Links to the Past

Bridge Marina, Tauranga, North Island

Tuesday 8 June 2021

It was nice to see the sun plus large patches of blue sky today, making the strong wind feel a little less … strong.

As our date of departure from here looms closer – just 5-6 days away now – the extended forecast, turns into the 7-Day forecast, which becomes the short-term forecast; all the while becoming that much more accurate.

Currently, next Monday’s wind is looking like turning northerly – on the nose – but light, with relatively low seas.  Probably a 50/50 chance of rain, but rain’s not something that generally gets in our way.  It’s wind strength, wind direction and sea-state that has us reaching for the GO or NO GO button. 

Rain?  We can always put up an … now I nearly said UMBRELLA … but what I should really say is … we can always put on a raincoat. 

Not that I’m superstitious, but there are some boatie folks that are.  And there’s something about umbrellas that can bring out a nervous tick, and more.   You could say it’s a load of nonsense, they’re making it up, don’t be silly … just the sort of thing I might announce when someone says … “but I can’t go in there I’m claustrophobic”…      

Now, I MIGHT say that, but nearly 40 years of marriage has taught me, (I’m a slow learner), that THINKING something, is a very different matter to SAYING something.  Consequently, I do a little more thinking these days than talking?! Because what seems real to one person may not necessarily seem real to another.

Back to the superstitious umbrella … I have no idea where that idea originated.  Maybe captains once upon a time felt they could too easily conceal a sword, or a gun, or sharpened up they could become a weapon in themselves … but superstitions and the sea are nothing new of course.  Just think “Jonah and the Whale” … although I think it’s a bit drastic to throw a crew member over the side, given the choice of an umbrella.

Just for future reference, while we’re on the topic of superstitions and the sea … there’s a very long list … no doubt with origins dating back to the era of sail, scurvy, pressgangs and lashings … (not lashings of ginger beer, you understand) … and a time even before Smartphones and Facebook kids.  There are superstitions connected to all sorts of things … bananas, whistling, women, leaving port on Fridays, re-naming a boat, personal grooming, egg shells, no farewells, stirring tea, passing salt … you get the idea. 

Now that I’m on the boat, kind of full-time, I’ve logged into the international Cruiser Forums again.  The place where old and new salts trade ideas and help solve each other’s problems – and the rest of the world’s – as only helpful folk can. 

Naturally all the “chat topics” are grouped under themes or “Threads” … I even asked “anyone please” about fixing IridiumGo Satellite receivers.  Anyway, under the Thread of … Do you have any sailing superstitions you follow? … there were literally hundreds of Posts and Comments, as you can imagine.  One of the funniest … although, that said, maybe it wasn’t … was a guy who commented … (and I think my audience are all grown-ups) … My wife believed it was unlucky to have sex aboard. Or on land. 

To which someone else made a correction … Let me fix that for you: “my EX-wife believed it was unlucky to have sex on board. Or on land “

Arr, those sailor-folk, they’re a funny lot …

Meanwhile, back in Tauranga and life aboard the trusty ship Chimere … today I met my cousin, Mark Latimer, for the first time in about 50 years.  As mentioned in yesterday’s entry, having tracked him down via Facebook, we caught up for coffee aboard, then had lunch of fish and chips overlooking the sea at Papamoa – just near here.   

It was really great to meet Mark.  We look nothing alike.  As you can see from the photos, he’s more in the mold of Santa Claus, whereas I’m … not able to grow such luscious whiskers.

As Mark explained, he was a school teacher for 30+ years and has been a part of this local community all his life.  I asked about their old original house, and I was right, it’s on Maunganui Road.  Even more, it’s still standing and  Mark’s brother, Peter (who just happens to have travelled to Australia for a few weeks to see his daughter and grandchild) now owns the property.  So we dropped around and checked it out, rekindling some old memories from my visit here with my family back in 1971

As we drove around in Mark’s 4WD, his trusty (greyhound-terrier cross) dog named Luna, dutifully tagged along – on the backseat, between the front seats, head out the window, at the beach, at the shops – always happy and obedient.  I got the usual … “how-are-you-sniffs-and-licks” until I thought we’d, kind of, “normalised” our acquaintance and even friendship, not to mention “boundaries”. 

Not so.  As we cruised along, Mark pointing out this or that landmark or historical feature, Luna lost interest in what she was doing on the backseat, sat up between the two front seats, gazing out the windscreen – just like us humans and fellow gang members – then she turned to the side of my head and poked her very wet, sniffy-nose into my ear; no doubt with her tongue too it was so wet.   And we’d only just met! 

“Or-yes, she does that” laughed Mark … “like she’s wanting to give your brain a clean” 

It certainly took me by surprise I must say!

Hopefully I can catch up again with Mark before we head away. But at the very least we can now stay in touch.

John returned this afternoon from his 50-Year Pompallier College reunion up at Whangarei.  As a founding student, he was very much in a select group … the “seniors” … and by all accounts it was a great success; attended by over 300 alumni, plus some current pupils.   I suspect the 7-8 hour bus ride each way was in itself something of an adventure. 

Whilst you mostly see signs these days that read … “Please wear a mask … for health and safety reasons”, John was amused to read one sign that said …”Some bus drivers are not wearing masks … for health and safety reasons”    It seems the higher than normal carbon dioxide levels in a poorly ventilated bus can be made even worse when you wear a mask, leading to driver fatigue, weariness and … you know the rest.  

My other exciting news is that I went to Burnsco (think Bunnings for boaties … so many things, so little money) to buy some Primer Paint today, and also went to the Post Office to send Kate’s slippers (which she left aboard) back to Wellington … where she apparently needs them because it gets cold down there in winter.  

It was so refreshing to visit the Post Office … “Don’t buy that post bag … that’s the expensive way to do it.  You’ll spend over $6 on that, whereas one of these red bags are just $4:20”  said the friendly man behind the counter.  The topic of boats then came up and we talked for a good 5 minutes about all things nautical.  Me checking from time to time to see whether any other real customers were behind me in need of assistance.

Hopefully tomorrow’s weather contains enough breaks for us to do more painting on the deck.  But if not, we’ll finish it off another day!

Smooth seas, fair breeze and links to the past

Rob Latimer