvXhyphenhyphen1Qa52NwQZ5I6dgcUB3rDxeG5RkWOtjAiD2uYZbrr1uy/s1600/05-P7110332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="1200" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m06zQK1pVv2aY9ZgF8iSv-2H_tINrJV-wPUqiQzKSCZyTlQiA_ONUQgzV66Wsm3x71VPhHL61py_eFFIW-9Nvc23IWoLxvXhyphenhyphen1Qa52NwQZ5I6dgcUB3rDxeG5RkWOtjAiD2uYZbrr1uy/s320/05-P7110332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam rising from one of many thermal springs around town</td></tr>
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On the day we were leaving we got a panicked email to ALL our email addresses, followed by an equally panicked phone call from our friend Dave on “Rewa”. His generator had suddenly carked it, which is damn serious when you have guests on board as he did, and he asked if we could possibly buy a large portable generator and bring it along with several jerry cans and fuel to him in Viani Bay, sixty miles further east.<br />
Without batting an eye we said “yes“ ‘cause that’s just what fellow cruisers do out here when you’re in a pickle. You help each other out. Good karma and all that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIOdRiOJ38s1n3DS-DQB6FaImlaEFb4hfdjMX4QyjhyphenhyphenynC-A6oeoKI-B6aZo6irt9wtmsKOSh5_wxClxP239-tKGRAU3AOCp-ftEl4QzF1RThu1-46fsH2mOhN9f7UdsFsXr71XPic1ao/s1600/06-P7120333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIOdRiOJ38s1n3DS-DQB6FaImlaEFb4hfdjMX4QyjhyphenhyphenynC-A6oeoKI-B6aZo6irt9wtmsKOSh5_wxClxP239-tKGRAU3AOCp-ftEl4QzF1RThu1-46fsH2mOhN9f7UdsFsXr71XPic1ao/s320/06-P7120333.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling up the cans with fuel to feed the beast</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-NH8y0_o1NmFYmjcIMVJHYeGrONlGfdckjKEGb3MRhzaXouSRZf5zelxEt68jv8a1ZVLErGXLghB0dUmHGsRcxXeFB-CijK01awC8Vje2IwhHNPwu0hFWhkX4yfoufJOM_tSBmasvCdD/s1600/IMG_0510.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-NH8y0_o1NmFYmjcIMVJHYeGrONlGfdckjKEGb3MRhzaXouSRZf5zelxEt68jv8a1ZVLErGXLghB0dUmHGsRcxXeFB-CijK01awC8Vje2IwhHNPwu0hFWhkX4yfoufJOM_tSBmasvCdD/s320/IMG_0510.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave's new portable generator</td></tr>
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We’d planned on heading to Viani bay anyway to catch up with both Dave and co as well as Eric and Vandy on “Scoots” so it was no big deal. The extra day even gave us time to visit with English friends Tom, Emily and their two boys Sam and Will on “Bonaire” who had just that morning arrived in the anchorage. So everything worked out extremely well.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">As soon as we were anchored in Viani bay Dave was in his dinghy and over to GWTW like a rat up a drain pipe. His face lit up like a christmas tree once he saw the large box taking up a major part of our cockpit’s real estate. Within minutes of manhandling the big beast back onto Rewa he had it fired up and life was slowly being breathed back into Rewa’s struggling battery banks. Team GWTW had completed the Rewa rescue mission just like pros.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ODMIJGtUeHPyZQQN52UtKue5LI2INb-pyDRGj2CHPRbsqCXXUF6h4tAO77obW_C4rVd-b4DbRpB_5_C-wW6Oc_ARyMyvRzWXCqFzo46N8kQ6Q_hfMUMbgWN5pdVy3jGhiop3Un6SzX5D/s1600/14-P7130354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ODMIJGtUeHPyZQQN52UtKue5LI2INb-pyDRGj2CHPRbsqCXXUF6h4tAO77obW_C4rVd-b4DbRpB_5_C-wW6Oc_ARyMyvRzWXCqFzo46N8kQ6Q_hfMUMbgWN5pdVy3jGhiop3Un6SzX5D/s320/14-P7130354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Viani Bay</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Over the next few days the crews of Rewa, Scoots and GWTW shared many happy moments together. