We are back in Opua, 5 months ago this is were Nicole , Colby and myself made our first New Zealand Landfall. Wow! has it been that long? Did alot too, from caving to touring the South Island by train and bus and Ferry and many adventures in between including finding the most awesome hugging tree anywhere (on Mercury Island). NZ is an awesome place, just a little cold now and than. Well at least for someone use to 85F year round ( Virgin Islands). We will all miss it especially some of the wonderful people we met.

Last week we left Whangarei for Tutukaka. Before leaving Mike and I went Kite surfing one more time. When we got to Tutukaka we went on a dive to Poor Knights Island. We had to wear 7mm full body wet suits as the water Temp is like 62F. We left Tutukaka on Thrusday and stopped at a couple of Islands on the way to Opua, Motuarohia and Urupukapuka.I did a wonderful very scenic hike around Urupukapuka Isl. jUST BEAUTIFUL.

Well as I said we are now in Opua waiting for a weather window to leave for Fiji (1000miles, 7 day sail) We will be leaving some time this week so you may not get an email from me for a while. Today we have some cruising friends joining us for a few days before we depart. They lost their boat on a reef last week and lost everything. It sank in 5 minutes. Sad but they had insurance so they are looking to buy another boat. In addition we have a friend of Mikes joining us to help with the passage to Fiji. I think Marnie will be flying there to meet us.

Anyways all is well. I hope to see some of you when I am back in the states from May 10- July 14. I can’t believe that I am going to sail my boat Sunshine in the North Channel for 3 weeks of that time

The Adventure Continues

Love Gary