Dawn, slowly approaching Milford Sound... With the early light of dawn, we see the silhouette of the mountains, the cleft that is the mouth of the sound, and the light of the light house which guards, and marks this place... Soon a second light appears, the pilot boat coming out to meet us.
As the the dawn skies lighten, the ship's passengers start to stir, then gather, then crowd. With increasing light comes the first hints of colors, first a bit of pink in the sky, then a hint of green on the fiord walls... near Sterling Falls the ship does a pirouette... Spinning a full 360 degrees so all can have a view. We head a bit further into the sound, then paused to disembark passengers for an overland excursion, a bit further in... Now turned westward again and headed out as the sunlight works its way down the fiord wall...
Our cruise travel expert notes that Captain Cook spotted Milford Sound he did not enter...
The Capt. Interrupts the running commentary to warn us that once out of the sound, and back in the Tasman sea we can expect rough seas, and possibly
significant motion... Particularly pitching, not easily controlled with stabilizers, made a bit worse by our need to maintain 18 knts... Back to the commentary again, Back to the Captain now reporting a medical emergency, which would require us to return, back into the sound, and may lead to a helicopter evacuation.
The ship spins again, now headed back up the sound... The light keeps changing... working down slope towards the water, illuminating the side canyons... Adding greens to what had been a pallet composed completely of of blues, accented with white clouds.
Now, back at the head of the sound, a ship's tender has been dropped to the Promenade deck to transport the guest ashore for air evacuation... The Capt. Has reported how difficult communication has been... cell phones don't work, and the cliffs are blocking satellite communications. The ship has take n a position at the north side of the sound, presumably a sheltered place to drop the tender. A bit later, we drop the tender, the ship's Dr. And his patient aboard... They head towards a rendezvous with a helicopter, and a quick trip to shoreside medical care... The helicopter flies over head, then takes off again... The tender soon returns, and the ship starts to move as soon as the tender is lifted free of the bay...
Our return to the open sea was uneventful, the sun now high, the rocks now green, but much less dramatic... At sea, we met a strong swell. The Capt. Has reported that we will proceed at about 18 knts... Still able to visit two other sounds. Fast, but not so fast to require an additional engine (the ship uses diesels to generate electricity both for lights and "hotel functions", as well as to power the electric motors that drive the propellor shafts, that drive the propellers, that make us go) nor so fast as to "hammer" the ship (and passengers) against the sea.
Now, a bit after 4:00... We have completed our passage of Doubtful Sound and Thompson Sounds, that meet, to surround, and isolate Secretary Island. Back in the Tasman Sea once again, the swell was grown, and now sports white caps as well... The ship's motion is increasing, becoming what the lovely Tina calls "snippy"... Added to that, the strong winds are causing the ship to list to port several degrees. Apparently Cook was here...
Now 5:30... We have dodged in to Breaksea Sound, once in protected water, turned south into Acheron Passage, then, to return to sea via the Bowen Passage... Again, the place is defined by Cook, again, he saw it, noted it, but did not visit... On his way to Doubtful Sound... The island we are circumnavigating is named Resolution, after Capt. Cook's ship... What would you expect?
Our Captain (not the renowned, but long dead Capt. Cook) is on the intercom... Again, as we re-enter the Tasman Sea, it will be rough, but should improve as we clear New Zealand and head east towards Dunedin... But not before we pass Duck Cove (Cook's men hunted duck here) past the entrance of the Cook Channel, and Disappointment Bay (apparently Cook didn't like it)
To dinner, then bed, for tomorrow we call at Dunedin.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, 18 March, At sea
Position, 43 02.27 S 159 18.10 E
Crossing the Tasman Sea
The Volendam continues easterly across the Tasman Sea, headed for the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island... We left Burnie Tasmania yesterday afternoon, have sailed all night, will sail all day today, all night tonight, and a bit of tomorrow before reaching NZ...
Even then it will be a day of scenic cruising in Milford Sound, before we reach port at Dunedin.
