Last minute preparations underway. – By Hugh
Hey Folks,
Just a super quick note to let you know that we’re madly getting Khulula and the crew ready to leave New Zealand in the next few days. We can’t wait! The next leg it going to be incredible.
The past 10 day’s has been a mad scramble of last minute jobs on the boat, massive provisioning lists, sorting out cruising permits for the countries we plan to visit in the next 6 months, baking of goodies, filming, and wrapping up 5 amazing months with good friends in New Zealand.
Life is never simple and easy (nor would we want it to be) but just when you’re looking for a little break from Mother Nature, she throws 50 knot winds and torrential rain at you. Yes, it has been miserable for the past 4 – 5 days. My mum even heard about the New Zealand weather this week back in Canada! So when we finally saw the sun today boy was it a welcome sight. Packing up a dry boat is much nicer than packing a wet one!
TONS of stuff has been going on here and abroad with the Oceangybe expedition. We’ve welcomed two new crew members on board for the passage up to Fiji.
Khulula is looking sweet after all the work we did on her back in November/December and over the past week. I also spent some time in the shop at Axis Industrial in Auckland making some new stainless toys for the boat. Thanks again Pete for your 2nd opinions and use of the shop! Bill was also especially helpful and a patient instructor on the finer points of TIG welding, while Stu’s sarcastic comments and expert firewood making, um, I mean sanding skills were always appreciated. Val and Pete were also kind enough to put me up for far too many weeks at their place in Auckland, which was a real treat. There was always cold beer (Stu’s) in the fridge, amazing dinners after work, and even a spare car to use.
The other big news is that Andy of Oak Bay Johnny Productions along with the people at Gamut Productions are in the process of putting together a plan for a documentary series of the whole trip. Check out the earlier blog with the video trailer in it. So in amongst the shopping, packing, and fixing, over the past two days we were shadowed by Jan Polak, a professional film maker based here in New Zealand. We got some awesome footage for the story. Anyhow, I’m exhausted, but expect to hear lots more from the whole crew soon. Check out Ryan’s hot interviewing skills!
