An eventful day

It’s still dark at 6 a.m. in Whangarei. A light rain has started to fall—of course, right when you least need it. At least there’s hardly any wind. The weather app is wrong again, but I’m used to that by now. I put on my rain jacket, take out the trash, and stow the suitcase in the car, which I’m leaving here for now so I can pick it up later. I start the engines and begin hauling in the lines. I leave the ropes at the mooring point and just shoot them out so I can hand them over again right away in Norsand when I pull into the slipbox.

Okara Marina, Whangarei

Rope on slip

I slowly make my way out of Okara Marina. Here, I still have to watch out for the shoals, since the marina basin hasn’t been fully dredged yet. The marker pole indicating the shoal is impossible to spot in the dark and with such poor visibility. But I have a rough idea of where it is. The channel on the Hatea River is lit, so it’s no problem to cover the half-mile to the Norsand Marina. I arrive there right on time. They take my lines, and I wait at the dock while the slip trailer is prepared. The first—and not the only—delay of the day. Last night I was still sitting with Hermann and Ute on the Thetis. Hermann offered to drive my car to Norsand. I declined because I didn’t know exactly when I’d be finished. Hermann said it would be quick. “If you’re up at 7:00 a.m., you’ll be there by 9:00 a.m.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t right.

Waiting at the pier, Norsand Whangarei

What was supposed to be a 15-minute wait turned into 45 minutes. I pull into the slip, and everything that happens after that goes smoothly. The crew at Norsand is well-coordinated and experienced. Katinka Enjoy is pulled out of the water and positioned at the cleaning station. The hull is covered in barnacles. Four months at anchor have done a number on it. I’ve never had this many barnacles on my boat, not even in French Polynesia or Fiji. Scraping them off and cleaning the hull takes another hour. In between, there’s a breakfast break. I decide to head to Okara Marina to pick up the car. I say goodbye to Sharron and sign up again for the fall. Back in Norsand, I’m told it will take another hour because they have to reposition a boat’s support points so the painter can continue. At 1:00 p.m., the masthead of the Katinka Enjoy starts moving, and I watch as she’s maneuvered into her spot. Apparently, the boat that was here before me just left recently. The spot is in complete disarray. Wooden blocks are lying around everywhere. I help clean up so it goes faster. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help. After the Katinka Enjoy has taken its place, the guys are already gone again. “We’ll be right back!” In the meantime, I tidy up. I lower the cover again and secure everything. The fenders are stowed away, and everything is ready for a longer absence. Finally, the boat comes back to life, and Katinka Enjoy is placed on the wooden blocks. By 3:00 p.m., everything is finished.

Katinka Enjoy on shore

At the marine office, I sign the contract and leave a key there. I set off at 3:30 p.m. As soon as I leave Whangarei, I realize I’m hitting rush hour traffic. So, in Wellsford, I turn onto Route 16 toward Helensville and accept a slight detour to Auckland. The route passes by Kawau-Parua Inlet and offers scenic views. There’s significantly less traffic here, and I make good time. In Kaukapakapa, I turn off Route 16 to get back onto Route 1 toward Auckland. Just before the Auckland Harbour Bridge, I’m stuck in traffic again for a short while. After three hours, I’m finally back in Auckland, which I left three days ago. Gaby and the dogs are happy to have me back. Though I can’t shake the feeling that the dogs are happier than Gaby. But maybe that’s just because Gaby can’t wag her tail. Anyway, I’m starving and don’t have to wait long for dinner. Here in Auckland, too, everything went according to plan, so we’re now perfectly prepared for our vacation back home. 

A trip to the movies

Our final days in New Zealand have begun, and we treat ourselves to a trip to the movies. On the way there, we try to remember the last time we were at the theater. We can’t quite place it. We skip the popcorn, since New Zealand only sells the salted kind. A bag of M&Ms has to do instead. *The Devil Wears Prada 2* really puts me through the wringer. I catch myself dozing off again and again, and I’m glad to see the credits roll. In many cases, you can skip the second part of a movie. But whatever—going to the movies alone was an experience once again. You should just do things more often that you haven’t done in a long time. With that in mind, always have fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.