Bay of Islands

After our time in Whangaroa Harbour we pointed the good ship "Irrepressible" southward intending to go back to Tutukaka but stopped for a night in Whangamumu where we stayed on the way up. We knew that our Tutukaka 'E' Street neighbors and friends were there and that Ken was going back the next day as was our intention. However, came the morning Ken got away and 'Fred and Nigel were all set to go up to the Bay of Islands and were quite persuasive about why we should go too. Every time we had been there in the past the weather was not the best so we had decided that we did not like the Bay of Islands but ended up agreeing to give it another chance. So glad we did because the weather was lovely all the time we were there and it made all the difference. The whole Bay was full of boats but apart from the hoons that sped around everywhere making rough wake for everyone else and endangering people trying to dive or swim or kayak it was all very tranquil and pretty.

And would you know it - lots of boats from E-Street there so it was sort of home away from home.
We gathered most nights on Nigel and Fred's boat "Seaforth II" because it is the biggest (see photo). One evening there were about 15 of us gathered and we ended up having a communal BBQ dinner (mostly sausages and bread with tomato sauce!) and then nobody wanted to go back to their own boats. A BeeJees video went on and so the evening turned into a dance party. I felt a bit sorry for 'Fred and Nigel but on reflection I think they love to be the hosts of a successful gathering.
We got together again on another night because somebody
had a birthday and the spouse had cooked a cake and wanted everyone to be there.

We went into Russell a couple of times. In colonial days it was dubbed "The Hell-hole of the Pacific" and was not a safe place to be in but now it is a very charming and picturesque seaside village. There are a couple of 4-Square supermarkets there so we were able to keep up supplies of fresh goods. There is also a very good museum and lots of arty sort of shops, lovely old colonial buildings and good eating venues - not to mention the coffee.

The annual Tall Ships Race took place while we were there which is rather fun. It is a sail boat race and it attracts really old boats and interesting boats. This event is always followed at the end of the day with a "Hangi" in the next cove. Sandra and Graham usually go to that.

Erin and Ivan sailed down from Whangaroa for a couple of nights before we left and we cooked a roast on our boat one night for them and Sandra and Graham.

Out anchor winch developed odd noises which caused us to make the decision to head off home. We were afraid that using it any more than we had to might make whatever was wrong worse and we did not fancy hauling up the anchor by hand if it failed altogether. 'Fred and Nigel decided to head homeward too and we risked using the anchor again in Whangamumu (hoping the winch would get it up one more time) for another night.
The offending winch did get the anchor up all right the next morning ( but the noise was a worry!) and we got back to Tutukaka at a good time to tidy up the boat a bit and do some washing.
The electric appliances came out and the whistleing kettle and camp toast maker went away until next time. We collected our mail and plugged in the TV and now we are caught up with the rest of world.