First thing in the morning tomorrow we're heading on out next about 24jr journey to Dunedin, where we'll stay at Otago Yacht Club for two nights to stock up and meet old buddies who we got to know there 2 years ago, one of them the Commodore of the Yacht Club.
Will let you know when we're there.
Marcus and Michaela sailing the world's oceans on their most beautiful boat Alita. Join the adventure!
03.02.2017
02.02.2017
Akaroa the last
01.02.2017
People
Travelling for me is about seeing new countries with their culture and mostly beautiful and unique landscape. But it is also about getting to know different people, and learn from them, from their way of life, perspectives and heritage - and from their character. So much input that can change my view of things and life and enhance happiness. Important most of all is to respect the culture wherever you are and try to adapt.
Especially here in New Zealand I met and continue to meet wonderful souls.
There is Billy in Fjordland who upkeeps kind of a hostel for kids to come in groups and learn to live close in nature. We will see him soon again.
There are all those lovely people who helped us all along our stay(s) here in NZ, many of whom have become friends for a lifetime.
Hiking the day before yesterday I met a Harry. He had a big backpack on his back and a handsaw and flower cutting scissors in his hands. He had a big smile in his friendly face with two missing front teeth, an uncut beard and clothes dirty from the country hike. Our conversation started the typical way. "Beautiful day for a hike today" he said. "Yeeees", I answered, "a bit too hot but gorgeous". "29 degrees is predicted for today" he continued, "it's summer". For a day, I thought. The weather here is changing sometimes by the. Minute from hot to cold and vice versa. Asking him where he is coming from he replied: "Oh just from the Bay on the other side today, just about 10km already. I am maintaining the 4 day track so the people can enjoy the nature." I thanked him for his work (well yes, I am one of the people profiting) and replied that he has a wonderful working place, with gorgeous view and fitness program included. As we continued chatting, he repeatedly said from the heart, that he like doing it because it gets people out and enables them to see this beautiful land. And i believe him, it seems to make him happy because of that. Having hiked the 4 day track he was looking forward to some nice fish & chips once down in town.
We shall not forget of all the people who maintain all the parks here in New Zealand and everywhere else in the world so that tourists can come and enjoy their precious vacation time in clean and well taken care of environment.
Especially here in New Zealand I met and continue to meet wonderful souls.
There is Billy in Fjordland who upkeeps kind of a hostel for kids to come in groups and learn to live close in nature. We will see him soon again.
There are all those lovely people who helped us all along our stay(s) here in NZ, many of whom have become friends for a lifetime.
Hiking the day before yesterday I met a Harry. He had a big backpack on his back and a handsaw and flower cutting scissors in his hands. He had a big smile in his friendly face with two missing front teeth, an uncut beard and clothes dirty from the country hike. Our conversation started the typical way. "Beautiful day for a hike today" he said. "Yeeees", I answered, "a bit too hot but gorgeous". "29 degrees is predicted for today" he continued, "it's summer". For a day, I thought. The weather here is changing sometimes by the. Minute from hot to cold and vice versa. Asking him where he is coming from he replied: "Oh just from the Bay on the other side today, just about 10km already. I am maintaining the 4 day track so the people can enjoy the nature." I thanked him for his work (well yes, I am one of the people profiting) and replied that he has a wonderful working place, with gorgeous view and fitness program included. As we continued chatting, he repeatedly said from the heart, that he like doing it because it gets people out and enables them to see this beautiful land. And i believe him, it seems to make him happy because of that. Having hiked the 4 day track he was looking forward to some nice fish & chips once down in town.
We shall not forget of all the people who maintain all the parks here in New Zealand and everywhere else in the world so that tourists can come and enjoy their precious vacation time in clean and well taken care of environment.
Our turn
You know about all the help and welcoming we have received these last weeks. Yesterday it finally was our turn to help.
