30 November 2024 -New Zealand- Waiheke Island -Jules Arrives

I woke to rain and thought what a shame for Jules’s arrival. However, the weather is supposed to cheer up tomorrow. I breakfasted and prepared and took all the rubbish to the bins. I left my baggage on the boat ready and got the 7.30am ferry next to the marina in the drizzle.

This trip took about an hour and was going to Half Moon Bay which is where Stormbird is being lifted out of the water on the 3rd. I checked where the lift out is going to take place. I had arranged a cab to meet me and he took me to the airport. The driver was Indian and had been here since 2010 and there is quite  large Indian community here. I thought I have not had an Indian for a while and the idea seemed quite attractive.

The trip to the airport could be like many European countries in terms of motorways, business parks and shops and suburbs. The airport was modern and large and I was quite early. I tried to get the hire car early or to do the paperwork but they said no I had to wait. I therefore bought some plug adaptors for UK to NZ and sat in a café having a coffee and charging my watch. I finished my book which was about a New Zealand SAS soldier which was good.

The moment arrived and Jules appeared smiling from the  arrival gate and it was great to see her after so long. We chatted away and then went to get our hire car. You will not believe this but at the car hire office I met Jonathan Neal, a businessman I knew quite well from my workdays. What a small world!

We got in the hire car and drove to Half Moon Bay and were able to change our ferry time to an earlier ferry but still had time for lunch. We found a marina restaurant called Grangers and had a delicious lunch which was a good start to the trip.

I had heard from Keith Winstanley and Ruth and they were on a ferry to Waiheke and will do a quick shop before we arrive at our rental house. We got the ferry and it was still grey and miserable. Never mind. We got off the ferry and went to Stormbird and collected my bags and some of Jules’s stuff and any food we could use.

We drove from Waiheke marina to Oneroa where we found the house. It was on a cliff overlooking Oneroa Bay and has a magnificent view. It did not look its best in this grey wet atmosphere. The picture of the day is of the view. It is a very comfortable with a good outside terrace with a barbecue and hopefully the weather will be kind so we can use it properly.

Keith and Ruth were there and settling in and Keith had bought some food. We had an easy supper of scrambled eggs and bacon. Jules was feeling quite tired after her journey so we had an early night. However, we did introduce Jules and Ruth to our Tahitian music  and we had no complaints!.

We look forward to exploring more tomorrow in what hopefully will be a dry day.

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