September'11

Eelco has had a productive time in Holland.  First he could visit with his mom and did little maintenance chores for her like all good sons do for their mums.  And then he attended a Ship Security Officer course to add yet another paper to his file.   His captain job waited for him and he boarded m/v Jeanette in Terneuzen.  From there they went on anchor out of Zeeland, in the south of Holland.  Freight however is slow for the time being.  In the meantime weather is not the best.  Very windy and rainy conditions with poor holding ground makes dragging a constant and frustrating issue.  Mylady here in NZ are also experiencing gale conditions but we are surviving well.

NORTHLAND AUG’11

Mylady visited many of her old haunts and enjoyed it just the same.  It is winter.  The air is brisk and smoky cold.  Mostly the vision is clear.  There are very few boats out on the water.  I was hoping to pick up some scallop shells but where there used to be aren’t any more.  Bad luck.  Will have to keep our eyes open for some.  I use the shells to put photos inside as most of you know.    Well we have settled between our pile moorings on the Kerikeri River and have been busy to prepare for Mylady’s winter sleep.  Time flew past as always and it was time to jump into our hired car and have a look how the north of the Northland looks like.  We loved it.  The west coast is rugged.  Ninety mile beach stretches as far as the eye can see.  It was cold.  The ranges were beautiful and Maori presence everywhere.  Not a single car on the road.  When it rained the mist rolled down from the sky and settled ON the roads and covered the landscape to a no-see.  Piha on the west coast of Auckland was great.  The road to there a zigzag disaster, blinded with fog.  And then the big metal bird flew Eelco far away from me.  It is freezing cold.