Opua: breath; bomb; humbled
Opua: breath; bomb; humbled
I woke last night when someone took a deep breath just beside me. Considering that I thought myself alone a quarter mile from shore this was disconcerting, until I realized the sound came from my right. At least two dolphin, which are common in the main part of the bay but seldom visit Opua, were just outside the hull. Probably within arm’s reach, could I do so through fiberglass. I listened to them move away and felt a ripple of their motion.
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The next low, due tonight and tomorrow, is being described as a ‘weather bomb’, predicted to intensify by more than twenty millibars as it approaches the central New Zealand coast. Many of you know that such an extreme drop in pressure means hurricane force winds and a lot of rain.
Up here we will be on the northern edge of the storm and the forecast remains for only gale force wind to forty fifty knots. (Updated Friday evening.)
I’ve prepared by securing the Avon with a second line. Unless it is weighted down by rain water, in very strong winds the Avon can become airborne and has to be brought aboard and deflated. I’ve brought in the American flag which flaps too much in a gale. And if I don’t forget will crawl aft and close the two cockpit ports.
Fortunately the low is moving fast and should be out into the Pacific by Sunday.
If it doesn’t leave a windless hole in its wake, I hope to go sailing before next week’s Thursday low arrives.
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I walked up the Opua hill this morning for the exercise and felt quite virtuous, until on the way down I met a man who looked to be not much younger than I running smoothly up the hill, not even breathing hard.
The sidewalk is narrow and I stepped out into the road in courtesy and respect.
I said, “I’m impressed.” And gave him a thumb’s up.
He grinned, said, “Good day for it.” And kept on moving.
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About half way up the Opua hill is a school founded 125 years ago when this place must have been an almost pristine wilderness.
When Carol and I climbed the hill last week, it was recess.
Obviously uniforms are required; shoes are not.
This mail box is just across from the school.
Friday, March 2, 2012