25 October - Down Under

Coffee is an important part of my life. Here in the frigid and breezy New Zealand climate it is a critical part of my life.  None of us can figure out how to order it here though.  One can't just ask for coffee.  It's either a "long black", a "short black", a "flat white", or something else I can't remember. There's also an "Americano", but we're so embarrassed about the political situation in the US, there's no way any of us will order one of those.  This morning Tom and I walked into a McDonalds and asked for "senior coffee".  This was a new one for me. Apparently old folks, like me, get cheap or free coffee.  What we got was a shot of espresso in a coffee cup with a little pitcher of hot water on the side.  What?  The only way to be sure we'll get the real thing is to make it ourselves on the boat. When I get coffee figured out here I'll let you know.

We've been delayed a bit here in Opua by weather.  There's a front rolling through today and it's pouring and blowing outside.  This system should be gone by tomorrow, and our plan is to head north to Whangaroa Bay after overnighting somewhere in the Bay of Islands. 

We have had a great time here is Opua. Two days ago we had an epic 7 hour tour of points north by car with 5 of us shoehorned into something the size of Honda Fit.  Yesterday we went tramping (Kiwi for "hiking") through a nearby Kauri forest preserve. Good fun. 

This is a stunningly beautiful country. Hilly and green with deep bays and open pastures. Sheep appear to have been mostly replaced with cattle since the last time I was here. The people are very friendly and the beer is good. 

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