2011 - H & A WORLD CRUISE - TAURANGA

I FOUND A TOUR ON-LINE WHERE THEY TAKE YOU OUT ON A SAILBOAT IN SEARCH OF DOLPHINS. THEY SAY THEIR SUCCESS RATE IS HIGH BUT NOT GUARANTEED.

AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS TRIP IS THAT THE BOAT HAS A BAR ACROSS THE BACK, AT THE WATERLINE. THE IDEA IS THAT PEOPLE HANG ON TO THE BAR AND THE DOLPHINS SWIM ALONG BESIDE YOU. ALL THIS OF COURSE IS WHILE THE BOAT IS UNDERWAY...

HOW COOL IS THAT?

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING IN THE WATER, BUT IT WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE ANYWAY.

THAT'S THE PLAN TODAY

THE AMSTERDAM LEAVES AUCKLAND BEHIND

THIS IS THE PLACE I WAS AT YESTERDAY MORNING...I FORGET THE NAME

NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT DAY IT IS.

AND OVERNIGHTS TO MOUNT MAUNGANU

THIS WILL BE MY RIDE FOR THE DAY

I LIKE IT ALREADY..

DOLPHINS ALREADY....

AND I AM LOOKING PRETTY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE ONLY HAD ABOUT EIGHT OR LESS AROUND US. TOO FEW FOR ANYONE TO GET IN THE WATER WITH THEM. THE MATE TOLD US THEY WOULD BE FRIGHTENED AWAY.

ANYWAY WE HAD THEM AROUND US FOR QUITE A WHILE, RIDING THE BOW WAVE, WITH THE BOAT SWISHING ALONG UNDER SAIL.

VERY EXCITING...

I HAVE A VIDEO THAT I HOPE TO INSERT HERE

TIME TO ANCHOR FOR A SNORKEL FOR THOSE WHO LIKE GETTING WET.

A NICE RIDE BACK TO THE AMSTERDAM WITH A SISTER BEHIND HER.

GOODBYE TO THE GALAXSEA

WHEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE GOT ON BACK IN JANUARY, THE CAPTAIN & OFFICERS WERE PRESENTED ON STAGE. A BIG PRODUCTION.

SINCE THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT FIFTY WHO GOT ON IN AUCKLAND, WE WERE INVITED TO MEET IN A LOUNGE FOR A CHAT WITH THE CAPTAIN & OFFICER & TO WINE & SNACKS.

A BIT OF A BONUS FOR US..

THIS IS THE NEXT STOP - NAPIER