We got into the marina on Monday just before the rain came, great timing, as getting into the berth and tying up always takes a while. Luckily a guy from the customs boat opposite caught our lines, all the more impressive as he only has one hand, but you would never notice. The next 24 hours was spent, tidying up and doing lots of chores. We now have a new BBQ grill, the riggers have put in a new Main Sheet, plus all new sheet (ropes) and furler for the Code Zero (Sporty Spice). We also had the Tricolour light and vhf antennae replaced, so ticking off the list of things to do. A guy came up to the boat and greeted us effusively, Rowan and I both drew a complete blank, he obviously realised as he said it’s Mark, who bought our old PolePole, now called Quantum. So amazing it should be here at the same time as us, we were last together in Papeete, Tahiti. In fact we spent time with his American partner as he was away having surgery for a detached retina in Papeete. They have had a great sail and Quantum has done them well. He came over for dinner last night and we christened the new Kiwi Sizzler BBQ. His partner has gone back to the States for a while, to be reunited with her dog, who flew back to the States with a friend from French Polynesia.
We’ve hired a car so it was a treat to drive to KerKeri about half an hour away to a big supermarket and have a really good shop, our provisions were running a little low. Today Rowan went for a walk in between having workmen on the boat. I drove to the town Kawakawa that the artist Hundertwasser made famous by building the public loos of the town in his style. The main gallery dedicated to him is in Whangarei where PolePole sat right outside, for nearly 7 months. I’m very taken with him as an artist, he moved to NZ and lived up north somewhere near here. Sadly the town is a bit run down and they have tried hard to create something to commemorate this eccentric artist with a memorial centre, but that was closed as it is only run by volunteers. The town really did not have any other redeeming features, except I did find a very good hardware shop, for a few bits and pieces I needed and had not found at the Opua Chandleries.
Dodging this big cruise liner in the bay on our way to the marina
In between showers, a great sunset
Dark clouds show up the Maori post next to PolePole. They are called Pouwhenuas, these carved wooden poles mark significant places or territorial boundaries. You can spot the workers on board
The little alley way leading to the Public loo in Kawakawa
I love the use of bottles in the walls to give light and interest
Street view with it’s living roof
Inside the Ladies, the bottle wall from the inside
The closed Memorial centre
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