Waking up in the morning the first thing to do is always have a look around to see what has changed. Marcus comes to my bed and woke me up with "there is an Amel (boat type) with a torn headsail anchoring out there". Such news get curious people always out of bed quickly, wondering what happened and if everyone is ok. While we ate our breakfast we watched what was going on on that sailboat. There seemed to be only one guy busy trying to get the remains of the headsail down. but he did not succeed. We thought he must be alone so I said we better get over there and see if we can be of any help. Too bad for our freshly made hot drinks, they had to wait. We left the table as it was, jumped in the Dinghy and drove over. The guy in black whom we had seen greeted us and tied the Dinghy up. Two additional men showed up, both seemed to be in the retired age. My instinct wanted to let us turn around because I thought there is not much we can help when they are already 3 people. It quickly turned out that there is one experienced sailor (the owner), his helping hand (who has a traitor motor boat for the lakes) (the man in black) and a friend, who has never sailed and has been seasick ever since they had left Wellington I think 2 days earlier. They loooked tired and exhausted and many things had gone wrong in the last day. The wind went up to 50 knots where it was predicted at 35, they got knocked down on the side so everything flew around, trying to anchor and hide in a Bay that was supposed to be a shelter for winds from all sides turned out to be bad and too small so they touched the ground with the keel and had to leave again. So next bet was to get into Akaroa. Their motor had overheated by that time and they pulled the headsail out just a little bit sail the long way back into the Bay here (against the wind). Then the electric reef system for the sail stopped working and they could not move the sail or get it in. It started ripping and they had to cut most parts off. They were tired from the rough sailing conditions. That's how we found them. And though it did not look like that at first, they were happy and greatful we came. First John (the owner) and Marcus pulled me up the mast so I could free the sailpieces for the sail to come down. Then Marcus looked at the engine, got some oil out and then ended up helping them out with some equipment and informations which was very valuable to them. We were so glad to be of use. But trying to pass on what we received we received even more kindness and when we came back to Alita we had lots of veggies, fruits, and meat from them because their plans now change, John will be alone for a while until he has a new headsail and he could not possibly finish all by himself what they had bought for 3 men for 3 weeks. What a feast we had last night! But most important was the good feeling that we at last were able to help out.
I love the sailing community. Without question we help each other, always. And without expectation of any redemption. We received help, we give help, all in the ways we can. That's how it works. And how you meet new interesting people.
Waking up in the morning the first thing to do is always have a look around to see what has changed. Marcus comes to my bed and woke me up with "there is an Amel (boat type) with a torn headsail anchoring out there". Such news get curious people always out of bed quickly, wondering what happened and if everyone is ok. While we ate our breakfast we watched what was going on on that sailboat. There seemed to be only one guy busy trying to get the remains of the headsail down. but he did not succeed. We thought he must be alone so I said we better get over there and see if we can be of any help. Too bad for our freshly made hot drinks, they had to wait. We left the table as it was, jumped in the Dinghy and drove over. The guy in black whom we had seen greeted us and tied the Dinghy up. Two additional men showed up, both seemed to be in the retired age. My instinct wanted to let us turn around because I thought there is not much we can help when they are already 3 people. It quickly turned out that there is one experienced sailor (the owner), his helping hand (who has a traitor motor boat for the lakes) (the man in black) and a friend, who has never sailed and has been seasick ever since they had left Wellington I think 2 days earlier. They loooked tired and exhausted and many things had gone wrong in the last day. The wind went up to 50 knots where it was predicted at 35, they got knocked down on the side so everything flew around, trying to anchor and hide in a Bay that was supposed to be a shelter for winds from all sides turned out to be bad and too small so they touched the ground with the keel and had to leave again. So next bet was to get into Akaroa. Their motor had overheated by that time and they pulled the headsail out just a little bit sail the long way back into the Bay here (against the wind). Then the electric reef system for the sail stopped working and they could not move the sail or get it in. It started ripping and they had to cut most parts off. They were tired from the rough sailing conditions. That's how we found them. And though it did not look like that at first, they were happy and greatful we came. First John (the owner) and Marcus pulled me up the mast so I could free the sailpieces for the sail to come down. Then Marcus looked at the engine, got some oil out and then ended up helping them out with some equipment and informations which was very valuable to them. We were so glad to be of use. But trying to pass on what we received we received even more kindness and when we came back to Alita we had lots of veggies, fruits, and meat from them because their plans now change, John will be alone for a while until he has a new headsail and he could not possibly finish all by himself what they had bought for 3 men for 3 weeks. What a feast we had last night! But most important was the good feeling that we at last were able to help out.
I love the sailing community. Without question we help each other, always. And without expectation of any redemption. We received help, we give help, all in the ways we can. That's how it works. And how you meet new interesting people.
Update photogallery
The photo gallery is updated with lots more pictures. Enjoy!
And I posted a video of the dolphins
Enjoy!
31.01.2017
Images of Akaroa
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