tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69372723107893952782024-03-14T00:15:56.052-05:00RV Khronicles of KevelynLife's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Wow...What a Ride!RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.comBlogger788125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-10962470991138223812024-02-06T16:25:00.001-06:002024-02-06T16:25:53.639-06:00Bay of Islands, New Zealand - November 12, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our final port in New Zealand was Bay of Islands. This was a tender port with a beautiful harbor full of many islands.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSpsVMIJIxi95CBk8nRkrvwAvd0ld2duADRFrh6lHOV9ojgCxSXNEThtEMdRPRfKdfXJ_hKQP5dc_tY5apXKEAkTbCrHUQTJKeLhIRWYsljRUaUNykEZD7KIwXGAMulpTezG15c0PT93jhel1xnOs2g-hobE2CussucZYxsW62lvMUEDl0b-LInpDXk4/s948/Bay%20of%20Islands%20harbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="948" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSpsVMIJIxi95CBk8nRkrvwAvd0ld2duADRFrh6lHOV9ojgCxSXNEThtEMdRPRfKdfXJ_hKQP5dc_tY5apXKEAkTbCrHUQTJKeLhIRWYsljRUaUNykEZD7KIwXGAMulpTezG15c0PT93jhel1xnOs2g-hobE2CussucZYxsW62lvMUEDl0b-LInpDXk4/w400-h253/Bay%20of%20Islands%20harbor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We had booked a tour through Princess to visit the Glow Worm caves. Our first stop was Manginangina, part of the Puketi forest. It is one of the best remaining examples of subtropical rainforests in northern New Zealand. This part of the forest survived early European logging and farming due to its steep terrain and poor soil. Around the beginning of the century, huge tracts of kauri forest were destroyed. Only 3% of the original forest now remains.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kauri trees are among the world's mightiest trees, growing to over 165 feet tall, with trunk girths up to 50 feet, and living for over 2,000 years. Here are a few examples of the many we saw.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbZuiC2H7E7_Jaqy-whD5bDM4neBoaFocjvNX8nJi5xbIuYlOMSewfo7abshSoNqdM0CpcB4-hU52TKGKzUgj2PlYyMOsFefOuB3s8p44Y1SXjx8CHxVfPKuT-G2UfsKw6FTGDuRT7hVfK3K3HgQxVlRWuPxVKEDjcRMOb49az6XVdhIPY69tMwlXskk/s607/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbZuiC2H7E7_Jaqy-whD5bDM4neBoaFocjvNX8nJi5xbIuYlOMSewfo7abshSoNqdM0CpcB4-hU52TKGKzUgj2PlYyMOsFefOuB3s8p44Y1SXjx8CHxVfPKuT-G2UfsKw6FTGDuRT7hVfK3K3HgQxVlRWuPxVKEDjcRMOb49az6XVdhIPY69tMwlXskk/w296-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%201.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5aR8pQvD11-1EVhqezLfQfKnT7wYRjnONHHPPT4xXTVtq8RouN27Zp2_3Otx9N5SaTvpRHfnbk3BY6ZiSi-ol9TLhhihzXs3Q4geJgWg5HAU89287zbzAl40cM-gk4V9oicqtQY2Q3467qVVJj8wdZAfczOgO9wZ1WDdrhN1_eJPyhgdusj_2b8girI/s598/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="369" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5aR8pQvD11-1EVhqezLfQfKnT7wYRjnONHHPPT4xXTVtq8RouN27Zp2_3Otx9N5SaTvpRHfnbk3BY6ZiSi-ol9TLhhihzXs3Q4geJgWg5HAU89287zbzAl40cM-gk4V9oicqtQY2Q3467qVVJj8wdZAfczOgO9wZ1WDdrhN1_eJPyhgdusj_2b8girI/w246-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%202.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6IX0Y5PEBMDqy3dGFNx8R3I23JIwwWCCvtTW8DWSDiPJPb_6nQL0edm34wQoPd0ff22Fee6BIw3pFrbXU_KdKq29KLPohsh19F059vrmol_r1ZuQ3f2l0TPZLzNhGtkg5r5xffr5K6jtJiHpiHs6Gf4qYMjcOvsr6IFOoYJcGgT6VxB-AaQItFMfXaw/s599/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="549" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6IX0Y5PEBMDqy3dGFNx8R3I23JIwwWCCvtTW8DWSDiPJPb_6nQL0edm34wQoPd0ff22Fee6BIw3pFrbXU_KdKq29KLPohsh19F059vrmol_r1ZuQ3f2l0TPZLzNhGtkg5r5xffr5K6jtJiHpiHs6Gf4qYMjcOvsr6IFOoYJcGgT6VxB-AaQItFMfXaw/w366-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Tree%203.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The silver tree fern is a national symbol for New Zealand. We saw several examples of these ferns. The underside of the fronds are silver.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U2uTEGrHz49r2xg9R4wZl03T-_nMQ4MOGzwhsQVuqAOA2FS-I-Mf29nbkpqg1xBvH3B3YAwgdi_i7zAtnxat_vmDSOUXiL2czNUU3lEiXfjjEA3S36pEAZxdA4coXrRtM8Wnj9BRGW9b7c1DQaYoCIzFcxJrn7d6o21uAiy8RySJjdKVVrbY_5RLPOU/s579/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Walk%20Silver%20Fern%20Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U2uTEGrHz49r2xg9R4wZl03T-_nMQ4MOGzwhsQVuqAOA2FS-I-Mf29nbkpqg1xBvH3B3YAwgdi_i7zAtnxat_vmDSOUXiL2czNUU3lEiXfjjEA3S36pEAZxdA4coXrRtM8Wnj9BRGW9b7c1DQaYoCIzFcxJrn7d6o21uAiy8RySJjdKVVrbY_5RLPOU/w314-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Walk%20Silver%20Fern%20Tree.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS30mq_hHzCUM8Ab0kheFfIbuPtK3sO0DLFfhrripdHNboczGFxE0m9LjVvOdgwqAv4PMwl3yczw3WE09TWeVw9dtIJqXFDjw6kkAqYUQBrknprgi_9hR6snx7uJySW1D5ZL3RibLX34ggeIpAYIPv-IusZ3xLt189UjnGvBUONEBflW6QGA1m9DKkBk/s450/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Walk%20Silver%20Fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="431" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCS30mq_hHzCUM8Ab0kheFfIbuPtK3sO0DLFfhrripdHNboczGFxE0m9LjVvOdgwqAv4PMwl3yczw3WE09TWeVw9dtIJqXFDjw6kkAqYUQBrknprgi_9hR6snx7uJySW1D5ZL3RibLX34ggeIpAYIPv-IusZ3xLt189UjnGvBUONEBflW6QGA1m9DKkBk/w383-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Manginangina%20Kauri%20Walk%20Silver%20Fern.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop on the tour was the city of Kawakawa to see the famous Hundertwasser toilets. What, toilets??? Hundertwasser, the Austrian-born artist, famous for his charismatic colorful approach to design and architecture, made Kawakawa his home due to his deep desire to be as close to nature as possible. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZWIHltKbpJFerH6PiHiZNJwN1mL5fSm4Oy9tyLuzJBDgbPRRg24narE8SyTAkAgGOyGOLLreIeoU6yIIiHPI3e24xDnvTNk7YMD_5cihXaHC9r3FSFSa7am6CnhhiThbK3qSGlzhzbIt2HAzqaCsfSrgObBfrDm_NWPpnQkIinFR5qGKwo2Yt1UaM5A/s754/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Friedensreich%20Hundertwasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZWIHltKbpJFerH6PiHiZNJwN1mL5fSm4Oy9tyLuzJBDgbPRRg24narE8SyTAkAgGOyGOLLreIeoU6yIIiHPI3e24xDnvTNk7YMD_5cihXaHC9r3FSFSa7am6CnhhiThbK3qSGlzhzbIt2HAzqaCsfSrgObBfrDm_NWPpnQkIinFR5qGKwo2Yt1UaM5A/w361-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Friedensreich%20Hundertwasser.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the late 1990s he was asked to redesign the public toilets in Kawakawa. He participated in the design and build, and they remain his only building in the Southern Hemisphere. They opened in 1999, and were his last architectural work before his death in 2000.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzlKG8A0Trj1wrU4PHJ6lO4IjQi3u2bCo8vMzEdnZrT9oQT6Av-_SC7NX7PDbcBy96q5UfXxqbyhREKmedHLpxnJvlGBRDjDpXJdj6nIntK1mKkZgphL0kTzuyFDBNOnaAtjQS3oprEU6_YWlFyzIvPPUu1v5GIWSR_7M4RPVwIJ7YujIYfacD87rxm4/s584/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20entrance%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="584" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzlKG8A0Trj1wrU4PHJ6lO4IjQi3u2bCo8vMzEdnZrT9oQT6Av-_SC7NX7PDbcBy96q5UfXxqbyhREKmedHLpxnJvlGBRDjDpXJdj6nIntK1mKkZgphL0kTzuyFDBNOnaAtjQS3oprEU6_YWlFyzIvPPUu1v5GIWSR_7M4RPVwIJ7YujIYfacD87rxm4/w400-h296/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20entrance%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrobizwRh0qMRpjuCL8G-kZePQ3N3bCIQz0Wt3B-s4paNjLIK7HFGH00iqfGOl1QbyKmgFXOi9sH0DGyHqQIFOEQWZ2bfnmH9XZCdREv_dKBz_GQTzk_FWggeOZWG13VSM7eg5XPc3VWzvPsC3rOcwJ7eC1LBMZQ9lPoC5AiJdY0SjgD52Ce-3vXhVsM/s635/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="635" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrobizwRh0qMRpjuCL8G-kZePQ3N3bCIQz0Wt3B-s4paNjLIK7HFGH00iqfGOl1QbyKmgFXOi9sH0DGyHqQIFOEQWZ2bfnmH9XZCdREv_dKBz_GQTzk_FWggeOZWG13VSM7eg5XPc3VWzvPsC3rOcwJ7eC1LBMZQ9lPoC5AiJdY0SjgD52Ce-3vXhVsM/w400-h324/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside entrance to the toilets</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside, the toilets are sure something to experience, with lots of glass, mosaics and tile all around. They are </span><span style="font-size: large;">fully functioning and open for public use. You just have to be careful you don't end up in a tourist's photo!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bfusSoZPo0TyPafb2D3xUxgBF5x6lbhUglqJceOs6GEbeAlsThCXhWLfkXCkcllJ-MjgDJr2xsGyLUG-JfiUiLE5vCUk3-ATGFLZqGct8JC3IUAHP3WYWkJ3mx7DM5rW23TzOmq4_9OC7HcoyzzyrnsoV9WAarvjGrlOHt5o5IvsUEdusvHQu-2CBYc/s607/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilets%20entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="439" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bfusSoZPo0TyPafb2D3xUxgBF5x6lbhUglqJceOs6GEbeAlsThCXhWLfkXCkcllJ-MjgDJr2xsGyLUG-JfiUiLE5vCUk3-ATGFLZqGct8JC3IUAHP3WYWkJ3mx7DM5rW23TzOmq4_9OC7HcoyzzyrnsoV9WAarvjGrlOHt5o5IvsUEdusvHQu-2CBYc/w289-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilets%20entry.jpg" width="289" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc6lF-vlgWl3OXzXJI5B_JwKJaZIaPYkuO_8bIn1V3oxxFRvy1NsHoI-MaQneUYzSbDSkhUbrefu4tf0EvHzxJ5bNWU_DmJ-z7-qMaNPzZ8UdcTC1djpbCp2HuU2I6hJuBBgeHwZ6SGrcG_NPsniMU4i473mdi7sXNZxgYwvWrKBbqnmM4XK2ITgUcUw/s599/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="423" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc6lF-vlgWl3OXzXJI5B_JwKJaZIaPYkuO_8bIn1V3oxxFRvy1NsHoI-MaQneUYzSbDSkhUbrefu4tf0EvHzxJ5bNWU_DmJ-z7-qMaNPzZ8UdcTC1djpbCp2HuU2I6hJuBBgeHwZ6SGrcG_NPsniMU4i473mdi7sXNZxgYwvWrKBbqnmM4XK2ITgUcUw/w283-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Toilet.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />There are many examples of his style throughout the entire city with lots of colorful columns on businesses and public areas. There is a cultural center and library with information on the artist and his works on display. What a fun and quirky place to visit!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1za9pI_R13jYg0iEXewp0Z_kYINaWELCyrD7_6luUz3luq7Qfehz6zeqJnyd3dez0T7hXpzRNiAssicWZdKZ1AbZ-kmBWLVCZXSIIZjOp9T0NvhvC0WD0sO7Evoz1ke8bEuymAhnq4XJn0Oes8r5oqBaZkbk5LQur8Sz55VcCkogderWiVsX9ZCBt1o4/s706/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Center%20and%20Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="706" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1za9pI_R13jYg0iEXewp0Z_kYINaWELCyrD7_6luUz3luq7Qfehz6zeqJnyd3dez0T7hXpzRNiAssicWZdKZ1AbZ-kmBWLVCZXSIIZjOp9T0NvhvC0WD0sO7Evoz1ke8bEuymAhnq4XJn0Oes8r5oqBaZkbk5LQur8Sz55VcCkogderWiVsX9ZCBt1o4/w400-h245/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawakawa%20Hundertwasser%20Center%20and%20Library.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop were the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. These caves are owned by the Kawiti family, and they have been guiding tours here since the 1950s. The glow worms in these caves are unique to New Zealand and thrive in damp, humid, dark environments like caves. They catch small flying insects for food with their sticky webs called fishing lines. Their tails emit bright green/blue light. No photography was allowed inside the caves. Here is our group entering using a wooden boardwalk.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTKaJQM2zUBzHKq-ySJPCkr6qOjk9d_gM5HKrs1IG63hwvB4pwEVqRNVYuwJPuMFwdCdwgJfYHnwcS8H0nWQiELzwbm6jlGXemNnSSjWbGQpAm1mwEhObm9bu4a_DLQ1Jc_7I6TWrTA_3TwjhdtWJCJ5S0NFnSw4ha6WiFyIvAGIzWVzuTynKG0GIzcg/s593/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worm%20Cave%20entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="430" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTKaJQM2zUBzHKq-ySJPCkr6qOjk9d_gM5HKrs1IG63hwvB4pwEVqRNVYuwJPuMFwdCdwgJfYHnwcS8H0nWQiELzwbm6jlGXemNnSSjWbGQpAm1mwEhObm9bu4a_DLQ1Jc_7I6TWrTA_3TwjhdtWJCJ5S0NFnSw4ha6WiFyIvAGIzWVzuTynKG0GIzcg/w290-h400/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worm%20Cave%20entrance.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next two pictures are from the website. We followed our guide on a narrow boardwalk as he explained all about the caves and the glow worms. Before entering, every sixth person in line was given an electric lantern which they kept lit while we were walking. In a couple of spots, they were instructed to turn off the lanterns, and we were treated to an amazing display of the thousands of luminous glow worms on the ceiling. Another truly remarkable and extraordinary experience!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwXJoes1XEVhr1vWX8w6ekGU5QiKzmRzMKWNQo24v1MTGwi8dhOsASth8-hn8_DGKdolRB7yXrrlx-RX-oLwcTK46QK0FvQYOtLrffbJ9WkZsfa7LnwwoVbBo5dQLEwd11zA4VKKzaVXyPNAPxBymA4TyJDv6Ku9-ipjtZ21tNEgjnWacSqFbxrttljU/s223/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worm%20Cave%20walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="223" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwXJoes1XEVhr1vWX8w6ekGU5QiKzmRzMKWNQo24v1MTGwi8dhOsASth8-hn8_DGKdolRB7yXrrlx-RX-oLwcTK46QK0FvQYOtLrffbJ9WkZsfa7LnwwoVbBo5dQLEwd11zA4VKKzaVXyPNAPxBymA4TyJDv6Ku9-ipjtZ21tNEgjnWacSqFbxrttljU/w400-h391/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worm%20Cave%20walkway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHHLzSBGJF4OuHaSrVcJ_wN78WzOYiSJM8NtL11Jyu0arvfezmKeA1dCym0Sw1_kf7O_r9l5gqYpoeZcKbWm6Q9XL0A1Erj6oQdIYdv5D5viKC54nT8IxDe8x_oxBpNK61qwGK2SJ5R3c-HkuM583vNtOa1N9D3GYDDiPH23bMqv_sQFZiuxYpQ02_oA/s931/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="931" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHHLzSBGJF4OuHaSrVcJ_wN78WzOYiSJM8NtL11Jyu0arvfezmKeA1dCym0Sw1_kf7O_r9l5gqYpoeZcKbWm6Q9XL0A1Erj6oQdIYdv5D5viKC54nT8IxDe8x_oxBpNK61qwGK2SJ5R3c-HkuM583vNtOa1N9D3GYDDiPH23bMqv_sQFZiuxYpQ02_oA/w400-h233/Bay%20of%20Islands%20Kawiti%20Glow%20Worms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On our way back to the ship, we stopped at an overlook next to a golf course. What a great view!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5KMfULwBWSewO_SixyWgbwtHrXZ8Ffy7E9g_7diR3cYHkMFcPsxVRy8V3Nwqu_pPtKsh7gkFEmoz_pPTQ9S2NCnD4HJBugcQ-0q7JPfveM9rXyIlyOxLoByMT6DEWO7PGHlaQG4cxlCd2Ve4ZrgpghdWw38nDc6v75_hkAkLJea3GjfBmCQXa00Jaqw/s778/Bay%20of%20Islands%20view%20of%20ship%20from%20golf%20course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="778" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5KMfULwBWSewO_SixyWgbwtHrXZ8Ffy7E9g_7diR3cYHkMFcPsxVRy8V3Nwqu_pPtKsh7gkFEmoz_pPTQ9S2NCnD4HJBugcQ-0q7JPfveM9rXyIlyOxLoByMT6DEWO7PGHlaQG4cxlCd2Ve4ZrgpghdWw38nDc6v75_hkAkLJea3GjfBmCQXa00Jaqw/w400-h308/Bay%20of%20Islands%20view%20of%20ship%20from%20golf%20course.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The crew on the pool deck had some fun with the pool towels.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJgD54aKNW3Bc-zdURcb578fflkk4iz1FHQpLh-68baiSpj-9x0y-wOIgvow3GxdEmw-_zfJ2JgGiDwms30H3gS0ihstWbn81OXrNHd7IKyOWsnbc2kOSjxzrGd3VyRraRu7ft2v0FJxMJa4Ev7QlC7X_3nzdXQjzTNWTKNVgJXftXcvt3ra04OPkqa4/s595/Royal%20Princess%20pool%20towels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="383" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJgD54aKNW3Bc-zdURcb578fflkk4iz1FHQpLh-68baiSpj-9x0y-wOIgvow3GxdEmw-_zfJ2JgGiDwms30H3gS0ihstWbn81OXrNHd7IKyOWsnbc2kOSjxzrGd3VyRraRu7ft2v0FJxMJa4Ev7QlC7X_3nzdXQjzTNWTKNVgJXftXcvt3ra04OPkqa4/w258-h400/Royal%20Princess%20pool%20towels.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had two days crossing the Tasman Sea on our way back to Sydney. This body of water is infamous for its rough seas. We did have rain one of the days, and it was pretty rough, but nothing severe. Here's our last view of New Zealand and the last sunset as we sailed back to Australia.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFchFUeuczlrKgGCLpIdO71rRES2qSsT-yw7vL4wfUnR7CHPE1giBMhcSGMruFTKX-2CVGNCDmGrROpWjcv_fXdtbfWlx3AG7VhHMSpV5WTgyITfRrB3ASYyLwyJ4M78akLF4yDOex-JJ6DAe8-tChi4xEUAfuIHZh-9NpYAsM-749z5czWIATvoXAQIs/s763/Last%20view%20of%20New%20Zealand.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="763" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFchFUeuczlrKgGCLpIdO71rRES2qSsT-yw7vL4wfUnR7CHPE1giBMhcSGMruFTKX-2CVGNCDmGrROpWjcv_fXdtbfWlx3AG7VhHMSpV5WTgyITfRrB3ASYyLwyJ4M78akLF4yDOex-JJ6DAe8-tChi4xEUAfuIHZh-9NpYAsM-749z5czWIATvoXAQIs/w400-h269/Last%20view%20of%20New%20Zealand.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSBWqKVIWu7Fjv9Wa2HL5SaC2XWj8SY_RmOiECWIiBMbL7c6SHWK0VwYqmtdaItp9Tv1ExvQTCiIKZCkfLC0K4UX3iHVtUxxjOPtfGvhb_3tyenR0JQW8fxNEV_EB6Z_vL2Rr_mu5HtFMMP0VIQfpHcxzjVjnmEz5ee1e1q-4QPcmnlrUguZhxz7aWLg/s856/Last%20night%20sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="856" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSBWqKVIWu7Fjv9Wa2HL5SaC2XWj8SY_RmOiECWIiBMbL7c6SHWK0VwYqmtdaItp9Tv1ExvQTCiIKZCkfLC0K4UX3iHVtUxxjOPtfGvhb_3tyenR0JQW8fxNEV_EB6Z_vL2Rr_mu5HtFMMP0VIQfpHcxzjVjnmEz5ee1e1q-4QPcmnlrUguZhxz7aWLg/w400-h278/Last%20night%20sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We were gone for 35 days on this adventure. The weather was just fantastic everywhere we went. I had heard from others that often the ships can't dock at some of the ports due to severe weather. We were able to dock at every port, and enjoyed excellent weather everywhere we went. Even places that are notorious for bad weather. How lucky was that!!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This adventure was the trip of a lifetime with memories we will never forget. Both Australia and New Zealand were amazing places to visit. If I had to choose, I would pick New Zealand as my favorite as each place we went was different and wonderful. Everything we saw and did was spectacular. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our experience with Princess Cruises was very much less than spectacular! The ship itself and our time on board were okay. These were our ninth and tenth cruises, so we have enough experience to make some valid observations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had two different cabins due to the fact that Princess cancelled our first cruise after we booked these back to back cruises, and by the time we were able to book another cruise, our first cabin was gone. They made it available after the other trip at a higher price a little later on, and I booked it. In hindsight, I should have cancelled the whole thing at that time. This was the first of several times they screwed us over.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had booked several of the most popular excursions well in advance as they can sell out before you even board the ship. A month before the trip, they cancelled two of those excursions without ever notifying us. I found out when I saw the credit on our credit card. To add insult to injury, the credit they gave us was less than we paid as the exchange rate had changed. Everything was paid in Australian dollars. This is theft in my opinion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was able to rebook those cancelled excursions after a lot of time online finding an alternative at higher costs. Once we were on the trip, they cancelled another excursion. I spoke with the Customer Relations Manager about the issues we had. He apologized and offered us a free dinner at the steakhouse. That never materialized. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We booked transfer to the airport through the excursions desk. They took us to the wrong airport. On both of the cruises, we were given a credit because they had overcharged us for port fees. These credits were supposed to be reimbursed to us within 14 days of the last day of the cruise. We got the first check six weeks after the first cruise. I'm still waiting for the second check after three months and numerous emails to Princess. What a racket!! We will never sail with them again!! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We didn't let these problems and frustrations ruin our trip, though. If you get the chance, I highly recommend you travel to this part of the world. Just go on a different cruise line!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We returned to Sydney early in the morning. A Facebook member posted this picture of our ship in port just after we arrived.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPggOPDV5z-QrdrBL1881vHbVvMy0SfpGw1AJb6AlGlo78HBQFcuYsC-L2lfob8oy3waUZErRZ6muC8AZmr6kHmWhVvMPLqCQYn29NYzE9Crp18GoX2la-we_oLxPzDBMebXXxXa_WFm23gdwU9yWuBY_E9McyDRVX3WjcSyf-oEz95ILnJrsUKDPcaio/s681/Last%20view%20in%20Sydney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="681" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPggOPDV5z-QrdrBL1881vHbVvMy0SfpGw1AJb6AlGlo78HBQFcuYsC-L2lfob8oy3waUZErRZ6muC8AZmr6kHmWhVvMPLqCQYn29NYzE9Crp18GoX2la-we_oLxPzDBMebXXxXa_WFm23gdwU9yWuBY_E9McyDRVX3WjcSyf-oEz95ILnJrsUKDPcaio/w400-h275/Last%20view%20in%20Sydney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At the airport, we saw Australia's version of Burger King.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz25MfWdG4oQQ8Q0Cj2pT1kejGDxTcy8_27OK_5Uiw3fB-SSEPmdGmqi_IGNzN48Fk5eVw0ATM2D4Zn8suWV1w6oKGfHdXTKuKD7HPh-gk8GsNAp4_5qorGqRRkhvcUcdUwQSNSI4k9Ut4VE5LIwOEt3t84Qh6YAUcEX7fM_abh8qwCBnQPqnE3jtoRI/s527/Burger%20King%20Australian%20Style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyz25MfWdG4oQQ8Q0Cj2pT1kejGDxTcy8_27OK_5Uiw3fB-SSEPmdGmqi_IGNzN48Fk5eVw0ATM2D4Zn8suWV1w6oKGfHdXTKuKD7HPh-gk8GsNAp4_5qorGqRRkhvcUcdUwQSNSI4k9Ut4VE5LIwOEt3t84Qh6YAUcEX7fM_abh8qwCBnQPqnE3jtoRI/w384-h400/Burger%20King%20Australian%20Style.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We flew back to Los Angeles on Qantas Airlines. It was a 13.5 hour flight leaving Brisbane at 10 pm. This airline did not disappoint. We were fed three tasty meals and two more beverage offerings. The seats in economy were quite spacious compared to most other flights we were on. As we slept part of the time, it really wasn't a bad flight at all.</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdSa2irmUFXUZztViXzqoZtf4sHDtEcpUNVU-qTsfgNbl-wLxfC3ZwZA4Kls9QA1qCihTXWdTDAwbwibKKnf1MweADUYfLwVr2-LKfiDTquyfSamhSybZaHgvNTfQb_EGIedj38yQ-xqfm086UOyuzWjJEgw3_Gqhz1_LxNNaj_0tuzZcUhwCNGZdfy0/s676/Headed%20home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="676" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdSa2irmUFXUZztViXzqoZtf4sHDtEcpUNVU-qTsfgNbl-wLxfC3ZwZA4Kls9QA1qCihTXWdTDAwbwibKKnf1MweADUYfLwVr2-LKfiDTquyfSamhSybZaHgvNTfQb_EGIedj38yQ-xqfm086UOyuzWjJEgw3_Gqhz1_LxNNaj_0tuzZcUhwCNGZdfy0/w400-h261/Headed%20home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This ends my travel blog of our Kauai, Australia and New Zealand adventure. I'm currently planning the next adventure. Stay tuned.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-73613658186201927132024-02-01T14:16:00.001-06:002024-02-06T16:26:35.723-06:00Auckland, New Zealand - November 11, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand with a population of about 1.6 million people. None of the excursions really caught our interest for this stop, so we decided to get off the ship and take a ride on the hop on - hop off bus tour. The ship docks at a port pretty much in the heart of the downtown, so we were able to do the bus tour and wander around on our own.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As we looked out of our balcony door in the morning, we were surprised to be looking onto the patios of apartment/condos right next to the pier. I overheard a woman as we were walking back to the ship telling someone that they had rented a place in those apartments for the week, and were quite surprised to wake up and see a huge ship outside their patio door.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqOvBfv6KEwdq2R1m9VzvjhfivPtvzHW-juIeB5bU83t6t4YJyI0DHDuJiUn4bnTSrpFbWgUhPpzYR7RFB9gEye0sejGNRzDHlGLlLNKJ4OQmmGu6C16oI1iL64XNi5cmVUW1GkHrzO-ZYkVi_GFajx8aFH1yNnqN07Jfgce-WZE4FEWNPCx_O2nxFH4/s757/Auckland%20condos%20opposite%20ship%20at%20docking%20pier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="757" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqOvBfv6KEwdq2R1m9VzvjhfivPtvzHW-juIeB5bU83t6t4YJyI0DHDuJiUn4bnTSrpFbWgUhPpzYR7RFB9gEye0sejGNRzDHlGLlLNKJ4OQmmGu6C16oI1iL64XNi5cmVUW1GkHrzO-ZYkVi_GFajx8aFH1yNnqN07Jfgce-WZE4FEWNPCx_O2nxFH4/w400-h236/Auckland%20condos%20opposite%20ship%20at%20docking%20pier.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We were also able to see the Auckland Sky Tower and downtown from the ship.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykMcKviClD19TO1wWayVitestym2PTduM-7ECNW0norBmMgugi7MZbL3RpL43ber5UEkXI6fqdDTG1PhD5lIHHx8haHkZojRtMjhdvqxr5lI2YGi1_Mw5lrGaFa0A7eIixb1fuwOnz9wl_BHBedt0khY7xbS-G41Vi8FYTkNE1u8z4y7jwVIgMjJcXio/s725/Auckland%20view%20from%20ship.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="725" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykMcKviClD19TO1wWayVitestym2PTduM-7ECNW0norBmMgugi7MZbL3RpL43ber5UEkXI6fqdDTG1PhD5lIHHx8haHkZojRtMjhdvqxr5lI2YGi1_Mw5lrGaFa0A7eIixb1fuwOnz9wl_BHBedt0khY7xbS-G41Vi8FYTkNE1u8z4y7jwVIgMjJcXio/w400-h288/Auckland%20view%20from%20ship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We got a closer look at the Sky Tower on the bus tour. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere rising to a height of 1,076 feet. The second picture shows people on the platform near the top getting ready jump off the tower. If you click to enlarge the picture, you can see the ropes hanging down.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfibla_N4OcOnJrbZKTbrDdpyIy6N3_4HpV4jQhjaYWhNLUXaPvt4rGGUlzI2WGFqJCecxUfgw9HL6ihoJzlQMQ1Jvfe3X862oXwu5gwtKWF5oGdhIA7npXJGl40rgi8XHHnp5KpGguXOFhb_eK8A4wTHNWMQ_gKvH5FksGx9PUuOH6-Tx2rbmEb2_TZ4/s514/Auckland%20view%20of%20skytower%20from%20hop%20on%20bus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfibla_N4OcOnJrbZKTbrDdpyIy6N3_4HpV4jQhjaYWhNLUXaPvt4rGGUlzI2WGFqJCecxUfgw9HL6ihoJzlQMQ1Jvfe3X862oXwu5gwtKWF5oGdhIA7npXJGl40rgi8XHHnp5KpGguXOFhb_eK8A4wTHNWMQ_gKvH5FksGx9PUuOH6-Tx2rbmEb2_TZ4/w315-h400/Auckland%20view%20of%20skytower%20from%20hop%20on%20bus.