Boy how time flies

Paul and I made it back to Whangaroa on Sunday the 17th, we anchored up in Lane Cove, A lovely spot with hills all around. We put the washing on to soak and had an early night. Monday was washing day, we did that in the morning, and got it hung out and flapping in the breeze. After lunch we rowed up the Canyon to a swimming hole in the river, we filled our water bottles for bathing and washing, and had a lovely bath in the river. We did get Fatima stuck a couple of times on rocks in the river were it was a bit shallow.
We spent the next few days anchored over at Milford Island, enjoying the peace and quiet. We left to go to Whangaroa township on Friday, and it was probably about time, as the wasps were looking interested in the top of the mast. We had hoped to do some washing at Whangaroa, but they are seriously low on water and not letting visitors use the laundry. Oh well, we had cold Cider and chips for lunch, a warm shower, then back to the boat with some Steak for tea.
The 23rd was my Birthday, so we walked up to the top of St Pauls, a rock/hill in Whangaroa, this involved a wee rock climb, then we motored back to Milford Island and anchored up, we went and collected rock oysters for our steak dinner, not a bad day all round. We stayed at Milford Island until Friday the 1st of March, then we motored over to Lane Cove again, with the Dukes Nose on our mind.
The Dukes Nose is a Rock formation at Lane Cove, it does look surprisingly like a bloke. We had been up the Nose before, but I had piked out at the rock climb the last time. This time I was determined to go all the way to the top, even if it bloody killed me. Yes, I made it.........my words to Paul as we reached the top "the view had better be bloody worth it mate".

              Wendy after busting her gut, getting up the Dukes Nose (I hope he doesn't sneeze) HA Ha,              
             The view behind me is the "Canyon", a river valley that you can access at high tide.

                                   Wendy on the top of St Pauls, overlooking Whangaroa Harbour.

We left Whangaroa on Saturday and motored out through the Cavalli Passage, we were expecting 20knot SW, but we got a 15-20 knot Northerly instead, this kicked in at about lunchtime, so we were able to sail to the Bay from there, beautiful. We didn't get in until about 5 ish, but a swim was the first thing on the agenda. Sunday we motored over to Paihia and went to do some long over due fresh food shopping, fruit, vege, and meat were high on the list. Yesterday we did the walk around the Treaty grounds at Waitangi, and we took Fatima and motored up the Waitangi river to Haruru Falls, pretty damn cool. This morning we upped anchor heading to Opua, we had a wee altercation with a sandbar, and ended up on the putty right out the front of the Paihia Wharf............bunnies.
We did the washing at Opua and have headed back to Uruti Bay, near Russell, the washing is swinging in the breeze, we are feeling a bit sheepish about our grounding, but hey.. that is the way it is.