Whangaruru Harbor

[Maryanne]Yes, Whangaruru, and I know, the previous post was Whangamumu; fun isn't it? It helps once you know that Whanga means 'harbour' in the Maori language. Ruru means shelter or refuge, and mumu has several meanings that may be relevant here: Warrier, beetle, or rough winds! And all this I know becuase of an online Maori dictionary and app. Specifically we anchored in Oakura bay within the harbor. If you believe the internet The Maori word Oakura is said by the local Maori Elders to refer to the phenomenon of the "AO-A-KURA" which means "the light - that comes with - the red sky" as experienced at sunrise and sunset. Once Anyway... back to Kyle.

Oakura is famed for its sunsets! [Kyle]We had another early departure to another Whanga. I think it must be like Mill Creeks in the Chesapeake – they’re everywhere.

Our sail started off nicely enough. We had a leisurely downwind course past the rocks and cliffs of the coast. The rain beat us to the anchorage this time, though, and we spent a significant stretch of it hiding from it under the cockpit enclosure and bundled into our proper foul weather gear. We were lucky enough to get a break just long enough to set the anchor at Oakura Bay before it started up again.

This area is very pretty. Unlike unpopulated Whangamumu, Whangaruru has lots of little coves edged by crescents of tan-colored beach. Behind the beaches, clusters of baches climb up the hillsides like vines looking for the best light. (Baches ,pronounced 'batches', are what Kiwis call their vacation cottages, traditionally very basic, but sometimes very grand indeed!) With the green hills in the background and the big rocks out to sea, I imagine this is kind of what Sausalito must have looked like fifty years ago.

{Maryanne: with the rain and the forecast, we didn't take the time to go ashore here, but hunkered down and relaxed, and enjoyed the views.}