26 November 2024 -New Zealand- Waiheke Island- Waiheke Marina- Solo
It was a grey start to the day and Keith finished packing and cleaned his cabin and heads. He went ashore to shower etc. Keith was leaving on the 9.45 am ferry to Auckland where he will pick up a bus to Toronga where he will meet his wife Ruth who is staying with her brother who lives there.
We had a cereal breakfast and a decent coffee and then I walked to the ferry terminal with Keith. We said our farewell’s for now as Keith and Ruth are joining Jules and I in Waiheke when we are renting a house on the 30th November 2024 for a few days before we leave for our NZ tour.
I was sorry to see Keith go as we have been on board together since the end of August 2024 and we have had great fun. I returned to Stormbird and the first thing to do was to get the washing in to be laundered. There were a few bags.
My plan is to go through the whole boat over the next 4 days and give it a through clean and check over after a year’s cruising and to chuck out stuff if out of date etc . This may be boring for the reader but has to be done.
I pressganged the new washing machine into action for some light items and tea towels etc. It is quite funny as it sings tune when it is finished. During the day I did a few washes and in the wind they dried pegged to the guardrails. It warmed up a bit but looked a bit threatening all day but it did not rain.
I started with my cabin and went through every cupboard and drawer and dusted and cleaned and got rid of some old clothes and shoes. I needed to go under the beds to look at the stores and got some out for the generator which will be serviced. Everything needed cleaning and dusting. The hoover was in action quite a lot too. I chucked out old documents and papers I no long needed. I checked the batteries under the floor which needed some more distilled water and then the main battery bank in the corridor to the saloon. They are in use 24 hours a day and need to be kept an eye on otherwise they will fail. I went through the bathroom and it is funny what you accumulate and have which goes out of date and you need to get rid of. This is quite satisfying.
I cleaned the shower room and heads properly and under the shower floor. My cabin alone took most of the morning. I had a light lunch of a piece of bread and a satsuma with a cup of tea. I cleaned the floor of the boat internally from bow to stern even under carpets. I then went through the saloon and hoovered and cleaned. I went through several cupboards and tidied up and cleaned. By 6.00pm I had enough and rewarded myself with a beer.
Supper was pasta and red pesto and when I am finished on this blog I will read a good book. The picture of the day is supper laid for one – me, which I have not had all year since we left the canaries. It is quite nice in a way although I miss all the crew I have had over the year and there have been quite a few individuals.
There are plenty more jobs tomorrow.
Opportunity Year Two
In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.
If there is any interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com