Time is running out, ALCYONE make another relaxing n cultural stop in Bay of island with visit of historical Keri Keri: Interesting to follow the river upstream with the dinghy and at the end of the navigation possibilities to compare both culture which mixed here in the past:

On the last migrant side (Europeans) , we can see the old stones buildings with hundreds of things they used for living...On the first migrant side (Maoris) nothing old as all the village had to be rebuilt to show the way they were living...mostly with a direct nature predation.

Comparing the ecological impact of both cultures is asking a lot a questions...the same as when I see my son on board connecting the net or playing video games; We live on a 16m+ cat with so much confort on board: almost illimited water with the watermaker, electricity through the solar panels, impressive mobility with sophisticated sails n engines, super fishing gear on board as underwater, so much reserve of processed food in the bilges, internet with 3/4G, opportunity to use flights to escape when we wish etc etc etc...Is it this way of life giving us the right to say that we are just back to the simple life of our ancestor: picking, hunting, fishing ? Better confessing...we are just all spoiled children !

Lazzy time in Bay of island

Bay of island closed to Kerikeri: The House, the green ...and the boat

At the end of the river is the historical KeriKeri, perfect tourist spot.

An interesting Maori museum shows how to live without all these things

Final run to Whangerei

Not far of ocean beach...

ALCYONE ll be again on the dry dock for 3 month..

.

___this time to south pacific gateway marina

Ritual cleaning party in Whangarei before leaving the dock...

But not only as if the area offer some of the the best NZ yachties facilites, it gives a lot of nice ways to have a break...

...Day time...

or night time as in local "butter factory"

Some guys of the tonight band are just cruisers, working in local shipyard during the day