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHocfZJqG9lR6kj-k56L92-MoYyWDZq4nYiFK4jZwTYu6aC-AuljBYobHqYY95SxD513dvrOycEmBEczOUftkUbrwEKs1yhjThQCuw38N75oXz0BT0xchD1t42hwS9vn4RLS4hjo2m6ZjSOPrBEMBet40DKOaF_sSGhitPA2OdqZQoFDkj-YHBHbbPo-Y/s571/Auckland%20skytower%20bungee%20jumping.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="345" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHocfZJqG9lR6kj-k56L92-MoYyWDZq4nYiFK4jZwTYu6aC-AuljBYobHqYY95SxD513dvrOycEmBEczOUftkUbrwEKs1yhjThQCuw38N75oXz0BT0xchD1t42hwS9vn4RLS4hjo2m6ZjSOPrBEMBet40DKOaF_sSGhitPA2OdqZQoFDkj-YHBHbbPo-Y/w241-h400/Auckland%20skytower%20bungee%20jumping.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Auckland has more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world. It is referred to as the City of Sails. The city hosted the America's Cup sailing regatta in 2000 and 2003.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkGgEkGTTcfMj4aXrMIyfmqkL8fZT8rA7P8TnEyPDqt2L5DCiJdHtIZGyDxx9_vWY7Z5-ykhubyDZGuRFFK010572sZCFve9BMkUoN2T79jRsZgpIcBllmBMUCL181rMBqD-LJRsC93TBTUkVV2rDjNqpMh1wNmII2TKRfkBvZKmhqLG9LQS_Hsee3No/s767/Auckland%20harbor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="767" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkGgEkGTTcfMj4aXrMIyfmqkL8fZT8rA7P8TnEyPDqt2L5DCiJdHtIZGyDxx9_vWY7Z5-ykhubyDZGuRFFK010572sZCFve9BMkUoN2T79jRsZgpIcBllmBMUCL181rMBqD-LJRsC93TBTUkVV2rDjNqpMh1wNmII2TKRfkBvZKmhqLG9LQS_Hsee3No/w400-h254/Auckland%20harbor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2rmO_JGYyn_DfAk9VxFowjRsFvClLyhcFcTBqvPi4Mder5jidu6Kebu3WYKHIdBfQpPnq8Fdr1AICOPbcvYiuNlbVfGu35IuXILNBQP-Fh__lK-6XDhWEMHtcqjn3bTY2beHcq-tjoOyYUbS7kNr3En3QxBrSxWcC562Cjw-_qz24J7f-5z5kskhnG0/s669/Auckland%20bridge%20and%20sailboats.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="669" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2rmO_JGYyn_DfAk9VxFowjRsFvClLyhcFcTBqvPi4Mder5jidu6Kebu3WYKHIdBfQpPnq8Fdr1AICOPbcvYiuNlbVfGu35IuXILNBQP-Fh__lK-6XDhWEMHtcqjn3bTY2beHcq-tjoOyYUbS7kNr3En3QxBrSxWcC562Cjw-_qz24J7f-5z5kskhnG0/w400-h251/Auckland%20bridge%20and%20sailboats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The bus took us to Mount Maungawhau or Mount Eden. (Eden is our granddaughter's name, so I had to take a picture of the sign). It's the highest point in the city. There were hiking trails, but it was quite a warm day so we didn't hike up to see the views. The picture of the mountain is from the web.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq-WNclboPgnwrrAgi91GK_nyxnmfOzdue5rDfbU5nryzkR1rWogx235AQlq5T_aW-igcF4LIngpFGx1Pddrz7baS4VS-_Epg8AbCXxO5Fjca9_n9LKQdYK25Kb3-r4A19FTLtm4QpFzVuugkXS1O9FRy8ovpfoKs7rV9SBUMzwMOeyXMO6VjSSSVfDg/s809/Auckland%20Mount%20Eden%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="809" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvq-WNclboPgnwrrAgi91GK_nyxnmfOzdue5rDfbU5nryzkR1rWogx235AQlq5T_aW-igcF4LIngpFGx1Pddrz7baS4VS-_Epg8AbCXxO5Fjca9_n9LKQdYK25Kb3-r4A19FTLtm4QpFzVuugkXS1O9FRy8ovpfoKs7rV9SBUMzwMOeyXMO6VjSSSVfDg/w400-h272/Auckland%20Mount%20Eden%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw592_ufEH0u8dtLKGm5uLAmnjXzshR19apfpKZLJEBts1guBVZG68_Ar5jSEj5fIy-KxVb_72eAo96E9tnFxgGbWe1INTVsy5R14x7p7lUkAMUdTzp9UR3r_5-b9JH578U-KlNJBkj1vR5dqVzetFn4oswo9khw7IRBVn0lQkiOIpCRzfIVMcGPOaCdA/s1024/Auckland%20Mount%20Eden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw592_ufEH0u8dtLKGm5uLAmnjXzshR19apfpKZLJEBts1guBVZG68_Ar5jSEj5fIy-KxVb_72eAo96E9tnFxgGbWe1INTVsy5R14x7p7lUkAMUdTzp9UR3r_5-b9JH578U-KlNJBkj1vR5dqVzetFn4oswo9khw7IRBVn0lQkiOIpCRzfIVMcGPOaCdA/w400-h400/Auckland%20Mount%20Eden.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another stop on the tour was Bastion Point Lookout. More beautiful views. This is a significant place in New Zealand history as the site of protests in the late 1970s by Maori against forced land alienation by European settlers. The 506 day protest led to the New Zealand government returning many lands that had been taken from the Maori people.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-dHglHOAGEZA0Tm0FRZIV01vWyHMl3C1vMmd72xk9jyXX4bH2h7N8WmxnSv998lnfBUZOAhoCzcpc9a-tGV4pq59EKyQI6zrwXYi150Wdskgn9vbI67wcG4sriP3eou8UD-tEKsHA5K7uX52L7iq8u4PDNI6xILbsQ9AePKCbaAei6ofxpsxUY3r2EA/s448/Auckland%20Bastion%20Point%20Lookout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="448" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-dHglHOAGEZA0Tm0FRZIV01vWyHMl3C1vMmd72xk9jyXX4bH2h7N8WmxnSv998lnfBUZOAhoCzcpc9a-tGV4pq59EKyQI6zrwXYi150Wdskgn9vbI67wcG4sriP3eou8UD-tEKsHA5K7uX52L7iq8u4PDNI6xILbsQ9AePKCbaAei6ofxpsxUY3r2EA/w400-h254/Auckland%20Bastion%20Point%20Lookout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Auckland has an iconic war museum as well as a zoo and numerous art museums and galleries. We just weren't in the mood for more museums on our visit. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The silver fern is an iconic symbol of New Zealand seen on flags and merchandise all over the country. It dates back to the late 1800s when it was accepted as a symbol for the country. Here it is on an All Blacks jersey in one of the shops. The All Blacks are a beloved national rugby team of New Zealand. There is even an All Blacks experience you can visit in Auckland.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLHXBsMzuFagddnSdfGOf3sfx0Zj7Go5TUta11o42G990RDgyEMNM6e3Y121GDdsSs-l3QfjpMBIAUKFblMCs-AoxOSlixfMnj1Ug8pwufEw9bJ7FGAKSyXAnb4Rt83jEwMVrbBN0XO2z9rZ6zZ0tADvA0GjPq2M8Z_j4TSUSI5R-HSEXs5-OfAjjZks/s550/Auckland%20All%20Blacks%20shirt%20with%20silver%20tree%20fern.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="447" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLHXBsMzuFagddnSdfGOf3sfx0Zj7Go5TUta11o42G990RDgyEMNM6e3Y121GDdsSs-l3QfjpMBIAUKFblMCs-AoxOSlixfMnj1Ug8pwufEw9bJ7FGAKSyXAnb4Rt83jEwMVrbBN0XO2z9rZ6zZ0tADvA0GjPq2M8Z_j4TSUSI5R-HSEXs5-OfAjjZks/w325-h400/Auckland%20All%20Blacks%20shirt%20with%20silver%20tree%20fern.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our departure from Auckland was at sunset, and we were treated to some magnificent views from the ship. I was able to get the sun setting with the Sky Tower in front of it.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J7W_aP4mz3Tpg-mYeFNhFJUt8Zi_kRkio0ffLYBTGrySNr1pcxcZcclX20AErtaw2-FAiZn75krrojKp8aLO-iKM2qJfdXBMKzMcNE0JXBYsmabxSspoTtOLy1Q-lPgOFIq2XvF6sgERXvYRL2wIP4BYrdVv2917EETf0ndgMc-GaOOxReYMOcaGUrI/s508/Auckland%20skytower%20sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="416" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J7W_aP4mz3Tpg-mYeFNhFJUt8Zi_kRkio0ffLYBTGrySNr1pcxcZcclX20AErtaw2-FAiZn75krrojKp8aLO-iKM2qJfdXBMKzMcNE0JXBYsmabxSspoTtOLy1Q-lPgOFIq2XvF6sgERXvYRL2wIP4BYrdVv2917EETf0ndgMc-GaOOxReYMOcaGUrI/w328-h400/Auckland%20skytower%20sunset.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In most of the ports, there are tug boats that come out to escort the ship out of the harbor. This guy was doing tricks for us as he waited. Some donuts for our enjoyment!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUbebNiuPwSivrm5Su38-sU8_dW7a5zt3JVvrKTNwKzODXepNlI9SJwpSoqrRTn7zkQEm3k5DZzzrXVuSMvpCiJEUPh-b7VyZY3-v05aAhYsbWv_8n2UPw4T_242C6AezIV3kttSwQRdamLaFeEU0yh_Ix28oO1U3on7N4CGsYq3aI8fpgleeB-7eMpA/s579/Auckland%20tug%20boat%20doing%20donuts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUbebNiuPwSivrm5Su38-sU8_dW7a5zt3JVvrKTNwKzODXepNlI9SJwpSoqrRTn7zkQEm3k5DZzzrXVuSMvpCiJEUPh-b7VyZY3-v05aAhYsbWv_8n2UPw4T_242C6AezIV3kttSwQRdamLaFeEU0yh_Ix28oO1U3on7N4CGsYq3aI8fpgleeB-7eMpA/w386-h400/Auckland%20tug%20boat%20doing%20donuts.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We enjoyed our visit to Auckland. Tomorrow will be our last stop in New Zealand.</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-57888080467493935612024-01-23T14:54:00.000-06:002024-01-23T14:54:06.149-06:00Tauranga, New Zealand - November 10, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop was Tauranga, New Zealand. There are two very popular excursions at this stop. One is a visit to the Maori Whakarawarewa Village, built amongst an active geothermal valley. The other is the Hobbiton movie set.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had booked these excursions months in advance through Princess, as the one place Kevin really wanted to visit was Hobbiton. About a month before our departure, Princess also cancelled this excursion. We were never notified. I found out through a Facebook page. I also noticed that there was a credit on my credit card from Princess. The excursions had also disappeared from our online Princess account for this trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I spent an hour on the phone with the useless, out of country, customer service person employed by Princess. All she said was that since I got a credit, the excursions must have been cancelled. Couldn't tell me why or any other information. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I spent hours online trying to find a private company to take us to these two popular attractions. Most everything was already booked at this late date. I finally found a small group tour with Shore Trips and Tours and booked it. Since it was for only 10 people, it cost us a total of $160 more than our original tour with Princess. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To add insult to injury, the credit we received for the two excursions that were cancelled by Princess was less than we actually paid. All payments on these cruises were in Australian dollars. It seems the exchange rate had changed, so we were refunded at a different rate than we paid, which was less money. I'm sure there were hundreds of Americans who had the same thing happen to them. In my mind, that is theft!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, once we arrived in Tauranga and went on the excursion with Shore Trips and Tours, it was another wonderful experience in New Zealand. It was one of our favorite days on the trip, although there were many!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first stop was to the city of Rotorua to have a tour at an authentic Maori village, still inhabited today. It is built on a geothermal shelf, and is nicknamed Sulphur City. The Maori name for the village is Whakarewarewa. That's a mouthful!!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-Le-VAod_0lyQkIjuRWyUYwYLDJyoAhDNlvHzxJdlTSA1dmEoNwcda-Y_tPJBL_ANUsGfjGeHHisSm6anb0o4yYMuwbqKl2gGAYnkQBYok4cwU7xxBkFn6_vRBe0vaXNWYui12_wxM4NtfNkhJMCcETkDuMuXkHXiNe7hbH1EeWW1VjxfKIpqufN4YA/s4896/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-Le-VAod_0lyQkIjuRWyUYwYLDJyoAhDNlvHzxJdlTSA1dmEoNwcda-Y_tPJBL_ANUsGfjGeHHisSm6anb0o4yYMuwbqKl2gGAYnkQBYok4cwU7xxBkFn6_vRBe0vaXNWYui12_wxM4NtfNkhJMCcETkDuMuXkHXiNe7hbH1EeWW1VjxfKIpqufN4YA/w400-h300/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the residents took us on the tour and explained much of the history, as well as how they live today. Much of the cooking is actually done over the hot springs and bubbling mud pools. There are also communal bath basins with water from the hot springs.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduECeXnGsuuvnPQ_LsGSddRPSbRELZAjzi0t_A_068QqYobfy2TB3-NuApaGrlaVYhCNHIB1pTNPocUonZrD9J8_hrUB5KsAs4BztFpr7rgaTQPNnyFK38PSjScdouA7p7KUVPYQunls9TIETG8cjoYMjxplHD7cCvwqCRTGtJgd1rDJpTSfHz_LThRM/s4054/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20cooking%20over%20hot%20springs.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2947" data-original-width="4054" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduECeXnGsuuvnPQ_LsGSddRPSbRELZAjzi0t_A_068QqYobfy2TB3-NuApaGrlaVYhCNHIB1pTNPocUonZrD9J8_hrUB5KsAs4BztFpr7rgaTQPNnyFK38PSjScdouA7p7KUVPYQunls9TIETG8cjoYMjxplHD7cCvwqCRTGtJgd1rDJpTSfHz_LThRM/w400-h291/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20cooking%20over%20hot%20springs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h9Wz-mhG8zPty4jPYSyQsQyGdSKb_iH5J-ME9dDj5L2IoMGNUOmjdXUqMO_CmVYp6pUnCXd37aOUI3_oLUlKDvk_CnlugywAiw6WVO4gNTkwXvZtE0m0t53ia03EynVch3aNOPlbgfO_lhpHAD79mwW5VBBIx89hLeUlBgbNwJR6y4jpSXOX8Bb8SHI/s4896/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20hot%20spring.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h9Wz-mhG8zPty4jPYSyQsQyGdSKb_iH5J-ME9dDj5L2IoMGNUOmjdXUqMO_CmVYp6pUnCXd37aOUI3_oLUlKDvk_CnlugywAiw6WVO4gNTkwXvZtE0m0t53ia03EynVch3aNOPlbgfO_lhpHAD79mwW5VBBIx89hLeUlBgbNwJR6y4jpSXOX8Bb8SHI/w400-h300/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20hot%20spring.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This is their community center and meeting house. The carvings on the building were incredible.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro1MoSsb8S4Whh3v1tRORTwRQfWGMPT6HSZMVTSHB6qPQrtzdKYVl4rYVEdQueZ2fuTwfg85L4HxuXfwnFr4GRPp_7wJA8cGHzH2jiRGiB_qI_9cfe-tzuzorBLfX2CjQ_CbaJP5JS1HUMDOinYH0Pk0B7-3RnJYzlAflVbz_OpLTT5cR6t8JdNxzYe4/s4896/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Meeting%20House.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro1MoSsb8S4Whh3v1tRORTwRQfWGMPT6HSZMVTSHB6qPQrtzdKYVl4rYVEdQueZ2fuTwfg85L4HxuXfwnFr4GRPp_7wJA8cGHzH2jiRGiB_qI_9cfe-tzuzorBLfX2CjQ_CbaJP5JS1HUMDOinYH0Pk0B7-3RnJYzlAflVbz_OpLTT5cR6t8JdNxzYe4/w400-h300/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Meeting%20House.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After the tour, we were treated to a live performance of some of the songs and dances of the Maori people. The women did a dance with balls on a rope. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_keIVdULSBFl2mh71i3k0xh6_khcA6XvAMbLqh3U7czTg88vIvfN3E1E1oSMV3HW4kDKO9lchYLP5dvFg08Mzx9FDHcb2aLImQ6Xrh-Wv1H4a7lzGPbQ5kSJrujy9iSOnqbVB0IIJKH2A7Mn8NtX1BVRYZf9Kp7leYXQZEuRnhGl2sx9UCdoAUN6mTo/s747/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20performers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="747" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_keIVdULSBFl2mh71i3k0xh6_khcA6XvAMbLqh3U7czTg88vIvfN3E1E1oSMV3HW4kDKO9lchYLP5dvFg08Mzx9FDHcb2aLImQ6Xrh-Wv1H4a7lzGPbQ5kSJrujy9iSOnqbVB0IIJKH2A7Mn8NtX1BVRYZf9Kp7leYXQZEuRnhGl2sx9UCdoAUN6mTo/w400-h266/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20performers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The men did the Haka dance, which was a ceremonial dance performed in the past before going into battle. It has become quite popular throughout the world, as some of the rugby teams do this dance before a match to supposedly intimidate their opponents. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1BuB6WKD5jehOviSQuXBSWUzNe09-vSuMEZKm-K5kx-sZhrXCAfnCnVeBm4s3v18OO6m_NxVyHZWxHwOt1SZWd4kvMe2XANe_xx0gHJbql1Ju8CfpLYeaav_KJyGBb_xvCLG2YtCV-ISNijh3-FoS7jVRJkqyI-9QMAJVvZcbGOyAwsy6ydQO9FUfA8/s718/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Haka%20Dance.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="718" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1BuB6WKD5jehOviSQuXBSWUzNe09-vSuMEZKm-K5kx-sZhrXCAfnCnVeBm4s3v18OO6m_NxVyHZWxHwOt1SZWd4kvMe2XANe_xx0gHJbql1Ju8CfpLYeaav_KJyGBb_xvCLG2YtCV-ISNijh3-FoS7jVRJkqyI-9QMAJVvZcbGOyAwsy6ydQO9FUfA8/w400-h259/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Haka%20Dance.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were some school groups there, and the boys were invited to join in on the Haka dance. It looks like they enjoyed it!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9D1tEDOGlieXCPc5Q67Go0M0HwUxvXKqU3F-b4iqQRyMXpklwKQCRJXjdBakIUo_BSPaBn65j6-pUefuiwA8dUWtQ49uVTKkObrLJL68i8qEHcdLXbxCTBChI1d_cIBUUtC9B6raysSo6wCw4FctHje7F9t2WlP21rgq6dsNcQVVjDlkdBGdIWgsa_A/s809/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Haka%20Dance%20with%20audience.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9D1tEDOGlieXCPc5Q67Go0M0HwUxvXKqU3F-b4iqQRyMXpklwKQCRJXjdBakIUo_BSPaBn65j6-pUefuiwA8dUWtQ49uVTKkObrLJL68i8qEHcdLXbxCTBChI1d_cIBUUtC9B6raysSo6wCw4FctHje7F9t2WlP21rgq6dsNcQVVjDlkdBGdIWgsa_A/w400-h300/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Haka%20Dance%20with%20audience.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">After the show, we were given a Hangi pie for lunch. It's kind of like a Hot Pocket, filled with meat and vegetables. I found it quite tasty and filling. It was similar to the Pasties we've had that the miners in Wisconsin and the Midwest used to eat for their lunch down in the mines.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR8-ntdxF-ni1iHziO4jhA0A5pH3R3CniSXxwMI304SBBFFuWuNCP_rD2nkwsraHo1hrMkC8r3VhMfckSWd-wYNPcXXAuHdnPGJ-j_4uc5zhvWshXXtUe5dRlO1lCNwXMuIkiTujLSzCiVXi71TxeuvENmDecEVA9-ipNLP5r5NT4mktwmNlNHqej2S8/s565/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Hangi%20Pie%20for%20lunch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="425" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPR8-ntdxF-ni1iHziO4jhA0A5pH3R3CniSXxwMI304SBBFFuWuNCP_rD2nkwsraHo1hrMkC8r3VhMfckSWd-wYNPcXXAuHdnPGJ-j_4uc5zhvWshXXtUe5dRlO1lCNwXMuIkiTujLSzCiVXi71TxeuvENmDecEVA9-ipNLP5r5NT4mktwmNlNHqej2S8/w301-h400/Rotorua,%20Whakarewarewa%20Living%20Maori%20Village%20Hangi%20Pie%20for%20lunch.JPG" width="301" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop was the much awaited Hobbiton, and it was definitely worth waiting for!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We arrived at the ticket center and gift shop where we had a little time to look around and buy a few souvenirs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's Kevin with Gandalf. The hat on the shelf behind his head was for sale for $400. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXHJ2D_K-xHGBx6D8XSg729zpUveo0JZT4bdlgaNT9a7alDIj4mL7vCNC5-SaXIQJKdgiYNm98WjliHvDBTPdoGNcipRuq0W-59nY8LSL3i61tTDaIa3cUycDSahSBi_oIAswyAq03hu79hO_of4hrnFtxj4riKs4NriQy0klOF-VX0wc5Bq8dVqZGmU/s607/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20with%20Gandalf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="382" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXHJ2D_K-xHGBx6D8XSg729zpUveo0JZT4bdlgaNT9a7alDIj4mL7vCNC5-SaXIQJKdgiYNm98WjliHvDBTPdoGNcipRuq0W-59nY8LSL3i61tTDaIa3cUycDSahSBi_oIAswyAq03hu79hO_of4hrnFtxj4riKs4NriQy0klOF-VX0wc5Bq8dVqZGmU/w251-h400/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20with%20Gandalf.JPG" width="251" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then we boarded a bus that took us to the actual Hobbiton village. On the way, we drove through some of the farm fields where we saw many sheep. We were also shown a video that showed scenes of the village from the movies, and explained some of how this place became a reality.</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROVcWdMIvpANMWOipLOBE5YK7iuM4fDc7P6wIpxKyIWx3wWPvDEeruF7vQ8ND3xNyVN_wLNfvfq6D5wiuXykxMtMElPbprt6ueOnNhFGbhn1kukiB-BsOxAuBDW80yjkbzMu47JvaCvI3MOEIY2nJpnl_FjQL9X3yEb445b5qg2s9RS0LEuD-X572S-I/s1203/Hobbiton%20Bus%20tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="1203" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROVcWdMIvpANMWOipLOBE5YK7iuM4fDc7P6wIpxKyIWx3wWPvDEeruF7vQ8ND3xNyVN_wLNfvfq6D5wiuXykxMtMElPbprt6ueOnNhFGbhn1kukiB-BsOxAuBDW80yjkbzMu47JvaCvI3MOEIY2nJpnl_FjQL9X3yEb445b5qg2s9RS0LEuD-X572S-I/w400-h181/Hobbiton%20Bus%20tour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd8h_vOrW394Au-iNVyit_Vt8aJHIsruH_V_iLvvMDrA1W3V701r9gRHfbnObt19pp8MsPU4FfdlDFzj3WofpqyYtitTYzAe27SoRjb-LWgizYdBT_t-zBOvU7Yc-OpyPzPzfH_0ItnKKkX0xg9KvKV6wv9cEiMRhQv-1WYzJJ5iYyXvqq6TmLMmHliU/s310/Hobbiton%20sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="310" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd8h_vOrW394Au-iNVyit_Vt8aJHIsruH_V_iLvvMDrA1W3V701r9gRHfbnObt19pp8MsPU4FfdlDFzj3WofpqyYtitTYzAe27SoRjb-LWgizYdBT_t-zBOvU7Yc-OpyPzPzfH_0ItnKKkX0xg9KvKV6wv9cEiMRhQv-1WYzJJ5iYyXvqq6TmLMmHliU/w400-h212/Hobbiton%20sheep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We arrived and were taken on a guided walking tour of the village, which includes 44 Hobbit holes on 12 acres of lush pasture land. The guides come from all over the world for the opportunity to work at Hobbiton. Our guide was an American woman from Arizona. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbNzUR9DMIzFQA2S7fHkqBhQ5sFw_on3xn9JLVT2HYMnahfYnZEOwi1ab1rGWj_Td3gEtVPlux8Tse9LAsXDLk1ukWHMB-HAYSNlfCKfHVf3kwo2SZKppUgsyvQqbukYjFpic01LSqjcHJ5jtDp0rlm5wXhiNPMHk3kksr8J28XulWqff58SbUCO_-eE/s809/Hobbiton%20Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbNzUR9DMIzFQA2S7fHkqBhQ5sFw_on3xn9JLVT2HYMnahfYnZEOwi1ab1rGWj_Td3gEtVPlux8Tse9LAsXDLk1ukWHMB-HAYSNlfCKfHVf3kwo2SZKppUgsyvQqbukYjFpic01LSqjcHJ5jtDp0rlm5wXhiNPMHk3kksr8J28XulWqff58SbUCO_-eE/w400-h300/Hobbiton%20Sign.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">She explained how Peter Jackson had sent out a scouting team in a helicopter to find land that would be perfect for Hobbiton. It needed to be green farmland with lots of hills, a large tree and a pond. They found the perfect location and drove up to the farmhouse and knocked on the door. The owner told them to come back the next day as he was watching rugby.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Terms were agreed upon, and a contract was signed. The original Hobbiton for the Lord of the Rings movies was mostly build with façade fronts and lots of temporary structures. Great attention was paid to the details, including gardens, an orchard, smoke coming out of the chimneys, and laundry hanging on the line. Once the filming was completed, the set was removed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years later, the Hobbit movies were planned to be filmed. The farmer and his family agreed to once again have the Hobbiton set built on his property. However, this time they wanted it to be a permanent location for visitors to come and enjoy. The Hobbit houses are still just fronts with retaining walls just a foot or two behind the door. A few of the doors can be opened, and you can step through for a photo. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko30cFp41ssn49Ee7NQF7s84bQEY3ijd_JuLtlXD_A3n2NXX93rOyOofDbke0lLT0S0cODLnh0ZGrmsUueDhLOqfAb_rdYSFtbj_IewHdZ0n3KC633ULiGClXDxogqD3Iohlok84C6K3HWffOIkf8OAzt_Sj7SkHeTRsSI-uRMIIklaReJy4tqVZIM8Q/s809/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko30cFp41ssn49Ee7NQF7s84bQEY3ijd_JuLtlXD_A3n2NXX93rOyOofDbke0lLT0S0cODLnh0ZGrmsUueDhLOqfAb_rdYSFtbj_IewHdZ0n3KC633ULiGClXDxogqD3Iohlok84C6K3HWffOIkf8OAzt_Sj7SkHeTRsSI-uRMIIklaReJy4tqVZIM8Q/w400-h300/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20door.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The attention to detail is amazing. The gardens have all kinds of produce growing in them, the fruit trees are real, and smoke is coming out of some of the chimneys. It was a blast walking through the set which we had seen in the movies. Even people on the tour who had not seen the movies or read the books found it fascinating. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB2EaXSf1Wb4YNgQKud05RDFcHmxjkC1kg5Ju59tVuHY6_ZBf3_I9mLxCNphAusRbRjWPDhAonyVERjRGiCe6kCayl4siw2A-bGRA4z38gQMogZkxZowzmN6QKBFAs_zDktTLb75IGCCKgeBtWYwvyp-a1_FQkKbhy_4p9I37_NhQ3_QIMM3BWV-WlH4/s4896/Hobbiton%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB2EaXSf1Wb4YNgQKud05RDFcHmxjkC1kg5Ju59tVuHY6_ZBf3_I9mLxCNphAusRbRjWPDhAonyVERjRGiCe6kCayl4siw2A-bGRA4z38gQMogZkxZowzmN6QKBFAs_zDktTLb75IGCCKgeBtWYwvyp-a1_FQkKbhy_4p9I37_NhQ3_QIMM3BWV-WlH4/w400-h300/Hobbiton%201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__7P02ZQKRkwFwW23vyIcW_tb1XyPc1v-_uswMM5TAfTPfj9gfKVIR1vY96F3WOXHdJLSdivBteGiYviocOB3OLBWr6z-bzvFtiby3krAyPYI6OkOs6U01I8K8osKUpphwkmtRbg9R0ISeZbRNwpi2DZmwS7XbzjIsFtKnvdPRkXzYDAMga4JQf-NxOs/s4680/Hobbiton%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3625" data-original-width="4680" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__7P02ZQKRkwFwW23vyIcW_tb1XyPc1v-_uswMM5TAfTPfj9gfKVIR1vY96F3WOXHdJLSdivBteGiYviocOB3OLBWr6z-bzvFtiby3krAyPYI6OkOs6U01I8K8osKUpphwkmtRbg9R0ISeZbRNwpi2DZmwS7XbzjIsFtKnvdPRkXzYDAMga4JQf-NxOs/w400-h310/Hobbiton%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUKlAghyEmVyrgTN8LqrF1KNcSK-xXDID4tMN76AiIWAKA_V6z1JTqo6Yc1H42P8zxzSn3ytxhS9i2dJWTredjybmf69vqE2BWjJRcZ0vaH_C3CIL4JCTkKIxXNvHy8Ebsm9G-2CgrKeOzuY4QGk0-DKeA8u0Il-OZtYs6SSZ23P_mdBw7ahHPEpUnN4/s4699/Hobbiton%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3315" data-original-width="4699" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUKlAghyEmVyrgTN8LqrF1KNcSK-xXDID4tMN76AiIWAKA_V6z1JTqo6Yc1H42P8zxzSn3ytxhS9i2dJWTredjybmf69vqE2BWjJRcZ0vaH_C3CIL4JCTkKIxXNvHy8Ebsm9G-2CgrKeOzuY4QGk0-DKeA8u0Il-OZtYs6SSZ23P_mdBw7ahHPEpUnN4/w400-h283/Hobbiton%203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-8Sz6HOdqg1PBvMdhqI7gnjJHt_aWxtxE3TVJ2tJDIc3ymjFK90k6rrzgX8db0_G9JVLb31iJBqpDRAgVkZtJD3Rg2iNkmiZ2qqRfEyrHExjwrSUYG9XRB2kmqPTgYR5vkKvDJ74K50v0ZT178BfHD9P5cT1dbEweBoNNjP5zJ3DaDBqcK6tjDib4HY/s4326/Hobbiton%204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="4326" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-8Sz6HOdqg1PBvMdhqI7gnjJHt_aWxtxE3TVJ2tJDIc3ymjFK90k6rrzgX8db0_G9JVLb31iJBqpDRAgVkZtJD3Rg2iNkmiZ2qqRfEyrHExjwrSUYG9XRB2kmqPTgYR5vkKvDJ74K50v0ZT178BfHD9P5cT1dbEweBoNNjP5zJ3DaDBqcK6tjDib4HY/w400-h296/Hobbiton%204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's me in front of one of the houses. You can see how small Hobbits are supposed to be by how small the door is compared to me.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMbyjgrvDKVRpQPs1MG_gNfDSiMVfZ93hG6rmk-Y9vZt1SFcT8hd5edpAikb5lT9zTylB1FPB-Qg1jibCBkODOKa_gbSxsf-j6Jz-0HOpP-db7Flee8jpjS3o09DHWwjUW0MW4PvQsDgksLb-ubhvGpLSNLLHqKCG9E4QnrceLZHKbwv6uM5RbHepOU4/s763/Hobbiton%20Evelyn%20at%20small%20Hobbit%20house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="763" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMbyjgrvDKVRpQPs1MG_gNfDSiMVfZ93hG6rmk-Y9vZt1SFcT8hd5edpAikb5lT9zTylB1FPB-Qg1jibCBkODOKa_gbSxsf-j6Jz-0HOpP-db7Flee8jpjS3o09DHWwjUW0MW4PvQsDgksLb-ubhvGpLSNLLHqKCG9E4QnrceLZHKbwv6uM5RbHepOU4/w400-h319/Hobbiton%20Evelyn%20at%20small%20Hobbit%20house.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Bag End, the home of Bilbo and Frodo.