Aboard, we are lazy, If up early there is coffee on the Lido deck... Breakfast is served in the dining room (and in the Lido) until 9:30 or so... After there is the library, talks (many offering shopping opportunities, but others about the places we are visiting) there is of course a casino, which is well patronized, and if all else fails, you can lie on deck by one of the pools and watch the world go by....
Of course, here in the Tasman sea, there is little beyond the sea, sky, and clouds to distract... This is not a well traveled shipping lane, so as one of the few ships to regularly transit the part of the world, apparently, our weather observations are a welcome addition to the local weather forecast. In fact, we have not seen another vessel since leaving Burnie...
As noted before, the Tasman Sea can be rough, but today there is just a gentle swell, expected to increase as we approach New Zealand, to 12' seas.
Today was the Captain's reception and brunch... This evening, a formal night in the dining room, in between I am blogging, reading, and a bit later will try the beer tasting (not just informal consumption, but an organized tasting of 4 or so beers). All in all it makes for a lazy day.
Complicating the loose sense of time, is our changing time zones... From Sydney, we gained an hour sailing to Melbourne, but lost that hour as we left Taz... We lost another hour over night, and I believe we are now on New Zealand time... I have had to reset the IPad manually in a race to keep up... But now, at least according to the recently synchronized IPad, it is time for beer...
Now we are sitting in the Crow's Nest, watching the sea ahead, in hopes of spotting a whale... The rolling swells of the last 24 hours now wear the occasional white cap, making spotting a spout a bit more difficult. So far we have not been lucky... If you climb high enough on the ship, you realize that your world, as defined by the horizon, is a circle, maybe 20 miles across... a bit like sitting in a snow globe, the sea the floor, the sky the dome, with a distinct lack of snow...
Crossing the Tasman Sea
The Volendam continues easterly across the Tasman Sea, headed for the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island... We left Burnie Tasmania yesterday afternoon, have sailed all night, will sail all day today, all night tonight, and a bit of tomorrow before reaching NZ...
Even then it will be a day of scenic cruising in Milford Sound, before we reach port at Dunedin.
Aboard, we are lazy, If up early there is coffee on the Lido deck... Breakfast is served in the dining room (and in the Lido) until 9:30 or so... After there is the library, talks (many offering shopping opportunities, but others about the places we are visiting) there is of course a casino, which is well patronized, and if all else fails, you can lie on deck by one of the pools and watch the world go by....
Of course, here in the Tasman sea, there is little beyond the sea, sky, and clouds to distract... This is not a well traveled shipping lane, so as one of the few ships to regularly transit the part of the world, apparently, our weather observations are a welcome addition to the local weather forecast. In fact, we have not seen another vessel since leaving Burnie...
As noted before, the Tasman Sea can be rough, but today there is just a gentle swell, expected to increase as we approach New Zealand, to 12' seas.
Today was the Captain's reception and brunch... This evening, a formal night in the dining room, in between I am blogging, reading, and a bit later will try the beer tasting (not just informal consumption, but an organized tasting of 4 or so beers). All in all it makes for a lazy day.
Complicating the loose sense of time, is our changing time zones... From Sydney, we gained an hour sailing to Melbourne, but lost that hour as we left Taz... We lost another hour over night, and I believe we are now on New Zealand time... I have had to reset the IPad manually in a race to keep up... But now, at least according to the recently synchronized IPad, it is time for beer...
Now we are sitting in the Crow's Nest, watching the sea ahead, in hopes of spotting a whale... The rolling swells of the last 24 hours now wear the occasional white cap, making spotting a spout a bit more difficult. So far we have not been lucky... If you climb high enough on the ship, you realize that your world, as defined by the horizon, is a circle, maybe 20 miles across... a bit like sitting in a snow globe, the sea the floor, the sky the dome, with a distinct lack of snow...
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Transiting the Tamzin Sea (with notes on blogging at sea)
7:00 am - 41 17.34 S, 151 13.89 E , It is cold, mostly overcast, all is grey, over a steely dark sea. There is a strong swell... (without white caps... Just the swell). We are no longer in the protected channel between Austrailia and Taz... We are on the edge of the Roaring 40's... The place in the southern oceans, below 40 degrees south, north of Antarctica, but below South America, Africa, and Australia, where winds and storms can circle the globe, without land to affect the passage.
