Patrick and Kari's Travels

It has been more than a week since we left Avalon but memories of our last day with the De Jong's are still vivid in our minds, when after days of rain the skies cleared allowing the De Jong's to take us out on their 3 meter boat in the Bay of Islands. After picking up some fishing bait (sardines), we launched the boat from Opua Bay a mere fifteen minute drive from Avalon

The sky was smattered with clouds and though we did feel the occasional rain drop it was quite nice to see the shore retreating from vision as we splashed through the waves. With Willem behind the wheel we made for Turtle Bay. We arrived at the bay to find that friends of the De Jongs were already there enjoying a day on their boat. We roped up and enjoyed a glass of white wine with our sandwiches. Then it was into the water for Sara and I. She and I paddled to shore and explored some rocky outcrops (much to the dismay of my still tender soles). We were soon joined by Pat, who had thought to put on his snorkel, Willem and Julia.

Back at the boat we toweled off while Julia dangled her toes in the water. Surprised she yelped that there was a huge fish in the water swimming around her toes. We all ran to the side of the boat but saw nothing (naturally we thought she was imaging the fish) then out of water we could make out a meter and a half long Kingfish. We watched the fish swim casually around the boat for a few minutes and then decided that we had better head out and go fishing ourselves.

We set anchor at Black Rocks and pulled out our rods. After a few frustrating minutes of having fish stealthy steal our bait, I am proud to say I landed the first fish (it was quite a small snapper). It seemed that after one was caught we simply couldn't stop reeling them in. Though there was only one keeper among the thirty or so fish we caught it was quite an enjoyable deep sea fishing experience.

The sun was sinking to the horizon when we pulled up on shore and loaded the boat back on to the trailer. A perfect way to end our stay with our first WWOOFing hosts.

Kari