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-semu99TCLronmM-kpWJZAE_zrmosvCwzQq-gZ0Di6P2XxSl4zpZnHb0wZCF9ODFoizabIHMM7kjk6rkeGtDAR8NKTxCrim1cwhDFgSruu21rDrErxBwoFx0DBR9pLFTCqwj6VllHiBgebQ4FDDZqqJWsGpdJVlvtZ7luOmR3wYCmSFSzpx60HWMNmu0/s809/Hobbiton%20Bag%20End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-semu99TCLronmM-kpWJZAE_zrmosvCwzQq-gZ0Di6P2XxSl4zpZnHb0wZCF9ODFoizabIHMM7kjk6rkeGtDAR8NKTxCrim1cwhDFgSruu21rDrErxBwoFx0DBR9pLFTCqwj6VllHiBgebQ4FDDZqqJWsGpdJVlvtZ7luOmR3wYCmSFSzpx60HWMNmu0/w400-h300/Hobbiton%20Bag%20End.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was construction going on in one area. Three of the Hobbit houses were having an inside added to them. They were digging back into the hill, and outfitting the inside to match what the houses looked like in the movies. All those interior movie scenes were shot in a studio.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLHLR50zKM3og9b2mTLZSZRZ-rOHekn3q9u3und4imNwrbljUoeR7Ot_y_u2niJa670_DuFpOntey6AKVid_NH_huLOJe4hbWs773VLMfkUFy1HDyhFMKhzj6qpaJQ8yYCTXp_UWPKll34QS_hlTStRmy4fO8UoqlMZ-ViCi25-JfvjPbNctWREOgnXk/s4502/Hobbiton%20Construction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3084" data-original-width="4502" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLHLR50zKM3og9b2mTLZSZRZ-rOHekn3q9u3und4imNwrbljUoeR7Ot_y_u2niJa670_DuFpOntey6AKVid_NH_huLOJe4hbWs773VLMfkUFy1HDyhFMKhzj6qpaJQ8yYCTXp_UWPKll34QS_hlTStRmy4fO8UoqlMZ-ViCi25-JfvjPbNctWREOgnXk/w400-h274/Hobbiton%20Construction.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the Mill and the Green Dragon Tavern. We were treated to a pint of cider or their home brewed beer.</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09kvR7mLnfYMMXBQ_zsRNYw56nLEqI6qTkcKLiVjgIhvUoXER9oqj3zejDmVLabMftK-f1H6TPdsirbyqX0lEZDAorPIDyCkVdrq9fT0rMYNHFNWzYPo7Uh-9g3I6_sGZ6g6OEhbGuqtxFAxIsE4ZiFkStIDbfCxPYtC974X_Y9Lyh2UFH_6Sf-OtgL0/s4647/Hobbiton%20Mill%20and%20Green%20Dragon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2628" data-original-width="4647" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09kvR7mLnfYMMXBQ_zsRNYw56nLEqI6qTkcKLiVjgIhvUoXER9oqj3zejDmVLabMftK-f1H6TPdsirbyqX0lEZDAorPIDyCkVdrq9fT0rMYNHFNWzYPo7Uh-9g3I6_sGZ6g6OEhbGuqtxFAxIsE4ZiFkStIDbfCxPYtC974X_Y9Lyh2UFH_6Sf-OtgL0/w400-h226/Hobbiton%20Mill%20and%20Green%20Dragon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqXb3aLe9uqsNwfD2pMEzB6zr2nMdxxAtQuAJswwypkXRcGRkzSiB7LwtBcIf3mqIv9aZHnGKkzwztBtx73Lz-FttsIywpWC1vAXfGZtsvs8FHn7yN8N4IFM_S_gQCyKOQOddq9-44wZvlDw4muFdxxcoN7hSAubL98amllaJYVPw2cJmLU6GiFqSkLQ/s4545/Hobbiton%20Green%20Dragon%20bar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3452" data-original-width="4545" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqXb3aLe9uqsNwfD2pMEzB6zr2nMdxxAtQuAJswwypkXRcGRkzSiB7LwtBcIf3mqIv9aZHnGKkzwztBtx73Lz-FttsIywpWC1vAXfGZtsvs8FHn7yN8N4IFM_S_gQCyKOQOddq9-44wZvlDw4muFdxxcoN7hSAubL98amllaJYVPw2cJmLU6GiFqSkLQ/w400-h304/Hobbiton%20Green%20Dragon%20bar.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnYlwdsNIhPUTAv2sQnQjxrr3-mkQrmw6Rbusvtu4qVe1zz59NB07yNQ-ToWZIEDryblYPYU0oAxgEjr_BTDDaciegXbkjsQpLc42YXxAH7QkjKFwxkOaVjdkKVd_zhhTzNzOe2XmDr2y_h9EB8a6hTPN-iXrDeRViA3iBQf2x-Nz1njHEDZzVVOPqjw/s809/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20Green%20Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnYlwdsNIhPUTAv2sQnQjxrr3-mkQrmw6Rbusvtu4qVe1zz59NB07yNQ-ToWZIEDryblYPYU0oAxgEjr_BTDDaciegXbkjsQpLc42YXxAH7QkjKFwxkOaVjdkKVd_zhhTzNzOe2XmDr2y_h9EB8a6hTPN-iXrDeRViA3iBQf2x-Nz1njHEDZzVVOPqjw/w400-h300/Hobbiton%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20Green%20Dragon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As we were leaving the tavern, there was a tent set up outside with pottery mugs that said Green Dragon on them. I asked if I could purchase one. She said no, you will each be getting a free one. Since the construction has been going on, all visitors were given a free mug as compensation for being their during the construction time. How nice is that. The finished insides of the houses were due to be finished a few weeks after we were there. Too bad we didn't get to see that. However, the mugs were a very nice surprise.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHEmc3Hbv_36JgLYSaucS7OHkg5sjOQIe9A6yKDOg7B4-loaRA8_ddz6w39wToPPB8neFSCvUEHphb6_u7rIx6AndU0pmE7uuketVLxFuzMLaxqN1uU3ppou3cv8cGACwHPKsC2nJi83g6X7MKG6h7Zh6a2_kvuCKjE1oPnDXdFXb9M6NpUdlWVtzHfA/s1053/Hobbiton%20Green%20Dragon%20mugs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="1053" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHEmc3Hbv_36JgLYSaucS7OHkg5sjOQIe9A6yKDOg7B4-loaRA8_ddz6w39wToPPB8neFSCvUEHphb6_u7rIx6AndU0pmE7uuketVLxFuzMLaxqN1uU3ppou3cv8cGACwHPKsC2nJi83g6X7MKG6h7Zh6a2_kvuCKjE1oPnDXdFXb9M6NpUdlWVtzHfA/w400-h233/Hobbiton%20Green%20Dragon%20mugs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So, that completes another awesome day in New Zealand. Today's adventures were truly magical!!!</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-88760583281428521512024-01-19T12:44:00.004-06:002024-01-19T12:48:12.304-06:00Wellington, New Zealand - November 8, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next port of call was Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, is from Wellington. His fame has brought many jobs and economic growth to the area.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We booked an excursion through Princess to visit the Weta Workshop studios, a tour of the city, and some of the Lord of the Rings film location sites. I had booked this tour well in advance as the popular tours tend to sell out even before boarding the ship. A month before our trip, Princess cancelled the tour. Then they made it available again at a higher price. We still went on it as we wanted to see the sites.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our first stop was the Weta Workshop where many special effects are created. These include such items as weapons, masks, costumes and sets. Weta in the Maori language is an ugly spider and means god of ugly things. The creators of the business felt this was a very fitting name as they create many monsters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There was no photography allowed on the tour, but I did take some photos in the lobby and gift shop of characters from The Lord of the Rings movies.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNNqQNq5BxyHLqkyt-ENTc4joem0xE0lT9-wVhV2zQpaSzksC2TsLNcLFNL1p0bAIFFJcCE-xfz4_L3EiKTKWsC0j1u-vCFaj4ZjsBHHDqcq_iAJsjX8SilXo0dbzFbKGk7fF7vTzvk9BTqoNtsSgWLfJ6rE_av9HEduLzKrY2p_tjvqxJXFL_QvOwh8/s4896/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Dwarf%20Statue.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNNqQNq5BxyHLqkyt-ENTc4joem0xE0lT9-wVhV2zQpaSzksC2TsLNcLFNL1p0bAIFFJcCE-xfz4_L3EiKTKWsC0j1u-vCFaj4ZjsBHHDqcq_iAJsjX8SilXo0dbzFbKGk7fF7vTzvk9BTqoNtsSgWLfJ6rE_av9HEduLzKrY2p_tjvqxJXFL_QvOwh8/w300-h400/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Dwarf%20Statue.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil7k2rRjZWh4HC0f_mZ9GMOgCHPmjWCvtQx8Lde695tCsNajcAt7CSRTqnZmOr3byLr92xww3_LdypgFxrTGWkvaJIKure0eHswiwMi5Rk7K7wZMWxAdHiDdW-H4QIvK_rIohMEduXg0Bak__I52FO1MHE2eaMXiK2PwT9haqRAV8JWm2ejE6JqNApw0/s4748/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Dwarf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4748" data-original-width="2930" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgil7k2rRjZWh4HC0f_mZ9GMOgCHPmjWCvtQx8Lde695tCsNajcAt7CSRTqnZmOr3byLr92xww3_LdypgFxrTGWkvaJIKure0eHswiwMi5Rk7K7wZMWxAdHiDdW-H4QIvK_rIohMEduXg0Bak__I52FO1MHE2eaMXiK2PwT9haqRAV8JWm2ejE6JqNApw0/w246-h400/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Dwarf.JPG" width="246" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD1OjlZiNClfw_LLPo-XwZumv0MKlc_6u6fNrdgn1pI5jejg4-lMZNzUgR9udpePRbx5WpDaECLdDR1OWY1HsQ41ZQcKC9TrAYOiAfwz8dtSuK5j9_6QcQfgGLDDp2nkRmGaXX3iLVbHeJc90W-V43PWlrc4KlYNX3ITj3mdIiq8pzCg2_BQBCGEazRg/s4896/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Gollum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD1OjlZiNClfw_LLPo-XwZumv0MKlc_6u6fNrdgn1pI5jejg4-lMZNzUgR9udpePRbx5WpDaECLdDR1OWY1HsQ41ZQcKC9TrAYOiAfwz8dtSuK5j9_6QcQfgGLDDp2nkRmGaXX3iLVbHeJc90W-V43PWlrc4KlYNX3ITj3mdIiq8pzCg2_BQBCGEazRg/w300-h400/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Gollum.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJKJmcaknC_Ww9GyVJ5k5-zILF36GWDmItp2DAcu9tkCF2tGuT1G4-5rMBKbjM8A71I3WuxGE-iYDq3oVYvDs15gyFO1L9MDbnFhe_-PQD7XufXiORPy060bb_fY3r_wr8vBImunMVTNo2_LhFe3E-jTp9b0wXCmp8sqqZPhCnjrOqC7c_8K5VJgv4eU/s607/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Orc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJKJmcaknC_Ww9GyVJ5k5-zILF36GWDmItp2DAcu9tkCF2tGuT1G4-5rMBKbjM8A71I3WuxGE-iYDq3oVYvDs15gyFO1L9MDbnFhe_-PQD7XufXiORPy060bb_fY3r_wr8vBImunMVTNo2_LhFe3E-jTp9b0wXCmp8sqqZPhCnjrOqC7c_8K5VJgv4eU/w263-h400/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20Orc.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are two pictures I found on the web from the tour itself. It was a very fascinating look into how movie special effects are created. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawQXZUkbsbGir3EhHGEVcTiSAsGDps1oM-f_UGy8vTja5eK3PA5tHbl5DI6cqMo9PGToFSdv_4RAt0SU2fZ0ATb4Hf1I3-KiKrTHsKGlBBN5qrvW5_2NDaxD8ycf3jnhzAN63R2uz3k1o6kbFDcEQIk-WHOBYczMV0mSR_GEFoZDUme6kk2TMhjLWlro/s1000/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20masks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawQXZUkbsbGir3EhHGEVcTiSAsGDps1oM-f_UGy8vTja5eK3PA5tHbl5DI6cqMo9PGToFSdv_4RAt0SU2fZ0ATb4Hf1I3-KiKrTHsKGlBBN5qrvW5_2NDaxD8ycf3jnhzAN63R2uz3k1o6kbFDcEQIk-WHOBYczMV0mSR_GEFoZDUme6kk2TMhjLWlro/w400-h225/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20masks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0XbgVeSKncnKygTYw6NaI_BTvmBjjlJSARjz5C75qkPQBB6oqLXoc-23Vhs8Ys3-0hN0R_NL-ESOyqdpdPhbenp_kuZonuIQ1qNJquGRQQn9G-o9lYLP5VB3InHitcO7yQn-271kD-0MR-UmZkTkQzh7K368euprPjmgQV_UnayI_9kb5hnZvax6E8M/s474/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20weapon%20demonstration.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0XbgVeSKncnKygTYw6NaI_BTvmBjjlJSARjz5C75qkPQBB6oqLXoc-23Vhs8Ys3-0hN0R_NL-ESOyqdpdPhbenp_kuZonuIQ1qNJquGRQQn9G-o9lYLP5VB3InHitcO7yQn-271kD-0MR-UmZkTkQzh7K368euprPjmgQV_UnayI_9kb5hnZvax6E8M/w400-h225/Wellington%20Weta%20Workshop%20weapon%20demonstration.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">While we were there, the newest Avatar movie was supposed to be filming. Due to the actor's strike, that was not happening. We did see the outdoor sound stage that was built for filming. Here's a photo of it, as I couldn't get a good picture from the bus. Notice how it is constructed out of large shipping containers piled on top of each other. They paint the background green or blue depending on what they are filming. It was massive!</span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqHK8mecAx09XvBqxaeDXCybVeJTqYF_3DASOYhtMkoU05lMGbOOceUPwQWtM55V6MWr5lPrhrN09VMwJhz2YOoztHeweQyM-uHevl0SGKCWEOxKdD71xsm4WpFqgvhoNtIdlvnYep9RodL1Tpe38z3PiLKuqKdelxmcz_2G263hyphenhyphenxeT9IGdS0O-fdR4/s695/Wellington%20sound%20stage%20made%20of%20shipping%20containers.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="695" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqHK8mecAx09XvBqxaeDXCybVeJTqYF_3DASOYhtMkoU05lMGbOOceUPwQWtM55V6MWr5lPrhrN09VMwJhz2YOoztHeweQyM-uHevl0SGKCWEOxKdD71xsm4WpFqgvhoNtIdlvnYep9RodL1Tpe38z3PiLKuqKdelxmcz_2G263hyphenhyphenxeT9IGdS0O-fdR4/w400-h203/Wellington%20sound%20stage%20made%20of%20shipping%20containers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We passed the large Wellington sign. Soccer is very popular in New Zealand, and Wellington has a large soccer stadium. The soccer ball in the sign reflects that passion. It is very windy in Wellington, so the sign reflects that at the end by being blown upwards.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29keJIz2Lvfiax8zDXLFBUj2cIMnLwHxslXFmzFODlwK776y4V0-MjwCQ8UvOkqZiX1avWH4q2tItDhlro8ekPX0F0sNyYSGUu10wKoKvCVN28EtrKo-WyUz3S5EUbr5_U1QbXLt5qjvGHSeTYgDm6Dm6rLIBtKeQOy4H_Ma4pl6aQwW8AtK2q1vI7w8/s728/Wellington%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="728" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29keJIz2Lvfiax8zDXLFBUj2cIMnLwHxslXFmzFODlwK776y4V0-MjwCQ8UvOkqZiX1avWH4q2tItDhlro8ekPX0F0sNyYSGUu10wKoKvCVN28EtrKo-WyUz3S5EUbr5_U1QbXLt5qjvGHSeTYgDm6Dm6rLIBtKeQOy4H_Ma4pl6aQwW8AtK2q1vI7w8/w400-h206/Wellington%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the port with our ship and the soccer stadium.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnSWtwANvP_azOCQ6_PNTGDLliR2wDo9MXjBCZsZy14XXAh1BjYOEeePb2eH03-D7UE4ygmOWyPzrPcjltp50dKW2G6BCY0OpVtRlL3w5L99L-wDQmN0NaphQT1EH2g6IxzqF2zPMKGtsz0mqARZpDWN6hVAj9ACJsW1CieGBZYScTKYS_yxclH6dwDc/s764/Wellington%20port%20with%20our%20ship%20and%20soccer%20stadium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="764" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnSWtwANvP_azOCQ6_PNTGDLliR2wDo9MXjBCZsZy14XXAh1BjYOEeePb2eH03-D7UE4ygmOWyPzrPcjltp50dKW2G6BCY0OpVtRlL3w5L99L-wDQmN0NaphQT1EH2g6IxzqF2zPMKGtsz0mqARZpDWN6hVAj9ACJsW1CieGBZYScTKYS_yxclH6dwDc/w400-h251/Wellington%20port%20with%20our%20ship%20and%20soccer%20stadium.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As you can see in the photo above and below, houses in Wellington are built into the surrounding hills, and access can be very steep. Many of the homes do not have roads to them, so they have cable cars and tracks to get to their homes with parking at the bottom. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-drF-IBzxYarCQfOGwuEGyiZj74gai79y8m-og5s7MYhxM8eSemLvpjJKCcVTn5UPVGe5DQNkiVKAXvCvQc3L1rpoP7x2EXiUBvJX0gQXqBAuqbXEi3paJA3hSRARCzVhZ175JjUpXsq5hXo22ZFr5tp7CMB7WvmcyYhviVvORqBRJAedUDGgCGfRpJY/s615/Wellington%20homes%20built%20on%20hills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="615" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-drF-IBzxYarCQfOGwuEGyiZj74gai79y8m-og5s7MYhxM8eSemLvpjJKCcVTn5UPVGe5DQNkiVKAXvCvQc3L1rpoP7x2EXiUBvJX0gQXqBAuqbXEi3paJA3hSRARCzVhZ175JjUpXsq5hXo22ZFr5tp7CMB7WvmcyYhviVvORqBRJAedUDGgCGfRpJY/w400-h378/Wellington%20homes%20built%20on%20hills.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSN2IWKruY7DaDeOe-t_xzUgnRTHafA8S1nVpb-3Y2GDd_hsDjsznHp8FqN8fa3-dDeWMDgGKAaECcVN-rFnMy5UYdHyMKsiEHsNusxnI6XaUxMNNB4Mjs-ZhXEbwHrOPZvT-tSHaYJ6o8YUzmqkAfuNEMcZBsbSNTuWkdVb7ucxMd7dIkSWVQmlqvl0/s853/Wellington%20cable%20car%20to%20house%20on%20hill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSN2IWKruY7DaDeOe-t_xzUgnRTHafA8S1nVpb-3Y2GDd_hsDjsznHp8FqN8fa3-dDeWMDgGKAaECcVN-rFnMy5UYdHyMKsiEHsNusxnI6XaUxMNNB4Mjs-ZhXEbwHrOPZvT-tSHaYJ6o8YUzmqkAfuNEMcZBsbSNTuWkdVb7ucxMd7dIkSWVQmlqvl0/w300-h400/Wellington%20cable%20car%20to%20house%20on%20hill.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekatkfkCDQdfJEDYxtHzWVRnL7er2sZlXXxTsWaNoVegAuW0InECk2X2bX_PP8D9P6_W4p37BSWndGdiBqDAsZTri2OdUMI7KML0L2m4BKbQwM92TJ8ym4-y6bm_WPGQFUsDV1Lsem9w3uaCDPs4VzoKqWDfKug-zUyQXeiJcOcEapFyB0vup_FevCdk/s1024/Wellington%20cable%20car%20track%20between%20two%20houses%20on%20hill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekatkfkCDQdfJEDYxtHzWVRnL7er2sZlXXxTsWaNoVegAuW0InECk2X2bX_PP8D9P6_W4p37BSWndGdiBqDAsZTri2OdUMI7KML0L2m4BKbQwM92TJ8ym4-y6bm_WPGQFUsDV1Lsem9w3uaCDPs4VzoKqWDfKug-zUyQXeiJcOcEapFyB0vup_FevCdk/w264-h400/Wellington%20cable%20car%20track%20between%20two%20houses%20on%20hill.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our tour took us to Mount Victoria where some of the scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring were filmed. We were shown the location and then photos of scenes from the movie at that location. It didn't always look quite the same. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's where the group of Hobbits tumbled down a hill on their journey. Click on any photo to enlarge it for better viewing.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9yyTgZWg_TGx_8U3j4e1URkE67Nt1p9k2PMNmKKaaTudqtK8aSpZxSpWks6f96_5XOHoeF5sRyzm4dNVY2D3EQ79NQbwH9UEGTehRPj8pqmXzTVeYs3yrrVsmql08FqDREWJp8X2l59RuQWXorN84sLfpm7Qp_fAFUTLytCTGYpQUWDfd-4BWEbdPfo/s557/Wellington%20forest%20scene%20from%20The%20Fellowship%20of%20the%20Ring%20tumbling%20down%20hill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="443" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9yyTgZWg_TGx_8U3j4e1URkE67Nt1p9k2PMNmKKaaTudqtK8aSpZxSpWks6f96_5XOHoeF5sRyzm4dNVY2D3EQ79NQbwH9UEGTehRPj8pqmXzTVeYs3yrrVsmql08FqDREWJp8X2l59RuQWXorN84sLfpm7Qp_fAFUTLytCTGYpQUWDfd-4BWEbdPfo/w319-h400/Wellington%20forest%20scene%20from%20The%20Fellowship%20of%20the%20Ring%20tumbling%20down%20hill.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the path where the Ringwraith was hunting the Hobbits at night. It looked quite different during the day.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniofW-I8Uus_e9VHrSw-lI8fbrn2N4K7IQ-EH9wy1eTcOd0PYVCCvnY2DDO9BGlbACHg5AGuo4sx7FGaPfE9OvIC6GcCoeYtILkxUcq0JCThbgWyaXsIh823GljktFFntHjyD9rCpc6tJxLIhEdXoATWfKzDDEh9-ZYGa0JEQo01R5QEQv6Elk2gTW7k/s607/Wellington%20forest%20path%20that%20Ringwraith%20rode%20on.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniofW-I8Uus_e9VHrSw-lI8fbrn2N4K7IQ-EH9wy1eTcOd0PYVCCvnY2DDO9BGlbACHg5AGuo4sx7FGaPfE9OvIC6GcCoeYtILkxUcq0JCThbgWyaXsIh823GljktFFntHjyD9rCpc6tJxLIhEdXoATWfKzDDEh9-ZYGa0JEQo01R5QEQv6Elk2gTW7k/w300-h400/Wellington%20forest%20path%20that%20Ringwraith%20rode%20on.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ringwraiths are supposed to be dead, so there should not be any breath visible from the rider (notice the breath from the horse in the photo). To keep the rider's breath from showing, they put a snorkel tube in his mouth and pointed it down into his shirt. No breath was visible.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiiAAjHLpaq9tOHAHp0NA_zuOH-Wmr2E4sfl5AOSzUjk616DRc2zv2l8nT3s166lS05iD055-RHfiPEkBtnZDuV93u2LriYd01QXXVQX2IpIFVQLQzLq8PCHd2l8cC1ML7zg1z7W82JJ7d6GP6AJrMst0Y57bQeRojuezouHvCUFNCFZF73YP2Pgn7js/s478/Wellington%20forest%20Ringwraith%20photo%20from%20movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiiAAjHLpaq9tOHAHp0NA_zuOH-Wmr2E4sfl5AOSzUjk616DRc2zv2l8nT3s166lS05iD055-RHfiPEkBtnZDuV93u2LriYd01QXXVQX2IpIFVQLQzLq8PCHd2l8cC1ML7zg1z7W82JJ7d6GP6AJrMst0Y57bQeRojuezouHvCUFNCFZF73YP2Pgn7js/w380-h400/Wellington%20forest%20Ringwraith%20photo%20from%20movie.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our guide told us that the trees in this forest grow in odd directions and shapes due to the wind. This tree looked like it had the letter E in its branches; must be for Evelyn!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ebZr7hCvSAfDJtliHo3mZ1pA3PUaMqg5ZYbTNDFMc3hB6RGogcCVTIKk2PL0BrF2CbRflHa8EJ0VV-nM3InR07njardsIZHIqzmGlllk6vp3mxDqzvU392554apnJrJR3SzNZh8vE4_JvXtiwzpY8dKnly2zMxcYvoKvaBl-5sWxdKnVb44ovWPnBa4/s607/Wellington%20forest%20tree%20with%20letter%20E.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ebZr7hCvSAfDJtliHo3mZ1pA3PUaMqg5ZYbTNDFMc3hB6RGogcCVTIKk2PL0BrF2CbRflHa8EJ0VV-nM3InR07njardsIZHIqzmGlllk6vp3mxDqzvU392554apnJrJR3SzNZh8vE4_JvXtiwzpY8dKnly2zMxcYvoKvaBl-5sWxdKnVb44ovWPnBa4/w300-h400/Wellington%20forest%20tree%20with%20letter%20E.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These beautiful peace lilies were growing all along a path.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iQQxPOEy7-KyTi0Aiw6O9d-GrNnlyKB6Xi8eeWphyphenhyphen98nGFPzStcqZvz_n4hqN_11XLbCH4TlKO-M2LJoqa3LcJTYf9aA5U-ggyWiZeygArrEBcCqHopnqXaxzFYGUvDIIZtSPAS1sUpb7YLpg1qw8YckEyoNhRstkh_a3VGxrhxjDEPUrx5rIh7FCic/s607/Wellington%20peace%20lilly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iQQxPOEy7-KyTi0Aiw6O9d-GrNnlyKB6Xi8eeWphyphenhyphen98nGFPzStcqZvz_n4hqN_11XLbCH4TlKO-M2LJoqa3LcJTYf9aA5U-ggyWiZeygArrEBcCqHopnqXaxzFYGUvDIIZtSPAS1sUpb7YLpg1qw8YckEyoNhRstkh_a3VGxrhxjDEPUrx5rIh7FCic/w300-h400/Wellington%20peace%20lilly.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We decided to get off the tour bus in the downtown area and have a look around. There was a free shuttle bus for the cruise passengers to get back to the ship. This is a Parliament building referred to as The Beehive.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XCMcCYhFAqfYPjVuxsCZZ5gUWVmgUESpVjA4xBgSRcE19dVp3vYUyrcO7RqEWUYPDNvvLjTTQ22rX3anQtFmPrrkuHnf5-IUAzKI2le00wGqw9XhtijtgkFQlcNGJjrMtn9nbUIt7eY4P7U-kTSA3ojDftbxhbLseZk6-HmH0S5oKxUyi3u5vzMge70/s409/Wellington%20The%20Beehive%20Parliament%20Building.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="376" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XCMcCYhFAqfYPjVuxsCZZ5gUWVmgUESpVjA4xBgSRcE19dVp3vYUyrcO7RqEWUYPDNvvLjTTQ22rX3anQtFmPrrkuHnf5-IUAzKI2le00wGqw9XhtijtgkFQlcNGJjrMtn9nbUIt7eY4P7U-kTSA3ojDftbxhbLseZk6-HmH0S5oKxUyi3u5vzMge70/w368-h400/Wellington%20The%20Beehive%20Parliament%20Building.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a very enjoyable day exploring Wellington and learning about the movie industry.</span></p></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-61985500305834741772024-01-15T14:19:00.004-06:002024-01-15T14:21:34.084-06:00Christchurch, New Zealand - November 7, 2023<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Our next port of call was Lyttelton, about eight miles from Christchurch. This was another commercial port with bus service to Christchurch. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkFHZ1lgpO0-GsOQUpVk7jlHkJYfb6ZTKg2zDOLS8KGa5pxL65eAiIP5PqkFugflWSbF5Tt2g1hZ8iIKGp4j1pCntMw3euAXcQy_fc4GX9ouLTljMOOhbu-li45bqlCK1th5NXAlAtTNCqOA7UdPusy22Z0K_JCR0fjiQzDc5I1_8-1v8ZZdjhqDF8bc/s780/Christchurch%20Lyttelton%20dock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="780" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkFHZ1lgpO0-GsOQUpVk7jlHkJYfb6ZTKg2zDOLS8KGa5pxL65eAiIP5PqkFugflWSbF5Tt2g1hZ8iIKGp4j1pCntMw3euAXcQy_fc4GX9ouLTljMOOhbu-li45bqlCK1th5NXAlAtTNCqOA7UdPusy22Z0K_JCR0fjiQzDc5I1_8-1v8ZZdjhqDF8bc/w400-h290/Christchurch%20Lyttelton%20dock.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commercial port in Lyttelton</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fcr1xbvCd15aS_semJGWSofIe4gR7PvHilPK-Rgi83Tbwy2CzaO9XSPhLstJMMS95TfimHUnfzLhxyvKoIc-649pNItFCaiVVyKc1V08SR-1IztJsPPeY8ZFYkJI0DiVflFxx6dQkVBPg7IKOkvfkIxTu128NiqOcQEqAmIVoAhWOIikdTn8GE87j9Y/s758/Christchurch%20Lyttlelton%20Scenery.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="758" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fcr1xbvCd15aS_semJGWSofIe4gR7PvHilPK-Rgi83Tbwy2CzaO9XSPhLstJMMS95TfimHUnfzLhxyvKoIc-649pNItFCaiVVyKc1V08SR-1IztJsPPeY8ZFYkJI0DiVflFxx6dQkVBPg7IKOkvfkIxTu128NiqOcQEqAmIVoAhWOIikdTn8GE87j9Y/w400-h205/Christchurch%20Lyttlelton%20Scenery.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Lyttelton from the ship</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We booked an excursion through Princess to the mountains and Erewhon Station.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It was about a two hour drive through the vast Canterbury Plains where we saw many farm fields and cow and deer stations. A station is what they call a farm or ranch. </span><span>Dairy has become the main export of New Zealand. They also raise deer to export the meat to Asia.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3a3ez2u8wkF1XKDEuvKkERaeNX9Kat2yFY_3PnljHv8t2asSiQ_yb_Vd3ZUlaHB0mjtlbD97cufdetO2eBc-PIbEwtfTmWFW-MUnqNAwvo6MnbDzZsipZ7OWVtBoumEccFgB5anDdiKffB7qaReiNSinrYJqWQ3hF4VPfhDHXWA6cLV-NGG_kpQOG5k/s778/Christchurch%20Canterbury%20Plains%20dairy%20cows.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="778" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3a3ez2u8wkF1XKDEuvKkERaeNX9Kat2yFY_3PnljHv8t2asSiQ_yb_Vd3ZUlaHB0mjtlbD97cufdetO2eBc-PIbEwtfTmWFW-MUnqNAwvo6MnbDzZsipZ7OWVtBoumEccFgB5anDdiKffB7qaReiNSinrYJqWQ3hF4VPfhDHXWA6cLV-NGG_kpQOG5k/w400-h203/Christchurch%20Canterbury%20Plains%20dairy%20cows.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjlWyOjK4r7p-T18QOWr-TTidhMrnczd9iw948V-tKibLV6CujzDbRvK4LB_HmLZUSgE9V8f7vVgcKUE3T6FiG2lUqRJ-Jme9VtScaid-VXoun8zGpYGrRWippX9bFvof46BYfD8fqZKIhzgtXXqniBh4D8amb4bWwlgzp69efpqRd1ghc9EsghVrXig/s802/Christchurch%20Canterbury%20Plains%20deer%20herd.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="802" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjlWyOjK4r7p-T18QOWr-TTidhMrnczd9iw948V-tKibLV6CujzDbRvK4LB_HmLZUSgE9V8f7vVgcKUE3T6FiG2lUqRJ-Jme9VtScaid-VXoun8zGpYGrRWippX9bFvof46BYfD8fqZKIhzgtXXqniBh4D8amb4bWwlgzp69efpqRd1ghc9EsghVrXig/w400-h201/Christchurch%20Canterbury%20Plains%20deer%20herd.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">In both of the pictures above, you can see rows of trees around the pastures. It is often very windy in the plains, and the farmers have planted walls of trees or hedges around the fields to protect the crops and animals.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After two hours of driving on paved roads, we pulled onto a gravel road for about another hour to get to the sheep station. We were now in the beautiful mountainous area referred to as the Southern Alps.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqU0Afs35J06t6hM70Bx_RbP9c5as07EGFIE39G6c2MHnMXTOZ2MXkiG6hMqDuPWPXQjSPbDs9a51x1I7euZTq7sl5rC8uJnuHQeK6yazWTaoy1cTn31JVsiwBG1kRmSVIMGsIzBa2Lm6hWZzhdWBBf_KaJfcniDgNQdWcnKTMYTh6unL_4pDHIf348/s4734/Christchurch%20Southern%20Alps.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3622" data-original-width="4734" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadqU0Afs35J06t6hM70Bx_RbP9c5as07EGFIE39G6c2MHnMXTOZ2MXkiG6hMqDuPWPXQjSPbDs9a51x1I7euZTq7sl5rC8uJnuHQeK6yazWTaoy1cTn31JVsiwBG1kRmSVIMGsIzBa2Lm6hWZzhdWBBf_KaJfcniDgNQdWcnKTMYTh6unL_4pDHIf348/w400-h306/Christchurch%20Southern%20Alps.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">When we booked this tour, one of the sites advertised was Mount Sunday which was Edoras in the second Lord of the Rings movie. I was expecting a mountain. Our guide pointed it out to us, and we had a hard time figuring out where it was. That's because it was a small looking hill in front of the big mountains.