Re United in Whangerei!!!!

We left the Great Barrier Island and headed to Whangerei, it was Friday the 13th , not really the best day to leave for a 5 hr tour!! we had a steady 28 knots of wind just ahead of the beam, waves breaking all around us! We had tons of salt water,spray and water on the boat!! very wet ride , thank god for the enclosure! ( it was a good reminded of what I need to do for cooking before the crossings home!! a few pots to pick up and tons of easy to prepare foods!)
We were glad to get to the base of the river - Urquhart Bay and anchor, but just half hour after anchoring the waves were 3 feet and we were bouncing like crazy , we moved and anchored further up the river and around the corner. we couldn't go all the way up to Whangerei as we needed to wait for the high tide. So that was the next morning.
Marg, Nathalie, Nancy, Dionne Marilyn
What a long way up! but when we finally got there, we had quite the welcoming party!! There was the crew of Meridian ( John, Nancy , Mattie and Sophie) and a few others waiting to help tie us up!! then came Malachi and soon after, Tin Soldier, O'Vive, Candine and oh my so many more. Almost all the cruisers are here!! nice reunion!! Emma was thrilled to see Meridian again, as was Kyle and Maya to see all the boats. the kids have been hanging out since. We arrived on Saturday and that night we went to a bar called Danger Danger! the kids even came , we had great ribs - sat night special, played air hockey and pool til our arms dropped off and then danced up a stream!! what a blast! Steve, Dave , Nathalie
Kyle , Emilie and Chris pool time
future dancers? Maya, Emilie, Jenny, Jaryd, Jocelyn and Alec
Where all kids should be!! Mattie, Emma, Sophie, Yonna, Lola
Sunday was another day of socializing - Steve got work on a boat for a few hours ( good thing !!) and then we were off to O'Vive's flat for a BBQ- ( O'Vive the boat is on dockwise heading to Florida) We had a feast and great time OrcaIII, Tin Soldier, Candine, O'Vive, Ocealys - were all the boat families there! we had 20+ people there! we ate, drank and where merry - a final good bye BBQ - O'Vive family fly home on the 18th ( that's the 17th for you in North America) It has been many great months, and miles of good times. Monday night - our last night all together, we did the final farewell with just our 3 boats , playing cards and laughing , remembering ! so many good byes, ! Malachi is of to Australia for 20 days - leaving early Tues morning, we are lucky to have one more day with O'Vive....... it will strange to cruise on without them.