01/30/2010, Whangarei, New Zealand
This is a photo just down-river from where we are located. We sure admire the traditional sailing vessels!!
The rigging is finished. Well, at least for this year. We replaced all of our wire and switched to Sea Rig swageless terminals. This was the big project for this year. New wire will be a good peace of mind. We had no records from the previous owners concerning the standing rigging so we assumed that it was original wire, a scary thought since the boat is 23 years old! We were unable to replace it until now, but it was worth having it done in New Zealand.
Our new anchor also arrived. We decided not to sell the other two anchors. We really do need to have a variety to chose from, and also the fact that we can confidently lay out multiple large anchors when the need arises. We had been looking for a new anchor without success since leaving the states. With this in mind, if we lose an anchor, we will have a back-up plan. With rocks, coral heads, or unknown wrecks, there is a real possibility that there will come a time when we may not be able to retrieve an anchor.
I put in another new zipper in the mainsail cover. I hope this isn't going to become an annual event! We thought about replacing the cover this year, but when I looked into an estimate at the canvas shop out of shear curiosity, it was clear that we will be making it ourselves! I am saving our sewing projects for later in the year. Right now we are doing things that require lots of fresh water, being tied to a dock, or projects that we need help on.
Other things that we have done is the Hooka. It is now fixed and ready for action. I can't wait to go diving with it! We are also doing the annual scrubbing and cleaning out of every locker and every inch of the boat. It really is amazing how much stuff we have packed away in lockers. We will go everything. If we no longer need it, it will go away to make room for other things. I don't know if we will ever be successful at getting the boat back to it's waterline, but we do keep trying, however futile it appears!
Varnishing? That ongoing chore that seems to never make it off the to-do list. We did turn the boat around so the sanding has begun on the port side. People often question my sanity for keeping varnish on the boat in the tropics. I do too! But, it looks so beautiful, and I just can't bring myself to leaving it plain. That day will come, but not yet. I think of the woodwork like a homeowner views her garden. The house will be fine without flowers, but with pretty flowers and landscaping, it is beautiful. Sure, the boat will be fine without varnish, but she is so beautiful with it, so for now, I will keep at it!
| 2009 South Pacific-Onward to New Zealand |
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I posted the Gear Review today. It's a long posting, so I have it listed to the right in the "Gear Review" folder. I hope that it is helpful.
| 2009 South Pacific-Onward to New Zealand |
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01/15/2010, Whangarei, New Zealand
We visited Abbey Caves, home of the famous glow worms. Yes, they really do glow in the dark. Getting to the caves was a short walk through cow pastures. We climbed through a small opening, waded through water, and there they were, little lights along the rock wall and ceiling. If we were outside, the little glow worms would resemble light from stars.
I added a new photo album titled "Whangarei, New Zealand". To view it click on the title "Photo Album" located below our profile photo.
| 2009 South Pacific-Onward to New Zealand |
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01/03/2010, Whangarei, New Zealand
What an amazing year! 2009 was a year of memorable experiences that we will spend much time reflecting on. We turned some dreams into reality. There were many "firsts" for us as we voyaged from one hemisphere to another. Although we travel alone on a huge ocean, we travel in the paths of many before us, leaving a wake for the adventurous to follow. We also carry on board advice and knowledge kindly passed on to us along with the dreams of many people who join us vicariously.
We are truly not alone nor could we leave the shore without others to guide, encourage, or lend their support along the way. When I grumble about the accuracy of a chart, I think about Captain Cook, who did this voyage without a chart, and made them along the way for others to follow. When the weather takes a turn for the worse, I think of Captain Bligh, who traveled over 2000 miles on this ocean dotted with hostile inhabitants, in an open launch without a well stocked galley or hope from an EPIRB.
We are incredibly grateful to the ham radio operators of the Pacific Seafarer's net. Checking in every day as we cross an ocean to hear friendly cheerful voices is a comforting thing, not just the safety factor, but the fact that we are truly not alone, a speck of life on a very big ocean.
We are continually impressed by the fact that so many folks read our blog, make comments and send us emails. We eagerly look forward to reading them. This really encourages us. It is enjoyable to be able to share our experiences, and hopefully help others with their cruising plans.
We are a member of the fluid and often complex cruising community. Complex, because we originate from all walks of life, all nationalities, and all classes of society traveling by boat sharing a common camaraderie of cruising. This is a group of people with no borders, and no limits on courage, generosity, or kindness.
We will be posting an article how our cruising gear fared and our humble opinions on what worked and what did not work out as we had envisioned it. I hope to publish it here in the next couple of weeks.
| 2009 South Pacific-Onward to New Zealand |
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Look forward to the article, looking to you guys for all the advice we can get. Ocean Blue II will be leaving from Mazatlan!