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR4kJdSCzsjJ8TLluIRJZbdfRpBbzG_xABIR3G6XMcYqEYFSGFpx04Tx4IFpgseQq2COGBow1SWr82K2S1kn3bmVqFikBuIxgTxMbIuufUD_CIwlAV-Knk74NEawg09DrlTN0PMOG4QeGMRD6oSfs5C5lLgbZIekpJXext_AjDKNSldx9OSTiB7XV3c8/s809/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaR4kJdSCzsjJ8TLluIRJZbdfRpBbzG_xABIR3G6XMcYqEYFSGFpx04Tx4IFpgseQq2COGBow1SWr82K2S1kn3bmVqFikBuIxgTxMbIuufUD_CIwlAV-Knk74NEawg09DrlTN0PMOG4QeGMRD6oSfs5C5lLgbZIekpJXext_AjDKNSldx9OSTiB7XV3c8/w400-h300/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The movie people spent about nine months building the set out here in the wilderness. After several days of filming, the entire set was disassembled and taken away. Here are some pictures from the movie showing you what they built out here on top of that hill called Mount Sunday.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3viu2-qZ_CAZo1xvVwHoNGnSoSTrCuxIJAP9JwKXqsoym2Whd62rgUqsgz3IJ-fmuNX0cucESXjytW_w4aoCsdvdS6CVR8vE82B8fgPvBh6CTRCYwZLquZBX_bX0G_9rXdEHQJUSYqtffpdOfTs1Hy-TfEqTV1qTDnogSKzTJ53dp3EcS0BLCP0_Rz4/s1252/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday%20Movie%20Set%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1252" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3viu2-qZ_CAZo1xvVwHoNGnSoSTrCuxIJAP9JwKXqsoym2Whd62rgUqsgz3IJ-fmuNX0cucESXjytW_w4aoCsdvdS6CVR8vE82B8fgPvBh6CTRCYwZLquZBX_bX0G_9rXdEHQJUSYqtffpdOfTs1Hy-TfEqTV1qTDnogSKzTJ53dp3EcS0BLCP0_Rz4/w400-h194/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday%20Movie%20Set%201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3485VPbnMinCqkxyfzUCSG3a5TX6W6CmqTY1Q4wf81IcrCoH93-hjdSemBFv6cfceTYbVNsh58BgkRz67dTXGVOYdIYUEXhIVfLTcCnSohTe-y2-UBuybPP34CNu1khcCe5lhQ_JIhquEjzrRkxENRz4sr0_RKDdMdWo4ipWDQUVJGesjDSrqQTyuJsg/s831/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday%20Movie%20Set%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="831" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3485VPbnMinCqkxyfzUCSG3a5TX6W6CmqTY1Q4wf81IcrCoH93-hjdSemBFv6cfceTYbVNsh58BgkRz67dTXGVOYdIYUEXhIVfLTcCnSohTe-y2-UBuybPP34CNu1khcCe5lhQ_JIhquEjzrRkxENRz4sr0_RKDdMdWo4ipWDQUVJGesjDSrqQTyuJsg/w400-h286/Christchurch%20Mount%20Sunday%20Movie%20Set%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Hard to believe it's the same place. We continued on over a few streams and arrived at Erewhon Station, which was literally at the end of the road. Here we met Colin and Erin who own this amazing place. They raise Merino sheep, Clydesdale horses, Hereford cattle and deer. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We were fed a delicious lunch while we watched a video of the workings of the station. Erewhon Station is a 35,000-acre working farm situated in the foothills of the Southern Alps.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next, Erin took us on a horse drawn wagon ride through their property.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_JIm6SXsLWXOwR5OmAZpbRlA2bt_VSKoRkZP5W4ug-nByHzesjsn_wQLpqqkt-dC2YlM-EQN2AMGqVFPVhPTvGavqhTcMfgILZ_scgYjSgRUOXUoLJ9dWInQ9rEVMvw46usWc8AaralJ1XMATnT2d5Nc3YNJCf9PsMh3A8XVBXo_oc4SnJeePz5oC8s/s566/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Erin,%20the%20owner.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="352" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_JIm6SXsLWXOwR5OmAZpbRlA2bt_VSKoRkZP5W4ug-nByHzesjsn_wQLpqqkt-dC2YlM-EQN2AMGqVFPVhPTvGavqhTcMfgILZ_scgYjSgRUOXUoLJ9dWInQ9rEVMvw46usWc8AaralJ1XMATnT2d5Nc3YNJCf9PsMh3A8XVBXo_oc4SnJeePz5oC8s/w249-h400/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Erin,%20the%20owner.JPG" width="249" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hvxgzhZdsmBn1DyvttwbD8GXwL7xGUDITy9BQ1HkN8Yw9UPYXx1z40MVI_sWVyl8Zv7dSsRlXK8O7IzXjr-bTTr8VJ2H2Vu6N_jKa0xOFxCPkpcL8nvQalEINRmg8CoJ-7Jwcf4GWLTccC0awNxocSoov93zNu74A5WSFjbxYQ1NBmSVwB9ZlhFITfc/s908/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdales%20wagon.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="908" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hvxgzhZdsmBn1DyvttwbD8GXwL7xGUDITy9BQ1HkN8Yw9UPYXx1z40MVI_sWVyl8Zv7dSsRlXK8O7IzXjr-bTTr8VJ2H2Vu6N_jKa0xOFxCPkpcL8nvQalEINRmg8CoJ-7Jwcf4GWLTccC0awNxocSoov93zNu74A5WSFjbxYQ1NBmSVwB9ZlhFITfc/w400-h236/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdales%20wagon.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We saw lots of sheep. As it was spring here in New Zealand, we also saw many lambs. They were so very cute!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUFKoG7vuzRG9DpEJc3pRHza3wbt36NBUPAhwvWaJ7rzlB2EvAl4iA8u32VB6dzY3jVQ9Kjbpgi6905T5qe63gpByv8wlxuf_9lGoz97qwTZ7hTs3URRc6Ormiz2r-BcfOzuMZryuU-IxiRtlXRdCQMYdltnE8JmE1foC4n7NPdidiIjhJo3TWIh4G_s/s4896/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdales%20and%20Marino%20Sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUFKoG7vuzRG9DpEJc3pRHza3wbt36NBUPAhwvWaJ7rzlB2EvAl4iA8u32VB6dzY3jVQ9Kjbpgi6905T5qe63gpByv8wlxuf_9lGoz97qwTZ7hTs3URRc6Ormiz2r-BcfOzuMZryuU-IxiRtlXRdCQMYdltnE8JmE1foC4n7NPdidiIjhJo3TWIh4G_s/w400-h300/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdales%20and%20Marino%20Sheep.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdK0PYoR_Dq56MI46aOlECK2wH970RCD99739GrvQdAf83XrmG3ZcBFwVlFwL4-5BiVY9LSEmEUfTZGjydgBHTymKYb2cdcI4GGNrZioRi4fLkwc9-_knT5l5WGxe0HkFcIpav93xWpGooG3ZepTaPHzluguzZXYzGpt6SBBN1E46QJi6K5-UfcLr1us/s4896/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdK0PYoR_Dq56MI46aOlECK2wH970RCD99739GrvQdAf83XrmG3ZcBFwVlFwL4-5BiVY9LSEmEUfTZGjydgBHTymKYb2cdcI4GGNrZioRi4fLkwc9-_knT5l5WGxe0HkFcIpav93xWpGooG3ZepTaPHzluguzZXYzGpt6SBBN1E46QJi6K5-UfcLr1us/w400-h300/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJXDgP6qN1hcaMvNrl5TkQPlVUb0tVcJvBtZCM6T9wuUMIT1oHXn6cxnQf4hZY5JC1YQVrt5Uh8gioXiczgqB5Y0Hf2RefSqNoHivyyA89HKNSYx7pOw5GNMMgkDC7BnDvS81oIrSmBtixiiEZ8qJMXGQWA23oUtKby3ymir4kWNCx8shlIwvR4a_rv4/s2834/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep%20and%20lamb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2315" data-original-width="2834" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJXDgP6qN1hcaMvNrl5TkQPlVUb0tVcJvBtZCM6T9wuUMIT1oHXn6cxnQf4hZY5JC1YQVrt5Uh8gioXiczgqB5Y0Hf2RefSqNoHivyyA89HKNSYx7pOw5GNMMgkDC7BnDvS81oIrSmBtixiiEZ8qJMXGQWA23oUtKby3ymir4kWNCx8shlIwvR4a_rv4/w400-h326/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep%20and%20lamb.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This Clydesdale foal was so adorable! The owners are very involved in raising and showing these magnificent horses. As they are located in the high country, it is often easier to do the farm work with the horses rather than machinery.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoDwfmgBxIIVlbSTP1jRpiQnbXW9jRcArb-lejhOHWoNT3nsHK8iy8y-FeIPwhO7Zd75Cd3AujGw0mEAGA5Q2NdQm6hkv7fYOT2kjIVynpXbeVemS7Qt3ew_yTugwRF8FXEfir196qaBB1dc1KkkGKp_MHLfcClnsD3SmvYT-ob9eqJ4UHTAMvgLPk5A/s3237/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdale%20foal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3237" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoDwfmgBxIIVlbSTP1jRpiQnbXW9jRcArb-lejhOHWoNT3nsHK8iy8y-FeIPwhO7Zd75Cd3AujGw0mEAGA5Q2NdQm6hkv7fYOT2kjIVynpXbeVemS7Qt3ew_yTugwRF8FXEfir196qaBB1dc1KkkGKp_MHLfcClnsD3SmvYT-ob9eqJ4UHTAMvgLPk5A/w383-h400/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Clydesdale%20foal.JPG" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is some of the scenery from their farm. Their land actually goes about half way up these mountains. Herding the sheep back to the farm for sheering is an arduous process!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguspAMVwkyVxdSI7Xy9NEuqtJEOH49KTqPpqa0FmwIDvYu3Vl1EA6i8PCV26_7TEV8LZCAk9HGk60MIEPKalp0xe1aWcdv7Po6VaY-fLEdl2T77PseWDSC9TiAgZ074T0OuHwsh0KaYWWGlqL4vZPit711pOXhO04OR50HutdflA4iHDu4S-acrZhn9Z8/s4859/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20view.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3622" data-original-width="4859" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguspAMVwkyVxdSI7Xy9NEuqtJEOH49KTqPpqa0FmwIDvYu3Vl1EA6i8PCV26_7TEV8LZCAk9HGk60MIEPKalp0xe1aWcdv7Po6VaY-fLEdl2T77PseWDSC9TiAgZ074T0OuHwsh0KaYWWGlqL4vZPit711pOXhO04OR50HutdflA4iHDu4S-acrZhn9Z8/w400-h299/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20view.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Colin gave us a demonstration of how he uses the sheep dogs to herd the sheep. Those poor sheep didn't have a chance. One of the dog's job is to bark like crazy at the sheep. He did his job very well. The other dog chases and rounds them up.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZUJAbHadThYXo6EVF3InUq1Tt_T_ejsrdyuQ31N1ZPk4w5P_y8WJYTvmpl0LdSFqfyIRsVzD1g4cBDYjS9B0m5FN1lWFWrS5shuwxxRP8r-pUUlpiSsZVQoMFNM0_gK-xoH86hp1ZiWPtf8_nFsr0blPFKp2btl_mpIIjKufxDNGTz1v0yZhovfpDAg/s686/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Sheep%20dog%202%20herding%20sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="686" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZUJAbHadThYXo6EVF3InUq1Tt_T_ejsrdyuQ31N1ZPk4w5P_y8WJYTvmpl0LdSFqfyIRsVzD1g4cBDYjS9B0m5FN1lWFWrS5shuwxxRP8r-pUUlpiSsZVQoMFNM0_gK-xoH86hp1ZiWPtf8_nFsr0blPFKp2btl_mpIIjKufxDNGTz1v0yZhovfpDAg/w400-h270/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Sheep%20dog%202%20herding%20sheep.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcFlKwYo8M0Tb8-QsSihxi7sRhduAWO0nCwloeq7_530KrIdxgq4J_mG78jNfTyEm-WbupDfdblnxu3oHXp_qC5EkUI_gFVoyxPXfyvATQ-uekKzkJACpgJp23MJFhagJ4epfCXzNYWvYi0ydPL8wEjz36vmNp7u5M1qzkOfIAHS4eb4TdEh6PoNvuCM/s3722/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Sheep%20dog%20herding%20sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="3722" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcFlKwYo8M0Tb8-QsSihxi7sRhduAWO0nCwloeq7_530KrIdxgq4J_mG78jNfTyEm-WbupDfdblnxu3oHXp_qC5EkUI_gFVoyxPXfyvATQ-uekKzkJACpgJp23MJFhagJ4epfCXzNYWvYi0ydPL8wEjz36vmNp7u5M1qzkOfIAHS4eb4TdEh6PoNvuCM/w400-h253/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Sheep%20dog%20herding%20sheep.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">These sheep were in a pen ready for sheering which was to begin the next day. Groups of farmers get together and do all of the sheering at one place. While we were there, two semitrucks full of sheep arrived for the next day sheering.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86ZzgN93Lt7IR9DP0pm9iNa1mgliJ8yZXmPDcFgb2x9T1i2uIyy8FR6Fqyw_j72PHodLiVFHsjpiU41O_hN8ntcyXAHx2zX5IHFggO-dTGO7u8-EFbaPFDZuZioOU1XxuKBzUb4SYtRWNhg8GOZmueZ7xH-uSTq1Fyb7Fu-JeQmhNyKM-ZSAx61X0feA/s4570/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep%20in%20pen%20ready%20for%20sheering.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3098" data-original-width="4570" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86ZzgN93Lt7IR9DP0pm9iNa1mgliJ8yZXmPDcFgb2x9T1i2uIyy8FR6Fqyw_j72PHodLiVFHsjpiU41O_hN8ntcyXAHx2zX5IHFggO-dTGO7u8-EFbaPFDZuZioOU1XxuKBzUb4SYtRWNhg8GOZmueZ7xH-uSTq1Fyb7Fu-JeQmhNyKM-ZSAx61X0feA/w400-h271/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20Marino%20Sheep%20in%20pen%20ready%20for%20sheering.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They were in the process of building a new house for the owners and some of the employees. Being in such a remote location, they have employees who live on the property. It was quite fascinating to hear how they work out all of the logistics of running such a large operation in such an isolated location.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU476bzlsv8PXQpxQ_XCdAye2AO0U0fjll4tpAmeCPpYyHIR_Cqs86yMCSu45PLsZjHY1xACtresjEH72lGRUwh4aGnWFmQHXqP7VwD6RF0ZMXi_vTPWT5hjKskb0JMVjqprCv1i4HCv5vJRggMhAO3K-hcGiAGFFAP72g0gd7lbWN6mACxzVrdrYbIQ/s687/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20buildings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="687" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU476bzlsv8PXQpxQ_XCdAye2AO0U0fjll4tpAmeCPpYyHIR_Cqs86yMCSu45PLsZjHY1xACtresjEH72lGRUwh4aGnWFmQHXqP7VwD6RF0ZMXi_vTPWT5hjKskb0JMVjqprCv1i4HCv5vJRggMhAO3K-hcGiAGFFAP72g0gd7lbWN6mACxzVrdrYbIQ/w400-h275/Christchurch%20Erewohn%20Station%20buildings.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the ship. We were at the farm for about four hours, and the time went by so quickly. What a fascinating place to visit. On the way out, we saw some of the steer and this calf. The scenery was just fabulous wherever we were on the station and much of the ride back.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQg1TbGJf_fNoGuz_TtyIpfvYKjmLKz8O91cvAJZXGtaOXjWiQRsiMzG3YQdffVIZpAVZjO9wZexCLWjF2M-Axs3XCpCdj6Oqe5S6yIFy-ckd1LMSUJcB-lqNRf-qw-gpEyya_j6GnvJWz-LLBBS4xFpM2TsxIQBIfWLFQLYult0MkO6gZPMj4ETEFog/s716/Christchurch%20Southern%20Alps%20and%20calf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="716" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQg1TbGJf_fNoGuz_TtyIpfvYKjmLKz8O91cvAJZXGtaOXjWiQRsiMzG3YQdffVIZpAVZjO9wZexCLWjF2M-Axs3XCpCdj6Oqe5S6yIFy-ckd1LMSUJcB-lqNRf-qw-gpEyya_j6GnvJWz-LLBBS4xFpM2TsxIQBIfWLFQLYult0MkO6gZPMj4ETEFog/w400-h293/Christchurch%20Southern%20Alps%20and%20calf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the things we noticed in Australia and New Zealand is that your tour bus driver is also the tour guide. Our driver/guide on this excursion was Natasha. She was a native Kiwi (that's what they call themselves in New Zealand), and she was full of information during the six hours we spent on the bus. The time went by so quickly as she told us about the history of her country and much of what life is like. Whenever someone on the road did something she liked, she would say "good on ya, mate". I loved listening to her accent. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was another wonderful and enjoyable day in New Zealand. Such a unique place to visit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></div><p></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-45393791259337339912024-01-07T10:10:00.005-06:002024-01-07T10:13:20.256-06:00Dunedin - Port Chalmers, New Zealand - November 6, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">As we sailed into our first port of call in New Zealand, Port Chalmers, I was amazed to see how green everything was.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzskY8jblxbSkWMc6olDkQXHXn2ZlNJmi9nNk3YpYoUh7atgqVZvMK8fK9Rzcc1nhHEhQWL2cCQPXjE2EntFcPZABOm_9WEhr3pKpwSwjuT2B9GvYTM65aWmxDXYFZzs6U8XwrmgmTMg9ooirdZ4X-b61tW8MgGc8E_3N7ynXXfeCmhF1bZy-NYtKtnNQ/s4590/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Bay%20hillside.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzskY8jblxbSkWMc6olDkQXHXn2ZlNJmi9nNk3YpYoUh7atgqVZvMK8fK9Rzcc1nhHEhQWL2cCQPXjE2EntFcPZABOm_9WEhr3pKpwSwjuT2B9GvYTM65aWmxDXYFZzs6U8XwrmgmTMg9ooirdZ4X-b61tW8MgGc8E_3N7ynXXfeCmhF1bZy-NYtKtnNQ/w400-h320/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Bay%20hillside.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XY6NRn15FAa8uR-1w458OLebN9c2sSy1bxdhRvTXb0f02zuZbteoab7PT64evJsUFcEeEOiayNr0xPUSliF78yBiTgvsY1HdmtpKTicnoSI3PeXciqLfOd71Gf_sPuFHYROE67yfdZjjCBsKTOceX8zPlEt48vyqS7hDsEfSSMWU1pWc4194yz1oIBE/s4896/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20entry%20to%20bay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XY6NRn15FAa8uR-1w458OLebN9c2sSy1bxdhRvTXb0f02zuZbteoab7PT64evJsUFcEeEOiayNr0xPUSliF78yBiTgvsY1HdmtpKTicnoSI3PeXciqLfOd71Gf_sPuFHYROE67yfdZjjCBsKTOceX8zPlEt48vyqS7hDsEfSSMWU1pWc4194yz1oIBE/w400-h300/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20entry%20to%20bay.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I was also surprised how hilly most of the port cities were. Lots of sheep grazing on those green hills! In New Zealand, sheep outnumber humans about five to one. It used to be much more, but the demand for wool has diminished. Now, they raise dairy cows, and export a lot of dairy products to Asia.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsnKkjnHngggchk5AnE1SREtmAL_PrU96kvumKgDlxvJiUo8DdCUO61LqyTKZ75fLb746DDI0Nl3_UmQ4I-glvTwK-YfQ-SwvJqwCSNXfYE4VSj7mtpBYdcRYoz4Y91H6Ci92BrXqX5Ib7s5S5rPWO5_6DGxzpeVPrw2kmFzm2Gx7w9pYzcXJMCprZx0/s3318/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="3318" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsnKkjnHngggchk5AnE1SREtmAL_PrU96kvumKgDlxvJiUo8DdCUO61LqyTKZ75fLb746DDI0Nl3_UmQ4I-glvTwK-YfQ-SwvJqwCSNXfYE4VSj7mtpBYdcRYoz4Y91H6Ci92BrXqX5Ib7s5S5rPWO5_6DGxzpeVPrw2kmFzm2Gx7w9pYzcXJMCprZx0/w400-h248/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Sheep.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming into the port, we saw some albatross birds on the Otago Peninsula. This is where the Royal Albatross Centre is located. It is home to the world's only mainland Royal Albatross Breeding Colony. It was quite a distance away, so I mainly only saw white spots. I did manage to zoom in and get this slightly blurry picture of an albatross. They are very large birds with a wing span of almost 10 feet. (Remember, you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDz6i7Q-SujrGdOWdcFGUngC-w-ENcdJa1NRcEsvcQGE9KzgbEEgMMTeYv4_w4PxwjlpAUpUqes_LV3MHlgYFNXUOTUocFwGcGRF2uVDJVg5BG-_fHlPBvhKGTeJGzRKq_Q7OUf1jJvBV440Z3kP2CTTxJ2Y8gwMaUjAHNgW6JbG7ZDJ96OMPTbouiZs/s3004/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Albatross.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2253" data-original-width="3004" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDz6i7Q-SujrGdOWdcFGUngC-w-ENcdJa1NRcEsvcQGE9KzgbEEgMMTeYv4_w4PxwjlpAUpUqes_LV3MHlgYFNXUOTUocFwGcGRF2uVDJVg5BG-_fHlPBvhKGTeJGzRKq_Q7OUf1jJvBV440Z3kP2CTTxJ2Y8gwMaUjAHNgW6JbG7ZDJ96OMPTbouiZs/w400-h300/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Albatross.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><p>Almost all of the ports we sailed into were commercial ports. Most of them had a great deal of lumber stacked up waiting for export. One of our tour guides told us that most of the ports only have one or two cruise ships arrive per week. Although tourism is an important part of their economy, it is not like the Caribbean or Mexico where the ports are geared specifically to the tourists. Most of the attractions at this stop were actually in Dunedin, so there were busses to take the passengers on pre-booked excursions or into town.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhWj7r6AbB8N0llsIl4ymtUGsXG2z_1r8BVNDMP9UbtSEf6AKzVWRFupn1tSyDJ1SWhkaGTlOjI6LcVmU4MHO20K5Ejjwlv-X9sUTB9aGbQGmmMxOCT8nbIWnEbfX56Q0jSVX5mrd8PWOGUkNPSb0i4fbTeS0p6pLlDYqL1CcjiwbLkzWAve8H2Y5bLo/s4896/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Dock.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhWj7r6AbB8N0llsIl4ymtUGsXG2z_1r8BVNDMP9UbtSEf6AKzVWRFupn1tSyDJ1SWhkaGTlOjI6LcVmU4MHO20K5Ejjwlv-X9sUTB9aGbQGmmMxOCT8nbIWnEbfX56Q0jSVX5mrd8PWOGUkNPSb0i4fbTeS0p6pLlDYqL1CcjiwbLkzWAve8H2Y5bLo/w400-h300/Dunedin%20-%20Port%20Chalmers%20Dock.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Princess once again messed up our excursions at this stop. I had booked us both an excursion to Larnach Castle. It got cancelled the day before we arrived. There was nothing else available that we were interested in. After talking to the excursion desk manager, he was able to get me one ticket to the castle. I ended up going without Kevin. There were two empty seats on the bus, so I don't understand how Princess screwed this up for us.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Dunedin was established by Scottish immigrants. Larnach Castle was built by William Larnach in 1871. He had made his fortune in banking and then land speculation, farming investments, timber and politics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It took 200 men three years to build the shell and another 12 years for master craftsmen to finish the interior. Here's a painting of what it looked like shortly after completion, and a photo when I was there. It seems they could park the busses a bit further away, so they wouldn't be in people's photos.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBZAzTBF3vq8TgKqyOytYd7nYpFrLXcGZHXulAjauyILxB7ccZrdpaTRrIFxnq3qt-tTT6QUfk9Mc1HFBT8EU3pk0tUp_FpWkBXJKk0WskUo9GAWmY1o7yOjpJhRHHIYW8kFY8RoqasY78cvix09F7iAUEa29RtCczB2vdJe8EZ4NmM7UqtBSKaGdjAg/s754/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20painting%20at%20completion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="754" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBZAzTBF3vq8TgKqyOytYd7nYpFrLXcGZHXulAjauyILxB7ccZrdpaTRrIFxnq3qt-tTT6QUfk9Mc1HFBT8EU3pk0tUp_FpWkBXJKk0WskUo9GAWmY1o7yOjpJhRHHIYW8kFY8RoqasY78cvix09F7iAUEa29RtCczB2vdJe8EZ4NmM7UqtBSKaGdjAg/w400-h293/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20painting%20at%20completion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLH8hmeL2Z9d3Gqdid8zNO6RLK8_RzGN8D8XKfUC5dOtUgqJFG3yMTalxJW2oPxqEhpa5OQGkjipgUwBMYq_0MwKL5a7JcRpzknKBusAUPgMgCJH5y_sbmBRY2hQAHNeqKoKMOxdJ6wj36ImhHi5_ZMizFZCtJtROTyRG_-fOzdhbcrQfObbwpFyqs9MY/s680/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="680" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLH8hmeL2Z9d3Gqdid8zNO6RLK8_RzGN8D8XKfUC5dOtUgqJFG3yMTalxJW2oPxqEhpa5OQGkjipgUwBMYq_0MwKL5a7JcRpzknKBusAUPgMgCJH5y_sbmBRY2hQAHNeqKoKMOxdJ6wj36ImhHi5_ZMizFZCtJtROTyRG_-fOzdhbcrQfObbwpFyqs9MY/w400-h248/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztSo_tDDfYYUGS14m1sozZr0uJcOxN0P7gG3K9GGldjkLzg7c6Lu9Mm9CU-4A49o2wYYK5E6lwMZwDQzOBkdh9dyQUxuLvzMSraYcTrr4zMyRn2Bwfu1Txntiq6iqMaXZVA7jA6b_pKi5G8ZcVkZfYSd01auEjOjKG0ltUUHkg9I6VIlrk8Mf5vMoWYY/s607/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20front%20entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztSo_tDDfYYUGS14m1sozZr0uJcOxN0P7gG3K9GGldjkLzg7c6Lu9Mm9CU-4A49o2wYYK5E6lwMZwDQzOBkdh9dyQUxuLvzMSraYcTrr4zMyRn2Bwfu1Txntiq6iqMaXZVA7jA6b_pKi5G8ZcVkZfYSd01auEjOjKG0ltUUHkg9I6VIlrk8Mf5vMoWYY/w300-h400/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20front%20entrance.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><p>The interior was spectacular with amazing carved wooden ceilings. The attention to detail by the craftsmen was mind boggling.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzea29gl7qDGl_cx9hKK4CxMuJPRYi9yKPd5CXsfyzimbBl0L67JLWtizSE8791BNkAL8cOqIqzbaaySDatLmJwVw2wI0PSwDYKun_6bRmYyFFOY9wlzp0G9NzdBVXiEvHGxl0LmbyzSzF-uPLf7_hfmkfNPKDo3Z6uS4m_WTU51PeTUdwNThGv8LTqfM/s809/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20wood%20carved%20ceiling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="809" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzea29gl7qDGl_cx9hKK4CxMuJPRYi9yKPd5CXsfyzimbBl0L67JLWtizSE8791BNkAL8cOqIqzbaaySDatLmJwVw2wI0PSwDYKun_6bRmYyFFOY9wlzp0G9NzdBVXiEvHGxl0LmbyzSzF-uPLf7_hfmkfNPKDo3Z6uS4m_WTU51PeTUdwNThGv8LTqfM/w400-h259/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20wood%20carved%20ceiling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The grounds were also beautiful. We were there in November, which is spring. Many of the flowers were not blooming yet. These hedges were around much of the property.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1nkIkmc40b1Ry3ftCp5SwHlf_lC7DPXnesBbvVkOnBz1aqRIONs-Je56P5vcaUftKXBOUm7YbNXZYIkNFdof5xnvNuce2yETmOPapvKf4daCqVNHaF02ebwYImpOGCCiZ-NunZUcGE5C3phjy8cHO7K9MSVWfc8xKYwRdOf1agYkb-4dz6sy1ZX1fHo/s743/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20hedge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="743" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1nkIkmc40b1Ry3ftCp5SwHlf_lC7DPXnesBbvVkOnBz1aqRIONs-Je56P5vcaUftKXBOUm7YbNXZYIkNFdof5xnvNuce2yETmOPapvKf4daCqVNHaF02ebwYImpOGCCiZ-NunZUcGE5C3phjy8cHO7K9MSVWfc8xKYwRdOf1agYkb-4dz6sy1ZX1fHo/w400-h310/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20hedge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the front courtyard overlooking the bay.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSz9mxoN0BiorEd40_GzlG7A5Hm2JB3imArwbYlh4504W9vx0hEBqnPSetD2G0Ov1HIdzx9WnVrJHuRpp0ZTwhyQV_9E8ONi-Cy0o0RmudkRu7mRbzplTRkHhDVyuvFuH77BOVAlJ7VOVrvo_zjg2NYVsBQKhVat01N6g5XHjkQE8w5-OsIcs5OJu9SQ/s809/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20front%20courtyard%20and%20view%20to%20the%20bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="809" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSz9mxoN0BiorEd40_GzlG7A5Hm2JB3imArwbYlh4504W9vx0hEBqnPSetD2G0Ov1HIdzx9WnVrJHuRpp0ZTwhyQV_9E8ONi-Cy0o0RmudkRu7mRbzplTRkHhDVyuvFuH77BOVAlJ7VOVrvo_zjg2NYVsBQKhVat01N6g5XHjkQE8w5-OsIcs5OJu9SQ/w400-h280/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20front%20courtyard%20and%20view%20to%20the%20bay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I bet this arbor is gorgeous when the vines are blooming.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQduqARQc55KLsKniMuGjTRIOu-hUToA4NtglK7AkgFLN_YtkIIRR9SGNWV49inEKMQpXiWWd5SB1OT4Ew-YEUJZFVdns_aWXkLKVYajd_cBOrlRCcYV_XM-mcuMCxlnjKPBd_Vz4KVPhaJ-bVK__cFeyrayNl4fV-UqpNo1yF84Xs4Dz1IinnZ4b62w/s626/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20arbor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="626" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQduqARQc55KLsKniMuGjTRIOu-hUToA4NtglK7AkgFLN_YtkIIRR9SGNWV49inEKMQpXiWWd5SB1OT4Ew-YEUJZFVdns_aWXkLKVYajd_cBOrlRCcYV_XM-mcuMCxlnjKPBd_Vz4KVPhaJ-bVK__cFeyrayNl4fV-UqpNo1yF84Xs4Dz1IinnZ4b62w/w400-h365/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20arbor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">William had three wives. The first two both died at age 38 and were half sisters. He had six children with his first wife. The third wife was considerably younger than William, and rumored to have had an affair with William's youngest son. William Larnach committed suicide by shooting himself in the Parliament building. Rumors were that he was on the verge of bankruptcy, and that he discovered his wife was pregnant with his youngest son's child. Sadly, that son also committed suicide. So, even though this family had great wealth, it sure didn't bring them happiness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The castle fell into ruin for years. In 1967 the Barker family purchased it and began the endless project of restoring it. They have turned it into a tourist attraction, as well as hosting weddings and other parties. It is now designated a New Zealand Heritage Landmark. The gardens have been given the rating of Garden of International Significance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the gift shop, I found some very soft scarves, hats and gloves. I got a good laugh out of the attached tags. New Zealand has had a real issue with non-native possums causing lots of problems. It seems they've found one way to help control the possum population. Combine the fibers with Merino wool and make clothing items! The possum fibers are hollow, which makes them light and warm. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB7EslVUI_AlhKBMHS5Kcp-0-1jgWTLUIPIkqFs4nP2054CraCsWSzRn6qLwVUiF8cPtW8lOsot1PObo-BjIcM-Xzv4UHaadxhIlnu3XZixlfbepFpjlgLah-Xf5UymcZRUj04EMDoYahZEUeoVOlM7TvMLb8lj-sBy4doV5WaqVwn40e4R6elVYeeAs/s439/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20Possum%20and%20Merino%20Wool%20products.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="439" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkB7EslVUI_AlhKBMHS5Kcp-0-1jgWTLUIPIkqFs4nP2054CraCsWSzRn6qLwVUiF8cPtW8lOsot1PObo-BjIcM-Xzv4UHaadxhIlnu3XZixlfbepFpjlgLah-Xf5UymcZRUj04EMDoYahZEUeoVOlM7TvMLb8lj-sBy4doV5WaqVwn40e4R6elVYeeAs/w400-h388/Dunedin%20Larnach%20Castle%20Possum%20and%20Merino%20Wool%20products.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a view of the bay as we made our way back to the city of Dunedin.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3qVpbSItu36um6rt3CPBWV7vAOuyScH85lS9tI8ZyvfzMDBwJpCsBS89VmUGqxnAiRPQ2Cy-Sb6I0PRy0e6QJmr3O-A4j3qUkl3VIO7iez2MxsKA1aIo8M65JYDcgEH9H7haCQI0FoccYIUzPOe6PRNlE2vE6igIMazEux3rlDEv_KUHxSZyuWMExmE/s862/Dunedin%20Bay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="862" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3qVpbSItu36um6rt3CPBWV7vAOuyScH85lS9tI8ZyvfzMDBwJpCsBS89VmUGqxnAiRPQ2Cy-Sb6I0PRy0e6QJmr3O-A4j3qUkl3VIO7iez2MxsKA1aIo8M65JYDcgEH9H7haCQI0FoccYIUzPOe6PRNlE2vE6igIMazEux3rlDEv_KUHxSZyuWMExmE/w400-h251/Dunedin%20Bay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This building in Dunedin is the Law Courts Building built in 1902.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcwo1FTqot0GSu430UupUz0GpnStg0Abz_Q40KGxqw2O0oaDAQUa3A_JKtRufcWVgaxNQAOnvMFcTQdrcSeKWJH3bnDmVk-_JtAwclcVmPcJiAh7yZsT2vNqtXjfyTdYkfHDE1NgSFQ2BHASifCl0TGhyiTVpG2xLh6xq4BwC9akBwWfMOSfIgJM6Od4/s708/Dunedin%20Law%20Courts%20Building%20since%201902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="708" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcwo1FTqot0GSu430UupUz0GpnStg0Abz_Q40KGxqw2O0oaDAQUa3A_JKtRufcWVgaxNQAOnvMFcTQdrcSeKWJH3bnDmVk-_JtAwclcVmPcJiAh7yZsT2vNqtXjfyTdYkfHDE1NgSFQ2BHASifCl0TGhyiTVpG2xLh6xq4BwC9akBwWfMOSfIgJM6Od4/w400-h329/Dunedin%20Law%20Courts%20Building%20since%201902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I enjoyed my visit to Dunedin and Larnach Castle. Too bad Kevin couldn't come with me. He did walk into the town of Port Chalmers from the ship, and found a local brew to sample.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p><p></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-28611782144510969082024-01-02T09:54:00.001-06:002024-01-02T09:55:20.029-06:00Fiordland National Park, New Zealand - November 5, 2023<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Sydney once again on November 2nd for our 13 day cruise to New Zealand. The first two days were at sea. On the morning of November 5th, I woke up around 6 am and looked out the patio door. The most surreal and amazing views were all around us. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It was a bit cloudy which made it look somewhat eerie. </span><span>We had arrived at Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park!</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIq5TvdiGQKQjCMtY57eokCJJVhiSW5b2EAQ9mXB3QrqdHf4Ou2SwHSCSZaavEgFC1DQmAsY057rG-lfHp0RLZXBP404FhZheu87a37JYZLA4Oh2bgVcZOeIO4m1mO32VNeJ6dCIH7rkro7fP0hg27vJnTe5xww37YDhOOZGuDaORrY-bm2pQjCGQ7V4/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIq5TvdiGQKQjCMtY57eokCJJVhiSW5b2EAQ9mXB3QrqdHf4Ou2SwHSCSZaavEgFC1DQmAsY057rG-lfHp0RLZXBP404FhZheu87a37JYZLA4Oh2bgVcZOeIO4m1mO32VNeJ6dCIH7rkro7fP0hg27vJnTe5xww37YDhOOZGuDaORrY-bm2pQjCGQ7V4/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7NAFXiv4t7t2djZ4H31kLwlhqzc88fySxu6g2xN8qRdUG_MtV8SrcFPAXiGKtufmYnD20os3sxv2TWe_x6_t4k4clEhKpPToLcypeLVcXdPVtlbglCxNIhytB9YGndgUdffygjdjxCOt0dktA3XJYb06oga426YsEAScqwLCVllMpu8JcHSbmQVllsE/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7NAFXiv4t7t2djZ4H31kLwlhqzc88fySxu6g2xN8qRdUG_MtV8SrcFPAXiGKtufmYnD20os3sxv2TWe_x6_t4k4clEhKpPToLcypeLVcXdPVtlbglCxNIhytB9YGndgUdffygjdjxCOt0dktA3XJYb06oga426YsEAScqwLCVllMpu8JcHSbmQVllsE/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWHjHtQkBTj1NUJ4tyfjXqB70N6JSXz3KqtbawRrGtBRjtlD8tmcafngL43IAi_ho9KjYmt9Rv3xeBm0mXyrddfLbYNJQAmtZ_MsJluIihVKKnFGNTc2YuUvzibXDDAMZA5fm9D7oO_-dIJEwUKh4spPNjQwWsmoGOaEQQK9CmvVItT2j7Nrxg7R3Hac/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWHjHtQkBTj1NUJ4tyfjXqB70N6JSXz3KqtbawRrGtBRjtlD8tmcafngL43IAi_ho9KjYmt9Rv3xeBm0mXyrddfLbYNJQAmtZ_MsJluIihVKKnFGNTc2YuUvzibXDDAMZA5fm9D7oO_-dIJEwUKh4spPNjQwWsmoGOaEQQK9CmvVItT2j7Nrxg7R3Hac/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseCWZKaARKyc7loMKFj-cZmhcsp5PaZ-chGf4p-7UsnH2F-Ri4KavShf2oiPpSdWnqY_LQ_119TboNASxFWTxon64_-yUpYCTbL_XEQ1O6bwS53QATJulGzt6UsctSeWhpl1a5DczLaQGpg0LfWkIcKg7uzugIWTMgNq6kj-wNwMH8cw7aD-37AdsdFk/s828/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="828" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseCWZKaARKyc7loMKFj-cZmhcsp5PaZ-chGf4p-7UsnH2F-Ri4KavShf2oiPpSdWnqY_LQ_119TboNASxFWTxon64_-yUpYCTbL_XEQ1O6bwS53QATJulGzt6UsctSeWhpl1a5DczLaQGpg0LfWkIcKg7uzugIWTMgNq6kj-wNwMH8cw7aD-37AdsdFk/w400-h294/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Fiordland National Park is on the southern tip of the South island of New Zealand. It is one of the wettest places on the planet with about 182 days of rain and fog per year. As we were in the southern hemisphere, the further south you were, the colder it was. Temperatures on this day were in the 30s with a cold wind straight from Antarctica. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had read many reports from others who had traveled here that it was very foggy, and they couldn't see much at all. We were so fortunate to have good weather. As the day progressed, the sun came out, and we had near perfect conditions to travel through the park.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our ship did a 360 degree turn in Milford Sound so everyone could get a great view. A smaller ship came alongside and a park ranger/naturalist came on board to teach us all about the park as we travelled along. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is one of the waterfalls in Milford Sound. Milford Sound is often described as the eighth wonder of the world.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Db1qebLO58fjqNdl5PK3vHFx0wl9QU0qrUVDrKAt3zDMSANwQMBGVrzPkj2w6FCvVtL9B4GaLPGhgSTMTSdxc56sw2dMcvIERr2_tPoWN0MDJiOnA_fKFZrmKL-LHRtDAkdxzcxStRwjrcM4q0TH-SH35e1BXlJHi-1Fmgd3sfSAMcddsVFJQA4qGTc/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%20Waterfall%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Db1qebLO58fjqNdl5PK3vHFx0wl9QU0qrUVDrKAt3zDMSANwQMBGVrzPkj2w6FCvVtL9B4GaLPGhgSTMTSdxc56sw2dMcvIERr2_tPoWN0MDJiOnA_fKFZrmKL-LHRtDAkdxzcxStRwjrcM4q0TH-SH35e1BXlJHi-1Fmgd3sfSAMcddsVFJQA4qGTc/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%20Waterfall%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLbgPMW5okUOobuN9_b-YJUg8P5uttKqVnowYvfxKqmvbHi6uh3QMFX347VI1ZFGhOhW6pN1eAC5RKOqvx-GkcJloeXBQb8M6ZhTY_tvNZzOcO0SRhFOCVUakZwlNQJGFOrwXrqQGhh7C1Zsg0jLXO_w399P9PN8M6YSHTh0e7Zl1f5U2BmPDaTl3moU/s607/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%20Waterfall%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLbgPMW5okUOobuN9_b-YJUg8P5uttKqVnowYvfxKqmvbHi6uh3QMFX347VI1ZFGhOhW6pN1eAC5RKOqvx-GkcJloeXBQb8M6ZhTY_tvNZzOcO0SRhFOCVUakZwlNQJGFOrwXrqQGhh7C1Zsg0jLXO_w399P9PN8M6YSHTh0e7Zl1f5U2BmPDaTl3moU/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Milford%20Sound%20Waterfall%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><p>This was a great day to have a balcony room. The bridge cam was on our TV all day, and we could hear everything that the naturalist was saying while watching the amazing scenery either on the balcony or looking out the patio door. As I said, it was quite cold, so we were glad we didn't have to spend the entire day outside.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We learned a lot of facts from the naturalist. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In New Zealand it is spelled fiord; in Norway it is spelled fjord.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A fiord is created from glaciers. A sound is a river valley that has been flooded with sea water.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The park was founded in 1952, and covers 3.1 million acres and is 5% of New Zealand's land area.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fiordland National Park contains mountains, 14 fiords, marine reserves, rugged coastline, temperate rain forests, alpine areas, freshwater lakes and varied wildlife.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It took the entire day to sail through the park. Two other sounds we traveled through were Doubtful and Dusky Sounds. Captain Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to visit Fiordland in 1773, and spent five weeks in Dusky Sound. Cook named it Doubtful Sound because he doubted they could sail into it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Each area was a little different; some with mountains, others with very green hills, and lots of waterfalls and islands. Here are some of the many pictures I took. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9Z4-WLfjCAh_m6tJJpY_VaS5tFiZ-tkiNc50DPuy3Z4b-iFyylBkPcQwZCiod0oIUz44vHhIJzglRoAJCJCLGa5Db27QhNtilD9hdxVgH8L_6AgBK3BJiPeXRnkPrXbWivvbyXAh9dusWOyN_bAZ0OoK-Ng35sf3TFYqiQQrDb0UdPTzL_3WsR6dX44/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9Z4-WLfjCAh_m6tJJpY_VaS5tFiZ-tkiNc50DPuy3Z4b-iFyylBkPcQwZCiod0oIUz44vHhIJzglRoAJCJCLGa5Db27QhNtilD9hdxVgH8L_6AgBK3BJiPeXRnkPrXbWivvbyXAh9dusWOyN_bAZ0OoK-Ng35sf3TFYqiQQrDb0UdPTzL_3WsR6dX44/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVdSqE1oDTNNjTrAkWQK023rVCvHxSHwEYxvoIBS4myNaWhJChE1jc02YYcKqzs_NQw17lFwPbuyjZ7jCm90YBUhMV5o4mWwZnOn_3JNINw9mY2o3EU4FC6KRYbxHYINLJq8IhlTRm3iToqJFNvVsbRXSk21uUbuQA0yzc1m1M0uarcLcuBSg9lacSTg/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVdSqE1oDTNNjTrAkWQK023rVCvHxSHwEYxvoIBS4myNaWhJChE1jc02YYcKqzs_NQw17lFwPbuyjZ7jCm90YBUhMV5o4mWwZnOn_3JNINw9mY2o3EU4FC6KRYbxHYINLJq8IhlTRm3iToqJFNvVsbRXSk21uUbuQA0yzc1m1M0uarcLcuBSg9lacSTg/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcM1OovxzLW9ytDQm-i10Mhvy1NwNpHZwJ30Ra1XM6tT8lwCuRslyuBGBJPWzL90r1GvoDVMcvyCjwhmVhvM4PDziqDlYvscMMbrbcuUYVKIxnTm_25AFR7YyXHc1dpmUaaaBajb-F_g-D8bu8TA6xar8kmeZfhc_XA_o5MJoE90JHv5xw0a_wxOD-Rk/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcM1OovxzLW9ytDQm-i10Mhvy1NwNpHZwJ30Ra1XM6tT8lwCuRslyuBGBJPWzL90r1GvoDVMcvyCjwhmVhvM4PDziqDlYvscMMbrbcuUYVKIxnTm_25AFR7YyXHc1dpmUaaaBajb-F_g-D8bu8TA6xar8kmeZfhc_XA_o5MJoE90JHv5xw0a_wxOD-Rk/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQcT9WdWV4tLnPNy276NL7_fgPZQVQKchIZiQsxX2cT1s907cGZvNQtzkOGNIIxqND0CsaSeahICd-jN57Afl0cPsJGRGnPixHIhWr4KkCFQ23aWsh-CaJKy4b_-D7lFK3OLMmqXSq_KxiwZLI32AKJ9iYz2qdrLlf8DjGgm4lZPl_3Xnl2JOAa8QINg/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQcT9WdWV4tLnPNy276NL7_fgPZQVQKchIZiQsxX2cT1s907cGZvNQtzkOGNIIxqND0CsaSeahICd-jN57Afl0cPsJGRGnPixHIhWr4KkCFQ23aWsh-CaJKy4b_-D7lFK3OLMmqXSq_KxiwZLI32AKJ9iYz2qdrLlf8DjGgm4lZPl_3Xnl2JOAa8QINg/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5QGa5HQSR3W6pK-ZorvkgFqRxM7NlnMpPjWBL-JI_W4j9pUFI1xgTGPM1zOys_zwvDuP20gq73uikqiXZV4PPrQWD7qAia46szlKZ1Si9xYfBevxU0nh-1aXk9JVlMLgQmuT3qwLWN3xhf6JDDU9GWF8RJGN0QfiF0oGSVVGeTO7-hQHGTpVbKtynvo/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%205%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5QGa5HQSR3W6pK-ZorvkgFqRxM7NlnMpPjWBL-JI_W4j9pUFI1xgTGPM1zOys_zwvDuP20gq73uikqiXZV4PPrQWD7qAia46szlKZ1Si9xYfBevxU0nh-1aXk9JVlMLgQmuT3qwLWN3xhf6JDDU9GWF8RJGN0QfiF0oGSVVGeTO7-hQHGTpVbKtynvo/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%205%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7zs3sI78-58GMQrj5fItklRG-P_uJT-vAeGwGsxzQnG0kfX9nfNrP7zHxJn2KiqiZhmsQpfz84LvpYP2OZThXeg1UNk1SHaZBOXb64kQMJFsxtSyaORCzJzCKOk4AtPJ11YgRAwrQVeFBScqXG3jjuG7P87o-nuOYw-5S1HO-KZAKFjvrRX2N_mgOSc/s4774/Fiordland%20National%20Park%206%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3541" data-original-width="4774" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7zs3sI78-58GMQrj5fItklRG-P_uJT-vAeGwGsxzQnG0kfX9nfNrP7zHxJn2KiqiZhmsQpfz84LvpYP2OZThXeg1UNk1SHaZBOXb64kQMJFsxtSyaORCzJzCKOk4AtPJ11YgRAwrQVeFBScqXG3jjuG7P87o-nuOYw-5S1HO-KZAKFjvrRX2N_mgOSc/w400-h296/Fiordland%20National%20Park%206%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5spMXps0oWA0_5aOzpGpWf-LFXvtRPHuQSpuMr2oo7VGcTWIcL3QKw9hNPshvT_VZx9y0x8YmoicofmQoHBd6Ds-moQAc0xIifoquTvu8qaFCb1ogpbFfJw7kvORee5A6huCG-MK5ZW4Zej9mMh6W9s7ldtJV-_TyjfGn1SqBZLey5kk20J5Kf6y6ET4/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%207%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5spMXps0oWA0_5aOzpGpWf-LFXvtRPHuQSpuMr2oo7VGcTWIcL3QKw9hNPshvT_VZx9y0x8YmoicofmQoHBd6Ds-moQAc0xIifoquTvu8qaFCb1ogpbFfJw7kvORee5A6huCG-MK5ZW4Zej9mMh6W9s7ldtJV-_TyjfGn1SqBZLey5kk20J5Kf6y6ET4/w400-h225/Fiordland%20National%20Park%207%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXrW5UulCcihC-FKupQ6jchCZygGW77Sr5dV-nAohR8UH_U-Yb9f0cWHwU2G0PHl_I0HhwXDhlVGP7i3C-GvS9c1ubfsQIhWr4t4dRycLPRmYx83P4sRbugwpXgkW2AcI7U19YoJ62sG6a7c1AG3rsC22JiMylcpPutt3LhZU317VsNdx2RdjTs-rtYM/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%208%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXrW5UulCcihC-FKupQ6jchCZygGW77Sr5dV-nAohR8UH_U-Yb9f0cWHwU2G0PHl_I0HhwXDhlVGP7i3C-GvS9c1ubfsQIhWr4t4dRycLPRmYx83P4sRbugwpXgkW2AcI7U19YoJ62sG6a7c1AG3rsC22JiMylcpPutt3LhZU317VsNdx2RdjTs-rtYM/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%208%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And, here are some of the waterfalls we saw.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4sjCV1XukEy8_KuHDVeWWHlBY641Sl8VhZK1UA0nRDrRTx1qk3CdSCb-BEe_Xgxav6qH3zbZF4x_vPHaHGLh3FGdYjEIM_EcoL3VTxuQHOxDhJMkbnwbczA0hJOv3SE4afN2yVe8YtvS3r11MtYxx9pZMAUYfccz-asxHBxBglKYCvdqraNWbk30VQA/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4sjCV1XukEy8_KuHDVeWWHlBY641Sl8VhZK1UA0nRDrRTx1qk3CdSCb-BEe_Xgxav6qH3zbZF4x_vPHaHGLh3FGdYjEIM_EcoL3VTxuQHOxDhJMkbnwbczA0hJOv3SE4afN2yVe8YtvS3r11MtYxx9pZMAUYfccz-asxHBxBglKYCvdqraNWbk30VQA/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%201%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga92aPlbCkdTSd-0cm7VopNnqaTV7cJAtndChNKBEB9HeSxwd5eU-K_DYjVLLcqvClzI9Mx29frobyQI2U6QSmV8qu_zTDaJj9oMvEjPa_TRx76K1ekMNhgw03CAqkixCAOHguiEWN8yOsScH8mc6orA_zTwXc2yIukr_XdAWyHlI5poD_pzZ-eCgTDKk/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga92aPlbCkdTSd-0cm7VopNnqaTV7cJAtndChNKBEB9HeSxwd5eU-K_DYjVLLcqvClzI9Mx29frobyQI2U6QSmV8qu_zTDaJj9oMvEjPa_TRx76K1ekMNhgw03CAqkixCAOHguiEWN8yOsScH8mc6orA_zTwXc2yIukr_XdAWyHlI5poD_pzZ-eCgTDKk/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%202%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPuts_FZZKTTGzCFd6mgIJVAhDV4KOz47azang_Xs5K5uW3xGcN010BYXWqiblmk0Im-qp60TUKQtV8rgeo3ZLJy0m_jMB6-vgr7njFv3tL-WZG3p9GifyS-wRLTaui9y0YF_4-6tuRi1vyPOwOWmx0zAX7pMmJw-Njl4e4W9grkjL5tufBuVYhO6WzM/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPuts_FZZKTTGzCFd6mgIJVAhDV4KOz47azang_Xs5K5uW3xGcN010BYXWqiblmk0Im-qp60TUKQtV8rgeo3ZLJy0m_jMB6-vgr7njFv3tL-WZG3p9GifyS-wRLTaui9y0YF_4-6tuRi1vyPOwOWmx0zAX7pMmJw-Njl4e4W9grkjL5tufBuVYhO6WzM/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%203%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G4DGLL31WNrrhTjTh4GL9JPUxYgFDM1iB9aradcAMPBoAPSpG8thqJssd0WiaYkopR99I6wBut6wf5YJ8CzWCS_dP62PRchtGYWHRNQAFC-GlfMHCHTw-d_Kjyszd8gMrFC8Ea34xcoQFAMiQygjmrLBdwmS_ermU7kAv_XLGKn5hLBzYR4xkQT4DA8/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G4DGLL31WNrrhTjTh4GL9JPUxYgFDM1iB9aradcAMPBoAPSpG8thqJssd0WiaYkopR99I6wBut6wf5YJ8CzWCS_dP62PRchtGYWHRNQAFC-GlfMHCHTw-d_Kjyszd8gMrFC8Ea34xcoQFAMiQygjmrLBdwmS_ermU7kAv_XLGKn5hLBzYR4xkQT4DA8/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%204%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_foBWeD7yHSxuFInAQETiASp3BDl513JqkIqw0AxaoVWe1LTFp5icn3fBPiijV9MiAN6ssy8ak7k1uRD7v90vhfclk3xKath8O3OmNeBD_39E7LJ5_-Xzc39HVPD4mpXtqmjjG-JFubUAPh5JQrcwI928rI35X6SctJyR-o8Zkhyky8tAebjx2Cnvl3c/s4896/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%205%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_foBWeD7yHSxuFInAQETiASp3BDl513JqkIqw0AxaoVWe1LTFp5icn3fBPiijV9MiAN6ssy8ak7k1uRD7v90vhfclk3xKath8O3OmNeBD_39E7LJ5_-Xzc39HVPD4mpXtqmjjG-JFubUAPh5JQrcwI928rI35X6SctJyR-o8Zkhyky8tAebjx2Cnvl3c/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%205%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_aYhPyumHB7u9fzv2lUvPD68M8IsQp_1o7PmuB_PvmgeUbrI2cI846ZaySRbjYTDOzRSBvSWr6lLW9_oNA7yUBVcPQKvmFXH_9-I7ZM1K6Lsw8WR2rtLwVjcqjc2kXS_AZuXGotqqceK8YvOsK73ap0RFukHJLwEGVCGyeEy_HQZ7dm7-p17Poimac/s607/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%206%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_aYhPyumHB7u9fzv2lUvPD68M8IsQp_1o7PmuB_PvmgeUbrI2cI846ZaySRbjYTDOzRSBvSWr6lLW9_oNA7yUBVcPQKvmFXH_9-I7ZM1K6Lsw8WR2rtLwVjcqjc2kXS_AZuXGotqqceK8YvOsK73ap0RFukHJLwEGVCGyeEy_HQZ7dm7-p17Poimac/w300-h400/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Waterfall%206%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As we came out of the last fiord back into open waters, we passed the Five Fingers Peninsula.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiSZQFeLi24MmMBDWBYTeY8DC48J9uDvnnI_7oYYJSTcw8G2oiVB11jwbzmQnBd8WOxkIOIv1ZIjNmOeK2om_pzQG89VM47N5JV0st9V77R-SDTiZ2YrzWa29DyQozyIve2gAL_7djMwgl3mLRLOcHOMmsGfwMdkvGpcpun9S2vDJsa_U1v08YS55u0/s809/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Five%20Fingers%20Peninsula%20Nov.%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyiSZQFeLi24MmMBDWBYTeY8DC48J9uDvnnI_7oYYJSTcw8G2oiVB11jwbzmQnBd8WOxkIOIv1ZIjNmOeK2om_pzQG89VM47N5JV0st9V77R-SDTiZ2YrzWa29DyQozyIve2gAL_7djMwgl3mLRLOcHOMmsGfwMdkvGpcpun9S2vDJsa_U1v08YS55u0/w400-h300/Fiordland%20National%20Park%20Five%20Fingers%20Peninsula%20Nov.%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This was truly another spectacular day with the most amazing scenery we've ever seen. Our planet has so much beauty. We are so grateful to have seen just a small fraction of it!!</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-70969292465245723052023-12-25T11:54:00.001-06:002023-12-25T11:55:08.237-06:00Port Douglas and Willis Island, Australia - October 29 and 30, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next port of call was Port Douglas on October 29th. We got off the ship and walked around this small town. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The three ports of Airlie Beach, Cairns and Port Douglas all have excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. All of these ports are tender ports, and I had read that often one or more ports are cancelled due to bad weather. In case of a cancellation, you have three chances to go to the reef. We booked the reef at the first port in case of cancellation, so we might still have a chance. That worked well for us. By the time we got to Port Douglas, there were no excursions we were interested in doing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a small church right on the water called St. Mary's by the Sea. It was originally built in 1880, destroyed by a cyclone in 1911 and rebuilt. Then restored in 1989. We were there on a Sunday, so services were being held. No chance to see the inside.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ0QUB85Qsu-44R91-x6D9mZMiRitgaBQ3nnyb5Yvcsq94_PEpS5Su3pxqkr44wCIA5Hcv_pr-nXypxZLB6AjLvo49sk4CS6i7vpUccBtARxLBL7v-CTC6eG4Kkov9p2I6SPBOZ3ieXwIOV9yJOUPt2_HbBO5TFbFUrSVtZ36jScgZ7Voqsok0qL8OM0/s581/Port%20Douglas%20St.%20Mary's%20by%20the%20Sea%20church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="429" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ0QUB85Qsu-44R91-x6D9mZMiRitgaBQ3nnyb5Yvcsq94_PEpS5Su3pxqkr44wCIA5Hcv_pr-nXypxZLB6AjLvo49sk4CS6i7vpUccBtARxLBL7v-CTC6eG4Kkov9p2I6SPBOZ3ieXwIOV9yJOUPt2_HbBO5TFbFUrSVtZ36jScgZ7Voqsok0qL8OM0/w295-h400/Port%20Douglas%20St.%20Mary's%20by%20the%20Sea%20church.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On Sundays, they also have a very large outdoor market. We wandered around and saw lots of local handicrafts and food for sale. A few venders had opals in their raw form. That was interesting to see.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJzFCHSyhlp1Fc9g6CxqZPQjOB8-1wSsSGQkkWrIXadnBhyFkVJKTzQ17AOS0qYPpzUXLmVyFY1BGlYN39Scs6rKS9vJbrlnxGTtWEU3ROyS7UEjDeHbWO3mqUiZ1XMQk9zg36U5TTljm2TbOuEynHlQ-EADHVqvaNN5u9OGf4Fv6zM3psEnl3cPvspw/s1111/Port%20Douglas%20raw%20opal%20rocks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1111" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJzFCHSyhlp1Fc9g6CxqZPQjOB8-1wSsSGQkkWrIXadnBhyFkVJKTzQ17AOS0qYPpzUXLmVyFY1BGlYN39Scs6rKS9vJbrlnxGTtWEU3ROyS7UEjDeHbWO3mqUiZ1XMQk9zg36U5TTljm2TbOuEynHlQ-EADHVqvaNN5u9OGf4Fv6zM3psEnl3cPvspw/w400-h201/Port%20Douglas%20raw%20opal%20rocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">While we were walking around, we saw quite a few of these SUV vehicles. The exhaust pipes coming out of the top is something we had not seen before. Kevin speculated it is to keep water out of the pipes when going through marshy or wet areas.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv5909wY0OVEBT7eQkM0GEr_ZFXN_cWUsWtiNTLlEbPHq27BKIj0QOqyytBtLtD93-zXiPru4jjze_bBTscJv7Ej80VQUsp7HKbVGUcpQoOd6ZkVV7uEf9TaOQSYC6MMAy_GaZ83MlqzSNDlWCtuTRBd-xATHiVxEtN9vuwSSeyNznofk159deAZcy08/s520/Port%20Douglas%20SUV%20with%20top%20exhaust%20pipe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv5909wY0OVEBT7eQkM0GEr_ZFXN_cWUsWtiNTLlEbPHq27BKIj0QOqyytBtLtD93-zXiPru4jjze_bBTscJv7Ej80VQUsp7HKbVGUcpQoOd6ZkVV7uEf9TaOQSYC6MMAy_GaZ83MlqzSNDlWCtuTRBd-xATHiVxEtN9vuwSSeyNznofk159deAZcy08/w329-h400/Port%20Douglas%20SUV%20with%20top%20exhaust%20pipe.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We visited the Hemingway's Brewery so Kevin could sample a local beer. He said it was good. </span></p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_sgDfXlkE2fHe3nJ1qtIldg0dsWs2h7i5fOrAy65oEJeNJ_6Q4DTy2W2JE-UAfyrHrEBIwNSQPYBp2F0jOJfYiRuEtoTPVOwnJIdIEkQ5buJBPQevfYwe5XSp6V0zQxX8x8ddzPDvWB0GWK66pfnjRJW_RSPbmGP8o8cVs60lHBHrmNTTCwfDRiIhYc/s607/Port%20Douglas%20Kevin%20enjoying%20beer%20at%20marina.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_sgDfXlkE2fHe3nJ1qtIldg0dsWs2h7i5fOrAy65oEJeNJ_6Q4DTy2W2JE-UAfyrHrEBIwNSQPYBp2F0jOJfYiRuEtoTPVOwnJIdIEkQ5buJBPQevfYwe5XSp6V0zQxX8x8ddzPDvWB0GWK66pfnjRJW_RSPbmGP8o8cVs60lHBHrmNTTCwfDRiIhYc/w336-h400/Port%20Douglas%20Kevin%20enjoying%20beer%20at%20marina.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on board the ship, we were treated to a beautiful view of the full moon in the evening.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs1SLXKoDf2GXwGBvi-brGQEyG-tR6Dn5c9sfDYoLNpcpaVd_ZAScJCkAqJPGbbwc5UiFwgb6iEYskX9tReIiVta9ZN2f1FB2HlDqzKp4MN-qKeOFa_-qmUeXaWB7bx0qqPf0Tlm9qp8uYfH8ghtCPnDvB2EbU5JmzLArGTSklIXYlXSlFUu_ZaYLwjY/s607/Full%20moon%20from%20balcony%20Oct.%2029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="385" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs1SLXKoDf2GXwGBvi-brGQEyG-tR6Dn5c9sfDYoLNpcpaVd_ZAScJCkAqJPGbbwc5UiFwgb6iEYskX9tReIiVta9ZN2f1FB2HlDqzKp4MN-qKeOFa_-qmUeXaWB7bx0qqPf0Tlm9qp8uYfH8ghtCPnDvB2EbU5JmzLArGTSklIXYlXSlFUu_ZaYLwjY/w254-h400/Full%20moon%20from%20balcony%20Oct.%2029.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">When I booked this trip, the itinerary listed Willis Island as a port of call. On October 30th, we sailed by the island at about 9 am. There is a weather observation station on the island, and four people work there. The ship blew it's horns as we went by. That's it. Not what I would call a port of call.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIm2k1BBTbfVtt2bAqGQqF2aJbT1zI0oYqmVowG4GbA70L9ydDmWiWCgD9tWE99YggAKr4J7j91moqCE-UyIJbTOxSwBbmgm7m2A5VOLBl8sr19gSnvVcSW8rhTkgXa6hajF_PQwcakPIQxiJoU4JZkZPHkk-lbiljkpChouhda4Hl2qt-_MQg-94W5M/s4896/Willis%20Island%20Weather%20Station.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIm2k1BBTbfVtt2bAqGQqF2aJbT1zI0oYqmVowG4GbA70L9ydDmWiWCgD9tWE99YggAKr4J7j91moqCE-UyIJbTOxSwBbmgm7m2A5VOLBl8sr19gSnvVcSW8rhTkgXa6hajF_PQwcakPIQxiJoU4JZkZPHkk-lbiljkpChouhda4Hl2qt-_MQg-94W5M/w400-h300/Willis%20Island%20Weather%20Station.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Many birds were flying close to the ship near the island. Not sure what was attracting them. Most of them were albatrosses which was cool to see.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qDAiPcNflEGv2UywLNwmDr-EKCfFAbWqTQaJDAztc4p1JbxqijPRPFeU1oI7VBlVvMFR-ufKoucIhXt7bEmC4xLcdQ0W9PQM2JW6Db-XpbLS_4feRTZgZV6zQoH24Aumy7Etz_cFHEhI3jnnexyr9fdxAGRKerFmAiEYyWMwVcaSlu4Tp1-8T2RvBGM/s4896/Willis%20Island%20Albatrosses%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qDAiPcNflEGv2UywLNwmDr-EKCfFAbWqTQaJDAztc4p1JbxqijPRPFeU1oI7VBlVvMFR-ufKoucIhXt7bEmC4xLcdQ0W9PQM2JW6Db-XpbLS_4feRTZgZV6zQoH24Aumy7Etz_cFHEhI3jnnexyr9fdxAGRKerFmAiEYyWMwVcaSlu4Tp1-8T2RvBGM/w400-h300/Willis%20Island%20Albatrosses%201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiTbq_hZKmVmiBCUmgToq7FtiafJd7gzrPA0DgGsnIBdD1oy3zmGwjaLI8ps8YMAtLzB-Pa7tBdF98uWZbxkSHZz3nXDAmi6QDNJqEISu2UNxqFo-qFuV3GgVjbUij6YpvxEkWSG3r4Y1tDDeO2Kbgu_8RnjXHa7Ld5IiPKFFwMqSj9QSPwxf0MWXvLk/s4896/Willis%20Island%20Albatrosses%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiTbq_hZKmVmiBCUmgToq7FtiafJd7gzrPA0DgGsnIBdD1oy3zmGwjaLI8ps8YMAtLzB-Pa7tBdF98uWZbxkSHZz3nXDAmi6QDNJqEISu2UNxqFo-qFuV3GgVjbUij6YpvxEkWSG3r4Y1tDDeO2Kbgu_8RnjXHa7Ld5IiPKFFwMqSj9QSPwxf0MWXvLk/w400-h300/Willis%20Island%20Albatrosses%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The weather was still nice and tropical, so I decided to take a dip in the pool. The pools on the ship are actually fresh water. All other cruises we've been on had salt water in the pools. This was our ninth cruise, and I'd never been in the pool on any of our other cruises, so I thought it was about time. I also spent some time in the hot tub. Kevin was not interested.