There is a strong sense of place, but beyond the sky and seas, and if we are very lucky a whale or two, not a place to sight see... Instead, our day will likely be consumed with reading, relaxing, and the occasional (possibly regular) trips to the dining room.
As usual, I start early, with coffee and crosont, only later collecting the wife for breakfast in the dining room.
The are starting to call for New Zealand immigration... New Zealand officials are on board... Meeting with all passengers face to face, and apparently inspecting our shoes, in preparation for our arrival in New Zealand tomorrow (of course, we don't get off tomorrow... Just cruise the fiords off the west coast of South Island, gritting off the boat will wait one more day...). Being warned, Tina and I have washed the bottoms of our shoes... With my old travel toothbrush (do not be concerned, I have a second)
We reported when our group was called... They confiscated our kangaroo and emu jerky (Sorry Google, No Jerky for you!) but passed our shoes and other treats... Who knew kangaroo jerky was banded in New Zealand?
It is now once again happy hour... This is also St. Patty's Day... Complete with green and white balloons and green decorations... They are serving corned beef in the dining room...
A quick note on blogging... This trip I ran into an unexpected road bump... Tanya (one of the sisters) got sick, potentially seriously sick.. As a result she flew home early, from Melbourne... I needed to suspend posting, until we knew she was safe at home, Barry and the kids knew, and we knew all was well...
Additionally, Internet on the ship sucks... it is slow and expensive. I have been writing the blog on my IPad... It is light, and therefor easy to carry... But I find that most of the time, it is best if I first send it to my windows laptop to edit before posting... It makes things a bit more complicated, which means more delays... With this post I am caught up for now... except for the dolphins on both the starboard and port sides of the ship... but that might be another post...
There is a strong sense of place, but beyond the sky and seas, and if we are very lucky a whale or two, not a place to sight see... Instead, our day will likely be consumed with reading, relaxing, and the occasional (possibly regular) trips to the dining room.
As usual, I start early, with coffee and crosont, only later collecting the wife for breakfast in the dining room.
The are starting to call for New Zealand immigration... New Zealand officials are on board... Meeting with all passengers face to face, and apparently inspecting our shoes, in preparation for our arrival in New Zealand tomorrow (of course, we don't get off tomorrow... Just cruise the fiords off the west coast of South Island, gritting off the boat will wait one more day...). Being warned, Tina and I have washed the bottoms of our shoes... With my old travel toothbrush (do not be concerned, I have a second)
We reported when our group was called... They confiscated our kangaroo and emu jerky (Sorry Google, No Jerky for you!) but passed our shoes and other treats... Who knew kangaroo jerky was banded in New Zealand?
It is now once again happy hour... This is also St. Patty's Day... Complete with green and white balloons and green decorations... They are serving corned beef in the dining room...
A quick note on blogging... This trip I ran into an unexpected road bump... Tanya (one of the sisters) got sick, potentially seriously sick.. As a result she flew home early, from Melbourne... I needed to suspend posting, until we knew she was safe at home, Barry and the kids knew, and we knew all was well...
Additionally, Internet on the ship sucks... it is slow and expensive. I have been writing the blog on my IPad... It is light, and therefor easy to carry... But I find that most of the time, it is best if I first send it to my windows laptop to edit before posting... It makes things a bit more complicated, which means more delays... With this post I am caught up for now... except for the dolphins on both the starboard and port sides of the ship... but that might be another post...
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tazmainia
I awoke before dawn, (coffee may have been involved soon after) as the ship started to dock. Bernie is a small town, 40,000 people, with another 20,000 near by... By local standards it was THE city...
We were docked in there industrial harbor, at the wood chip dock, a huge pile of wood chips, and an equally huge spider like machine for piling and loading the chips. Large semi trucks were delivering more chips... Driving onto platforms which would the lift the entire rig cab high, dumping the chips out the back like a child's toy. Being on an industrial pier, we were not allowed to walk off the ship, but instead, had to take a bus...
