Re-visiting my blog…
…a couple of years since the last one. This time, our real last Hurrah! We’re enjoying a cruise to and from New Zealand. Three glorious days to get here from Brisbane gave us the chance to fully explore the Silver Muse – a quietly understated elegant ship – being waited on hand and foot. But this holiday was always going to be a gamble as to whether we’d be able to travel again, easily. So despite the fact that we’ve already had a few challenges, we’re so enjoying life on board, getting away from home, and getting to know each other again, as well as meeting interesting co-passengers. Even though we do keep bumping into friends from Noosa.
The land of the long white cloud didn’t disappoint right from the start because we’re back in the Bay of Islands where, years ago, we had a beautiful holiday home to which we’d come regularly, and where we’ve so many lovely memories of our friends and places here. The plan was that we’d tender ashore if we could and go and seek out our old haunts. So as we slipped in between the islands, being tracked by a huge pod of dolphins, with early morning spotlights of a rising sun forming pools of light on the calm waters, I couldn’t stop a tear falling down my face. Then there it was, our home-from-home-that-used-to-be, still standing proud on the headland that heralds the entrance to Russell Bay.
We anchored off, nostalgically pointing out places that once were so familiar to us. Go ashore? We had made a plan, and then realised the logistics. From ship to clambering into tender to go ashore. Off the tender onto dry land, shuttle bus to the ferry that would have taken us to Russell, and a taxi to get a snapshot of our remembered places. Then reversing the whole operation. This with Peter on his wheelie-walker, me with my constant companion, my walking-stick, and Peter trying his best not to fall over getting on and off various means of transport.
Plans aside, the decision was made for us when the long white cloud turned grey and tipped copious quantities of pure raindrops on us. Nostalgia is one thing, safety is another. And this is our first port of call. Next stop, Auckland – dockside, with no tenders to have to worry about.
Lunching in the rain in the Bay of Islands…
