New Zealand on the half-shell

and a few other meals…

 

Paihia to Opua

I misread the map on my phone.   I thought it said the trail from Paihia to Opua was 2.4 miles.   It in fact read 2.4 to the head of the sail.  And then 2.6+ to Opua itself.  No worries.  It was a great hike with the Pilgrim.  Hills and valleys, tiny little beaches, thick canopies of trees and then a walk over a bridge through what looked like a mangrove swamp.  The reward: a visit to a beautiful little waterfront surrounded by boats.  And then a second reward: a fantastic lunch in a little cafe.  

 

thinking about Pamlico Sound on a winter's day

Just looking at photos from last spring's sail, 

and thinking about this year's trip.

 

thinking about Maine on a winter's day

Just looking at photos from last summer's sail, 

and thinking about this year's trip.

 

caught again, this time on the Pasquotank

This morning I received a nice note from friend Harris.  He forwarded a YouTube video and said that must be me in Elizabeth City.  He was correct.

A few days before Christmas I took SPARTINA down to Elizabeth City for a test sail.  I had replaced the main and jib halyards and wanted to sail with the new lines before the (now-canceled) winter sail down south.  I really did not need to do a test sail but it was a good excuse for a sail on a favorite river.  The crew of ARRABELLA must have been tied up at the free slips on the waterfront docks and included SPARTINA in a video about their passage down the Dismal Swamp Canal.  

I do not know much ARABELLA.  She appears to have been recently built by four friends and now they are taking her south.  They have a YouTube channel that documents the build and their journey.  I will bookmark their page and follow along.  ARABELLA is a beautiful boat.  And the journey is a mixture of old and new.  The "old" being a traditionally built double-ended ketch, the "new" being a journey supported by YouTube videos and online donations.  Interesting.

As for the canceled sail down in South Carolina, I am glad I did cancel it.  Surprising cold weather has persisted for over a week, and will continue for almost another week.  I can sleep comfortably on SPARTINA at 40 degrees, and have done one night at 34 degrees.  But 10 or 12 days in a row at just above and below 30 degrees.  It doesn't sound like fun, and it doesn't sound safe.  

Next cruise: the sounds of North Carolina in May