[password]8Tarnhows
[position]35 13.1s 174 13.6e
[status]Hello Readers,
We continue to be impressed and delighted by the Bay of Islands with its cornucopia of safe and commodious anchorages.
Actually James Cook described these bays as ?commodious ?so there?s s little plagiarism happening here.
Last Friday we arrived into Opua and were able to do laundry, collect provisions and refill gas bottles.
A very kind gentleman loaned us his van to get us into Paihia thus making life a lot easier.
Opua is a clearance port and this is where the next crew will clear Customs en route to Tonga ( hopefully the officials will allow an excess of good Australian Red to depart with the vessel)
The last few days have been spent hopping in and out of the dinghy , exploring on terra firma ,
walking a few trails drinking a latte or two and sampling NZ ice cream
The museum in Russell was well worth a visit as was the French cafe ( with internet ad handmade chocolates.)
Russell was described as
?The Hell Hole of the Pacific ?in the early 1800?s until a vigilante group , the missionaries and the Temperance Society instilled some changes and now it?s a beautiful little town of law and order.
Zane Grey?s name frequently pops up usually accompanied by a photo of a huge sword fish .
He fished a lot in these waters and hence its popularity for deep sea fish .
Tonight we are anchored in Paradise Bay( aptly named)on Urapukapuka Island. We will sleep well having walked up to the Haruru waterfall from Pahia earlier in the day. Fern glens with some mango swamp and kiwis( non sighted probably because they are nocturnal)
Apparently Kiwis use their whiskers like a barometer to check the weather !! Libby

Moody sea and sky

Looking from the sailors eye
When out upon the sea
Many moods have sea and sky
So read them cautiously

These two they live together
In symbiotic glee
To tease and tempt and terrorise
The sailor endlessly

From balmy warm serenity
You?d rove the globe to see
Through playful bright frivolity
To tempestuosity

These moods can swing so suddenly
So scan for every clue
For if you sail carelessly
This day you?ll surely rue

It?s much a judge of character
The sailor must perfect
To avoid abject disaster
To avoid the tragic wreck

But, if he reads the moods right
A sailors life is grand
So go out there, sit tight
And strive to understand

Contribution from Poets library

Sent from my iPad

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