Champagne and Dark Chocolate

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Position: 34 degrees, 09 minutes south; 174 degrees, 05 minutes east

We’re 59 nautical miles from our waypoint just outside of Opua, New Zealand (Ann is getting very excited). We will probably get into the main bay around sun up and then it’s a couple hours further on into the bay and back to the marina area where we can check into the country and anchor.

At 9000+ miles from Berkeley, we’ve been reminiscing about this last year and what was the most fun etc, etc. One of the things that really stands out, but which has been unexpected has been the friends we’ve made along the way. Both among other cruisers as well as locals whom we’ve met and been given such hospitality. We planned to “see” lots of stuff along the way, but the friendships we’ve made have been a surprise and a delight.

There is no better illustration of this than in the email we got yesterday from our buddies on Orcinius, John and Lisa. They said they had; “…a bottle of champagne and box of dark chocolates waiting…” to help us celebrate the end of an amazing journey. Wow! This is the kind of thoughtfulness that we’ve found in this sailing community that we’ve been fortunate enough to have been part of these many months.

Champagne and dark chocolate. Until we got the email we were just thinking of this trip as another leg in the adventure. But it’s actually a reminder that we’ve made it to New Zealand (well, in 59 more miles)! All of a sudden I realized we’ve sailed all the way across the Pacific Ocean. Pretty cool!

So thanks John and Lisa (and everyone else we’ve met along the way) for your kindness, your friendship and the reminder that tomorrow is a day to really commemorate. An adventure is completed. What next? We’ll see about that, so you’ll have to stay tuned.

And thanks to all our readers who have made this blog part of their day and especially those who have shared some comments with us along the way. The comments are our nightly entertainment and we have enjoyed them tremendously.

We’ll keep writing for a month as we continue to sail south to Whangerie. There we will tie up for a bit and fly back to the Bay Area for the holidays.

We’ll be back on December 12 through January 31st.

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4 thoughts on “Champagne and Dark Chocolate”

  1. I’d say that is about as perfect an ending celebration as can be arranged. Even though this may be a tad early, hearty congratulations on your Pacific ocean crossing. There are not very many people in the world who are part of that club. Oh, and don’t forget to have an Ann’s Favorite Cookie as well. Cheers!!

  2. CONGRATULATIONS!!! So excited for you! Its a little after 6 am here, but made Jackson check early to see if you were in NZ yet! So awesome! xxoo J

  3. I can’t believe you are so close! The Bay of Islands is so beautiful and full of cute little towns, you will love it! We had some great fish and chips in Paihia from a little place right on the main street by the water and you can even choose which kind of fish you want!

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