Author: kkenway70

Today we explored Musgrave Inlet on Auckland Island in Zodiac boats. Best in show were the rock hopper penguins, so called because these tiny birds hop about on the rocks by the shore, occasionally swimming out for a feed.

I had some nice closeup using my Nikon with a 400 zoom but have had no luck getting pics from the camera to my tablet or phone. Will keep trying.

We went into some spooky caves along the shore and also sighted light-mantled albatross and skuas.

This evening we are upping anchor and heading for Cameron Island. I’m enjoying the observation lounge on the top deck and am about halfway through the 500 page history of Antarctica given me by Susan at Christmas.

Chinese-speaking blog followers might be interested to know that about 20% of my shipmates are Mandarin and all announcements are promptly followed up in Chinese translation. I sat next to Grace, one of the translators, who holds degrees in translation and has a number of these gigs. She grew up speaking Cantonese so had to learn Mandarin as a second language to get into the business.

After a day at sea the Douglas Mawson dropped anchor off of Enderby Island in the chain of islands known as the Auckland Islands, about 400 miles south of New Zealand. Enderby boasts one of the largest sea lion colonies in the world.

We were taken in via Zodiacs and landed on the beach

A large dominant male maintains a harem of ladies and an oversees the resulting pups.

The archipelago of islands were inhabited briefly by Maori venturers in 1270, according to the historian who delivered a most interesting lecture last night.

Aurora, the trip sponsor, has engaged historians, bird biologists and flora experts who provide interesting talks daily.

We basked in temps that kissed 60 Fahrenheit today making for a pleasant stroll on the boardwalk across the island.

The sea lions make their way up and over the bluffs to stretch out in the tussock grass along with the Royal Abatrosses, enormous snow white birds.

Hard guy Lester, veteran of about 200 round trips up Katahdin, joined a 6 hour hike around the circumference of the island while I spent the afternoon aboard ship keeping up with the happily victorious Pats. Here’s the cheap seats cabin we share.

Tomorrow we will be enjoying 2 Zodiac rides to other parts of the archipelago before upping anchor for Campbell Island.

We had a nice walking tour of Dunedin ahead of today’s departure. Additional murals have been added since our last visit 2 years ago, and we actually encountered a muralist in situ.

The ship, the Douglas Mawson, was commissioned in December and was named after Australia’s most famous Antarctic explorer. He claimed to have fallen into a crevasse returning from a trip and, he says, he dangled at the end of 14 feet of line only extricating himself after several attempts to haul himself out with frost bitten hands.

The ship is a peach, and get this: unlimited wine with dinner.

Leonards luggage didn’t arrive and he’s the happy owner of a new wardrobe which he intends to lay off on American Airlines.

Cousin Lester is adjusting well to his first time out of the sight of land coupled with the deck heaving under his feet. We have a comfortable cabin on the 3rd deck – the cheap seats.

So as the sun slips below the horizon we bid a fond farewell to the south end of the South Islad and shape our course for Macquarie Island.

Yesterday we went on a half day tour of the beautiful Otago Peninsula south of Dunedin. Great scenery.

We saw black swans, fur seals and 1000 pound sea lions.

Cousin Lester at home among the creatures.

Today (Jan 14) we took a rail journey on Dunedin Railways through the Taiere Gorge to Pukerangi and back, a most pleasant trip.

Today we are off on a wildlife tour of the Otago Peninsula

Left Portland Saturday the 10th at 9 am, drove to Logan, flew to Dallas, then Fiji, then Auckland, arriving Dunedin 38 hours later on January 12th with renewed irritation of my sciatic nerve caused by a day an a half of sitting down. Throbbing has dissipated thank God.

Leonard Sussman wasn’t as fortunate. His plane on the 10th from LGA made an emergency diversion to Philly on the 10th, where he spent the night. Flew JFK to Auckland on the 11th, arriving here on the 13th. He can be excused for looking so grumpy in these pics.

Today we are booked on a train trip to the Taieri Gorge.