We had such a busy day today, we had to catch a re-run of the America’s Cup. Italy won the first race and NZ the second. The boat that wins the start seems to win the race. It is getting to be a pattern. More light winds expected for tomorrow’s races. The current status is Italy 3 – New Zealand 3. 6 races down. First team to 7 wins takes the cup. Two races per day until then!
This morning we walked to the Waikanae Bakery to get the most magnificent hot cross buns. Seriously good! Then we headed 15 minutes down the coast for lunch with Bruce and Lyn at Raumati Beach. Frances’ parents were very good friends with Lyn’s parents. They were neighbors when Frances’ father first arrived in New Zealand. Lyn brought over a home-made casserole, and a family friendship was forged. After Lyn’s parents passed away, Bruce and Lyn kept up with Frances’s parents, who left us 2013. And now here we are still keeping the relationship going, someone counted – 52 years later!
After a delicious lunch, a stimulating catch-up and debrief over the last year we said our farewells and headed further south.
We met up with Andrew and Angela’s friends, Geoff and Caroline at a café in Titahi Bay, a lovely sunny bay north of Wellington. We learned a bit more about the inner workings of local government – Geoff is a city councillor and Caroline works for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, the leading national historic heritage agency. They gave us a bit of a walking tour of Titahi Bay. It was gorgeous day!
On the way home we stopped to enjoy views of the coastline with the South Island in the distance – and saw hikers in the hills above the highway on the Paekakariki Escarpment Track (many, many, many stairs and 10 km long).
Tomorrow we pack up and head to Wellington on Monday morning. More adventures await but the time here has gone by too fast!