Safe and sound in Opua, New Zealand
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Thu 23 Oct 2008 01:15
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35:18.843S 174:07.289E
The rest of our trip was easy and uneventful as we
sailed and sometimes motored through flat seas. We slowed down as
much as possible and arrived as planned at first light this morning
(Thursday). All is well. Southern Princess arrived yesterday at
noon, Storyteller last night at 10pm and Lady Kay at midnight. We brought
in the rear of our mini rally arriving at 7am this morning.
The welcome we have received so far beats any on
record for Harmonie. Customs and quarantine officials greeted us
at 9:00 AM with an official Opua welcome pack filled with
all kinds of good stuff including rum - all packaged in a hand woven bag.
Since when do customs and quarantine officials come bearing
gifts? These were the nicest and most efficient
officials we've dealt with yet. The quarantine guy was
especially kind and only took one apple and a small bottle of honey away.
Good thing we chowed all the pork meat products on the way down though, if
we hadn't they would have been confiscated for sure. We offered up the can
of Spam we have hiding in one of our food storage lockers to the
quarantine guy (it was given to us as a
joke before we left home), but he said Spam was safe for us to keep in New
Zealand. Too bad. Also, the two women working in the marina office
are happy, smiling and helpful. Wow. We think we are going to like
this country.
We plan to stay in the Opua Marina for a couple of
days until the ugly low pressure system that is hovering just to the west passes
through. I'm in heaven because there is a laundromat here at the
marina. First time since.....? that we'll be able to get our laundry
done in a few of hours instead of the few days it usually takes
when we do it in our tiny on-board machine and hang it out to dry. After a
few days at the marina and a few days cruising the Bay of Islands (the
area surrounding Opua) we'll day sail our way south to Whangarei
where we have space booked for the boat while we travel home.
More later about our stop in Norfolk Island
(including pictures) and our Opua adventures.
Anne
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