Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei, NZ Mike 03 Nov 2016 04:00 (NZ) 02 Nov 2016 11am (US East Coast) We successfully completed the passage to New Zealand and are securely tied up to the Q dock at Marsden Cove Marina, Whangarei, NZ. Customs will be here between 9-9:30am to clear us in. We are enjoying a […]
Passage Update – 02 Nov 2016
02 Nov 2016 00:00 (NZ / Tonga Time) 01 Nov 2016 07:00 (US East Coast) am So far so good. We shut the engine down at 8pm and started sailing wing-and-wing, with the mastfoils square to the wind and one jib out to each side of the boat. This works well for a narrow wind […]
Passage Update – 01 Nov 2016
At Sea Mike 01 Nov 2016 12:00 (NZ / Tonga Time) 31 Oct 2016 19:00 (US East Coast) 7pm So far today we have had a good day motoring in light winds and calm seas. It started out sunny and has now become overcast as a sign of things to come. While I much prefer […]
Trip to Africa
It has been far too long since I have posted a journal update. My standard excuse has been that since returning to a normal job that there is less noteworthy stories to share, but that is not strictly accurate. There have been plenty of small adventures and even the simple task of navigating through life […]
Part V – The Maasai Mara
The final three days of our safari were spent in the Maasai Mara, the famed southern savannah of Kenya bordering the Serengeti in Tanzania. Repeatedly during our stay, we heard how fantastic the great migration is in August. We were told how it was a flood of wildebeest migrating north with swarms of predators picking […]
Part IV – Arms Dealers, Blowhards, and Giraffes
The drive from Lake Nakuru to Mt. Kenya followed the equator. As we ascended through the mountains, we passed coffee plantations and fields of tea leaves. The many switchbacks continually crossed between the northern and southern hemispheres as indicated by the frequent signs along the side of the road. At one point, we stopped for […]
Part III – Africa, Brave Africa
Our first morning at Mbweha Camp was the perfect way to start a day. We awoke early, well-rested and eager for a full day of viewing wildlife. Walking through the chilly dawn air, we found a simple breakfast of fresh bread and delicious Kenyan coffee awaiting us. Eating in the open air lounge, we savored […]
Part II – Into the Wild
Our safari began in earnest on the morning of our first full day in Kenya. We were driven to an elephant orphanage in Nairobi where baby elephants who have lost their parents are raised before being released back into the wild. Most of the elephants had become orphans due to poachers, a serious problem throughout […]
Part I – The Longest Day
It has been far too long since I have posted a journal update. My standard excuse has been that since returning to a normal job that there is less noteworthy stories to share, but that is not strictly accurate. There have been plenty of small adventures and even the simple task of navigating through life […]