Woke with a start this morning. Something was wrong. Way wrong. First, the funny noise. Second. It felt like I was in the Tardis, space all around.

Then I realised it was the first morning of our road trip around the north island. The funny noise was a bird pattering across the tin roof of the Opua Motel like a feathered Neddy Seegoon and the Tardis was in fact just a large bedroom. One that didn't move.

Next, a long hot shower followed by breakfast on the sun drenched deck. We like cruising but man, this is heaven!

We feel we really ought to invite Jonas and Sparrow to come and use the empty bed and facilities after their gruelling (the eyes tell the story) single handed 1000 mile single handed adventures in their Allegro 27 and Contessa 26 respectively. Days of 35 knots in 8 metre seas. Not much fun. So boys if you read this, come on up.

We are back in Opua for the Island Cruising Club's All Points Rally. This is where all the cruisers who've been "up island" make their way from, well, all points, to New Zealand. Last night was the welcome buffet and main event. So guess what we did!

Went on a bloody boat trip.

About 70 cruisers came off their boats and, just for a change, got on another one.

It was really good though. The skipper powered us into all the flat calm, idyllic nooks and crannies of the Bay of Islands spinning his giant steel three deck catamaran around the anchored boats, leaving them choking in a cloud of black diesel fumes as we roared off to the next bay.

At lunchtime we're off on the vineyard trip complete with free wine tasting. Looks like a sleepy afternoon on the deck coming up.