Merry Christmas from Ocean Beach

Summer Solstice

Today it’s summer solstice in New Zealand, as well as the end of the Mayan calendar, and my ‘office’ hiked to the top of Mount Manaia for our Christmas party. Just across the road from our house, we have an unobstructed view of this spectacular rock as well as McLeod Bay below. I use the term ‘house’ loosely though, as in reality we live in a trailer, and progress on the building this year amounts to a concrete basement, which we variously refer to as our 85 square meter mooring block, the bomb shelter, or simply the bunker. Blue Moon sits patiently bobbing out in front, waiting for us to find the time to go sailing again.

I have been a Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness since February, and find it both challenging and heaps of fun. Rob is busy with the building project, and we both spend most of our spare time turning the rocks, clay, weeds and bits of old farm rubbish around our place into a magical garden full of tranquil spaces for contemplation. Although we also use the term ‘garden’ loosely -  years at sea have done nothing to improve our green fingers. We have found this special area to be a very healing place for body and soul, and hope to share this through the new Yoga Studio and Health Retreat that we are building here. It’s been great to see some of our friends here already, although the accommodation leaves something to be desired at the moment. We hope to have that end of things up and running by this time next year.

Winter Solstice

Blue Moon is back on her mooring after 56,000 miles of cruising. We have moved ashore for winter, but we can keep an eye on her from our property. Every day there is something new to look at from our windows. Its still just a trailer, but we hope to start building soon.

Back in New Zealand

After 16 years of cruising Blue Moon is back in McLeod Bay.  And celebrating....

AAARRR!! On Sunday Jan 22 thar be a gathering not to be missed!

It be 30 years since that old pirate Rob tied the clove hitch with his bride Jo, and the good ship Blue Moon was conceived in the pirate infested waters of the Caribbean (AAARRR). In celebration of the event, they be gatherin’ for a Sandbank party and piratical games at low tide on the McDonald Sandbank (that be the one in front of the Penthouse pirate cave in McLeod Bay). Thar be hardtak and grog, and some mighty fine pirates once the waters abated. Thar be a treasure chest full of prizes fer the games – treasure hunt, cannonball tossing, walk the plank and blow the man down.

Thanks be to the weather gods fer a fine afternoon, had by all. AAARRR!

Blow the man down...

The treasure chest be where Blue Moon is moored....

The Pirate and his Treasure...

AAARRR the pirates cave be found under them thar hills....

Last to leave the sandbar at high water...