We sat in the Sue and Steve's lounge updating the blog, before sitting down with a German couple who were very big in every way. We had heard the husband vomiting yesterday evening , not very pleasant when your reading your book, eating Bombay mix!
Anyway, he was not looking much better this morning and only had a cup of coffee for breakfast. His wife in the other hand compensated for his lack of eating and had everything going, and more!
Steve showed us the weather map which hinted at rain, but he was sure it would remain dry. So, we agreed to go sailing around the bay of Islands for the day.
Wed met Steve & Sue down at the quay. A couple for mates of theirs from Auckland had driven up for a few days. So Gary and Brenda joined us for the day. Gary is also a very keen yachtsman as is Brenda.
What a fab yacht she was. We were soon zooming out of the bay and into the open water, passing small islands on the way. The water was a mixture of blues and greens and very clear, if chilly this time of year.
Flash backs to our Greek sailing holiday came flooding back. However, compared to the sails on our much loved Greek yacht, Babette, the sails in this lovely were huge. Steve and Gary did most of the hoisting whilst Fiona and I directed operations!!!
After some tea and wonderful home made fruit muffins, we anchored off Army bay and walked up to the top of the Island and then down to one of the beaches, where Brenda began breaking off fresh oysters, cleaning them in the crystal clear waters and then quaffing them down. John also joined in the feast, but stopped after one. They tasted OK but nothing to write home about. Brenda on the other hand would have continued given the chance.
Steve had gone back to the yacht to fix a broken winch, so he came back to the beach in the dingy, picked us all up and took us back to the yacht.
Sue presented us with a wonderful lunch of cooked meats, cheese, home made bread, salad, fruit and various drinks.
After lunch we made our way back to Russell and still the sun was shining and the sky mainly blue.
The wind was up and we reached the harbour at 4pm. After taking our kit back to the B&B (Villa Russell), we took Sheba the villa doggy for a walk up to Flagstaff hill, a steep walk which offers great views of the bay and surrounding area. Sheba is a very strong doggy and on a few occasions she took John for a walk into the bushes down very steep banks. Man, is she strong!!
In the evening, we sat on Steve & Sue's porch watching Steve in a yacht race in the bay below. Every week 6+ people from the town have a weekly race in the bay. The wind was blowing hard and the angle of some of the yacht's was impressive.
As we watched the racing, the expected rain wandered slowly around the bay. It had been a great day, it was wonderful to get back onto the water again after our fun in the Greek sun.
We continued to watch the yacht race from the sun terrace. Steve and his mate easily won the race. They have a super yacht witht a racing hull. Steve has been saiing since he was in nappies, and it shows.
Tomorrow we leave the Bay of Islands and head south west to walk in Waipoua forest and then we head for Devonport for a days cycling on one of the lslands.
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