Tuesday Jan 31 Auckland arrival

Approach to Auckland saw many Australiasion gannets.  Also saw the cooks petrel that only breeds on 3 islands near here

It has been rainy most of the day with following seas and wind.  

Even though we were docked around 1pm. We were not allowed off the ship until 5:30 pm.   So it was a long day of waiting around the ship.  We got off around 5:30 and went for a walk for an hour or so. 

Decided to head back to the ship to get dinner.

Monday Jan 30th

Last night the ship changed course and slowed down.  This morning there were a lot of rumors.  The captain confirmed that we are skipping the bay of islands ( Waitangi ). The tender port was deemed unsafe for excursions.   So we are now going straight to Auckland.  Unfortunately we will not get an extra day there as we will not get in until 5 pm.  So it will be too late for sightseeing. Also the weather looks less than favorable 

I assume they are going slow to get a bearth for the ship and allow some of the weather to clear.

Martha went to Bruce's coffee chat with Steve

9:30 talk about the albatross by Robin Petch was very interesting

11 am talk by Russell Lee on wool was entertaining as always

Sat with Russell at lunch in the world cafe and talked about speech writing.

Afternoon birdwatching on the bow

Black winged petrel

Sunday Jan 29 - Crossing the date line

Yesterday we crossed the international date line and we lost Saturday the 28th of Jan.  

Sea Day Jan 26

On the way to New Zealand.  The sea is Mar Pacifico, a very gentle night with sunrise aft of the port side around 5:00am.  Natasha sent the coffee pot up to our room per usual.

Friday Jan 27

The rolling of the sea built up yesterday afternoon. It is rolling pretty good this morning.  After dinner last night was the final lecture from Dr Lisa Matitoo- Smith.  Her series of lectures on DNA and the movement of people's throughout Oceania was a great addition to the trip. In the end she recommended several books that I am sure to read.    The internet is so slow that I can't post and I hope to be able to when we get back closer to land

Crossing the international date line

internet so slow can't post

Sea Day Jan 25th

After several days in port the gentle rocking and rolling of the ship seems like it is back to normal.   Very peaceful seas and weather 

very interesting talk this morning. We are really enjoying the anthropology lectures.  

Then on to the exercise bike for a hour plus a short bit on the rowing machine and lunch  in the world cafe.  

We did the 11 am lecture about the Kon Tiki expedition on the TV recorded earlier.   A slow sea headed to New Zealand.  

We will go back a hour again tonight as we travel southwest from Papeete.  

Jan 24 Papeete Tahiti

Early room service for breakfast and then a 9 am lagoon snorkeling trip.  

The Paul Gauguin Banyan Tree 

This is the tree that is used for the thathed roof. They soak the leaves in salt water for 3 or 4 days and then dry them.

Moorea

 Moorea

Morning snorkeling tour was a bust. Tender in load the boat and the rain starts pouring. They unload us and then cancel the tour. 

We did get in on a boat tour in the afternoon after the rain stopped

Jan 25. Bora Bora.

After several wonderful days at sea we are back near land.  

see the orange Viking tender boat

11:30 meet up in the explorers lounge for the tender ashore to meet our snorkeling guide.    H2O Bora Bora did a great job as we were able to see a school of 50 eagle rays. ( Video coming soon)...   Then we went to a site with some of the best 🪸 reef I have ever seen any where in the world.  It was stunning!    

Bonus black tip reef shark too! 

Happy campers! 

Then to cap off the day!

Sat Jan 21

Bora Bora weather forecast for tomorrow is not looking good as it is saying rain. 

Today he had a tour of the crew areas of the ship including the kitchens, engine control room and laundry.  

Sea day Jan 20

The seas are not as rough and rolly but still very confused.   Burned though 1/2 of " an astronauts guide to life on earth" by Chris Hadfeild.  It is a really good book. It was recommended by Kyle Acierno when he was on board doing the space talks.

Doughnut station for breakfast

9:30 Lecture

facinating talk about DNA testing 

11 am lecture Russell Lee  talk on the book the South Pacific.  Entertaining.  

2pm bridge tour

5:30 drinks and dinner Greg and Jan really nice time visiting and dinner poolside for fish and chips.  A bit too much fried food tonight.  

Thursday Jan 19 Sea day

Room service for breakfast and then down to the gym for 10 miles on the bike.  Recovery in the hot tub chilled out under the cold water bucket 🪣

11am lecture:

Lunch at the World Cafe and hang out until the 2 pm crossing the equator ceremony.  It was a lot of fun to watch the staff jumping in the pool.  The whole pool deck was filled with people and lots of folks looking down from up on 8.  

And another beautiful sunset at sea

Waffle Wednesday 🧇

The internet is slow this morning.  The starlink seems to not be keeping up with the demand.  I noticed that the traffic is prioritized.  Updates to my apps often take forever.  Calls over Whatsapp seems to be ok most of the time.

Mamson's waffle was great as usual.  The sea is a little more confused and the ship is moving a little abruptly and not the big rollers we had before.

9:30 am lecture

11am lecture of the French influence on the South Pacific.  Interesting talk on the geopolitics of the area and the reaction to nuclear testing by the French.  (No pictures). 

Sea Days- Oahu to Bora Bora

slow start to the day at sea with a late breakfast in the World Cafe.  Then down to the gym for some time on the bike.  A swim in the pool as the rocking waves were fun

11am lecture on the movement of people across the Pacific.  The way finders would venture out up wind in a systematic pattern until the next island was found and return to get the woman children rats and chickens.  It was often then second or third son to explore as the first son inherited titles and all else 

Then off to lunch in the restaurant. 

Followed by passport collection this afternoon and a pod of dolphins on the starboard side of the explorer's lounge. 

Watched the sunset from our balcony and off to dinner at world cafe.