Whangarei.... Getting Settled In....

Welcome to our Blog. Our latest entry always comes up first... 
Click this link if you want to start at the beginning:
FIRST BLOG ENTRY
If you want to start at the beginning of our trip:
START OF TRIP
If you want to see the story of our trip from South Carolina
(where we bought the boat)
 to Lake Ontario Click this link:
  SOUTH CAROLINA

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We have spent the last week settling into life here in New Zealand.  Our first order of business was to somehow acquire and automobile.  It seems that there are many vehicles here in New Zealand for less than $4000nzd.

We were given a flyer the day we arrived here in the Town Basin for a 2005 Mizubushi station wagon available for $2500...  after calling the seller, w bought it sight unseen and she delivered it a few days later.  After getting it looked over by a local garage, we were down the road (on the wrong side) for just an additional $300.

All it needed was some new brake pads and the oil changed...

Insurance here in New Zealand is "optional". But for us, mandatory, so we're surprised to find out we got all the car insurance we need for a mere $28 per month. A steal of a deal!

The people selling the car have been wonderful.  We had some trouble getting some funds down here so have taken just a deposit and delivered the car.  We hope our money will arrive by Monday.

Our first adventure in the car was to go with our good friends, Kerry and Bruce (s/v Haven) to Opua for the first day of the All Points Sailing Rally, which we participated in coming from Tonga.

Bruce & Kerry (s/v Haven)

Picnic Lunch

Oyster Farming

Ferry to Opua

The trip was stunning.  We just can't get enough of the local scenery.  We took a circuitous route along the cost and had a picnic along the way... what a great day...

With our home now on a dock, we have been busy connecting with people who will help us get the repairs we need done to a Blowin Bubbles.  She has been so good to us over the last 2 1/2 years, but she needs a few things done so we can continue our journey...

So far, we have sent the freezer out for repair, sent emails to get our chart plotter fixed, arranged for a rigging inspection, arranged for a mechanic to look at our broken motor mounts, leaky heat exchanger, broken raw water pump, and our noisy cv joint on the shaft...  we are so proud of our engine for getting us here in spite of her challenges...

We try that accomplish something every day.  For example, today we walked to the market, repaired our washing machine, and Shelley did a bunch of research into a new dinghy.  We figure if we get something done every day, we will have time to relax before we head back to sea in April or May.

I need to say that our time here is not spent working all the time.  We have had time for lots of walks and even attended a cabaret show last Saturday evening... what fun...

Kelly and her good friend, Kristina, will be coming for Christmas in a few weeks so Shelley has been busy finding fun things for us to do while they are here... more soon

Cheers


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