Sunday of Rest & Recreation

Private Mooring, North Cove, Kawau Island, North Island

Sunday 20 June 2021

It seemed to rain all night, but by morning it was clear, sunny and fine.

Being tied up to a freshwater source, at the Kawau Boating Club, and with the generator having run for an hour or so – which heats our water – everyone grabbed the opportunity to have a hot shower.  Luxury!!

Martyn knocked up some scrambled eggs for everyone, after which John and I stayed aboard while the others went for a walk up the hill and far away – and back again – all within about 45 minutes.  Just in time for us to untie the lines and head around the corner to Mansion House Bay.

Now, I’d seen this establishment on the way into Bon Accord Harbour, in fact it was one of the photos in last night’s Post … I cheekily suggested it might be my next house.  Anyway, Nicola – who used to sail these waters as a kid with her father, mother and brother, explained that it was actually built by one of New Zealand’s early Governors – a certain Mr Grey esq.   You can check out the man himself HERE

… but apparently he even developed a zoo, with giraffes, zebras, wallabies … all sorts of animals.  He was quite the man. Check out more HERE

As for the “house”, sorry Mansion … after a short motor and anchoring nearby, we launched our big dinghy off the foredeck and all six of us made our way to the small jetty out front.  We even had a look inside, and it really was impressive.   As you can see from the photos, it is fully furnished, as per the Victorian era, and has an amazing history.   It really was worth the visit – there’s even remnants of the copper mine and smelter that was here in the early days, although we didn’t have time to check that out fully. 

What we did see were building blocks dating from the mid-1800s, made of copper ore slag that have been used to make the wharf.  You could tell they contained copper because of the green stain that seemed to ooze from some of them.  

Another highlight was making our way back to North Cove to see Lin Pardey and David Haigh – as reported in yesterday’s Post.  David suggested we pick up the mooring, described as;… “orange with a white float attached, just off the stern of a double-ender about 36 foot long … you can’t miss it” … virtually out the front of their place, which certainly made things easier. 

By way of a re-cap … I met Lin and David in Westernport, just before setting sail for New Zealand in January 2020.  I’d known of Lin, as a sailing author and adventurer, with her husband Larry.  This was back in the 1970s when my brother Andrew was building his library of boating books – Lin and Larry Pardey being close to the Bible in the sailing world when it came to learning from the wisdom and experience of others. 

As they waved good-bye, quite disbelieving that we’d managed to re-rig Chimere, having returned the mast to her just three days before heading off, they called out that we should drop by, if we happened to be in the area. ie near Kawau Island.   

After the wind of the last few days, I’d resigned myself to NOT meeting up, but our fast return from Great Barrier Island with the wind up our tail, changed all that.

Having picked up the mooring, John and I took the dinghy to Lin’s nearby jetty equipped with a tasty red wine and a block of fruit and nut chocolate.  Nicola, Annette, Gary and Martyn stayed aboard to relax and basically do what they liked – within reason.  Which included making two loaves of bread … strictly according to Linda’s laminated instructions – which have been stuck to the wall of the galley for years.

Anyway, it was great to meet with Lin and David, and after finishing off our “offering”, plus lots of crackers and dips it was time to head back aboard.  In the course of our discussions, Lin mentioned that she knew a woman up near where John hails from in Northland … “not so-and-so?”, said John … “yes, that’s her” said Lin … “Well I built her house”, replied John … to astounded laughter all round.  Eventually, after more than two hours chatting, the quiet waters of the inlet below us and the last shadows of light disappearing beyond the surrounding hills, it was time to say good-bye.

As an aside, the small wooden yacht that Lin’s husband Larry built – way back – and in which they sailed around the world was moored below us, just two boats away from Chimere.  She is named Taliesin and whilst not owned by Lin any more, IS owned by a young couple who share a similar dream to Lin and Larry more than 40 years ago.   

On our way back to Chimere, I couldn’t resist taking a photo, but you can see some original video of the yacht – Lin and Larry aboard – HERE, and HERE

Returning to Chimere, John and I were greeted by two wonderful loaves of bread – created by Annette and Nicola – with plans well afoot for a dinner of pizzas.

Plans for tomorrow are pretty simple … head north … hopefully to Whangarei.  Not exactly Whangarei proper.  But around 45 miles to the harbour entrance … Urquharts Bay … where we plan to stop for the night and say hello to Alvin, who sailed from Wellington to Tauranga with us.  Alvin has a boat moored there and is currently knee deep in maintenance tasks aboard.

As for now, it’s an early night aboard Chimere so we can get away “at sparrow’s fart” … to quote John … at least early for us …

Smooth seas, fair breeze and Sunday of rest & recreation

Rob Latimer

Lin and Larry Pardey

Lin and Larry are among America’s (and the world’s) most knowledgeable and recognized cruising sailors. They are known as “America’s first couple of cruising.” The Pardeys have sailed over 200,000 miles, including two circumnavigations east to west and west to east aboard self-built, wooden, engine-free cutters under 30 feet. Author of a dozen books, countless magazine articles, and co-creators of five cruising documentaries, Lin and Larry have shared their sailing experiences with tens of thousands around the globe prompting many to take up the sport and live the dream of the cruising lifestyle. They have preached their motto of “Go simple, go modest, go small–just go”. Learn more about the Pardeys at http://www.landlpardey.com.