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The divers of the group dived the famous White Wall on Rainbow Reef while the snorkelers of our floating families were content checking out the various reef fish and corals in the clear shallow waters. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-guC1J8u_mATXUy5z2OiZFDJIQwxHuga3k1VlH8ZFPZl1oBN4-tn5cQGSFemFTITK-pWs6dhHWjL18ekU6qyLfybbyPA4hKDJBaW8dbHDBavMQgc2AQ0Nf6uK81QXpj7GF1FH5UTKvms/s1600/15-P7130371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-guC1J8u_mATXUy5z2OiZFDJIQwxHuga3k1VlH8ZFPZl1oBN4-tn5cQGSFemFTITK-pWs6dhHWjL18ekU6qyLfybbyPA4hKDJBaW8dbHDBavMQgc2AQ0Nf6uK81QXpj7GF1FH5UTKvms/s320/15-P7130371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always on the lookout for lobster</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV59jjxFu-vhDCfSZ2bewPXCAHIym2kmqacIcdUm3dWZebtzi1fadl8aTDqLSyVM5O6MSgSDJ3NCc45QD4xfqgZ8GL_0bTaAj_FhFQQvUwW0If2j1BCtuVq6Jsi9p-DdowrXtWNDe8H4M/s1600/29-P7140455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1200" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV59jjxFu-vhDCfSZ2bewPXCAHIym2kmqacIcdUm3dWZebtzi1fadl8aTDqLSyVM5O6MSgSDJ3NCc45QD4xfqgZ8GL_0bTaAj_FhFQQvUwW0If2j1BCtuVq6Jsi9p-DdowrXtWNDe8H4M/s320/29-P7140455.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above and Below different types of Giant Clams</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2QVeG4shZpdJA11L42rxu2oi5J4bIpB6LQzR1gBGpSxhwwm4q5seqRYRzHJAw3f5qiMUReqhGG77vM38lFdtLoHoGmdrnuSZs71G5ieCZGRJR-HB7bDRhuoYk3cxnN1T33Gt2gCpHNIF/s1600/23-P7140386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2QVeG4shZpdJA11L42rxu2oi5J4bIpB6LQzR1gBGpSxhwwm4q5seqRYRzHJAw3f5qiMUReqhGG77vM38lFdtLoHoGmdrnuSZs71G5ieCZGRJR-HB7bDRhuoYk3cxnN1T33Gt2gCpHNIF/s320/23-P7140386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The corals were really healthy and starfish were everywhere</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> There were many Jam sessions on GWTW with the Rewa and Scoots musicians</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNU5eYER-0bVRamdjDu0Fv3xzglCrvLkLVshEkgrYknjZgGZH9NeOKpx3DAp3Izmw_FLtXFC6z-vG1EMFMuXoOXNsu0OsMO9EiSyYnKNVkCLlZH5ppImh-3J6B2RPcmd7rR1HXwoR4RF4/s1600/35-P7140502-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNU5eYER-0bVRamdjDu0Fv3xzglCrvLkLVshEkgrYknjZgGZH9NeOKpx3DAp3Izmw_FLtXFC6z-vG1EMFMuXoOXNsu0OsMO9EiSyYnKNVkCLlZH5ppImh-3J6B2RPcmd7rR1HXwoR4RF4/s200/35-P7140502-002.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpyjocw9adnWK1JgoFOQNh_JpSFmQ5w7UMZxkNx_ZmFZyRYl12qcKakq67M2VTGIuzppZpvrfqFZ8YzLiuX8MQCnwyPPfurF0IZ2ljfKfGXoXN-MOIJRcCfzT5ywMbm2QtoA61cXUJTZ/s1600/32-P7140503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpyjocw9adnWK1JgoFOQNh_JpSFmQ5w7UMZxkNx_ZmFZyRYl12qcKakq67M2VTGIuzppZpvrfqFZ8YzLiuX8MQCnwyPPfurF0IZ2ljfKfGXoXN-MOIJRcCfzT5ywMbm2QtoA61cXUJTZ/s200/32-P7140503.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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One night the local dive resort put on a traditional Fijian feast, also known as a Lovo, for all the cruisers and their resort guests.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">This is how it works…</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">A fire pit is dug in the soil early in the day and wood is placed in the pit with volcanic rocks placed over the wood. The fire is then lit and the stones are heated. The food, usually chicken, pork and whole fish is wrapped in either tin foil or tight ribbons of banana leaves, and is placed on top of the stones. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The food is then covered with coconut tree fronds and covered in soil and rocks to seal in the underground oven’s heat. A wire rack is usually placed over the top to slow cook the veggie component which is usually yams,taro, cassava and potato. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64rkgesm_c_diHoRZRpWJKO0VVM6DxdmYZcowxlnS7kAfik7Ac3nWbRJyf1HmGE3lODgbvxffelrBNDy_su12bmvPFtOGS8suSRonqB5h8rUj9N58yZEUFgLjaY8KKdVknBeYUp8cmvM9/s1600/16-DSCN6611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64rkgesm_c_diHoRZRpWJKO0VVM6DxdmYZcowxlnS7kAfik7Ac3nWbRJyf1HmGE3lODgbvxffelrBNDy_su12bmvPFtOGS8suSRonqB5h8rUj9N58yZEUFgLjaY8KKdVknBeYUp8cmvM9/s320/16-DSCN6611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting dinner sorted</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7-fuiWPMxylGQxRE28fpmX-KBPnyRB_sg7H_I1nu0XBNAstKUZuSvlsenS_piXpNl_m9IByD-opS8xjdmUXq6_QBh33p3pY7Ye9LfiOYsdUBGNU35_Y_HRU9TyAdvl1wq-FBU4YHKwRa/s1600/18-DSCN6616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7-fuiWPMxylGQxRE28fpmX-KBPnyRB_sg7H_I1nu0XBNAstKUZuSvlsenS_piXpNl_m9IByD-opS8xjdmUXq6_QBh33p3pY7Ye9LfiOYsdUBGNU35_Y_HRU9TyAdvl1wq-FBU4YHKwRa/s320/18-DSCN6616.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assorted veggies almost ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the local dogs wanted a piece of the action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpN9isuozxA1fWqPvN-tOLj_xNPv2h-Ra1HhrpOlM9pReHW40d1HzJmAGtb_oRdI0Bg544ht5Zm-zO1JMgV-HN0B5BMjrt9Wn-mifYRw5RTff12V93gp7Zq81g05PsqLH7YQi_bjQcVnD3/s1600/19-DSCN6621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpN9isuozxA1fWqPvN-tOLj_xNPv2h-Ra1HhrpOlM9pReHW40d1HzJmAGtb_oRdI0Bg544ht5Zm-zO1JMgV-HN0B5BMjrt9Wn-mifYRw5RTff12V93gp7Zq81g05PsqLH7YQi_bjQcVnD3/s320/19-DSCN6621.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish in banana leaf cooked and ready</td></tr>
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The whole shooting match is left to cook slowly over many hours, sometimes as long as five. The results are absolutely delicious and a great meal was had by all. There was more food than you could jump over and we felt stuffed after woofing it all down including desert with ice cream. What a treat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcfQTYsc9WjtZOaN0W8_27tIU2z4Z-J6yv9UEa1BJxZsygaHBkcTlbFFDP8NYCS8gvpTzsgNu2xLIjgxaLq1M8OnoZFITqt0Cxrrk9ZUsZoKkuSAH18PnsCjd6uFctLbd9Xjg49ScVqZq/s1600/21-DSCN6628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1200" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcfQTYsc9WjtZOaN0W8_27tIU2z4Z-J6yv9UEa1BJxZsygaHBkcTlbFFDP8NYCS8gvpTzsgNu2xLIjgxaLq1M8OnoZFITqt0Cxrrk9ZUsZoKkuSAH18PnsCjd6uFctLbd9Xjg49ScVqZq/s320/21-DSCN6628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R Dave, Tessa, Nick Annie, Liam Vandy, Eric & Heike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsqMk09ywQIv5w9LJSCzQrXbAA0cWxiBmNCuj3GaYkmU5R2oIRKW9TRw56xd-qSF7AFnWfN8xtjOLOO3IO_85xvIn2fYD2t42ExVCsgLYgOIn-HFQ8dcXDnWuvWBleGvYdoto1Gj_K8hN/s1600/20-DSCN6626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsqMk09ywQIv5w9LJSCzQrXbAA0cWxiBmNCuj3GaYkmU5R2oIRKW9TRw56xd-qSF7AFnWfN8xtjOLOO3IO_85xvIn2fYD2t42ExVCsgLYgOIn-HFQ8dcXDnWuvWBleGvYdoto1Gj_K8hN/s200/20-DSCN6626.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining under the stars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi8Nz4iI4Yg45NRY46HBw0Iz3crlA5lXv1zdkWiV0dSfcyQsVqPkFymWvyJTkEV4CFvHDJC2xoYL03mRSl-FP4RzpNMh46LPOVrTsMdUifHKAKIP9xEh2MXeS5rkUSjkBCB8EOZ5YOcyH/s1600/23-DSCN6631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi8Nz4iI4Yg45NRY46HBw0Iz3crlA5lXv1zdkWiV0dSfcyQsVqPkFymWvyJTkEV4CFvHDJC2xoYL03mRSl-FP4RzpNMh46LPOVrTsMdUifHKAKIP9xEh2MXeS5rkUSjkBCB8EOZ5YOcyH/s200/23-DSCN6631.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our roaring bonfire after dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rewa crew bid us farwell</td></tr>