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhjPF072Sm0fuNUo-VqxDd9g4DzUBJhxJKOM1-MJYSku6yNzTOfNiAzgLR8CkM1nmUX-eQoqKAqoe3Cq1WJTmVFMyUM5bPGdslI66Q8Hm_x8vVDr7oPXK0iqeNpCcXVRn7pgXpr-1EGMmsk8BRJA1GsQIiM5NGhslaKi2fC95Uk-OqE_VBeyqmL-JwsY/s525/Evelyn%20in%20pool%20on%20ship.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhjPF072Sm0fuNUo-VqxDd9g4DzUBJhxJKOM1-MJYSku6yNzTOfNiAzgLR8CkM1nmUX-eQoqKAqoe3Cq1WJTmVFMyUM5bPGdslI66Q8Hm_x8vVDr7oPXK0iqeNpCcXVRn7pgXpr-1EGMmsk8BRJA1GsQIiM5NGhslaKi2fC95Uk-OqE_VBeyqmL-JwsY/w378-h400/Evelyn%20in%20pool%20on%20ship.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next two days were at sea on our way back to Sydney. We arrived early on the morning of November 2nd, and left again around 5 pm for our next cruise to New Zealand on the same ship. We had to change cabins due to an earlier scheduling change by Princess of the cruises. By the time we had that straightened out, our cabin on the first cruise was no longer available. Not that big of a deal. We had to pack up all our stuff, and the crew moved it all to our new cabin. It was located on deck 16 almost at the very front of the ship. We definitely could feel the movement of the ship more up there. Our previous cabin had been on deck 10.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I went ashore for a little while to find some nail polish. I walked past a store with some very beautiful Australian opal jewelry in the window. I did buy an opal necklace while in Sydney, but these rings were more than I wanted to spend, even with a very favorable exchange rate. In the vicinity of $5,000 USD and up. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyc2_irSvkjW9XkbmsR_J7yOIbzgGJrbPX-S7I3dc82IQtwKQkkJcsI1PltjRcbO_fNH1HMfe7xprx3NZ7ywcbUK5k6rAWifMpL2GjZvJbZIIK-TNgPfo_gi_5k0fSAnZqYp_7rjjAehjrrwP398l3uP44U19igp_2U1rMBn2xi2FLo9MpcYBdSiLQ58/s579/Sydney%20Opals%20for%20sale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyc2_irSvkjW9XkbmsR_J7yOIbzgGJrbPX-S7I3dc82IQtwKQkkJcsI1PltjRcbO_fNH1HMfe7xprx3NZ7ywcbUK5k6rAWifMpL2GjZvJbZIIK-TNgPfo_gi_5k0fSAnZqYp_7rjjAehjrrwP398l3uP44U19igp_2U1rMBn2xi2FLo9MpcYBdSiLQ58/w314-h400/Sydney%20Opals%20for%20sale.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's another view of the ship from the Sydney Circular Quay.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMQUQCmyGV0nd3qf8CzessmN4XWCj9sebWrYR_2hnMxAYS13WgAAJ4IVMKKLQ0DB2RPTQKNnTD0Rcf0_lbFaRyE32aaLejTZ1huNTRSfFxXyaCTC6v7BFx4aK9rpcycWVFjwHoNDg935MKA2T683yOg-1KqKom7XMWC6NZNTpR-j7nVhOlXB9Hk0i8Tw/s607/Ship%20docked%20in%20Sydney%20Nov.%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMQUQCmyGV0nd3qf8CzessmN4XWCj9sebWrYR_2hnMxAYS13WgAAJ4IVMKKLQ0DB2RPTQKNnTD0Rcf0_lbFaRyE32aaLejTZ1huNTRSfFxXyaCTC6v7BFx4aK9rpcycWVFjwHoNDg935MKA2T683yOg-1KqKom7XMWC6NZNTpR-j7nVhOlXB9Hk0i8Tw/w300-h400/Ship%20docked%20in%20Sydney%20Nov.%202.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That wraps up our 10 days Queensland Australian cruise. We saw lots of amazing scenery and animals. Next up the adventure continues with a 13 day cruise to New Zealand. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-8186660078743687382023-12-22T12:29:00.003-06:002023-12-25T11:56:30.199-06:00Cairns, Australia - October 28, 2023<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop was Cairns (pronounced Cans). This was another tender port. The seas were a bit rough in the morning, but the tender boats did take passengers ashore. The return trip was much rougher, and quite a few people were sick. Luckily, I had taken my seasick pills that morning, so I was fine. It was definitely the roughest tender trip we have ever been on. The captain made an announcement once everyone was back on board apologizing for the rough conditions, stating the forecast had not called for such strong winds and high waves.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX-Ao0kKkYeu_sp0lrOl2KTCwLSbL4YejwBfV_Gg51sDVMbxWL6aD49SrbDqAGBSo2KQ7gSjDzJQkau8s_shUXmsmP0rrgbrnPY4Rhb0zT6NiPFw8eVxns2IRupVMqtriQN6rqLR6e6Xr0_E_xzfKphuZ9kb-OUXWMbFbc0c5rzYcVzkykrc5zIoJeEs/s810/Cairns%20tenders%20waiting%20to%20load.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="810" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX-Ao0kKkYeu_sp0lrOl2KTCwLSbL4YejwBfV_Gg51sDVMbxWL6aD49SrbDqAGBSo2KQ7gSjDzJQkau8s_shUXmsmP0rrgbrnPY4Rhb0zT6NiPFw8eVxns2IRupVMqtriQN6rqLR6e6Xr0_E_xzfKphuZ9kb-OUXWMbFbc0c5rzYcVzkykrc5zIoJeEs/w400-h229/Cairns%20tenders%20waiting%20to%20load.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tender boats waiting to take us ashore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm so glad we were able to visit Cairns. We saw so many more amazing Australian sites.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We started out the day with a gondola ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to the village of Kuranda. The skyrail is located in a tropical rainforest in the Barron Gorge National Park. It was opened in 1995, and it was the longest gondola cableway at the time of completion. This rainforest is the world's oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAvvId3RLxoFp2LSh7Pf5pXRu6CmzGJeNDORkB4Hyrzzf1Whm6G6vI-UT_1M9706tHLX3_yYje_Zu6nED3vISVNo5TFv12btWJa8i04o-_U1XwgocoJr9QF-uQdSeMGsAmGYPDJ4mOKOPX-Fdsmm6UFanAWyReLelXsbAv300LVSAOzeUs5DrHfXWi8Q/s477/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="323" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAvvId3RLxoFp2LSh7Pf5pXRu6CmzGJeNDORkB4Hyrzzf1Whm6G6vI-UT_1M9706tHLX3_yYje_Zu6nED3vISVNo5TFv12btWJa8i04o-_U1XwgocoJr9QF-uQdSeMGsAmGYPDJ4mOKOPX-Fdsmm6UFanAWyReLelXsbAv300LVSAOzeUs5DrHfXWi8Q/w271-h400/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cjHlwAnu07B-4Hx6pEnqKFztb1SWt8CgZhpRSUW7ukpRhfydkAJANZZibLiZnZ2N_Q_9EPcIdF6mRmH2HGEOM8YbZG-Bc-OmSNJpzyHsgYQMWMEK9VFKtyOEub7LzujmqolybQnISTo9oIwtfZxlu4ZHrPnl8psz_-Nj5zLEuo97m0JGg2Wo_G-Sl8/s797/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20rainforest%20view%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="797" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cjHlwAnu07B-4Hx6pEnqKFztb1SWt8CgZhpRSUW7ukpRhfydkAJANZZibLiZnZ2N_Q_9EPcIdF6mRmH2HGEOM8YbZG-Bc-OmSNJpzyHsgYQMWMEK9VFKtyOEub7LzujmqolybQnISTo9oIwtfZxlu4ZHrPnl8psz_-Nj5zLEuo97m0JGg2Wo_G-Sl8/w400-h300/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20rainforest%20view%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcyx7mh90v56Dl5MjU_LUyeEwAd_nzJUWgJfucG5hyphenhyphenERqO9JSug2iHME6hIySgH8yMuUV4JQDCaaBAqqeVhKhyphenhyphenTwFHUueSWSUhe5QMdGvpS6fq-5-X_VlzPP1KljIMyQwclV15onA_jRWnwtNHdl-XTgiV_UzZsJeljFp6gXpPK_z3Xt0hoDIoFQQq9M/s797/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20rainforest%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="797" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcyx7mh90v56Dl5MjU_LUyeEwAd_nzJUWgJfucG5hyphenhyphenERqO9JSug2iHME6hIySgH8yMuUV4JQDCaaBAqqeVhKhyphenhyphenTwFHUueSWSUhe5QMdGvpS6fq-5-X_VlzPP1KljIMyQwclV15onA_jRWnwtNHdl-XTgiV_UzZsJeljFp6gXpPK_z3Xt0hoDIoFQQq9M/w400-h300/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20rainforest%20view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfcWVWyBJyo_BHWm3N4b-Tj2l9b9U1cyedNyDtvy8fooQyE7tG5PF9704yeK0UOYIPTxgKS4PFRY_N3s5DFKQlZSnW-MXL8gyzbW9IYW87p6zu2cHMa-brZQu8w_mCoJYBn7LtQiZ7rii4zcs35MYZy_GUZQdocSQf2nrmZAEI5VokIBkG5xqG-Pu3GM/s540/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="503" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfcWVWyBJyo_BHWm3N4b-Tj2l9b9U1cyedNyDtvy8fooQyE7tG5PF9704yeK0UOYIPTxgKS4PFRY_N3s5DFKQlZSnW-MXL8gyzbW9IYW87p6zu2cHMa-brZQu8w_mCoJYBn7LtQiZ7rii4zcs35MYZy_GUZQdocSQf2nrmZAEI5VokIBkG5xqG-Pu3GM/w373-h400/Cairns%20Skyrail%20Rainforest%20Cableway%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Along the way, there were two platforms to get off at and view the scenery of the tropical rainforest. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyQ_I53bgqItXn9M6SOQ7jlffaq9Rpzqvy5vyaMZ9eKus6gPhpem_Lcvyn5g19ZBuPEb5Esar20qKNhhFI9jmq6yPhrrilDcTj9nxjqbngid2LU4iz4ghacHKL7wjHtIE8-7lHM72gq-8ebTkISi81IyBpGqQexyWIDpAmq8TWYKqohojPfxlKfC7Yxc/s797/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20tropical%20rainforest%20view.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="797" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyQ_I53bgqItXn9M6SOQ7jlffaq9Rpzqvy5vyaMZ9eKus6gPhpem_Lcvyn5g19ZBuPEb5Esar20qKNhhFI9jmq6yPhrrilDcTj9nxjqbngid2LU4iz4ghacHKL7wjHtIE8-7lHM72gq-8ebTkISi81IyBpGqQexyWIDpAmq8TWYKqohojPfxlKfC7Yxc/w400-h300/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20tropical%20rainforest%20view.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This Queensland Kauri tree is over 400 years old. These trees grow tall and fast, punching through the rainforest canopy where it spreads out like an umbrella and blocks the sunlight from reaching the plants below. Also, the bark is very smooth which prevents vines from growing up it and competing for light.</span></p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jR4p8-kP3w571YSjPJ9NztSWDwKO5KAM5AtYasc3RFC6HiH2_jjFeOkKBevallAlIJsYfg6isC4KD6n3AgG0sDG76ewzkYQMqF9lfQ6kJTNWUgkhFTWOqykDGYu15FUvCH9Ebv_jIlKyhJcvu7fg3jE-_sW9DHWlJuzvezxCWNCK4CuM4UF6SxtRh3s/s4896/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Kauri%20Pine.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jR4p8-kP3w571YSjPJ9NztSWDwKO5KAM5AtYasc3RFC6HiH2_jjFeOkKBevallAlIJsYfg6isC4KD6n3AgG0sDG76ewzkYQMqF9lfQ6kJTNWUgkhFTWOqykDGYu15FUvCH9Ebv_jIlKyhJcvu7fg3jE-_sW9DHWlJuzvezxCWNCK4CuM4UF6SxtRh3s/w300-h400/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Kauri%20Pine.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We saw the Barron Falls and the Barron River from the gondola. These falls have much more water during the rainy season.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYuVMpkAhUhBtotEe-K3IwUf2NcZ8-66VU3Qk3wvPB5koktjb7PtWQAC6RmVg0ZFfcZ254EzmEkFwIcEIDq6YvRQ5Ay2uidx2O_0Oa-3YvRfRDQSHgqyxMYNv_na0UpFipd71Yg-lDmRXH97dLavGl7W98PazwuQshWJCwRfegZ6ydj5hQh_TRXNJ6YI/s512/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Barron%20Falls.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="390" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYuVMpkAhUhBtotEe-K3IwUf2NcZ8-66VU3Qk3wvPB5koktjb7PtWQAC6RmVg0ZFfcZ254EzmEkFwIcEIDq6YvRQ5Ay2uidx2O_0Oa-3YvRfRDQSHgqyxMYNv_na0UpFipd71Yg-lDmRXH97dLavGl7W98PazwuQshWJCwRfegZ6ydj5hQh_TRXNJ6YI/w305-h400/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Barron%20Falls.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGhM6L6eYb-RAzlBEz_1lhjuNtoYMTgXCVYxSedIb5iQj8Y9L2psCr2lyRe_mc_f4bqlLhx0tisC4kzc655BhKSuGQVLNp2kgJ9zf5asbgp58VDLu0_yBrisMZyJd854emWBD5SFJf3sgGxICF7mADNznMZMuLJvMOpTv231vTW7VkrdPtPVLzDe74iw/s598/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Barron%20River.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGhM6L6eYb-RAzlBEz_1lhjuNtoYMTgXCVYxSedIb5iQj8Y9L2psCr2lyRe_mc_f4bqlLhx0tisC4kzc655BhKSuGQVLNp2kgJ9zf5asbgp58VDLu0_yBrisMZyJd854emWBD5SFJf3sgGxICF7mADNznMZMuLJvMOpTv231vTW7VkrdPtPVLzDe74iw/w300-h400/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Barron%20River.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At our next stop we were very lucky to see a Cassowary with her babies. These birds are on the endangered list with an estimated 4,000 remaining in the wild. We saw some commotion ahead of us on the path, so went to investigate. Some people were looking at the birds in the bushes. As we watched, she came out of the bushes and crossed a path. We saw them for maybe 15 seconds before they were back in the undergrowth. How amazing is that!!!</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EokECY-65mFb0V9MvsiQvryppJSmqbyYNP7EPlB3enFEgXbrLBgiMM-A-pz69wRKCft0RQcp0Z2NW6tLm6u6A8JLQBF5KsOb3PufBX0reC0fQ8oSsZMJDzCBGagZ6xoIeFp4nfAL7U8rJIknjA5hA0FBaBFM2T4eMjB24XNR0qyuzqVMB2WfrWYOWKg/s1008/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20%20Cassowary%20Bird%20and%202%20babies.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1008" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EokECY-65mFb0V9MvsiQvryppJSmqbyYNP7EPlB3enFEgXbrLBgiMM-A-pz69wRKCft0RQcp0Z2NW6tLm6u6A8JLQBF5KsOb3PufBX0reC0fQ8oSsZMJDzCBGagZ6xoIeFp4nfAL7U8rJIknjA5hA0FBaBFM2T4eMjB24XNR0qyuzqVMB2WfrWYOWKg/w400-h238/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20%20Cassowary%20Bird%20and%202%20babies.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BQp5jrZB2F2Mak6kNOlCIPP4J8cMdG9ba2TmDMd90Otm0lYiHxzNy_-6fA1WGlnZ5e3vuivyZgRQlP1pDLMlagf_jRYyTmVbuD5OrBChbCX_4rTvsBE74gpmUz4BN-LbA5CNsMmQhFDh1cTX_vfbPTA0T6kUlHwfoIxQmintHyfTnCF_XQUWmnPHgl4/s736/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20%20Cassowary%20Bird%20and%203%20babies.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="736" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BQp5jrZB2F2Mak6kNOlCIPP4J8cMdG9ba2TmDMd90Otm0lYiHxzNy_-6fA1WGlnZ5e3vuivyZgRQlP1pDLMlagf_jRYyTmVbuD5OrBChbCX_4rTvsBE74gpmUz4BN-LbA5CNsMmQhFDh1cTX_vfbPTA0T6kUlHwfoIxQmintHyfTnCF_XQUWmnPHgl4/w400-h289/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20%20Cassowary%20Bird%20and%203%20babies.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There were many interesting plants to see in the rainforest. I recognized the Bird of Paradise, but don't know what the other plant is. The eastern coast of Australia has a tropical climate, and many of the trees and flowers reminded me of Hawaii.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_BzEqL_4iuLS82dPtAZi92dbuaRLMfUEVXtmhEUljGhnV5eEWk3gkN6zVc55j-I8LjJmZlUC-HoyIwI-t-HtfK9Mr7hIYnfxUt8CXul996g2jVMcKQC0S3jZJ7mPzpASAQOSj6cXoxsqdp4HiraHtcCRNkTkUbcorWdtAPuxrTNQ1Xm2vuPv24pz8WA/s797/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Bird%20of%20Paradise%20flower.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="797" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_BzEqL_4iuLS82dPtAZi92dbuaRLMfUEVXtmhEUljGhnV5eEWk3gkN6zVc55j-I8LjJmZlUC-HoyIwI-t-HtfK9Mr7hIYnfxUt8CXul996g2jVMcKQC0S3jZJ7mPzpASAQOSj6cXoxsqdp4HiraHtcCRNkTkUbcorWdtAPuxrTNQ1Xm2vuPv24pz8WA/w400-h300/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20Bird%20of%20Paradise%20flower.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hAF7tsTnjKC9GBU26FrscT1aWiog21osjOCasHtFHwhCcY4Z8lX7zoyV3-F_AaH_L9ZUfo4GPGZS5kFAv2i2qXjIG4zFa-8OZqx7dNPpGyHNs9v9HyvMmenQuOmjho1kRD9F5YOuGtLWm10FM2v2vJZlfuo5DGUzoZ1ydEiYwuz1cbufKs3RNhUx-nU/s553/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20green%20flowers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="373" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hAF7tsTnjKC9GBU26FrscT1aWiog21osjOCasHtFHwhCcY4Z8lX7zoyV3-F_AaH_L9ZUfo4GPGZS5kFAv2i2qXjIG4zFa-8OZqx7dNPpGyHNs9v9HyvMmenQuOmjho1kRD9F5YOuGtLWm10FM2v2vJZlfuo5DGUzoZ1ydEiYwuz1cbufKs3RNhUx-nU/w270-h400/Cairns%20Barron%20Gorge%20National%20Park%20green%20flowers.JPG" width="270" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At the top of the gondola is the village of Kuranda. It's a quaint village with an outdoor market and lots of bars and restaurants. For many years, the village was a farming area.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the late 1800s a railway was built to deliver supplies to mines in the area. The railway was cut through the mountains and rainforest by hand, including 15 tunnels. Now, the railroad is used to transport tourists to Kuranda. The scenery along the way was breathtaking.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a view of the vintage railcars from the gondola.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47FfH5tBFnY6vLuqOiqOfve8Q4bBsSjP9Xi5H89r120tEA5uxsA5FXHOa8hOWCS3-PjY3M3cFSmty9Jq0uq4UhQhReCtp28CVurX6QVA4ljt1bjCgdtUmRTyjM07R88y7ALjkn31t_MolG8UJJrbjkzZ74ZVNZCENIzztULmiZHI2OrxdwfoO_Hsq8og/s633/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="633" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47FfH5tBFnY6vLuqOiqOfve8Q4bBsSjP9Xi5H89r120tEA5uxsA5FXHOa8hOWCS3-PjY3M3cFSmty9Jq0uq4UhQhReCtp28CVurX6QVA4ljt1bjCgdtUmRTyjM07R88y7ALjkn31t_MolG8UJJrbjkzZ74ZVNZCENIzztULmiZHI2OrxdwfoO_Hsq8og/w400-h315/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As we were waiting to get underway, I saw these birds sitting on the track next to our train. If you look closely, (click on the picture to enlarge it) you can see two eggs beneath the first one. I think the second one is the male. I did some research, and I think they are Little Bronze-Cuckoo birds.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6cqyWSxvCtbEJfMwMwj2SJTCnZwDq7VYEQ6JNc9-LjS-3CP8-Ky-sG9HoIkLNdZXUvuoBCxlGkKz0HODfw5tys9UwQzBTp8z4eZ3X1UeTZsHiHFlU5C1CvcJq5I7sgjclNcfsktbpBBSsr7aFBHkx3YaQ5J4Dhuh7obciGAQIMqfmzr62ItUfxnM0DU/s552/Cairns%20Little%20Bronze-Cuckoo%20on%20train%20track%20with%20egg.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="552" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6cqyWSxvCtbEJfMwMwj2SJTCnZwDq7VYEQ6JNc9-LjS-3CP8-Ky-sG9HoIkLNdZXUvuoBCxlGkKz0HODfw5tys9UwQzBTp8z4eZ3X1UeTZsHiHFlU5C1CvcJq5I7sgjclNcfsktbpBBSsr7aFBHkx3YaQ5J4Dhuh7obciGAQIMqfmzr62ItUfxnM0DU/w400-h370/Cairns%20Little%20Bronze-Cuckoo%20on%20train%20track%20with%20egg.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fwtBdmdTOpEn4otDtl0BXlZj8B6gHvOWN8MPk_9fyN-_tEnwpaedFXXePROjCu3O-D3Aoq0h2jJPbMNk43vZSiQ_QRsnOHuL6xcGvBDZOpTHpFSizU7Zi4hLUV2sq9al7XOKYw3nC_Jcp7kfJLRrABsxxqFuRAdv-GBeSk0nrX8UElE699CpP24TVZg/s4896/Cairns%20Little%20Bronze-Cuckoo%20on%20train%20track.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fwtBdmdTOpEn4otDtl0BXlZj8B6gHvOWN8MPk_9fyN-_tEnwpaedFXXePROjCu3O-D3Aoq0h2jJPbMNk43vZSiQ_QRsnOHuL6xcGvBDZOpTHpFSizU7Zi4hLUV2sq9al7XOKYw3nC_Jcp7kfJLRrABsxxqFuRAdv-GBeSk0nrX8UElE699CpP24TVZg/w400-h300/Cairns%20Little%20Bronze-Cuckoo%20on%20train%20track.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a view of the train from inside the carriage.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUVj3RXrPuQ8Nm1wr6C761ZEOU2_Jwx0vgHW8eR35NrCiiLlvNBUe-PZ3S4QbUCY_p-I7RpEOvVDnYeIjJ3ekT2X8f6JUUynxWrbd41eLfh8g4RiZYdS4Y3HySODV3qLIp_W_Y_UIUcgmFrwj-c4Pz9RyDR6TtxtwutlMi-pse9JDhosBi4LhcPbOaak/s728/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway%20inside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="728" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUVj3RXrPuQ8Nm1wr6C761ZEOU2_Jwx0vgHW8eR35NrCiiLlvNBUe-PZ3S4QbUCY_p-I7RpEOvVDnYeIjJ3ekT2X8f6JUUynxWrbd41eLfh8g4RiZYdS4Y3HySODV3qLIp_W_Y_UIUcgmFrwj-c4Pz9RyDR6TtxtwutlMi-pse9JDhosBi4LhcPbOaak/w400-h301/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway%20inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Stoney Creek Falls. The bridge here is the most outstanding feature of the railway line. When it was completed, a table was set up with a special luncheon for the governor. No speeches were made because the roar of the waterfall was too loud.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC3DHi9mX-tb3TWeT_bF-kgDPzwBWQ42ygfTIjuzjIyBYyRxSHkF4iJs0mKzueSiHx2Gx0F4lOv3hXzd4CPyrVrW62HZII5LCkzOL7xFw33GU-znofK1rFXcsdxzBMhQJX_JDtqIfmLQweHPnNj0w8CHgrOkVV_oiHm71mRSo308U4Rrz0zCz8x00TfI/s950/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway%20Stoney%20Creek%20Falls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="785" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC3DHi9mX-tb3TWeT_bF-kgDPzwBWQ42ygfTIjuzjIyBYyRxSHkF4iJs0mKzueSiHx2Gx0F4lOv3hXzd4CPyrVrW62HZII5LCkzOL7xFw33GU-znofK1rFXcsdxzBMhQJX_JDtqIfmLQweHPnNj0w8CHgrOkVV_oiHm71mRSo308U4Rrz0zCz8x00TfI/w330-h400/Cairns%20Kuranda%20Scenic%20Railway%20Stoney%20Creek%20Falls.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our visit to Cairns was interesting and educational with lots of beautiful scenery. Even though the tender ride back was rough, I'm very glad we got to stop there.</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-64564305391442538372023-12-17T14:44:00.002-06:002024-01-17T09:37:08.734-06:00Great Barrier Reef, Australia - October 27, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">After our stop at Brisbane, we had another day at sea. One of the things I liked about the Royal Princess was the water show they had every night on the pool deck. There was an elevated platform between the two pools that had deck chairs on it during the day. At night, there was a water fountain show set to music and video on the big screen. They had several different shows.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYnkLQPlbuUNUm1FoELGvRiBr_Ukt3j90B3kvlCE_BLsETieViMPsKsNV-QES1I3wdrV2Zuid4ZE2SJ3E7rnCqqxMFzg6Vj60cCzHl7JVy3e9-892wx7wgsoMhKFED6HR1MIPJ2tddOFUl6XEdwXakTFf6Gd_6oW51s9uS1rMhT1CETViodfqkfm2Bpo/s598/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYnkLQPlbuUNUm1FoELGvRiBr_Ukt3j90B3kvlCE_BLsETieViMPsKsNV-QES1I3wdrV2Zuid4ZE2SJ3E7rnCqqxMFzg6Vj60cCzHl7JVy3e9-892wx7wgsoMhKFED6HR1MIPJ2tddOFUl6XEdwXakTFf6Gd_6oW51s9uS1rMhT1CETViodfqkfm2Bpo/w300-h400/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%201.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xx7DXfPFR5iuI2niAKJ3yhAQH8WqpUQ7EtZ_mXNSWxHmxB66aPCsVMmVB3KUEF_0Q8tJVYw0mirp2pPo77lggWEGxVO_DVymYy6x9cuH_RGnNonqyf-iKAC_rLQA5pmx_4eL0nnqangJxHdHuBc4kayd_BV0Go1_BxCQcF9NnbKrNtijFM1HjDiZ4JM/s598/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xx7DXfPFR5iuI2niAKJ3yhAQH8WqpUQ7EtZ_mXNSWxHmxB66aPCsVMmVB3KUEF_0Q8tJVYw0mirp2pPo77lggWEGxVO_DVymYy6x9cuH_RGnNonqyf-iKAC_rLQA5pmx_4eL0nnqangJxHdHuBc4kayd_BV0Go1_BxCQcF9NnbKrNtijFM1HjDiZ4JM/w300-h400/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%202.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvTDdh7bmuKViZIzH_g4fusB7mTpduej_i-EHJqZo-Zwu8zeAVrrIRXftQopUj046m2LfBgB0MgX3HE0QGo5g5q-Ke3oNdi8y-j3Z0feZ8ewApYhIdsWeMlErSblpmXjRTS4UhQRV_QA9ORq4aKQfNxQunBXmiHQ5z08Pdk0B7goLOgHurgRz2OdqKsI/s449/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="449" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvTDdh7bmuKViZIzH_g4fusB7mTpduej_i-EHJqZo-Zwu8zeAVrrIRXftQopUj046m2LfBgB0MgX3HE0QGo5g5q-Ke3oNdi8y-j3Z0feZ8ewApYhIdsWeMlErSblpmXjRTS4UhQRV_QA9ORq4aKQfNxQunBXmiHQ5z08Pdk0B7goLOgHurgRz2OdqKsI/w400-h393/Royal%20Princess%20water%20show%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop was Airlie Beach. This was a tender port. We had booked an all day Great Barrier Reef excursion through the ship. A large catamaran came right to the ship and picked us up for the two hour ride to Hardy Reef.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGOwWzAqpRL9G7kuUJtZmYl8pEwvkBwSy2W3y30gClcgT0RnJ0pNND5LwdjVHirXaUzsSMjSYO2K5Bb45SwJGhawsIqcTr0tgcrU3vUepeeVn0wW8iOEHmrUVRBQsGwPD6lIQNzxwc-oy6YoTu7kqIf3CmTCv7tYrtTIQF5VvQB9z6nCGk74rKWdVKzA/s342/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Hardy%20Reef%20location.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGOwWzAqpRL9G7kuUJtZmYl8pEwvkBwSy2W3y30gClcgT0RnJ0pNND5LwdjVHirXaUzsSMjSYO2K5Bb45SwJGhawsIqcTr0tgcrU3vUepeeVn0wW8iOEHmrUVRBQsGwPD6lIQNzxwc-oy6YoTu7kqIf3CmTCv7tYrtTIQF5VvQB9z6nCGk74rKWdVKzA/s320/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Hardy%20Reef%20location.JPG" width="262" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhqcnTRRgs-rVsQpg1JvOIqk0eIZNMVvr4tUJuC6b6txpzAQWXBkmbj1gQ2AUo8BE4_zQQF_mO5LsOL19qZby5YYTvTkSl3lvlXAj87kRAzum6e3vztT8WtXsznJhAPJNTZQU0BzIUrd28-o6HKGzYrrdi1WhIB-cnhr2aiMuDM10l7uFxdz7-wG1tlQ/s1157/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20cataraman%20to%20get%20to%20Hardy%20Reef.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="1157" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhqcnTRRgs-rVsQpg1JvOIqk0eIZNMVvr4tUJuC6b6txpzAQWXBkmbj1gQ2AUo8BE4_zQQF_mO5LsOL19qZby5YYTvTkSl3lvlXAj87kRAzum6e3vztT8WtXsznJhAPJNTZQU0BzIUrd28-o6HKGzYrrdi1WhIB-cnhr2aiMuDM10l7uFxdz7-wG1tlQ/w400-h180/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20cataraman%20to%20get%20to%20Hardy%20Reef.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world. It's the largest living structure on the planet, and is visible from space. It consists of 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 800 miles. It's home to thousands of species of marine life, including fish, whales, dolphins, and six of the world's seven species of marine turtle.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The catamaran took us out to a permanent platform at Hardy Reef. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-FjRg5owrAR8Bjb82VeJdO0uM7mJnpWG1uX7dmHeadVnKmsTSsrv-1OrNjMR3vaBrlOWe_k5pbK-6Wx_j5uSGXhDY-NtOdw-UlMeYfzz5560Ukb3q5yafID0lVZG8azo7oy53_fPJGBwSUkaLIoqUhwEGKCmYxKebcOUzPEp0zOO0AfcPpMETD64LfQ/s1140/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20snorkeling%20platform.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1140" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-FjRg5owrAR8Bjb82VeJdO0uM7mJnpWG1uX7dmHeadVnKmsTSsrv-1OrNjMR3vaBrlOWe_k5pbK-6Wx_j5uSGXhDY-NtOdw-UlMeYfzz5560Ukb3q5yafID0lVZG8azo7oy53_fPJGBwSUkaLIoqUhwEGKCmYxKebcOUzPEp0zOO0AfcPpMETD64LfQ/w400-h210/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20snorkeling%20platform.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On the platform they handed out snorkel gear and wetsuits to keep you safe from jellyfish stings. The suits made us look like Oompa Loompas. For an additional fee, you could do some beginner scuba. There was also a viewing room on the lower level under the water. We did not see much down there.