Off to Auckland (and again)

Around 8am I roused the troops to clear the boat out. We’d packed most things into the car the previous night so it was just a few more things that had to go. The boys and I took the last few things to the car as well as taking out the last of the trash. We did a trial run to see if we could squeeze everyone in including Sam’s guitar and we were successful.

Next came moving the boat. We lowered the dinghy and tied it ashore. Ben went ashore to untie the dock lines and whizz ahead in the dinghy to assist with tying to the pilings we were moving to. The pilings are set into the river bed but have tires which rise and fall with the tide. We didn’t realize that these tires already had lines attached which were secured to the poles with loops hanging over nails. We probably could have done this without Ben in the dinghy but it was a help having him there.

We entered our slot diagonally bow first, took the two lines and secured them to our bow cleats. Next I tried to use the starboard reverse to rotate us in. We were stuck. I hadn’t checked but we were now at exactly low tide. We managed to get one line over to prevent the boat drifting further out into the river but we could go no further. At low tide the actual amount the tide will rise each half hour is slight at first so I figured we may have to wait an hour or two. I sent Ben and Helen off to move the car as we were unlikely to be back before we were at risk of incurring a parking fine.

When they returned we ended up chatting to Division 2 who were right behind us. Their kids recognised Helen from the pie eating contest in Tonga. As we were chatting the boat shifted and drifted all the way into place unimpeded. I learned later there was a small hump between the pilings so that once we were over it we could expect to settle as we did. We quickly tied the stern to the rear pilings.

Next Ben and I went ashore in the dinghy to collect the courtesy row boat. Ben returned to Dignity while I rowed against the building current. Once our dinghy was raised and chained to the boat we were ready to go. We all four piled into the rickety row boat and headed back to the marina. There I remembered not switching the internal water system from dock inlet to tank supply. This would cause problems when the water maker flushed so I had to row all the way back and fix this.

It was almost 11am and we were off to Auckland. We stopped around midday to eat sandwiches for lunch. We arrived at the hotel at around 1:30pm. It turned out to be bang in the center of town which is convenient for getting around. We took a bunch of things out of the car and took them into the hotel to check in. Our rooms turned out to be clean and spacious. For the price we paid we are very happy.

We all popped out for a while. Ben and Sam did their separate exploring to Helen and I. We looked around the dock area and found Curious. Normally a large cruising vessel it look quite small amongst all the large sailing yachts in the area.

Back at the hotel we all showered and rested before heading out to meet A Cappella and Scream at the Bayswater Marina on the far side of the harbour. We had a couple of drinks aboard A Cappella before heading off to the town of Davenport where Ed and Cornelia had previously found a good restaurant and where some fireworks were expected in the evening.

Sam went to look for his camera but couldn’t find it. In the morning he had had some loose items (clothes, money, passport & camera) and Helen had given him a garbage bag to put them in. Some how (and in hindsight, not surprisingly) the bag had not made it to Davenport. We were certain it had not been removed at the hotel which meant it was most likely somewhere back in Whangarei with the most likely possibility being that it was in the skip where some of our other trash ended up.

Leaving Helen and Ben to make their way back by ferry Sam and I drove the two hours back to Whangarei. We managed to call the Jacksters to ask them if the skip had been emptied. It turned out to be quite full. As it had been fairly empty in the morning it was quite possible, if Sam’s bag had been thrown there, it could still be there albeit buried.

We got there around 10pm. I pointed the car headlights into the rubbish area and Sam stripped down to search the skip. It was full of all sorts of nasty things including used nappies (diapers). After practically emptying the skip out and searching through the soggy stuff at the bottom Sam had to conclude his bag wasn’t there. We searched the car park where we loaded the car and even went back to the boat to check there. No luck.

Sam had to shower down extensively to rid himself of the stink and feel of the skip. His shoes still smelt and we may end up having to throw them away. After reporting the loss to the police and a brief stop for food we drove back to Auckland reaching the hotel at 1 in the morning. Just in case we checked the lost property there but had no luck with that either.

Needless to say Sam feels devastated. Hopefully some positive lessons there. I think also we need to learn that putting things in trash bags is asking for trouble and will look for better solutions in the future. We have one more thing to try which is calling the marina just in case it was left there and handed in. Being in a rubbish bag reduces the chance of it being recovered of course but we must try.