Back to Auckland

Back to Auckland on Monday, April 3.  On our way we saw a few dolphins, but not well enough to get any photos.  Maybe another time. 

 

Here we are again, another big, beautiful city.  Our tugs await our arrival.

This is the slip we glided into, something seemingly not nearly large enough,

We didn’t plan any excursions as we’d been here a couple of weeks ago and had done pretty much what we’d wanted.  But there was a mission for the day.  When heading to the shuttle to take us to the ship on the 31^st, I had a luggage malfunction.  My small bag’s handle broke … and while I was still able to use it, it was no longer in top shape and I required a new one. 

We got off the ship and planned to walk up the street, Queen’s Street, I might add.  Our plan was to look for a shop where I could find a replacement piece of luggage, and a coffee shop where we’d stop and have a cup of coffee.  Mission accomplished, with first the luggage that I then drug up and down the street, and then coffee.  The good thing about the luggage was that I could put my purchased trinkets in it rather than have to carry a bag.

The ship called us back and we changed into our swimming suits and went up to one of the pools.  It was great as we had it to ourselves for a long time, as well as the hot tub. 

Later in the evening we changed and went to a performance of a local group who did traditional Maori chants and dancing.  It was quite enjoyable, and I sure do like it when the locals come on board to perform. 

A walk in the hot sun, and a hot tub ended my night pretty quickly as I was spent.  So bed time came early as a light rain began falling. 

We were to be in Tauranga Tuesday, April 4.  We’d received word the evening before that our tour for here was cancelled due to bad weather.  We’d had a kayaking and thermal pool trip planned.  What a disappointment.  It was raining, but not hard, but we couldn’t change it.

Off we went, outfitted in long pants and our Harley jackets.  We’d decided to walk around the base of Mount Maunganui. 

Off in the distance from where we got off our ship, we could see Mount Maunganui.

The seas along the base were angry, and got way angrier as we walked.  The wind was blowing hard, and it was raining.  As we walked, the rain began to come down even harder.  By this time we were probably half-way around the base.  So, we just kept on going. 

It was beautiful with a well-maintained path around the base of the mountain.

The walk was beautiful, even in pouring down rain, but sure would have been nice in the sun with the waves crashing against the rocks, the tide pools calling us to come see what underwater life they held. 

There were some beautiful rocks and pools that called us, but the weather continued to deteriorate.

 

It was so foggy and raining so hard we could barely see our ship.

 

We just kept going until we got back to the ship.  Our wet clothes hang dripping in the tub.  We’re even more grateful now for the larger room, with a tub and a clothesline that holds most of our clothes as they drip, drip, drip.We were really glad to have the Princess bathrobes.  I got into dry clothes, put the bathrobe over them and crawled into bed, cold and tired.  I slept for a few hours, and finally was warm again.

It was time to have a bite to eat, and walk around a bit.  Inside not out as the storm was still dropping buckets of rain onto the decks of our ship.  The wind is howling, and the seas will most likely become a bit rougher again tonight. 

Gisborne was our port of call for Wednesday, April 5.  Well, that didn’t happen either.  Due to bad weather the ship couldn’t get into port, so we didn’t do our bicycle-riding trip.  So far, we’re not doing well, and pretty soon Princess may have to be paying us to take this cruise (I wish).  But it’s not as though we don’t find things to do.  There’s plenty to do, and I’ve taken this opportunity to do a lot of reading.