Tina and I were booked on a trip to a local wildlife rescue facility, 40 miles away or so... So a bus ride up the coast, into the hills... The hills were strangely familiar, evocative of western Sonoma in California, north of San Francisco... Open grass covered valleys, Monterey cypress and eucalyptus trees on hill tops or standing as wind breaks, small 2 lane roads flanked by wild blackberries... More trees, more water, and more animals, but still much the same feeling...
The Wing's animal park was fun, part local animal rescue, part private zoo... more informal than anything in the US... We got to pet the Tasmanian Devil... Hand fed kangaroos, and touch the koala 's... They were serving fresh, hot scones... Then back aboard the bus for the drive back... Here as well as on previous tours, the Ausie tour guides and drivers were not afraid of including their views into their commentary... We heard about the price of potatoes, subsidies given to a potato processing plant, forest practices, and issues resulting in the increasing size of dairy herds...
Along the shoreline, the guide pointed out low fences, to keep the local penguins off the road when they came ashore at night...
Back to the ship... We got off the tour bus, and got in line for the shuttle into town, without going aboard... The shuttle arrived, filled with locals, here to visit the ship, and bid our captain farewell... He and the ship have been calling on Bernie for 8 years... This is the last call of the season, and next year a different ship with a different captain will call. This wasn't just a ceremonial visit... This was a farewell from friends.
The shuttle offered three stops in town, The first at their local visitor's center and art gallery, The Maker's Workshop, The second at the local history museum, which the map noted was close to the library, with cheap Internet access, the third, 4 blocks away, in the center of downtown... We got off at the second, stepping inside just as a downpour started, toured the museum, with it's recreated 1880's street, gallery about Austrailia in the wars, and up front, 4 women, spinning wool... When we were done, the rain had stopped, the sun was out, and all was good in Bernie... we went by the library, but they didn't have wifi... just machines you could use...
We walked downtown, armed with maps showing art-deco buildings... Downtown was a time warp... Little shops lining the streets, much like an American small town circa 1960, before suburban shopping malls and Walmart and acres of parking lots... (There was a Kmart with a parking structure off a block, and a Woolworth's on the main street, contributing, rather than spoiling the illusion) There were local guides, wearing red vests to answer questions, but a distinct shortage of tourist shops selling t-shirts. We walked to the ocean front, with a wonderful wooden boardwalk, back along the beach, to the Maker's Workshop (and bus stop number 1).
There was penguin fence along the bluff, and Tina and I searched unsuccessfully, but at least a few of our fellow passengers saw a penguin or two. Inside the Maker's Workshop, we discovered an unexpected treasure... The building hosted spaces for local artists to work in public, then sell their work... The city had until recently had a large paper mill, now closed... While losing jobs, the city also went from polluted to sparkling clean... To some extent many of the artists were remembering their heritage by their paper based art, including life size figures, exotic hand made papers, and prints on paper... The space also included a locally made caterpillar underground excavator, as well as a cafe, and a tourist information desk. I believe it may be the nicest tourist center I have ever seen, maybe the best example of a working artist studio... The city was delightful... it seemed like a city embracing change, rather than just remember the good old
days...
Eventually we caught the shuttle back to the port and our ship, checked in with the sister (Karin, the remaining sister) and again found seats in the Crow's Nest for Happy Hour. Just before sail away we went out on deck... Bernie had one more card to play... On the dock, in orange safety vests was a small pipe band... Three bagpipes, three snare drums and one drummer with a larger drum, along with one other kilted man, sans instrument... As the ship cast off her lines and sailed away, they played...
Thoughts on Australia.... (at least the tiny part we have seen...)
It is modern, vibrant, highly urban in Sydney and Melbourne, there were wonderful forests we visited both around Melbourne and on Taz...
Australia is expensive... We knew that going in, but we're still surprised... generally, liquor is expensive on a cruise ship, leading some passengers to either smuggle liquor on board, or disembark when possible to drink... in a strange juxtaposition, beer aboard is half the price it was ashore...