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9grwL6qDLvz2m3pk60fyeMxE8V-SegWZLUDpdJrB-VOHkcrMp6BR_OSOVSzcp1ys8lgYbsaJhqc9qhi1m5IT3x95UsVmdB3JqwOaAPaxD819GH9-6XQ4OOJCy-lVShfCJu5dearPI4Y-H2vEMW-GEDEy5hUBI8vCe8qjSqDjpJkUIHTsxXMX9Do1Oy0/s3672/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20getting%20ready%20to%20Snorkel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="3111" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9grwL6qDLvz2m3pk60fyeMxE8V-SegWZLUDpdJrB-VOHkcrMp6BR_OSOVSzcp1ys8lgYbsaJhqc9qhi1m5IT3x95UsVmdB3JqwOaAPaxD819GH9-6XQ4OOJCy-lVShfCJu5dearPI4Y-H2vEMW-GEDEy5hUBI8vCe8qjSqDjpJkUIHTsxXMX9Do1Oy0/w339-h400/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20getting%20ready%20to%20Snorkel.JPG" width="339" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJw3gDO5T8x4kSR8Bi5jcS5gjLaeHwung04avyzpvEjWNFPa-3tflWKhDhqszSxxaX2W01XCpniOM95ONT-poQ9SWQdIxKuc39DF7imNx8nRv7i-YpSkdqT0nOJW4EW0d8S6AdcGPWcNBrQzk1aogmXJBs_Edb-ZLfyJUz7jalvg_bLOGkqVIF2zEUcY/s4896/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20Snorkeling.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJw3gDO5T8x4kSR8Bi5jcS5gjLaeHwung04avyzpvEjWNFPa-3tflWKhDhqszSxxaX2W01XCpniOM95ONT-poQ9SWQdIxKuc39DF7imNx8nRv7i-YpSkdqT0nOJW4EW0d8S6AdcGPWcNBrQzk1aogmXJBs_Edb-ZLfyJUz7jalvg_bLOGkqVIF2zEUcY/w400-h300/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20Snorkeling.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kevin is not a fan of snorkeling, but I gave it a try. I've snorkeled a few times before, and am not very good at it. Somehow, I always manage to swallow the salt water which makes me cough a lot. The same thing happened this time. I did manage to stay out for about 30 minutes and saw lots of beautiful colored fish and coral. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There were buoys above the water to help guide you along the outer ledge of the reef. This was the best place to see the fish and coral.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zeM0_maE2pcPTO7J3uuEQMXSXEG-WRFAzspCB44tRcDf3f26IWcCpqJAEvg12fDKOBfphdJKHJi-OeWLJkjSoblKR8WrIEU2-1GA5vDWfUpuHCNGNLKT16WsxZgG2ZpN_XcSS5_FOHOpkpFtnXN8O0lqDIK2-xX2D33U9zALWFEx6KtHyiqDuk23_Zc/s777/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20snorkeling%20area.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="777" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zeM0_maE2pcPTO7J3uuEQMXSXEG-WRFAzspCB44tRcDf3f26IWcCpqJAEvg12fDKOBfphdJKHJi-OeWLJkjSoblKR8WrIEU2-1GA5vDWfUpuHCNGNLKT16WsxZgG2ZpN_XcSS5_FOHOpkpFtnXN8O0lqDIK2-xX2D33U9zALWFEx6KtHyiqDuk23_Zc/w400-h250/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20snorkeling%20area.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had met a couple from Tucson on the boat ride to the reef. The wife was not snorkeling, so the husband offered to be my buddy. He had an underwater camera, and has shared the following pictures with me. Seeing the underwater beauty was something I'll never forget!!</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlhfrTZhthUQ4zQ-Pun0tw940oDs36jHUetjDMUKBxLx7O4PMjZDJW6kScOMDzYNh8OHdKBVaYeJHprf0puzuPG0q_RbTJECqg52ae7VtNAcH6dqB3VbNVvhg44wrwJ1X68yLmRRBHIrje3QG70CgIwYsrwbgmiP45wMhn8Az-3Pu-DH5iNY4seF_GRk/s788/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20snorkeling%20under%20water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="788" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlhfrTZhthUQ4zQ-Pun0tw940oDs36jHUetjDMUKBxLx7O4PMjZDJW6kScOMDzYNh8OHdKBVaYeJHprf0puzuPG0q_RbTJECqg52ae7VtNAcH6dqB3VbNVvhg44wrwJ1X68yLmRRBHIrje3QG70CgIwYsrwbgmiP45wMhn8Az-3Pu-DH5iNY4seF_GRk/w400-h295/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Evelyn%20snorkeling%20under%20water.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-yPHbpPDauWkksEozfJJL_A7j5s7MToUu7o9DQhQ5mHW1g21V8RnVUd63T1IjErqSTD3pD9kuZECnlPW4dDGuzhB8o_egtn9lv30Snqxwy8_28UDW9M8H5PescjfbPkGiZPvDqoL7FQ9V0gFBiNF1VZ1F3KWAevNArOBBfW8T5IbiVMqrDz-l6IxdEM/s753/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%20eel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="753" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-yPHbpPDauWkksEozfJJL_A7j5s7MToUu7o9DQhQ5mHW1g21V8RnVUd63T1IjErqSTD3pD9kuZECnlPW4dDGuzhB8o_egtn9lv30Snqxwy8_28UDW9M8H5PescjfbPkGiZPvDqoL7FQ9V0gFBiNF1VZ1F3KWAevNArOBBfW8T5IbiVMqrDz-l6IxdEM/w400-h293/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%20eel.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An eel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="615" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsK6oV1u0YG6_-zLLnTK2Buykpe7QNCWrVD3bIecQS9thFbTdlREvgdRtXVNygzOJ37Pa8DAbNRTCXlTp_Bc2HXIhNuE2JYuQIMqcd8KMoXnzaaXtjJqq-j2V0AH2TpfG540O4lR67cbC_m283DZhu29vy_8xdQ1kZCJ7-i2-N6X3g_cPzKx3PVccv20/w400-h300/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC0-miQ_0ZNsLaeGgZI33b8ydSeV9It-YQLYqIm9DHFhgrkX63eD3KGz3cV3tk76aLUiZhh18_CPN0pPpFeKAEGonTiAvyR-XVZiRPI2bIiiI0TJEwY_us7xYBtjH24PSvn5fNEnRFGCBkboebd1fDTNehF-7zLouq1iruLAfWDJuGouq3AoxiyKNUUw/s805/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="805" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC0-miQ_0ZNsLaeGgZI33b8ydSeV9It-YQLYqIm9DHFhgrkX63eD3KGz3cV3tk76aLUiZhh18_CPN0pPpFeKAEGonTiAvyR-XVZiRPI2bIiiI0TJEwY_us7xYBtjH24PSvn5fNEnRFGCBkboebd1fDTNehF-7zLouq1iruLAfWDJuGouq3AoxiyKNUUw/w400-h293/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="714" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WkIP-i9cn0mqz0NAnfG_9XM-dsBPiOSD5dUKAOzqznz466PDhgjIWPnuqYytC3cIijVAvWOAITBeVfulEixvU9pN7hKxHWIdV19HsXZjajlFgw-QFf8hJ-n-pqtxQK5_1I3vnVXtTQ7dn2O-0T_PEBGztOo1D2guIJC2BLp18N70Y6eOMNI5AaKFV_M/w400-h286/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6I1PnJv0Lw6tyy7kGxoYoL1m3GOtMxX5x7nK9gQrGQWVQPvr0tuYDCl2MKiI1uL1Jude3AwwDHs1aRNHo7pEALieOYB8iqarv0sP-SZQSFn3DBOT_vm4FfTq07p8Gpovmn3em3lxld9UhxhHH17_XXb58efbdJn0xSEoRjLXubub7XiuOv1qYpAvxzo/s790/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="790" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6I1PnJv0Lw6tyy7kGxoYoL1m3GOtMxX5x7nK9gQrGQWVQPvr0tuYDCl2MKiI1uL1Jude3AwwDHs1aRNHo7pEALieOYB8iqarv0sP-SZQSFn3DBOT_vm4FfTq07p8Gpovmn3em3lxld9UhxhHH17_XXb58efbdJn0xSEoRjLXubub7XiuOv1qYpAvxzo/w400-h297/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsmpDCoSmFKMqohApeyb1cUcmngjoa_44BX5Y2lJTNA3OW8_3uQS86LX-Qa4WTJiWQmC_CNE45hmfCGkeeDX1QJ-0lCApftj6rd54DvdIvvqNFhKoy2cnbqJABq8CwjemZUlygpBh224w4j33jY68W47fHizt5olDTrrbDJuf67r5Hyko31VibLZTjIk/s805/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="805" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsmpDCoSmFKMqohApeyb1cUcmngjoa_44BX5Y2lJTNA3OW8_3uQS86LX-Qa4WTJiWQmC_CNE45hmfCGkeeDX1QJ-0lCApftj6rd54DvdIvvqNFhKoy2cnbqJABq8CwjemZUlygpBh224w4j33jY68W47fHizt5olDTrrbDJuf67r5Hyko31VibLZTjIk/w400-h272/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs9EW3bazCVPp-3i9o6QFlJ6tms-YCaVZl4sS9qYdWHNPs0oF8YYBzMzRozbsp3GwE3gQAnuyJ-fHVnmIyBLLyUfOPMRAgBxg_P-RTEeDpq6M9mvIHIrpAohfZDXXvJcZQpVO44XF6mJlNVYmCEq1EbXsdbp_czWMzQZp-QN-JwMz1Ijiai31giyoO9w/s516/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs9EW3bazCVPp-3i9o6QFlJ6tms-YCaVZl4sS9qYdWHNPs0oF8YYBzMzRozbsp3GwE3gQAnuyJ-fHVnmIyBLLyUfOPMRAgBxg_P-RTEeDpq6M9mvIHIrpAohfZDXXvJcZQpVO44XF6mJlNVYmCEq1EbXsdbp_czWMzQZp-QN-JwMz1Ijiai31giyoO9w/w314-h400/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2017.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt7rzzV7jb33c0D4J2Tf4VzDJWZ3A1DkY-0xFUgoejrUXKomSi4I5ixJIPTxh4obLK39Nt1mQNoHfsZ3jBUF68m-FlUR6jmfpFiyIC_7FX46AiLXxkFm7J9D54OSb5FA5kFdKZr06ZNQoW1_apC8M82w2I30g1lw8Ctpm15EbX6BFElLlaBZ_kMzUk3A/s784/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="784" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt7rzzV7jb33c0D4J2Tf4VzDJWZ3A1DkY-0xFUgoejrUXKomSi4I5ixJIPTxh4obLK39Nt1mQNoHfsZ3jBUF68m-FlUR6jmfpFiyIC_7FX46AiLXxkFm7J9D54OSb5FA5kFdKZr06ZNQoW1_apC8M82w2I30g1lw8Ctpm15EbX6BFElLlaBZ_kMzUk3A/w400-h309/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20under%20water%2018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was surprised how much of the coral you could see from the top. When the tide is low, some of the coral is exposed to the sun. This kills that coral, which is the part you can see from the top.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz7aG6JPO0E5gZHrl9DduDReClv4Tj_HTFThHm2p7AckdwQvZ7eBwMBJIkRvSA6NPqZi4fjMefd1PGHPWGofbIgtvjwViaNeN3PTVw8JQEbJfcnIW6ecSjG6P_9Brn-zdUdnMBjZPIwD64bXTJru8RdD-xtWbVRTMr1Xjylaf9ZkNC8IA6s_V2nFQv_s/s1089/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Hardy%20Reef%20low%20tide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="1089" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihz7aG6JPO0E5gZHrl9DduDReClv4Tj_HTFThHm2p7AckdwQvZ7eBwMBJIkRvSA6NPqZi4fjMefd1PGHPWGofbIgtvjwViaNeN3PTVw8JQEbJfcnIW6ecSjG6P_9Brn-zdUdnMBjZPIwD64bXTJru8RdD-xtWbVRTMr1Xjylaf9ZkNC8IA6s_V2nFQv_s/w400-h188/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Hardy%20Reef%20low%20tide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLud0jAfLttE5vP47kkLpo8zvYpf8kMuNA7zeuqTLIDKz8YFPl2XswPXfmVAhu4m2kK0k86EaP4sYkiLVbNTsWbTntknd9zwKJZZptlbFA_yRh10XsgjvUWa5_ug2VFsN1PkdLK7VXUyKlBL-oWB5ugpXRGHNZ61EacxN8kQKsv85M53FQCPV3ApI-dA/s760/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20platform%20and%20Hardy%20Reef.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="760" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLud0jAfLttE5vP47kkLpo8zvYpf8kMuNA7zeuqTLIDKz8YFPl2XswPXfmVAhu4m2kK0k86EaP4sYkiLVbNTsWbTntknd9zwKJZZptlbFA_yRh10XsgjvUWa5_ug2VFsN1PkdLK7VXUyKlBL-oWB5ugpXRGHNZ61EacxN8kQKsv85M53FQCPV3ApI-dA/w400-h286/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20platform%20and%20Hardy%20Reef.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUc3v1rez_I4XegsF-FD_nI1TcWunr_1Zs4wAtLlv6a0fZ10Pk3Ylgjn49F4NsV9Tk39SQqWceVUkA05m4wcbKUa9fOQepPWsPTy9QjOAcwzhh_4fbuQFKEU5uTE2NeIoA25qHeaT0jgb7UpSaODy2IMj9bfPNasWNkw8Y0wHkZm6lt_dXp4JRdB8UfxU/s4896/Great%20Barrier%20Reef.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUc3v1rez_I4XegsF-FD_nI1TcWunr_1Zs4wAtLlv6a0fZ10Pk3Ylgjn49F4NsV9Tk39SQqWceVUkA05m4wcbKUa9fOQepPWsPTy9QjOAcwzhh_4fbuQFKEU5uTE2NeIoA25qHeaT0jgb7UpSaODy2IMj9bfPNasWNkw8Y0wHkZm6lt_dXp4JRdB8UfxU/w400-h300/Great%20Barrier%20Reef.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBbpSliilIGv3A0JJr-WC15LiCvbH0cGu9a1j71EiN0UEW8F6D2MA0084D-F8WwM0BsZvsdPsHZS13irVKm9RxeCJbavXwbaVpvqmz2Kiwbr36ZXEjD58cOQXYAVVSjUzJGKu5OVbZDopvD9e8CkKPkZ4qBEsOSVldRRUNstOEhoIjBg-r2U3XXOUNJk/s598/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBbpSliilIGv3A0JJr-WC15LiCvbH0cGu9a1j71EiN0UEW8F6D2MA0084D-F8WwM0BsZvsdPsHZS13irVKm9RxeCJbavXwbaVpvqmz2Kiwbr36ZXEjD58cOQXYAVVSjUzJGKu5OVbZDopvD9e8CkKPkZ4qBEsOSVldRRUNstOEhoIjBg-r2U3XXOUNJk/w376-h400/Great%20Barrier%20Reef%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It was such an amazing experience to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. One of those once in a lifetime experiences! </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The evening ended with a beautiful sunset!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK4KzeOruiA5KorRYXL09F1I1ASDddl1CuY6PapoXK-HXD218YRhriSA8dkc3b3qsORZ1bMCCiOapmqk-clBiE3nE7Pjf6kdtynVrzS7KV4YD_9C1TjBJwuUE3m7ItJRnOMpmTd4H18uNGb79K9cDL3co5FOuSGT3yIibFYHL7k03lbl2PXRr7XPd-Ss/s268/Sunset%20from%20our%20balcony%20Oct.%2028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="268" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK4KzeOruiA5KorRYXL09F1I1ASDddl1CuY6PapoXK-HXD218YRhriSA8dkc3b3qsORZ1bMCCiOapmqk-clBiE3nE7Pjf6kdtynVrzS7KV4YD_9C1TjBJwuUE3m7ItJRnOMpmTd4H18uNGb79K9cDL3co5FOuSGT3yIibFYHL7k03lbl2PXRr7XPd-Ss/w400-h300/Sunset%20from%20our%20balcony%20Oct.%2028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop will be Cairns where we will be visiting a tropical rainforest.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p></div></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-61652038773392536052023-12-10T09:38:00.001-06:002023-12-17T14:46:32.289-06:00Brisbane, Australia - October 25, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">After leaving Sydney, we had one day at sea before reaching Brisbane at 7 am. We had booked an excursion through the ship to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Zoo to see native Australian animals. The sanctuary was opened in 1927 by Queenslander, Claude Reid. At the time, wild koalas were being culled for the fur trade. Claude decided something had to be done to protect them. Today they have native Australian mammals, birds and reptiles along with barn animals. We saw lots of school groups learning about the animals.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5OudrtjV7FfR0wA96Jv5V17wamVhYeH2nKiGBqOqVa9U9e_QZvjVPT86cJ-AB8tnlXfnlr9pHEGy1RdrgA7CWqettfzGjNIyemsjGmi0ngz0K5KxyCXP90ehyphenhyphen1Rmp5Iky4gzqclqYfyuvlzP2g1DwHondFAmMU7isSm5oEfyLr5FeAFmWZnQU3-t674/s607/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5OudrtjV7FfR0wA96Jv5V17wamVhYeH2nKiGBqOqVa9U9e_QZvjVPT86cJ-AB8tnlXfnlr9pHEGy1RdrgA7CWqettfzGjNIyemsjGmi0ngz0K5KxyCXP90ehyphenhyphen1Rmp5Iky4gzqclqYfyuvlzP2g1DwHondFAmMU7isSm5oEfyLr5FeAFmWZnQU3-t674/w300-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20entrance.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You can have your picture taken holding a koala. This sells out quickly, and can be booked online in advance. Our tour only allowed us two hours at the zoo, which was just not enough time to do the picture and try to see all of the exhibits. There were also several educational presentations that we were not able to see due to lack of time. Our ship didn't leave the port until 5 pm, so there would have been plenty of time to allow us to stay at the zoo longer. I did find a way to have my picture taken with a koala at the gift shop.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT-Q4jjdHpnX7q1k6RVk3LLs_B8drTHXaT9BBlb0zgoibWDcgFjx4L9iB6iATL8Lmj-Ic57VAjldNbRx7STdG0W93UjueWkIql3a9AWxG4EN6qtlGsIBf7Z4shgCiUn474NgRhrrp0u19606LTPKLJRxb22i1WnDDvfb5VcIDyrME4KRa2yPOGMfGgg0/s607/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Evelyn%20with%20koala%20stuffed%20animal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="490" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT-Q4jjdHpnX7q1k6RVk3LLs_B8drTHXaT9BBlb0zgoibWDcgFjx4L9iB6iATL8Lmj-Ic57VAjldNbRx7STdG0W93UjueWkIql3a9AWxG4EN6qtlGsIBf7Z4shgCiUn474NgRhrrp0u19606LTPKLJRxb22i1WnDDvfb5VcIDyrME4KRa2yPOGMfGgg0/w323-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Evelyn%20with%20koala%20stuffed%20animal.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It was so interesting to see the koalas in the eucalyptus trees. I read that the reason they are so lethargic is that the eucalyptus is low in nutrients and takes a great deal of energy to digest. I was lucky to get one photo of two of them both looking at the camera. Most of them were sleepily hanging in the trees.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials more closely related to kangaroos and possums than bears. The koala joeys eat their mom's poo to get the bacteria they need to digest the eucalyptus leaves. This is called pap feeding. Glad human babies don't do that!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmRYs6f29hxpc3MApf1n92b5a52f65Hhx2oEEgIpcUfgCdKHZqRL2-aUWLAx9CCSpTwHPyXr1v5u7fOh8kTvf59Vy8503zDK8U1CrdsvK8MM-jBRvc12C1-uBc69IYG6mGviS0EKwUb794udpwzQiSvQESK9VxLwIMiTDFkbvkyLh4xq753Mee0w9yGs/s607/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%202%20awake%20koalas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="395" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmRYs6f29hxpc3MApf1n92b5a52f65Hhx2oEEgIpcUfgCdKHZqRL2-aUWLAx9CCSpTwHPyXr1v5u7fOh8kTvf59Vy8503zDK8U1CrdsvK8MM-jBRvc12C1-uBc69IYG6mGviS0EKwUb794udpwzQiSvQESK9VxLwIMiTDFkbvkyLh4xq753Mee0w9yGs/w260-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%202%20awake%20koalas.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDxqfw-CI6LYWuPseZUQQFBQkUOi9FK8HyR5UF2uVXIbAgjiqfgGBlqebgwCKccZLbuBwKIpPLsDFdgPVZC47SHHwlU18r9c6dRwAshcJBW-S6d-bqJKXyrzKUMfYO1PrZFH-Banvx1DoTf1w9nPryBdK04MKfpDkY7siShsIS_gDf-24Ls7CETKzR3w/s4896/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20hanging%20koala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDxqfw-CI6LYWuPseZUQQFBQkUOi9FK8HyR5UF2uVXIbAgjiqfgGBlqebgwCKccZLbuBwKIpPLsDFdgPVZC47SHHwlU18r9c6dRwAshcJBW-S6d-bqJKXyrzKUMfYO1PrZFH-Banvx1DoTf1w9nPryBdK04MKfpDkY7siShsIS_gDf-24Ls7CETKzR3w/w400-h300/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20hanging%20koala.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhi3N39sNzSGTA4jbmWULJ-ybMI_GE20FegTPhqg6zqy7RxSypXufQKaB1BOIWB3zJ0SAEwLtykyoGYXZDbIZ_1yDv51uEPsKWQ6pv2me6cubbH1T4tRf77PP84Du1m4iX1by0Pk6apmFiEmil7VATaQGJvyJ9LzrZgPo9rb4jsl8Udnpi5iNRrsrjuY/s4896/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20sleeping%20koala%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhi3N39sNzSGTA4jbmWULJ-ybMI_GE20FegTPhqg6zqy7RxSypXufQKaB1BOIWB3zJ0SAEwLtykyoGYXZDbIZ_1yDv51uEPsKWQ6pv2me6cubbH1T4tRf77PP84Du1m4iX1by0Pk6apmFiEmil7VATaQGJvyJ9LzrZgPo9rb4jsl8Udnpi5iNRrsrjuY/w400-h300/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20sleeping%20koala%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tLzIaVukkfx1QMZryqondJ-6JcDsQHOU4ZJi4VX1xJFkO3pkduuU4JBtC_qFN_wKm8qO3nhpy82OvZJPWEHi0vLIBwWsFoxmFywOC4ZbtAHTDForbFmuJeYZexs8kmlNnnjpRJkiRkyWjyXAQVB6mmJXdhqUrCYuj3sQ7BTUqHo2duGkl1FW8tV_Ags/s522/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20sleeping%20koala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="444" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tLzIaVukkfx1QMZryqondJ-6JcDsQHOU4ZJi4VX1xJFkO3pkduuU4JBtC_qFN_wKm8qO3nhpy82OvZJPWEHi0vLIBwWsFoxmFywOC4ZbtAHTDForbFmuJeYZexs8kmlNnnjpRJkiRkyWjyXAQVB6mmJXdhqUrCYuj3sQ7BTUqHo2duGkl1FW8tV_Ags/w340-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20sleeping%20koala.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a huge fenced in area with gray and red kangaroos and wallabies. I think most of them were the red kangaroos. I couldn't tell if I actually saw any wallabies. Again, there were many school groups inside feeding and petting the kangaroos. I was surprised how tame they were. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4iJDhBenJ2dL0afK7Ou0k-k_-iEMgVygVVpUDoGhK-1zSPEtluqX151Mded7_1mzjL-JfdsH3qLQlAgZBUaWMvrtVTExB3An_ShCXecp2dzaYYYn8rmuBOcdSIMUjRtoHrfRipxbqAESATs3NWziE4NUq2tgpVMz5TpVNRPdw61vnr8Uib4ft3emc88/s560/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Evelyn%20petting%20kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4iJDhBenJ2dL0afK7Ou0k-k_-iEMgVygVVpUDoGhK-1zSPEtluqX151Mded7_1mzjL-JfdsH3qLQlAgZBUaWMvrtVTExB3An_ShCXecp2dzaYYYn8rmuBOcdSIMUjRtoHrfRipxbqAESATs3NWziE4NUq2tgpVMz5TpVNRPdw61vnr8Uib4ft3emc88/w365-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Evelyn%20petting%20kangaroo.jpg" width="365" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">A few of the female kangaroos actually had a baby Joey in their pouch looking out at us. How cool is that!!!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc79VSbZ0AGqjYYiGDd1yDQikNMLpYj2DyvswQKuRL4fJAF-o989J2H9rSzdQL6jQ-BFUe7ZRYD0SNAlLoPCJlBhHMy5GKAIzDVoySIMmZlvGprBlX5t6HSUXdt6crvILfhstfeDutPSaBoBf4TmU7ng5T18nFPjmRORKvESH8OBuKxnZRIY2G2mxWdo/s4896/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20kangaroo%20with%20joey%20in%20pouch%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc79VSbZ0AGqjYYiGDd1yDQikNMLpYj2DyvswQKuRL4fJAF-o989J2H9rSzdQL6jQ-BFUe7ZRYD0SNAlLoPCJlBhHMy5GKAIzDVoySIMmZlvGprBlX5t6HSUXdt6crvILfhstfeDutPSaBoBf4TmU7ng5T18nFPjmRORKvESH8OBuKxnZRIY2G2mxWdo/w400-h300/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20kangaroo%20with%20joey%20in%20pouch%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjal33osgLKbY0L4VxL8agC-3l2b0SnkBhSVpLKJjHicHXZtR764agycihzKaFNZ_YsJ9lE1PyRSF4pLRAU3pTzy_Au_t4WAifavevz2k9MKIOu6qG4RqIv1Cl5zFMRDdN7p6H2SjI0ZpZgawfYlopzN7qiGLu3XIpRmJO0YmmXOUfQDzwGQ5V-RYO1Rn0/s313/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20kangaroo%20with%20joey%20in%20pouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="313" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjal33osgLKbY0L4VxL8agC-3l2b0SnkBhSVpLKJjHicHXZtR764agycihzKaFNZ_YsJ9lE1PyRSF4pLRAU3pTzy_Au_t4WAifavevz2k9MKIOu6qG4RqIv1Cl5zFMRDdN7p6H2SjI0ZpZgawfYlopzN7qiGLu3XIpRmJO0YmmXOUfQDzwGQ5V-RYO1Rn0/w400-h380/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20kangaroo%20with%20joey%20in%20pouch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There was also an emu in with the kangaroos. They are one of the largest birds in the world, are flightless, and can run over 30 mph. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR94Lvip_sM_tcZBQH5BUiHPw2Nd_FfR5DrdWOKrJaNqH4ejq249hznYcnuODJ-CWbKb3MCpDqxwFkp3f_z9RlR2rbbf6f0aFvGd4TVQ6Xx6cfB9HWe6p4o3DIq7rNY40fVPOf1Fio-Dc2CtwpVvyw7xszZgnQnIHzDyJaYUMEqWXMnxCtiYI_k-_0Mo/s585/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Emu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="490" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR94Lvip_sM_tcZBQH5BUiHPw2Nd_FfR5DrdWOKrJaNqH4ejq249hznYcnuODJ-CWbKb3MCpDqxwFkp3f_z9RlR2rbbf6f0aFvGd4TVQ6Xx6cfB9HWe6p4o3DIq7rNY40fVPOf1Fio-Dc2CtwpVvyw7xszZgnQnIHzDyJaYUMEqWXMnxCtiYI_k-_0Mo/w335-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Emu.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was racing around the place trying to see as many of the animals as possible. A tree kangaroo (which I'd never heard of) was hanging up in a tree.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0FoJhhXGS7Zxgub4Xv9Gh836DO94fpOC7jbVINuHTvqre-G90l1RFpAaJ36VRdlz4Id7wmQmy896HMDShlBnKZmu7lEz_g6-b2TE2U0iMPZ5LnHcNbqlfQG_CTXNZxrfgLG590jQNNV31rsavaRliBX6f1xvR42vqHiTPwBEr6xaxfWL0JCf1G6Q1pY/s4896/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20tree%20kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4896" data-original-width="3672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0FoJhhXGS7Zxgub4Xv9Gh836DO94fpOC7jbVINuHTvqre-G90l1RFpAaJ36VRdlz4Id7wmQmy896HMDShlBnKZmu7lEz_g6-b2TE2U0iMPZ5LnHcNbqlfQG_CTXNZxrfgLG590jQNNV31rsavaRliBX6f1xvR42vqHiTPwBEr6xaxfWL0JCf1G6Q1pY/w300-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20tree%20kangaroo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a large area for Tasmanian devils, but we never saw one. A zookeeper working in the area told us they hide under the bridges during the day to escape the heat.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bo9oGnWldhXcf1r89WOIQWvpgG5wm7ykY_bMbVBF2kOWQICD5jpzMsyihfy7UMFK-JECpIepEqFldHxLad1Va_hkB-02qtfR_bkQzjDuJtYfdyWJ5ezLUfrwc9pgngzpAs25BlmV3jcivVQmzI2OkYNdlN2itKvJSr6e-a4TD3Lvbp9WXAI3hyphenhyphen1DGAY/s4896/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Tasmanian%20Devil%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bo9oGnWldhXcf1r89WOIQWvpgG5wm7ykY_bMbVBF2kOWQICD5jpzMsyihfy7UMFK-JECpIepEqFldHxLad1Va_hkB-02qtfR_bkQzjDuJtYfdyWJ5ezLUfrwc9pgngzpAs25BlmV3jcivVQmzI2OkYNdlN2itKvJSr6e-a4TD3Lvbp9WXAI3hyphenhyphen1DGAY/w400-h300/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Tasmanian%20Devil%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were a lot of birds in large cages. It was hard to get pictures of them through the wires. This is a Cassowary. They are endangered with only about 4,000 left in the wild. They are flightless and about the same size as an emu, but weigh twice as much. Their kick is powerful enough to break bones and kill. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFat2_86NW8Ui33hAc8pM7MdFycpn0dgMqcqz_uzZwEhQpqrYMpjNb-ms_ps6cWKlmH2_WpH7_RpEklu-UkmldZPFLq8OOqq9jAGLgCA8IJMuYKshPwq5lBvbPHYTQVmb08_FaF1Gzse3QwmlrUf_DSwKXRMDnYYBTXCjtXqFAgQ3HrwaIN1V_oUoyPpQ/s4896/Brisbane%20Cassowary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFat2_86NW8Ui33hAc8pM7MdFycpn0dgMqcqz_uzZwEhQpqrYMpjNb-ms_ps6cWKlmH2_WpH7_RpEklu-UkmldZPFLq8OOqq9jAGLgCA8IJMuYKshPwq5lBvbPHYTQVmb08_FaF1Gzse3QwmlrUf_DSwKXRMDnYYBTXCjtXqFAgQ3HrwaIN1V_oUoyPpQ/w400-h300/Brisbane%20Cassowary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1CYTxyuZn5iUirkfaIGfRTlf1Pkwtq24xbTen8XJ7Tj6L_1DQrkZalTPFuCO_m_cuPOZizEw6yeNy8x07KknJLx27jJBjqmMu3rXm2mP1XjXUKvMYKigNuLalvzutg-C9FpOdQmC6DN4M3qohChsnzM-7ZYFAvOriU5NDn2RhfpDwu2mdEEt4x9tEpQ/s607/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Gang-gang%20Cockatoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1CYTxyuZn5iUirkfaIGfRTlf1Pkwtq24xbTen8XJ7Tj6L_1DQrkZalTPFuCO_m_cuPOZizEw6yeNy8x07KknJLx27jJBjqmMu3rXm2mP1XjXUKvMYKigNuLalvzutg-C9FpOdQmC6DN4M3qohChsnzM-7ZYFAvOriU5NDn2RhfpDwu2mdEEt4x9tEpQ/w333-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Gang-gang%20Cockatoo.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gang-gang Cockatoo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Several dingoes were lying around in their houses and pens. They looked so innocent. I overheard an Australian woman saying that the dingoes have been a real problem in the outback, even attacking children.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh48G-zlo2j5MnQs358cZ9PCFf7Mk2EsL2P7KW7Q3SeElWqYnUVZzg4ZKDS7nssXY5frhzySmGN-SOowWzFQy0jYGcCNcZdlMJEBqVK5wBAe3_o5PoTGyoMu-fQa1BxeidFH5Cdm0jREuBjtTZr-fXQu5_KXxsx2ckbKMRHkQMZzqP9tzoj2WBqHPS4TY/s607/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Dingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh48G-zlo2j5MnQs358cZ9PCFf7Mk2EsL2P7KW7Q3SeElWqYnUVZzg4ZKDS7nssXY5frhzySmGN-SOowWzFQy0jYGcCNcZdlMJEBqVK5wBAe3_o5PoTGyoMu-fQa1BxeidFH5Cdm0jREuBjtTZr-fXQu5_KXxsx2ckbKMRHkQMZzqP9tzoj2WBqHPS4TY/w299-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20%20Dingo.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We saw this large crocodile, but Crocodile Dundee was nowhere to be seen. He must have been out in the wilderness wrestling with the wild crocodiles.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzM_Sv1JX30gxHeeoYZOlvLLWNmu61xtHDqBcMX3_tBT_OobgK1XZ_NWG2MK_Tmpb6BAa_9s3L_F1K3TnMOIA78a6EaCWvk378GJ9p959SIh89PKoTgwVfKQQm47HrtGUfmydpyw47BGiFQQF5OIrmZnSUnzjfdO-7c_coWj7-dPRG2oCgqstpvRqxZk/s537/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Crocodile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzM_Sv1JX30gxHeeoYZOlvLLWNmu61xtHDqBcMX3_tBT_OobgK1XZ_NWG2MK_Tmpb6BAa_9s3L_F1K3TnMOIA78a6EaCWvk378GJ9p959SIh89PKoTgwVfKQQm47HrtGUfmydpyw47BGiFQQF5OIrmZnSUnzjfdO-7c_coWj7-dPRG2oCgqstpvRqxZk/w374-h400/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Crocodile.