Day 9 and 10

Tauranga & Auckland

When we arrived at Tauranga, Shari came up with the idea to plan our trip ashore ourselves with a little help from the 7 am ship officer that lived at this port.  

We walked to the inactive volcano not far from our ship.  Trails were built around it and to the top of the dome.

There have been Norfolk Pines at every port we have stopped at in NZ.  This big one has a diameter around 4 feet 6 inches.  And they are markers for those coming to land from the sea.

All I could think of is this must be a joke but fate had me see it.

The ship officer also mentioned there being a place to lawn bowl.  It took a bit of hoofing, but I finally got to it.  There were three bowl areas (we have one at home in Sun River), and one of the three had an artificial grass base.  I asked to play but they had a corporate event and an even number of players.   However, they did give me a tour of their bar, restaurant, and all the facilities.

I did watch the corporate folks bowl for a while.  I wanted to coach but knew better.  The instructors weren’t as good as my friends Jack and Ross back home.  The bowlers I watched mostly bowled into the gutter.

I spotted a mast above their club.  You know you have made it when your club has a flag and a wind mast.

I failed to mention I got a chance to sail our Viking ship.

You always want your captain to look Calm, Cool, and Collected.

I was ready for the job until I realized I don’t know where the steering wheel is located.  I finally found it.  I was told there were others.

This is the joystick steerage unit, upper right of the pic, all of 3 inches tall and 1/4 inch diameter.  It is very hard to imagine steering a 60,000 ton vessel with a joystick.

When talking to the captain about the huge swells a week ago, he said we were in a cyclone with winds of 130 mph!!!

We survived!