Pahia

While anchored across the bay, Deb and I went into the town of Paihia.

Nice little town but the cruise ship Costa Miss Fortune (being facetious) was in and the crowds of tourists were a bit overwhelming.

As an aside, Todd Rickard sent me this photo detailing proper dress code for the Captain’s Table on the Costa line.

With the crowds, Deb and I decided to hike over to the Treaty Grounds where the Treaty of Waitangi was executed by the Maori and the British circa 1840.

On the way, we came across the Alma G. Built in the early 1920’s in Auckland, she was purpose built for Zane Grey and his sport fishing buddies. She is still in service today.

The museum in Russell has some nice displays of the fish camps and equipment they used. Primitive and it had to be pretty brutal landing big game fish with the stuff.

Before heading off to Whangaroa, we spent a few nights in Ashby’s Marina in Opua to hide from (yet another) blow. While there we took a cab back over to Paihia and had dinner at Only Seafood – quite possibly the best restaurant we have been to in New Zealand. For you wine lovers, we had a great 2009 Pinot Gris by Seresin – a boutique winery in Marlborough. Great wine if you can find it.

Must have had too much when I took this.

Next stop – Whangaroa.