Australians were welcoming... friendly... gregarious...
They have all the technology we do, but beyond smart phones, it isn't as obvious... They have wifi in coffee shops, but people don't sit at the tables with their laptops open, and free wifi is difficult to find.
Australia is a huge place... Much of the outback maybe dead dry, without vegetation, but at Ayers Rock there was lots of plants and trees. We associate eucalyptus with a dry climate... Here at least some are part of a fern forest. We only saw the Blue Mountains from the air, missed the tropical north, as well as the barrier reef... I think I need to come back...
Melbourne, Thursday, 13 March...
Up early for coffee, then, we all walked Tanya to the gangway to say good bye... Karin walked off with her... Our cabin steward Dede carried her luggage to the taxi... (Tanya arrived home to Detroit Thursday, saw her Dr. Friday, and is OK)
T & I had breakfast, then walked off in search of our group... We were joining a private van tour arraigned by one of the Cruise Critic people... The van was a bit late (traffic), and the group a bit disorganized... But we found each other just off the pier, beyond a wonderful Queen Anne head house, in sight of the 109 tram...
Ten of us shared the van... It took us into town (downtown Melbourne is a bit inland... ) Through downtown, a quite vibrant downtown, with trams everywhere... past their sport complex, and on to their veteran's' memorial... The Shrine of Remembrance. The memorial was somber, and very moving...
Back aboard our little green bus, and into the Dandenong Range, the hills surrounding Melbourne, into Gum tree and fern forests, surprisingly lush... (but also subject to fire... Close 150 people lost their lives in a wild fire here 2 years ago) There were signs warning about kangaroos which might be (but today were not) on the road...
Lunch at a spot in the national forest, with a bird feeding area, carefully defined... Nearby, in the trees, we could see cockatiels... Then, rosellas... (smaller parrot like red and blue birds)... You entered the carefully defined feeding area with a small bowl of food... The the birds come, land on arms and head... First the rosellas, but eventually the cockatiels... The cockatiels, while not intentionally aggressive had large claws, and could do damage...
We had lunch, then back through the city to the ship... I would have liked to have spent a few days exploring the city...
Back aboard, we found Karin, who stepped off the ship, but didn't explore much, cleaned up, then found seats in the Crow's Nest, along with beer and wine and sat and watched as the ship transited Port St Phillip Bay, The mouth nearly 40 miles from where we docked... back at sea, we cleaned up, and went to dinner, and eventually to bed...
6:59 , Sunrise At sea
I get up early, with the brightening sky... The ladies sleep in... They needed it... It had been a hard night... Tanya had developed a rash... A scary rash, accompanied by a fever... All late at night... Which resulted in a visit to the ship's medical clinic, an IV loaded with anti-biotics, with prescriptions for more... The diagnosis was cellulitis, an infection of the skin, generally easily treated, , but complicated but history... Tanya had suffers from a significant post surgical infection last fall, and the cellulitis was in the same area affected then... They return to the cabins well after midnight...
As a result, I find myself alone this morning....
It is likely the place speaking, but sitting on the aft deck, with coffee and A crosont and butter, the sun rising in the west, seems the most civilized meal in the world.
I have checked my email (no crises have emerged in my absence), Have read the paper (the ship publishes an 8 page digest of the New York Times, as well as a 4 page "Australia Today"). I have a book (Straying from the Flock by Alexander Elder... The ship has a book club, this is the book they are reading... I will try it). At sea, or at least aboard a ship, tend to rise with the sun, find coffee and a crosont, and read or write. Later, after Tina rises, we generally go in search of breakfast...
Following our pattern, Tina and went to the dinning room in search of breakfast... we were seated with a woman and her daughters... Commonly you exchange names and where you are from... They were evasive... "northern California" and, "It's a small town" finally, "Occidental". Tina said "Great Itallian food", I made a reference to Howard's, the 19th century name... They were a bit surprised to find someone who knew the place...
