Due to some medical issues with skipper, our departure of New Zealand was postpone with a month. The month was used extensively for private last minute jobs. Even some of the long-term jobs were tackled. And I could get a couple of paintings done. The last Monday arrived. Doctor said Eelco was good to go. We cleared the deck and stowed all other bits of our lives in intriguing small spaces. Dinghy was strapped on deck and the alarms set for 5h30. It was a falling tide and we had to catch the bridge before the early morning traffic to the city started. We woke the next morning at 6h30. Our bridge opening was scheduled for 6h45. Skipper was up and dressed before I could say 'yes'. The hardly ever used motor roared into life. Firs the aft-line came in, then the bowline. With a hard push, off the pile mooring, MYLADY swung into clear water. We sped up the alley and with a tight u-turn around the red marker we started our chase down river to the bridge while calling on the VHF " Bridge control, we're coming!" As we rounded the last bend the bridge began to lift. It was 6h45. We made it. We sure had a flying start to our cruising season. Dawn became daylight. It was 4 degrees Celsius.
