Of Fiji & Fiddles

G'Day Mates!

This past Saturday, it was out on the Gulf in a launch (that's powerboat to you) to watch the famous Auckland to Suva, Fiji sailboat race. We were in good company with the spectator boat from a past America's cup race. O Canada started last but is represented here catching first place boat, Wired in a downwind start.

And hey, I'm not the only immigrant. Sundays we are regulars at the Irish Pub, THE BOG, which features a jam session of fiddlers, flutists, guitar pickers, drummers, banjo players, mandolin strummers and what have you. After all, as Oscar Wilde said, "Work is the curse of the drinking class."

Aroha (love)

Greetings from Auckland!

When the weather is good, it's called fine, and when it rains the sun can shine. I know, I've seen it. You can never be sure if it will rain or shine and rain in Auckland. On Saturday, it poured, I mean cats and kiwis, thunder and lightning over the Hauraki Gulf as we prepared the boat called Woolly Jumper for racing in full foul weather gear. Then, at the start, the sun started to turn blue for the race.

Woolly Jumper (a jumper is a sweater) is a beautiful 50+ boat racing this Winter Season (yes, WINTER) every fortnight (every 2 weeks) by a crew of how ever many show up. Saturday it was 13. See the picture of Tony, owner Marty and Patrice. It's a cruising boat really with galley and salon but we had her up to 9 knots in a low breeze. Shall I admit we were 7th out of 17? And then I got to drive her back to her slip!

Cheers!

Lisa Lewis sits in the old gum tree,
merry, merry Queen of the Bush is she...

WAIT ONE MINUTE! That's Australia, not New Zealand.

Picture a trip to the wild shore of the west coast, PIHA, one of many great surf beaches.

Then an hour bush walk to see Kitekite Falls and the largest tree stump I've ever seen.

Zena Warrior Princess kind of stuff.

Am settling in and learning fun facts about New Zealand such as...according to the news, New Zealanders are among the fattest in the world. And as I have yet to pass up a bakery, I know how it can happen. But since I now weigh only 10 stones I don't feel so bad.

There are no snakes or bears in NZ and only a spider is poisonous.

Tomorrow I take a driving lesson to learn how to drive on the "wrong" side of the road and then it will be on to streets with names like Karangahape and Te Henga.

Sailing on the Hauraki Gulf in a raceboat begins on Saturday.

So until then, friends...

"...in the bonds of love we meet,

Hear our voices we entreat,

God defend New Zealand."

-May 10, 2010

THAT'S BETTER, the NZ national anthem.