New Zealand - Mar 4 thru Mar 6

Mar 4 - New Zealand sounds

POL:
Today we sailed slowly through the sounds (like fjords except different) of New Zealnd.  We passed through three of the sounds, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Milford Sound.  All three displayed beautiful scenery.  Once in each of the sounds the water became very calm with no wind to speak of.  Once out of the sounds and back into open ocean the "tiny ship was tossed and if not for the courage of the fearless crew the 'Minnow' would be lost".  Sorry, I lost my mind for a moment.  I thought I was back on Gilligan's Island.  Nevertheless, once back on open water the seas became fairly turbulant.  I would estimate somewhere between three and five meters.  That means that between the peak and valley of each wave or swell the vertical distance would be between 9 and 15 feet.  The ship has pitched and rolled since we left Dunedin.  We have heard rumors of people getting sea sick, but none of the people in our group has succumbed to the motion.

Dusky Sound was beautifully green.  The tops of some of the mountains were shrouded in clouds.  This was the first of the three sounds.
Doubtful Sound was even more green and taller.  We also picked up some dolphins playing in the water.  They were fun to watch but they weren't there for long.

Milford Sound was the most spectacular of the three sounds we sailed.  It reminded me a lot of the Yosemite valley except that there was water at the bottom.  The sound's walls were vertical in some places and steep enough throughout that climbing any of the walls would have been difficult at best.  It was truly awe inspiring.  It is not difficult why New Zealand has made this area a national park and protects it in earnest.
Mar 5 & 6
We are spending these two days at sea.  Saturday and Sunday the seas were making the little ship pitch and roll - a LOT.  Pitching is rocking the length of the ship.  Rolling is side to side.  Today the seas are not nearly as high, but still high enough that we do pitch and roll although not so much as to make a lot of people ill.

While underway there are games and music and other things to keep the 'inmates' occupied.  Otherwise you do do what you wish.  These things would include eat, hang out in your cabin, eat, lay out, drink yourself stupid, eat, watch very limited TV, read, eat, nap, eat, or just eat until you pop.  Fun times!

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