Of rig checks and back checks

A day of 2 halves. This morning a routine climb atop the mast to check the standing and running rigging and to make the most of the photo opportunity from 20m above deck level.

This afternoon relocation to Auckland in Bailey the van, to visit the urgent care centre recommended by Fay. Rob can't walk more than 25m before stopping in pain. If you know Rob, you will know that he must be hurting somewhat.

I was bowled over by the positive experience at the clinic. After registering and waiting 5 mins, Rob was triaged by a nurse. 10 mins after that, seen by a very competent and thorough Dr. Then a lumbar Xray and finally a review with the same Dr. A plan of action and a prescription.  Meds picked up. The whole visit from walking to walking out, in 1 hr 20 mins. 

Basically, nothing serious was found and Rob will be doing drug trials over the next few days.  Dear Fay has welcomed us back into her home to regroup.

We hope to head SE to Napier in Hawks Bay later this week to catch up with friends Julie and Trevor Myers and see the Black Clash cricket match (All Blacks vs Black Caps).

Sailing out from Whangarei

Today's weather was beautiful so we took the chance to get out to sea. It was wonderful to be on the water again. We sailed out to the wildlife sanctuary of the Hen and Chicken Islands, dropping the anchor in South Cove of Lady Alice Island.
The water was clear deep blue green but full of little lengths of what looked like fish eggs all lined up neatly in double rows just wafting around in the current. Swimming to inspect the hull showed us what a lovely forest of weed is growing on Tintin's bottom! A real wildlife sanctuary.
We passed a cargo ship on the commercial wharf being loaded with thousands of logs of wood, quite a sight. Laden to the plimsoll line she looked pretty full up. Hoping they have calm weather to wherever the destination may be.
On our return in to the harbour we were passed by red foiling catamaran about 40 foot long, literally flying along, escorted by fast motor boats. I've never seen a foiling boat that huge! Maybe it's part of the research for the 70 foot foiling monohull for the next America's cup match?

Back ashore after a very happy day, Rob tried walking and found that as per yesterday it was very painful. He has had low back pain for several days but now it's shooting down his leg and he can't go more than 50m. Oh dear... time to dig out the medical kit and see if anything there can help. Fingers crossed.

Sailing out from Whangarei

Introducing Bailey

We have hired this VW T5 campervan to explore New Zealand from Mitchell in Auckland. It is named Bailey,  after Mitchell's beloved dog. I think we will get along well.

Welcomed to New Zealand

Fay Pankhurst gave us a great welcome to Auckland at her home in Milford, just by the beach, thank you Fay! We got the maps out and did some planning together.
Much restored after the long flights, we set off in Bailey the campervan, heading north to find Tintin at Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei.
The drive took us through valleys and farmland with glimpses of both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. The trees are striking, so different from home: tree ferns, native flowering trees, bottlebrush and wattle.
By late afternoon we were back on board our home from home. Tintin was tied up in the marina, with everything very ship shape: thank you Nicki and Richard. She is coated in a fine layer of ash dust thought to have come from the Australian bush fires which turned the skies here orange last week.
We will spend a couple of days on board before setting out on our road trip, destination Fjordland at the bottom of South Island.

Arrival in New Zealand

Fay Pankhurst gave us a great welcome to Auckland at her home in Milford, just by the beach, thank you Fay! We got the maps out and did some planning together.
Much restored after the long flights, we set off in Bailey the campervan, heading north to find Tintin at Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei.
The drive took us through valleys and farmland with glimpses of both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. The trees are striking, so different from home: tree ferns, native flowering trees, bottlebrush and wattle.
By late afternoon we were back on board our home from home. Tintin was tied up in the marina, with everything very ship shape: thank you Nicki and Richard. She is coated in a fine layer of ash dust thought to have come from the Australian bush fires which turned the skies here orange last week.
We will spend a couple of days on board before setting out on our road trip, destination Fjordland at the bottom of South Island.

Part Two

Our adventures have restarted. Rob and I are bound for Auckland, this time it has taken only about 24 hours so far and from the plane's camera on its nose we can see the sunrise over the Tasman sea, with the North Island of NZ just visible on the horizon. Tintin is down there, moored at Marsden Cove Marina near Whangarei, north of Auckland. It is a great feeling to be nearly back on board again, and very exciting to be visiting New Zealand.
Yesterday it wasn't so clear that we would make it to the airport in time to catch our flight. Rob's back has been causing him some grief over the last few weeks and yesterday morning I found him prone on the bedroom floor trying to pack his bag, but unable to move due to the pain. Much worse than ever before. But he managed to get up eventually and stayed upright and mobile and mostly smiling (or grimacing). Good.
For the first time we looked forward to being taken to the airport by one of our children, real role reversal. James was our chauffeur at the wheel of the 18 yr old Polo. Filling the tank en route to Heathrow in Amersham we noticed fuel leaking onto the forecourt from under the car almost as fast as it was going in via the nozzle. Ahhhh. Not a good sign. Bucketfuls of sand were deployed and we pushed the car to a far corner of the forecourt. I called for a taxi and for the AA (I love the AA by the way), feeling so glad that I had arranged AA cover for the polo the day before.
Leaving a slightly stranded James we went on our way, and by the time we were boarding the plane the AA had done their magic, fixing a leak in the tank down pipe (probably caused by gliglis) with putty.
More anon...