Following breakfast, Tina and the sisters returned to the clinic, where Tanya once again received IV antibiotics... She was stable, even a bit better, but concerned...
We had our Cruise Critic gathering (www.cruisecritic.com) ... Tina joined us then retuned to the clinic to see Tanya... Then releases, all went to lunch (this is a cruise, food is important)
The afternoon was spent lazily, sitting, reading, and for Tina, napping...
Dinner was the first of the three formal nights aboard... I have a dinner jacket (and a tail coat) but left them home to save weight... My dark suit along instead... We spent over 2 hours at dinner, missing the Captain's introduction before the late show... So back to the cabin...
I changed, then went to the library to check emails... Tanya was there, and announced that she had decided to abandon the cruise, and return home...
As a result, I find myself alone this morning....
It is likely the place speaking, but sitting on the aft deck, with coffee and A crosont and butter, the sun rising in the west, seems the most civilized meal in the world.
I have checked my email (no crises have emerged in my absence), Have read the paper (the ship publishes an 8 page digest of the New York Times, as well as a 4 page "Australia Today"). I have a book (Straying from the Flock by Alexander Elder... The ship has a book club, this is the book they are reading... I will try it). At sea, or at least aboard a ship, tend to rise with the sun, find coffee and a crosont, and read or write. Later, after Tina rises, we generally go in search of breakfast...
Following our pattern, Tina and went to the dinning room in search of breakfast... we were seated with a woman and her daughters... Commonly you exchange names and where you are from... They were evasive... "northern California" and, "It's a small town" finally, "Occidental". Tina said "Great Itallian food", I made a reference to Howard's, the 19th century name... They were a bit surprised to find someone who knew the place...
Following breakfast, Tina and the sisters returned to the clinic, where Tanya once again received IV antibiotics... She was stable, even a bit better, but concerned...
We had our Cruise Critic gathering (www.cruisecritic.com) ... Tina joined us then retuned to the clinic to see Tanya... Then releases, all went to lunch (this is a cruise, food is important)
The afternoon was spent lazily, sitting, reading, and for Tina, napping...
Dinner was the first of the three formal nights aboard... I have a dinner jacket (and a tail coat) but left them home to save weight... My dark suit along instead... We spent over 2 hours at dinner, missing the Captain's introduction before the late show... So back to the cabin...
I changed, then went to the library to check emails... Tanya was there, and announced that she had decided to abandon the cruise, and return home...
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sydney, round 2
Monday, 12 March... Another Flight (another day?) this time from Uluru, returning to Sydney...
Back in Sydney, we considered the train, but took a cab... With 4 of us traveling together it was much cheaper (but not necessarily faster). Back at the B&B... Then off to dinner, at the Australian Hotel, established 1889... So says the bar coaster... Sitting outside, drinking and eating pizza and beef pies... There were chips too...
Back to the hotel, to bed, a bit early, as our internal clocks are still not quite on local time... Which is a fluid concept... Uluru was an hour and a half ahead of Sydney... Sydney was 5 hours ahead of home when we arrived but is only 4 hours now due to daylight savings time changing....
Now Tuesday, 13, March... Up early, showered, then I took a walk in search of our ship... I found it in Darling Harbor... Returned to the B&B... For a wonderful breakfast, then repacking, hauling the bags down. We have luggage... It's a three week trip... Hot in Sydney and Uluru, then much cooler over the rest of the trip... Plus Formal wear for aboard... There are 4 of us... 3 of whom are women... We have more luggage than 18th century British Army general on campaign. (British Army generals were known having luggage caravans... Numerous wagons piled high with luggage). We do not have wagons loaded with luggage, but have a pile...
We hailed a taxi, a maxi taxi due to the volume of luggage, then off for a quick trip to the ship. Baggage checked, checked in, It took less than 5 minutes... Everyone was friendly... All is good... They are boarding early... At 11:30 rather than 1:00 as advertized... Now 11:35, and they are calling our boarding group... Onboard before noon. More later.
