Crew: Dennis, René
and Susan
You have not heard
from us in ages but we have been very busy – lots of visitors from home.
We
arrived late in November, tired from a rough trip and were welcomed by our
2 great friends, Nic and Sanne. They had spent a whole week at the parking
ground at Opua Marina in their van just to welcome us in New Zealand- wow!!
At
that time the crew also included Morten, Rasmus and Stine and we all spent
a couple of terrific days together. Only a week later we were all split
up- Morten had to go home to his studies and Nic/Sanne, Rasmus and Stine
went on to their respective journeys. Now we were only 3 on board, a bit
strange when we have got used to a bigger group. It is always nice to many
because you always have somebody to talk to and crazy ideas to test.
Well
we soon accustomed to new situation because we had lots of work to do- the
engine produced oil from our fuel. We wanted badly to have it fixed before
we received guests from Denmark- they naturally counted on a sail – and
it is a lot easier to go in and out of ports with an engine although we
have done it under sail several times, but..
We
managed to get the boat ready for sea before Susan’s parents arrived and
we spent a little more than a month together. They had rented a car and
with René and Dennis on motorcycle we drove through the North and South
Island. We managed to be back at the boat in time for Christmas- Nice!!
Then
we sailed to Auckland to meet Dennis´ parents and to celebrate New Year.
After a somewhat strange New Year we had a gloomy farewell to Susan’s
parents. Shortly after we went on a little cruise with Dennis ´parents
and the couple Jørgen and Ella.
We
had planned to jump from island to island until Tauranga, where we had
arranged to meet with our New Zealand friends, Tim and Adrienne, and leave
our boat there while we went on a trip in the camper rented by Dennis´
parents and Jørgen and Ella.
We
left Auckland 3 January and arrived at Waiheke Island, a nearby island to
Auckland, and we all needed to get away from the city. The weather changed
from grey to bright sunshine and we all wanted to get into the water.
We
left for Coromandel, a peninsula, and found a well-protected island called
“Happy Jack”. We anchored in the “Elephant Cove”-a perfect place.
8-10 boats had also found this spot.
The
next morning we woke up to a nice sky and a heavy sun. We made a trip in
the dinghy round the island to examine the beautiful nature.
The
wind was calm and we had to keep the Mercedes driving all day. We anchored
at a cosy little fishing village called Port Charles. We went ashore in
the dinghy and had a nice walk in the blessed nature. The following day we
left for Great Mercury Island- We cast anchor at 2.5 m water and were
convinced that it was low tide –but it wasn’t and suddenly we found
ourselves tilted 20 degrees starboard. After a few hours we were afloat.
Our next destination was Whitianga and then Tauranga.
We
were happy to meet with Tim and Adrienne again and celebrated all night.
The
next day we left for Expedition Tour de New Zealand in the auto camper, a
trip of 14 days.
Now
the time had come for our guests´ departure, a tender farewell. Susan and
I went to Tauranga by bus and were picked up at the station by Adrienne.
The
next thing was to fetch Dennis´ motorbike in Auckland. To save money
Dennis hitchhiked and soon got a ride with an elderly couple who drove him
all the way to the marina. The bike would not start!! No petrol but
luckily he met an old acquaintance from Tonga who helped- seafaring life
is wonderful.
The
proud ship DREAM is now at Tauranga waiting to be ready for the next lap.
We need to fix a lot of trifles and it feels nice to hold a screwdriver
with fresh paint in your hair again. Things have a tendency of making slow
progress .. but what of it!