Bay of Islands

OK, not much writing for quite some time. I spent two and a half weeks on the road of which three days were supposed to be holiday. 'Supposed' because I spent a lot of the three producing feedback against a proposed 'Staffing Realignment' which has the potential to destroy everything we've done over the past few years.

I spent some days in Auckland with our team going to the World Youth (renamed Junior) Championships in Mexico and I must have had a good effect because we were totally outstanding! Then I drove about 3 hours north of Auckland to Kawakawa for a Northland camp. Going to Northland is a bit like being a missionary because they don't have a big population, many pools or a lot of heated pools so many of them can't train year-round. However, their results aren't as good as Canadian Summer Club results so something isn't working well.





Bill and Toni have taken a 12-month rent in Okiato overlooking Waikare Cove so I stayed up there for a few days. There are a couple of very friendly, HUGE goats and life is idyllically gentle.

There are oyster farms nearby so we dropped in at Orongo Bay to buy some one evening. The 'shop' (hut) on the waterside was deserted but there was a nice note on the counter, 'Boxes of 25 in fridge; please leave $20 in the grey box.' Bay of Islands is a civilized place.

I had brought a very nice bottle of Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay 2006 from Martinborough and, paired with the oysters, it was stunning. I can't think of a more perfect complementary duo of culinary delights.