April 14, 2013
With slack tide time approaching, it was time to head to the Tauranga Bridge Marina. It was very strange feeling for a moment as we motored past some large freighters as the scene looked exactly like our home port in San Pedro, California. It was unsettling, like suddenly being jolted back in time, but the moment passed and we were back in New Zealand.
We got into our new slip and checked in with the office to do our paperwork (and got our shore power cord zeroxed!). We then headed to the Last Gasp Cafe (the little cafe right at the marina) to have some breakfast and get a feel for our new home. We liked it, and it wasn’t long before we ran into some friends who were hauled out in the boatyard. One neat thing about being a cruiser is meeting so many people and then running into them in various places around the globe.
We pretty much have the same ritual every time we get into a marina. The first thing we do is to go to the office and get signed in and get restroom/shower/laundry room keys. Then we go check out the marina eatery and have some food. After that, it’s time to wash off the salty boat and scrub our dinghy. It’s a great feeling to get the outside of the boat clean and pretty and have it drying in the sun. After that, internet! We usually have a couple of blog entries to post and we do some TV show procuring. Then comes showers ashore, and finally dinner out.
We didn’t have our car yet. Our friend Robin had driven it down from Opua, and it was currently waiting for us at the home of our friends Colin and Jeanette where we’d pick it up tomorrow. But we could have dinner out at Phil’s Place, the restaurant at the marina. What a treat that turned out to be! It’s a beautiful place with very good food and nice people. We were a little confused by the drum set used as decor in the bar and the Grammy award encased above our table. Turns out the place is owned by the drummer of the band AC/DC. Well, the guy has good taste!
And so began our time in our new place. It was good to be home. –Cyndi