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After leaving Viani Bay we moved further east to Rabi Island and the uninhabited indent in the reef known as Albert Cove. This little spot above water was lush with thick jungle like vegetation while under the water fabulous coral gardens bloomed and small but ever so entertaining colourful fish went about their busy lives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03z6nVZjxBXo8XM-h6_fmVDZIoANTvq7Qxn2yWBGAYyE_jtPxY-yoL2ZCCFnS_g5s6U35nbPok_5IcwahzGVqYi_2_kPYmc3F3wxZBFIH_wTsYcaF9zk5ONao0vVraOfy_JWw4KnGb5pF/s1600/33-P7170517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="1200" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03z6nVZjxBXo8XM-h6_fmVDZIoANTvq7Qxn2yWBGAYyE_jtPxY-yoL2ZCCFnS_g5s6U35nbPok_5IcwahzGVqYi_2_kPYmc3F3wxZBFIH_wTsYcaF9zk5ONao0vVraOfy_JWw4KnGb5pF/s320/33-P7170517.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another gorgeous anchorage at Albert Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local fisherman casting nets</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above and below more healthy corals in Albert Cove</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">We spent a few nights here in with Vandy and Eric from Scoots before we parted company and made our way back to the island of Taviuni where a couple of yacht friendly Aussies run an upmarket dive resort called Paradise Resort….and it truly was. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBJ7OogAxO_Qqma4kTAJkzLtGzbHCK03VnwEXHd2iBohO6Px8qWCqalpV4F70p1SdmdlHf8l4wYrQdQ-XjnrkXvEXm8sI70N8KxT10FpDRCnYmYEGA6F10sVRmzSeofvAIaIqeN3XSZ0Z/s1600/37-P7190587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBJ7OogAxO_Qqma4kTAJkzLtGzbHCK03VnwEXHd2iBohO6Px8qWCqalpV4F70p1SdmdlHf8l4wYrQdQ-XjnrkXvEXm8sI70N8KxT10FpDRCnYmYEGA6F10sVRmzSeofvAIaIqeN3XSZ0Z/s320/37-P7190587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWTW at Paradise resort with the inviting pool below</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp67Y-lGAQ9itBdgEbqacjtwyxLtdmf9EVMqkbaJmmBQ4n3Zvh601SAqdUQt2sRT03kkqv7f5MHdNpWSWS5vOnhoNK9e_u_TGDGuTwQgzuFf9gpx7oqRrsEihFiycd_j_NgpcX0ukf0o7/s1600/36-P7190584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp67Y-lGAQ9itBdgEbqacjtwyxLtdmf9EVMqkbaJmmBQ4n3Zvh601SAqdUQt2sRT03kkqv7f5MHdNpWSWS5vOnhoNK9e_u_TGDGuTwQgzuFf9gpx7oqRrsEihFiycd_j_NgpcX0ukf0o7/s320/36-P7190584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">They offer free mooring balls to visiting yachts and encourage cruisers to come ashore and make use of their facilities.<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">They can even supply you with fresh veggies from their organic farm. We signed up for a buffet dinner and a Fijian dancing and singing show that evening which was great.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Up early the following morning we were well on our way at 0600 for the sixty five mile jaunt across to Vana Belavu Island and the famed Bay of Islands. </span><br />
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Along the way we caught a good sized Mahi Mahi.<br />
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In our opinion Mahi is one of the best table fish in the ocean and we looked forward to enjoying a few meals compliments of Neptune.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Follow us on our tracker at :</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> <span style="color: blue;"> *********************************************************</span></span>Gone With The Wind .... on safarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09175325250852259950noreply@blogger.com0