Now late... We were in our cabin by 11:50... Had a light lunch on the Lido, then having 5+ hours before we sailed, I disembarked, walked up Darling Harbor to the Australian Maritime museum... Toured a destroyer, a submarine and their galleries... One floor was,dedicated to the United States, particularly the "Great White Fleet" and it's visit to Australia in 1908... Walking back, I found an ATM and got money for Melbourne...
Back aboard, I took a quick shower, and we walked about, exploring the ship, killing time until the dreaded lifeboat drill... At least dreaded until the recent unpleasant experience of the Costa Concordia... Now people accept the drill as a necessary evil, rather than just torture. The names of each passenger, by cabin were read, and their presence recorded, along with an announcement that "Passengers who do not participate, will not be allowed to sail...". Tanya, one of Tina's sister wasn't feeling well, and needed it sit down during the drill... Which resulted in the ship's Dr. Checking her, and clearing her (at least as a threat to the other passenger's heath...)
Life boat drill completed, we stopped by our cabin, then went to the Crow's Nest ( a bar, high up, facing forward, great view) for the sail away... The ship had been docked in Darling Harbor, so to get to sea, we passed under the Sidney Bridge, past the circular quay and opera house, even then it was some miles before we reached the South Pacific...
Dinner followed at 8:00, (formerly known as the late seating), then, off to bed... We were all tired...
Back in Sydney, we considered the train, but took a cab... With 4 of us traveling together it was much cheaper (but not necessarily faster). Back at the B&B... Then off to dinner, at the Australian Hotel, established 1889... So says the bar coaster... Sitting outside, drinking and eating pizza and beef pies... There were chips too...
Back to the hotel, to bed, a bit early, as our internal clocks are still not quite on local time... Which is a fluid concept... Uluru was an hour and a half ahead of Sydney... Sydney was 5 hours ahead of home when we arrived but is only 4 hours now due to daylight savings time changing....
Now Tuesday, 13, March... Up early, showered, then I took a walk in search of our ship... I found it in Darling Harbor... Returned to the B&B... For a wonderful breakfast, then repacking, hauling the bags down. We have luggage... It's a three week trip... Hot in Sydney and Uluru, then much cooler over the rest of the trip... Plus Formal wear for aboard... There are 4 of us... 3 of whom are women... We have more luggage than 18th century British Army general on campaign. (British Army generals were known having luggage caravans... Numerous wagons piled high with luggage). We do not have wagons loaded with luggage, but have a pile...
We hailed a taxi, a maxi taxi due to the volume of luggage, then off for a quick trip to the ship. Baggage checked, checked in, It took less than 5 minutes... Everyone was friendly... All is good... They are boarding early... At 11:30 rather than 1:00 as advertized... Now 11:35, and they are calling our boarding group... Onboard before noon. More later.
Now late... We were in our cabin by 11:50... Had a light lunch on the Lido, then having 5+ hours before we sailed, I disembarked, walked up Darling Harbor to the Australian Maritime museum... Toured a destroyer, a submarine and their galleries... One floor was,dedicated to the United States, particularly the "Great White Fleet" and it's visit to Australia in 1908... Walking back, I found an ATM and got money for Melbourne...
Back aboard, I took a quick shower, and we walked about, exploring the ship, killing time until the dreaded lifeboat drill... At least dreaded until the recent unpleasant experience of the Costa Concordia... Now people accept the drill as a necessary evil, rather than just torture. The names of each passenger, by cabin were read, and their presence recorded, along with an announcement that "Passengers who do not participate, will not be allowed to sail...". Tanya, one of Tina's sister wasn't feeling well, and needed it sit down during the drill... Which resulted in the ship's Dr. Checking her, and clearing her (at least as a threat to the other passenger's heath...)
Life boat drill completed, we stopped by our cabin, then went to the Crow's Nest ( a bar, high up, facing forward, great view) for the sail away... The ship had been docked in Darling Harbor, so to get to sea, we passed under the Sidney Bridge, past the circular quay and opera house, even then it was some miles before we reached the South Pacific...
Dinner followed at 8:00, (formerly known as the late seating), then, off to bed... We were all tired...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)