Last week, Mark and I borrowed Axel’s spacious car to visit
friends two hours north of Auckland. For the occasion, the car was turned into
our closet, kitchen, lunch counter and internet café, while we visited boating
friends. Due to a cold front, the weather was very chilly and rainy, but the
company of our fellow cruisers made up for the discomfort. After two nights on
SV Amandla in Gulf Harbor, hanging out with Fabio and
Lisa, we continued north
to Whangarei, taking a somewhat scenic road, and stopping a few times along the
way.
It was fantastic to see the
SV Iona family again after a year! Cute Leili had grown a bit, Dylan more than a bit. For the next two
nights, we stayed on their cozy boat, while Chris cooked for us and Katie was a
gracious host. We combined some work in the local library (good WiFi), with
being part of their lovely family, and enjoyed the warmth of their home and
personalities. One afternoon, we all drove out to Whangarei Heads for a beach
walk and picnic. The scenery was spectacular and the faint sun very welcome!
On the day we left, back south to appreciate the hospitality
of our friends Fabio and Lisa once more, Mark and I tried to organize our
imminent accommodation and transportation needs for a few hours and had just
enough time left to check out Whangarei Falls. This was an easy and beautiful
detour, so we decided to walk the trail to the Kauri forest, instead of driving
there. Some fresh air was just what we needed and the exercise was very
welcome. Along the boardwalk in the forest, we gazed at the tropical vegetation
– I love those “fern trees” – and the ancient Kauri trees, which are hundreds
of years old. Ah, to be in nature again…
After a last night on the Amandla boat in Gulf Harbor, it
was back to Auckland, for a change of pace and lifestyle! :-)
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| Whangarei Marina lies along the river. The red boat is "Guppy", Laura Dekker's ketch she sailed around the world as youngest circumnavigator |
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| Upon arrival in this boating mecca, we ran into Chris, who showed us the way to SV Iona |
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| Mark and Leili, cute as ever... |
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| It was so great to see mother and daughter again! |
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| Tall teenager Dylan, 2 days before his cast came back off |
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| Family outing to the beach at Whangarei Heads - just like in the "old" Marquesas days! |
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| Tall and sturdy pine trees |
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| The beach - Where shall we eat our picnic? |
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| Trying to find a spot out of the wind - The sun feels good! |
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| Climbing the sand dune - We will have lunch on the top |
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| Picnic spot with a view (and "waves" of extra sand) - Crunchy sandwiches! |
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| Looking left... |
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| ... and looking right. |
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| Dylan, Katie, Liesbet, Leili and Mark on a NZ beach! |
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| Choppy anchorage - We are glad to be on land |
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| The longest food bridge in the Southern hemisphere |
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| Whangarei Falls |
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| Nice walk to the AH Reed Memorial Park |
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| Crossing one of the rivers without getting our feet wet |
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| Kauri forest |
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| A majestic and ancient Kauri tree |
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| Looking down onto a "fern tree" from the canopy walk in AH Reed Memorial Park |
After Mark and I visited our boating friends further north,
we brought Axel’s car back to Auckland. Our German friend was meeting a diving
buddy in Muriwai that afternoon and we decided to join him on a sightseeing
trip in the morning. Axel showed us the local Gannet colony, the extensive
beaches and the wild coastline of this western region. Once back in Auckland,
Mark and I resided in an expensive hostel for two nights. While happily being
part of the more affordable backpacking scene, many years ago, I felt a bit out of place
(and noticeably older) in the tiny room, shared bathroom and sticky, underequipped
communal kitchen.
On Sunday, Axel and Liz handed us the keys to our very own
temporary apartment on K-Road! That was a joyous moment, and for the last week,
Mark and I have truly enjoyed the city life in our spacious and modern flat.
The unlimited running water, the warm, pressurized showers, the decent wireless
internet, the non-stop electricity, the comfortably equipped kitchen and the
roomy walk-in closet (which barely has clothes in it) give us a true feeling of
how the average human being in the western world lives. An enjoyable and
welcome change, that’s for sure! Parks, public transportation and a Chinese
grocery store are within walking distance, together with all the shops and
(ethnic) restaurants you can think of. This is the life, indeed. For now…
One of those days, last week, I met up with my friend Lisa
and she showed me around Auckland’s street art scene. Knowing all the artists
and having been present at the annual 2015 All Fresco Street Art Festival, she
proved to be an amazing guide. Her insights as a street art admirer and
connoisseur added to her knowledge and navigational skills of the city. The
photos underneath don’t do the murals justice, but it was a very interesting experience
to learn and see a bit more of this increasingly popular art form.
