This is a Relaxing Time of Year

The period between Christmas and New Year is quite a relaxed time of year for us. The rush leading up to Christmas is over and it’s time to sit back, relax and catch up with some outstanding tasks.  We have had cool and moist weather over the last three years because of the La Niña…

It’s A Good Day In Queenstown

This is my last full day in Queenstown and it is a lovely day. I am almost recovered from my experience with Covid – just a little bit of a stuffy nose, but I feel like I am pretty much back to normal. There is little wind and the sky is blue. I caught the…

My Return to Queenstown

The Heritage Adventurer returned to the Port of Bluff at a quick pace to get there before forecast gale force winds. We docked on the high tide at around midnight andI have to say that it was much easier to sleep at a calm mooring rather than on the rough sea earlier in the night.…

Macquarie Island

Over the last few days, we have been at Macquarie Island, deep in the Southern Ocean . On the island is an Antarctic research station and Australian weather station, Of all things, there is a Telstra mobile phone tower. Because of Covid regulations, we were not allied to visit the base but we had plenty…

A Visit to the Auckland Islsnds

We have spent the last two days on the second of the Sub-Antarctic Islands on this trip – Auckland Islands. We are at around 50 degrees south – a much higher level of latitude than Antarctica but still s long way south. Our first stop at these islands was Enderbee Island, the subject of my…

My First Day in the Sub Antarctic Islands

We cleared immigration and sailed last night from the Port of Bluff on the Heritage Adventurer. Strong south westerly winds created large seas and the ship rocked and rolled all night By midday today they had mellowed and are now quite flat. For me, w we see alking is a bit like having Parkinson’s –…

Exploring Around Queenstown.

After Yesterday’s wet weather, today was fine, and a t times, even sunny. Having rented a car I was able to drive over the rather spectacular Crown Range to Wānaka with my friend Michael. We stopped in many places to take photographs or just to appreciate the local scenery. For a distance where the road…

My Sub-Antarctic Islands Odyssey

Today I am starting a new adventure – one that takes in a number of sub-Antarctic Islands in the Southern Ocean. I will board a ship that departs from the port of Bluff at the southernmost point in New Zealand on a tour that will take 12 days to visit some remarkably scenic places that…

Another Few Days in Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is one of my favourite places to visit. Last week, I managed to spend three days there in the company of 22 other members of my Probus club. Jill’s mobility has increased enough for me to leave her for a few days, although I was careful to stock the fridge and do the…

Rain Problems but Sunny Days at the Zoo

We are in some trouble here in Victoria. The weather forecast for the next day or so is for up to 100 mm (4 inches) of rain. It will cause extensive flooding. I searched the DIY stores and even Amazon to see if I could find some Gopher Wood to build an ark, as Noah…

We’re Glad to be Back Home

It was an arduous and long trip home from Singapore yesterday and we are very happy to be back in our own home again. Jill was discharged from the Ng Teng Fong Hospital in Singapore on Saturday, after we started planning a week ago for her to be ready to come home. She had her…