My alarm went off early, but then it always goes off early. [Aside – and before I forget – I finished up the module yesterday and have my pass for the year. The reason I was having so much trouble with it was that …… there really wasn’t much of anything to do other than “next” through the patient interviews. I kept thinking that it was complicated or that I was missing something. I wasn’t. Lucking out, I drew the easiest module. Could have finished it in Adelaide had I staying on it for even 10 more minutes. Impatience generates its own anxiety.]

Back to your regularly scheduled tale telling.

New Zealand is in sight. Starting with Milford Sound we are cruising through, or perhaps it is in, turn around and back out like the Fjords of Norway. Since it is cold outside (well colder than inside and the wind is blowing – 14*C). I decided that I will look at the receding vista off my aft balcony. The other,, probably more important reason is that we are sailing east with mist still rising high off the water. Without the ability to take clear photos from the upper decks, staying warm seems quite sensible. As it turns out – it was partly to see it, take a gander at Sterling Falls but mostly to drop off the 85 pax on an overnight (expensive) adventure to see a bit of NZ from land after which they will join us in Dunedin tomorrow.

It was quiet and peaceful with what seems like a resort, a few buildings, some boats + a small airfield at the end just big enough to accommodate your average Cessna. After transferring our passengers to the tour vessel and recapturing the rescue boat which allegedly was there for emergencies but mostly seemed to be accommodating a couple of photographic staff with huge lenses on their cameras, we turned and sailed back out. As we did, the sun which had risen hours before crested over the mountain sides. It was suddenly almost warm. Blinding bright, but warm enough that my fingers uncramped a bit.

We entered Thompson Sound about 1230 followed by Doubtful Sound (Hello? Did anyone every accuse the early English of any imagination in geography names?)

It was lovely outside this afternoon, warm and sunny. I sat out taking photos then fell asleep for a short time on the lounger. But then we turned the corner, the wind changed and I was cold out of the sun. Headed down Breasky (?) to Dusky Sound before passing back out to the ocean.

Let me just leave it with the following – the seas are a bit more interesting off the southern coast of New Zealand than they were in the Tasmanian Sea (we were lucky there).

Tomorrow is Dunedin – I am taking the train up the Taieri Gorge before hunting around in town for the afternoon.

(and if the time posted doesn’t make sense – just remember I am currently at UTC+10 or so)