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Australian Brush Turkeys were wandering around among the tourists scavaging for food. They were not at all afraid of people; like pigeons, only larger.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vo4RhcV4E08uAi7yT9bE3veeg-ZUz1uqOq2pljolusFu2SjTc4Vc3bRiBIEhD7dIZD9Ayk8ZVwGP3xJBFZpOdUs86EjPUbO-Imv5VgfYfPMrGoBGOsjvQL45FXAW0zfEcxmDeKYm-6vh9Fss3hvmo1VSDnGi-B2JtqqEb-l224utvpXcqTwjR0ZSxcM/s675/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Australian%20Brush%20Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="675" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vo4RhcV4E08uAi7yT9bE3veeg-ZUz1uqOq2pljolusFu2SjTc4Vc3bRiBIEhD7dIZD9Ayk8ZVwGP3xJBFZpOdUs86EjPUbO-Imv5VgfYfPMrGoBGOsjvQL45FXAW0zfEcxmDeKYm-6vh9Fss3hvmo1VSDnGi-B2JtqqEb-l224utvpXcqTwjR0ZSxcM/w400-h283/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Australian%20Brush%20Turkey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a perentie lizard, Australia's largest lizard. I wouldn't want to run across him in the wild!!!</span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5oGw7_pn-H-oQY3EUH8Vf7C3Okse7SqCN7AHJBmmvmi21bmV5O7zinFSIQt83r9elVN85Y255f8RZjLitVWFZPzHPxoMhv_abs2B-H5nk7Gqs4d7gkhBagXLVsi_2scbeeEUbBpdYFcHTV-kLunmZWMzgoba1oh4AwKSsDXQW5o6nMoCc14D5ffeP4g/s739/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Perentie.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="739" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5oGw7_pn-H-oQY3EUH8Vf7C3Okse7SqCN7AHJBmmvmi21bmV5O7zinFSIQt83r9elVN85Y255f8RZjLitVWFZPzHPxoMhv_abs2B-H5nk7Gqs4d7gkhBagXLVsi_2scbeeEUbBpdYFcHTV-kLunmZWMzgoba1oh4AwKSsDXQW5o6nMoCc14D5ffeP4g/w400-h259/Brisbane%20Lone%20Pine%20Koala%20Sanctuary%20Perentie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought the name of the bus company was cute.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-cwLHkflRbvqrGJXmP8Rchyphenhyphen-dUJpqPV4ASAtdWbg2XrcukXAKmlq6M8xuWALy-GkVBiAq15rg-KHsErUSA7bsRjOy2R4tpqgz8jQ2HRFOGij4qSgW_FhFc8i5z9C1D6T-mQ9gYwlOqVpLPoXTjHNQW14wMIDbXxYU06liEhEmBtR0XIv1BMoKgWePNc/s809/Brisbane%20bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-cwLHkflRbvqrGJXmP8Rchyphenhyphen-dUJpqPV4ASAtdWbg2XrcukXAKmlq6M8xuWALy-GkVBiAq15rg-KHsErUSA7bsRjOy2R4tpqgz8jQ2HRFOGij4qSgW_FhFc8i5z9C1D6T-mQ9gYwlOqVpLPoXTjHNQW14wMIDbXxYU06liEhEmBtR0XIv1BMoKgWePNc/w400-h300/Brisbane%20bus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">On the way back to the ship, we stopped at a lookout for a view of the city of Brisbane. It is the capital of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia.</span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqrCiYw6h8uWpN_R8fDSFDHtOkZq8zsXnXtQSlrcYeGZyxs6mfqPtF7bxCURD0r_YoFVdXEWXyumhAPbbbmMDImgwCUVGt3ulRHPnoAK9BzDzoZnHGBfJKhtkqb5QlD8JIO8tkrQC5V6PudmD2dQVLGEJhIPvm54stxE6QCF3oyQadboIbKtVSApLUog/s1104/Brisbane%20skyline%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1104" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqrCiYw6h8uWpN_R8fDSFDHtOkZq8zsXnXtQSlrcYeGZyxs6mfqPtF7bxCURD0r_YoFVdXEWXyumhAPbbbmMDImgwCUVGt3ulRHPnoAK9BzDzoZnHGBfJKhtkqb5QlD8JIO8tkrQC5V6PudmD2dQVLGEJhIPvm54stxE6QCF3oyQadboIbKtVSApLUog/w400-h194/Brisbane%20skyline%20view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">While we were at sea, we watched two of the chefs carve some fruit sculptures.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSNK2owvVWmbfWB6nrhxTWoo3UhTpyTJPCztf-sxsqOSQzadViEh2PDSbFoWX9japidDK7KqEEEDXls0JwgbDe2KcgfIRam5khDLQ75w6BIo7IfEUDb283d5JYvWm0InyPJ41Ztgh1W-BrSJpgZjgsrDQff7yJ_dAwtm6qmB7Y-6Hv0MkhW1woJnzbbM/s716/Brisbane%20ship%20food%20carvings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="716" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSNK2owvVWmbfWB6nrhxTWoo3UhTpyTJPCztf-sxsqOSQzadViEh2PDSbFoWX9japidDK7KqEEEDXls0JwgbDe2KcgfIRam5khDLQ75w6BIo7IfEUDb283d5JYvWm0InyPJ41Ztgh1W-BrSJpgZjgsrDQff7yJ_dAwtm6qmB7Y-6Hv0MkhW1woJnzbbM/w400-h297/Brisbane%20ship%20food%20carvings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Italian Captain was present at the traditional Princess champagne fountain event. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHbKkGqnfU3OOg4aiYBk9dVpyefYaDz6s9Gy3JUgZgnUFZ7DdyiXRzGJtP6kUct4HAsUbH8bmZduRralbukjC6t2Au9j9bH1VyDg0FwlSNk16iv1M3ReuZIe1mGGXWy-CmG-8AeL6nurppY67zBkGFlHkK3dmj_ifC0mK8dlU-JsT41pQBZocE2lmeeY/s449/Brisbane%20ship%20captain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHbKkGqnfU3OOg4aiYBk9dVpyefYaDz6s9Gy3JUgZgnUFZ7DdyiXRzGJtP6kUct4HAsUbH8bmZduRralbukjC6t2Au9j9bH1VyDg0FwlSNk16iv1M3ReuZIe1mGGXWy-CmG-8AeL6nurppY67zBkGFlHkK3dmj_ifC0mK8dlU-JsT41pQBZocE2lmeeY/w256-h400/Brisbane%20ship%20captain.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought it would be fun to see the champagne flowing all the way to the bottom of the glasses. However, once the captain and another officer emptied two bottles over the glasses, they had a long line of passengers who were elite status come up and pour about 2 seconds each. This looked like it was going to take forever, so we moved along.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_HHDYf8Php0g9T7E4Hb6a5NXBMyJmsY1dpCqovkaFJdk3fPP9zRmhW-X2ncKpH9aM4rImvbbytOx7tn1N27w6Av-v9cCSk7foGlN8T__l9yBP-RlVOibiBq-yaRyXv7TCkYbxZF8BrcegicR4g3LO-Aq5Ml85Ss5omlVbBG2LXA7MqVGeh0ep2fC5c4/s531/Brisbane%20ship%20captain%20pouring%20champagne%20fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_HHDYf8Php0g9T7E4Hb6a5NXBMyJmsY1dpCqovkaFJdk3fPP9zRmhW-X2ncKpH9aM4rImvbbytOx7tn1N27w6Av-v9cCSk7foGlN8T__l9yBP-RlVOibiBq-yaRyXv7TCkYbxZF8BrcegicR4g3LO-Aq5Ml85Ss5omlVbBG2LXA7MqVGeh0ep2fC5c4/w380-h400/Brisbane%20ship%20captain%20pouring%20champagne%20fountain.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Next stop Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef!</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-32880776446779626442023-11-26T13:53:00.006-06:002023-11-26T13:53:33.461-06:00Sydney, Australia - October, 2023<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Hawaii on Wednesday, October 18th at 9:30 am and arrived at our hotel in Sydney at 9 pm on Thursday, October 19th. We lost a day crossing the International Date Line. The jet lag wasn't that bad because even though we lost an entire day, we were only actually about four hours ahead of Hawaii time. So confusing!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We stayed four nights before our cruise at a very nice hotel called View Sydney in North Sydney, just north of the Harbor Bridge. The view from our room was spectacular during the day and also at night. The train station was only half a block from our hotel. It's super easy to ride the train and very inexpensive. We road the train several times to get across the bridge to Circular Quay, which is the main tourist area and where the cruise ship docked.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vrZA-llqLlk4ud91v8oXl5nTLCs7IidLmM9HeJXsPoKBPnGXacMn0Way6yejIFUXB_FfGZS5FQYFg9t_MtT_J4Wh7e339DYiP9QyS1ui4GzQqfqdMN4L4YmrCpvW3UeY5of3sc5eW6yCMnV7NBANI1o77gX3lQisPbq46FI8JhuYKbPdmyx0reRsULQ/s772/Sydney%20view%20from%20View%20Sydney%20hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="772" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vrZA-llqLlk4ud91v8oXl5nTLCs7IidLmM9HeJXsPoKBPnGXacMn0Way6yejIFUXB_FfGZS5FQYFg9t_MtT_J4Wh7e339DYiP9QyS1ui4GzQqfqdMN4L4YmrCpvW3UeY5of3sc5eW6yCMnV7NBANI1o77gX3lQisPbq46FI8JhuYKbPdmyx0reRsULQ/w400-h271/Sydney%20view%20from%20View%20Sydney%20hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmYA1cjVaoTmatjxXKjFN2UmpCbUxMRjeThm4VOHSk2HcM1KibMU3cU3c5gf7mmy4rmJgHaEkjVlQ1J1_VTvaU1rR_-UuDQ9kxDWf-lFjHF7-WWqxpgJWs0QYqjbOgHNloMxfu6m3PJeeaXNW33gBg8qLikZolBYd2_XQwrUBPSAKcCDO5Nxdf0XMDuE/s807/Sydney%20night%20view%20from%20our%20hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="807" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmYA1cjVaoTmatjxXKjFN2UmpCbUxMRjeThm4VOHSk2HcM1KibMU3cU3c5gf7mmy4rmJgHaEkjVlQ1J1_VTvaU1rR_-UuDQ9kxDWf-lFjHF7-WWqxpgJWs0QYqjbOgHNloMxfu6m3PJeeaXNW33gBg8qLikZolBYd2_XQwrUBPSAKcCDO5Nxdf0XMDuE/w400-h271/Sydney%20night%20view%20from%20our%20hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The first day we actually walked across the Harbor Bridge from our hotel. We got a bit lost on the way back, and ended up walking over seven miles. After that, we took the train!! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is an adventure you can book to walk over the top of the bridge. We saw lots of people up there. Not good for my fear of heights, plus it was about $200 each to do it. No thanks!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BHHY7Gcg7MhYvRmsJ0RezjCmTR-lKuF1K6FLTA1XlvctQLnRr5IB63UfsGQlram8ynB-bwnIdn02fHzaeCi4bT8hQ5N1SpNtAaZNN9iAUan873doMmJMzy2YYDbaNvne-zKu3FVfyic7MO4SAAInRQpu4mlRabjr2A18Ba9LlhqG1nInLOa1BDamPio/s684/Sydney%20Harbor%20Bridge%20people%20walking%20across%20top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="684" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BHHY7Gcg7MhYvRmsJ0RezjCmTR-lKuF1K6FLTA1XlvctQLnRr5IB63UfsGQlram8ynB-bwnIdn02fHzaeCi4bT8hQ5N1SpNtAaZNN9iAUan873doMmJMzy2YYDbaNvne-zKu3FVfyic7MO4SAAInRQpu4mlRabjr2A18Ba9LlhqG1nInLOa1BDamPio/w400-h355/Sydney%20Harbor%20Bridge%20people%20walking%20across%20top.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We bought a two day ticket on the Big Bus Sydney hop on-hop off bus tour. This also included a harbor boat tour. That kept us busy for two days.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvozhdViMNa25JrLnBX-4DuAGm9pbKmdNd9YR1MAYaJPQ2UDiLhLHyowZo4Tleit6U9l6gM_wve7AsZLrUTKP3EIPjxBScT4lIKPcWa4jrN81ukngu5CsIS3GLhws04AN_VdD8AJQxfUm3AhPdVbmMoRyY9DmlxXxdzlF-uzPH5rUMOJ28V4pbewoe9U/s766/Sydney%20Big%20Bus%20Sydney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="766" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvozhdViMNa25JrLnBX-4DuAGm9pbKmdNd9YR1MAYaJPQ2UDiLhLHyowZo4Tleit6U9l6gM_wve7AsZLrUTKP3EIPjxBScT4lIKPcWa4jrN81ukngu5CsIS3GLhws04AN_VdD8AJQxfUm3AhPdVbmMoRyY9DmlxXxdzlF-uzPH5rUMOJ28V4pbewoe9U/w400-h209/Sydney%20Big%20Bus%20Sydney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz97OJZKQfJp_P2ENrvJu5V4r5QNYaPVrKwIZP22IS17Mmnbx4-xWBQDLAsdvuLqm6kPndcq9gaD0vtzQqUi1TBLSKwgOpNC_YDHWGmNw7ftFkTI-8DOXcjVyo_ifWhViD6p9tvKB1sh_hBmNjHA3e4FVOtcuQje_mUBwBDWW5SoT5lsECp_4djWi6zgA/s809/Sydney%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20on%20Hop%20on%20Hop%20off%20bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz97OJZKQfJp_P2ENrvJu5V4r5QNYaPVrKwIZP22IS17Mmnbx4-xWBQDLAsdvuLqm6kPndcq9gaD0vtzQqUi1TBLSKwgOpNC_YDHWGmNw7ftFkTI-8DOXcjVyo_ifWhViD6p9tvKB1sh_hBmNjHA3e4FVOtcuQje_mUBwBDWW5SoT5lsECp_4djWi6zgA/w400-h300/Sydney%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20on%20Hop%20on%20Hop%20off%20bus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Its pretty hard to get good pictures from the top of a moving bus, but I did get a few. Here's the Sydney Tower.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ua7fb7cJ9dw_baMPnrA7L9w4VDCsvsFtTYUeomwSsj7EF3NFIoy9x3FudCZM2HJLk-bp1WaofEffd6nuGJjUzHB7B6SvnNLVhG-peqdClWCM3GDI0_pGGAFC6lgCW_vzfkbffVaXspiZMv2yT-uw2c8JOcmCrTDStLajyeXRPxQGTpXNA8oIV3PObDk/s498/Sydney%20tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="267" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ua7fb7cJ9dw_baMPnrA7L9w4VDCsvsFtTYUeomwSsj7EF3NFIoy9x3FudCZM2HJLk-bp1WaofEffd6nuGJjUzHB7B6SvnNLVhG-peqdClWCM3GDI0_pGGAFC6lgCW_vzfkbffVaXspiZMv2yT-uw2c8JOcmCrTDStLajyeXRPxQGTpXNA8oIV3PObDk/w215-h400/Sydney%20tower.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Cockatoos are all over the city. There were several of them sitting in this tree right above the bus. We saw many other birds including the Australian Magpie and the white ibis which were scavenging all around the busy tourist area.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71z-5DCS0k8amHLlmwiBURxrzwjLZXmoxt0hRKCkSSLtEhq1IxSFNoRpugIQksG-zER75iJ7vhAgbU_RROtmiydR7mQqYzZxeOzqcuMZ31FOPL4Z0_XFDiSPKvEpuM4SF7vOR8AgbY5w9rSAGqBSPFgKt0dWosuWFPaYDy3i51VaAPo3wLYpr3aAv2AI/s607/Sydney%20Cockatoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71z-5DCS0k8amHLlmwiBURxrzwjLZXmoxt0hRKCkSSLtEhq1IxSFNoRpugIQksG-zER75iJ7vhAgbU_RROtmiydR7mQqYzZxeOzqcuMZ31FOPL4Z0_XFDiSPKvEpuM4SF7vOR8AgbY5w9rSAGqBSPFgKt0dWosuWFPaYDy3i51VaAPo3wLYpr3aAv2AI/w300-h400/Sydney%20Cockatoo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4QRV4zBaLXev9vjJogc7nZEOr0eVIIGhwXD3yYvPnKSkGl_Glh5tfhSPy_pMPbgLk7P5EZuLpg95DAYWgV-faNDoas63QKh6WjU41BoFaC4ICPWtCmuxz_VLyMQm7zYOXHOMdbqDxudtRZ7CIwLFeukbFn-JYecbWjpZCofuZDEwx3kndHxqETf6yGs/s837/Sydney%20Australian%20Magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="837" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4QRV4zBaLXev9vjJogc7nZEOr0eVIIGhwXD3yYvPnKSkGl_Glh5tfhSPy_pMPbgLk7P5EZuLpg95DAYWgV-faNDoas63QKh6WjU41BoFaC4ICPWtCmuxz_VLyMQm7zYOXHOMdbqDxudtRZ7CIwLFeukbFn-JYecbWjpZCofuZDEwx3kndHxqETf6yGs/w400-h290/Sydney%20Australian%20Magpie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Magpie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuAtoZQqiAdIi8EQ8WZ5rPH9vVXvGPaM_h_cukb7_lE2H_j3-O1hYIb7YklbztJYOegLnYC4ACDGGozs19E3n47yKPcrOZdQKRiAEkIJjiVKOKfi0A_03DY5OhWbfURNGcX2-XhGTuu2p49ktGA5jBtfK8wZlgPg7lh_V8VY902WmnQ_YeNjjHngc13E/s768/Sydney%20white%20ibis%20bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="768" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuAtoZQqiAdIi8EQ8WZ5rPH9vVXvGPaM_h_cukb7_lE2H_j3-O1hYIb7YklbztJYOegLnYC4ACDGGozs19E3n47yKPcrOZdQKRiAEkIJjiVKOKfi0A_03DY5OhWbfURNGcX2-XhGTuu2p49ktGA5jBtfK8wZlgPg7lh_V8VY902WmnQ_YeNjjHngc13E/w400-h316/Sydney%20white%20ibis%20bird.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Ibis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">The address of this building is One Central Park. The walls are vertical gardens The two residential apartment towers have been recognized as a unique structure at an international level. Key elements are its vertical hanging gardens, cantilevered heliostat, low carbon tri-generation power plant and internal water recycling plant. It is the world's tallest vertical garden. In 2014, the average price for an apartment was $770,000 Australian Dollars. That's over $500,000 US Dollars. A very unique place to see!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S9z1kUlwUU0vG1Ms5VzMQX7_pz-cXzKhyphenhyphensRNB1XdAj3rnmFtLxlBSIq09cbjR4epC1qlm7tbnil9xrfC9AmbVu9aFZjy1kjWEabyH4puPIm34H-92_oftPvYCCZOhJkgWCPhkMRwChpHIGTviHw3X7HpsihT4y36Q5ZGcnzOUpcMcFmcT66a8_c8x0c/s607/Sydney%20Vertical%20Garden%20building%20at%20One%20Central%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S9z1kUlwUU0vG1Ms5VzMQX7_pz-cXzKhyphenhyphensRNB1XdAj3rnmFtLxlBSIq09cbjR4epC1qlm7tbnil9xrfC9AmbVu9aFZjy1kjWEabyH4puPIm34H-92_oftPvYCCZOhJkgWCPhkMRwChpHIGTviHw3X7HpsihT4y36Q5ZGcnzOUpcMcFmcT66a8_c8x0c/w270-h400/Sydney%20Vertical%20Garden%20building%20at%20One%20Central%20Park.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were fortunate to be visiting Australia in October (which is spring in the southern hemisphere) to enjoy the blooming Blue Jacaranda trees. They actually are more purple, and are so beautiful. Interestingly, two years ago we visited San Diego in May and saw the same type of trees blooming there.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmRuakhfSpHeG6uwIPcBS4RAL2jcmZRh6vFIywINc30SlKk7nrmlZQJvY7djBEGMgMfIJmWYxZ8Hv7wGz6BnFp7K7tPNJ-Vdqswo7JQsw-zOkaijPTFO2T3UKjFAPyfhNei_1FETBRCe0NeZjHAHuITKY8T6OOSNQ4j5B7PY0p8NoClTkuXKmHqBVWbQ/s675/Sydney%20Blue%20Jacaranda%20trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="675" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmRuakhfSpHeG6uwIPcBS4RAL2jcmZRh6vFIywINc30SlKk7nrmlZQJvY7djBEGMgMfIJmWYxZ8Hv7wGz6BnFp7K7tPNJ-Vdqswo7JQsw-zOkaijPTFO2T3UKjFAPyfhNei_1FETBRCe0NeZjHAHuITKY8T6OOSNQ4j5B7PY0p8NoClTkuXKmHqBVWbQ/w400-h321/Sydney%20Blue%20Jacaranda%20trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the iconic Bondi beach which is renowned for surfing and the trendy neighborhood around it. There is a clifftop coastal walk which overlooks this beautiful and dramatic scenery.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdSeAR1GjvOm7gvV8-_CkBIB-z8-0nHc9QkLcUK2v9-m3GvZED6PhfID9iZ747n8UaaGslaA5p7sbtyieGE9l8IfmKYqxyxldsbuVGb7JqoeimYOzZvbT3WliR-Db4Snl5nfxHRqiZyBKvrV1pspyNDYCm8lZrwzYXV7owqhe0aWzDdD1SmkC4Y-Hfy4/s1290/Sydney%20Bondi%20beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="1290" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdSeAR1GjvOm7gvV8-_CkBIB-z8-0nHc9QkLcUK2v9-m3GvZED6PhfID9iZ747n8UaaGslaA5p7sbtyieGE9l8IfmKYqxyxldsbuVGb7JqoeimYOzZvbT3WliR-Db4Snl5nfxHRqiZyBKvrV1pspyNDYCm8lZrwzYXV7owqhe0aWzDdD1SmkC4Y-Hfy4/w400-h130/Sydney%20Bondi%20beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Views of Sydney from across the harbor.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwO7IOUSY9TGnxkerkjDisUecubDr-R65AHDkTJ_33em65ewi-t27Gdq6rqiYo6becK77jbvoaOJDExJxBRPUw68mHIWRljW-xtkp9cl2K9TKzrMyynifgC0DeiicPe2Yc8_DjwBiFD0N81hUGPDcu6UBByrFx8BvTYtblV3RaKfHoGfvDbVSTvSoXPw/s1232/Sydney%20city%20and%20harbor%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="1232" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwO7IOUSY9TGnxkerkjDisUecubDr-R65AHDkTJ_33em65ewi-t27Gdq6rqiYo6becK77jbvoaOJDExJxBRPUw68mHIWRljW-xtkp9cl2K9TKzrMyynifgC0DeiicPe2Yc8_DjwBiFD0N81hUGPDcu6UBByrFx8BvTYtblV3RaKfHoGfvDbVSTvSoXPw/w400-h184/Sydney%20city%20and%20harbor%20view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp27MQ0J0didbZ-jHaebo72jNDkHeCzDDhrVq_wuWcLzGDvFktLxMXIIdiXESrvvCsVjK8VlDHPmUoyma6zT6ec8TgjpJIWGhWZMSlrSA4pVbxRmZo_8J3mb7WPeHCFOT00XROopUb7tOxDRLHFfkbITzFSnLTd_BXkAIhNPhmkb_VWt-uNprelUollVI/s896/Sydney%20view%20from%20harbor%20tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="896" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp27MQ0J0didbZ-jHaebo72jNDkHeCzDDhrVq_wuWcLzGDvFktLxMXIIdiXESrvvCsVjK8VlDHPmUoyma6zT6ec8TgjpJIWGhWZMSlrSA4pVbxRmZo_8J3mb7WPeHCFOT00XROopUb7tOxDRLHFfkbITzFSnLTd_BXkAIhNPhmkb_VWt-uNprelUollVI/w400-h264/Sydney%20view%20from%20harbor%20tour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">We thoroughly enjoyed our bus and boat tours of Sydney, learning much along the way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, Sydney is known for its beautiful Opera House right on the harbor. The weekend we were there was its 50th anniversary. The crowds were huge, and the lines were long. We admired it from a distance.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0avpzwF4k_TDb4SVekcLADedhRmcWHcuHIyzFAlka6qGyk_1tmKYRoBT5c1L6UVWE0fwsCLEb2R-F_D32GtiReXYyPWFdoD7LyNAbWLCFudgF-DtWaPjHrbJ_TA46XXwlBBSu7ks9npDATIa88yd6o96XqfiFo92Y6AeDmTJygxYPqdODlayv9oibtw/s878/Sydney%20Opera%20House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="878" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0avpzwF4k_TDb4SVekcLADedhRmcWHcuHIyzFAlka6qGyk_1tmKYRoBT5c1L6UVWE0fwsCLEb2R-F_D32GtiReXYyPWFdoD7LyNAbWLCFudgF-DtWaPjHrbJ_TA46XXwlBBSu7ks9npDATIa88yd6o96XqfiFo92Y6AeDmTJygxYPqdODlayv9oibtw/w400-h253/Sydney%20Opera%20House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG86aVp8Dn0She2nZ5G5PHNLw_Hic5mA3FksN8-ySxF7nnHaeSETgH42z6fxMdu_q0Xv_XPyfgCaaBed8-HyEYTRQ-J7q6RyDWHpCbpoa2k26dGAdG2ikGksll278n88DHJsqq6RbAOEKzN8IxWNAq7Y6isNfrfGPX6Q_c0ZUzhJYFVJTdu5AKDZ5-aA/s738/Sydney%20Harbor%20Tour%20Evelyn%20with%20opera%20house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG86aVp8Dn0She2nZ5G5PHNLw_Hic5mA3FksN8-ySxF7nnHaeSETgH42z6fxMdu_q0Xv_XPyfgCaaBed8-HyEYTRQ-J7q6RyDWHpCbpoa2k26dGAdG2ikGksll278n88DHJsqq6RbAOEKzN8IxWNAq7Y6isNfrfGPX6Q_c0ZUzhJYFVJTdu5AKDZ5-aA/w400-h320/Sydney%20Harbor%20Tour%20Evelyn%20with%20opera%20house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This Aboriginal group was performing on the steps.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjJXmygvha2ChccgVmIZetjZTOLbJ4zhutTM8YuhYDSqo3M6hbaewOQlzMw0Qd2jtfYojJxET77EcNqXqbcI5PunPNVd5k2JipDxTk75MhqLgO9q_hx3bTNu0-wtPKf0vWzlg21DBm-bg5Jw7AozMShmd5kngjIlmjw5ytLqHrRRRHZXP5z_fTMS7usQ/s1201/Sydney%20Opera%20House%2050th%20anniversary%20performers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1201" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjJXmygvha2ChccgVmIZetjZTOLbJ4zhutTM8YuhYDSqo3M6hbaewOQlzMw0Qd2jtfYojJxET77EcNqXqbcI5PunPNVd5k2JipDxTk75MhqLgO9q_hx3bTNu0-wtPKf0vWzlg21DBm-bg5Jw7AozMShmd5kngjIlmjw5ytLqHrRRRHZXP5z_fTMS7usQ/w400-h203/Sydney%20Opera%20House%2050th%20anniversary%20performers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Behind the opera house is the botanical gardens which are free of charge. We noticed most every city we visited in Australia and New Zealand had free botanical gardens. As it was spring, there were not that many flowers blooming. We did enjoy a walk through the gardens. This is a New Caledonian Pine tree with very long needles. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Fv2E665NiCUHPcRF7ZSw-hLOZhSgJLVwBMevW5Vr3seb9lPO5UgaXNVg0M-W76PKTFiEJPx0UR1JXqz4jUmjXrxoG3C5eGIm09EPfLscTMQ-64bwJkYlLuveFOtRLnS40mN0bKJk7y2gveMJ3ruc6dyffgi5cNcCW03FhWVTkAKlUw-nt2hyphenhyphenWS5UfM/s607/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20New%20Caledonian%20Pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Fv2E665NiCUHPcRF7ZSw-hLOZhSgJLVwBMevW5Vr3seb9lPO5UgaXNVg0M-W76PKTFiEJPx0UR1JXqz4jUmjXrxoG3C5eGIm09EPfLscTMQ-64bwJkYlLuveFOtRLnS40mN0bKJk7y2gveMJ3ruc6dyffgi5cNcCW03FhWVTkAKlUw-nt2hyphenhyphenWS5UfM/w300-h400/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20New%20Caledonian%20Pine.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1ZsWjFaU-0-xuHplBm8ybnx48NxBqp5DRH4UWm8AXkvROk3t9c1L85csOcRFinP-tdD4wKXFic2_3YyuNoUxWKpE8hc6GsrjLtb2anl_hNMjoZQX4goFX912ooVnogrHl_XP_aSVgGcPK3qZ6tUIW50viU9Pw9PEmchs9Stkfr-5-Dd9TBNdfjBWXl4/s607/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20New%20Caledonian%20Pine%20long%20needles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1ZsWjFaU-0-xuHplBm8ybnx48NxBqp5DRH4UWm8AXkvROk3t9c1L85csOcRFinP-tdD4wKXFic2_3YyuNoUxWKpE8hc6GsrjLtb2anl_hNMjoZQX4goFX912ooVnogrHl_XP_aSVgGcPK3qZ6tUIW50viU9Pw9PEmchs9Stkfr-5-Dd9TBNdfjBWXl4/w300-h400/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20New%20Caledonian%20Pine%20long%20needles.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were many beautifully unique varieties in the rose garden.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgK-BcC4ZHZYqaejif0GEotS6BUnyQJ4OPHLZk3befOWkWmCuJfHr7RCtBzeLu9FonURIAxxf2u5AhZMNOybtDpchM6WpN2KpekY-qiD3UQXHvOkmdE4dNDSj8gV058Lyu2VpVYa_2mA9NWiHAEVwKE49JzANxKCdciUZ-L9SQcVXoxvMyyx6_IDM-5c/s967/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20peach%20roses%20with%20bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="967" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgK-BcC4ZHZYqaejif0GEotS6BUnyQJ4OPHLZk3befOWkWmCuJfHr7RCtBzeLu9FonURIAxxf2u5AhZMNOybtDpchM6WpN2KpekY-qiD3UQXHvOkmdE4dNDSj8gV058Lyu2VpVYa_2mA9NWiHAEVwKE49JzANxKCdciUZ-L9SQcVXoxvMyyx6_IDM-5c/w400-h251/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20peach%20roses%20with%20bee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiHOaM5DR7oDc-QWKIqHJgsm3t7ZbU6U9H-DJk-mRCOCs68cc_uC6WREHnvvPp3V5qk_lo4yeUcpHWlghi3FL2J0PWmwmyczcQsIVxOln0lVwIW4CV3a61g2QW6qtrYuYc5yeSqY64vDeUguwgnno2K7ZMMv8PCYulp2nsTOemuQlWOkXhetDFmjfaw4/s809/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20red%20roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiHOaM5DR7oDc-QWKIqHJgsm3t7ZbU6U9H-DJk-mRCOCs68cc_uC6WREHnvvPp3V5qk_lo4yeUcpHWlghi3FL2J0PWmwmyczcQsIVxOln0lVwIW4CV3a61g2QW6qtrYuYc5yeSqY64vDeUguwgnno2K7ZMMv8PCYulp2nsTOemuQlWOkXhetDFmjfaw4/w400-h300/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20red%20roses.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This plant whale sculpture was huge and amazing to see.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7uvQXcm-ASjGkJMl5qdbaPLdAjNDjiJ6HlmKyyNfde4spXFIVi1PfSF4RuMb9kmwYWm4IQq_-04BSQivNXI7K2QYDaf6OYAnGHQKEtY7y4RXUAza46I9JlXMPpS2HtYIWuab4XkgmXvNYqUbE29nTSMXF0aXM9USMLHzNRhEFZrkA6FGkduRsYUprGk/s1166/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20Whale%20living%20sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1166" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7uvQXcm-ASjGkJMl5qdbaPLdAjNDjiJ6HlmKyyNfde4spXFIVi1PfSF4RuMb9kmwYWm4IQq_-04BSQivNXI7K2QYDaf6OYAnGHQKEtY7y4RXUAza46I9JlXMPpS2HtYIWuab4XkgmXvNYqUbE29nTSMXF0aXM9USMLHzNRhEFZrkA6FGkduRsYUprGk/w400-h184/Sydney%20Botanical%20Garden%20Whale%20living%20sculpture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Located next to the gardens is the Sydney Government House which looks like a castle, and was completed in 1843. It is the official residence of the governor of the state of New South Wales, Australia. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbysUIAWJHWeNOlXZu9a2CaOxqyN3kuII7iyum-vTIH6kl-SUN5CAlwH4oKPxTIVLPsOsDiLp_GCm_CnlLCzZB_E6yc94KA8WVCi985ftxbJD87i9UliY-YV_l1dk1TU8-_SYF5IQNprgI0cuErHSxmKgb4zdbliCM2-mWgXwma6KOYzS1PfJLJSodkY/s675/Sydney%20Government%20House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="675" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbysUIAWJHWeNOlXZu9a2CaOxqyN3kuII7iyum-vTIH6kl-SUN5CAlwH4oKPxTIVLPsOsDiLp_GCm_CnlLCzZB_E6yc94KA8WVCi985ftxbJD87i9UliY-YV_l1dk1TU8-_SYF5IQNprgI0cuErHSxmKgb4zdbliCM2-mWgXwma6KOYzS1PfJLJSodkY/w400-h268/Sydney%20Government%20House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another impressive building next to the gardens is the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which also looks like a castle. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia. This building was originally built around 1820 as stables for the governor's house, and was also used to house servants. It received much criticism as being too extravagant for stables, and in 1910 was turned into the Conservatorium of Music.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn_Cc_brFCICiApsf6nzpUc40zOaLxOD6PRhtxckrbRbVzTMw-3GdyTRWiivqK7SUHB8vWkD38tVe-ntMebyPk4vpVeaCqC3D-NPkglIe-YMc6x8ueb01zeGfe0PzRgOoxWHwK3_K4MZG3omdgyU4W7D8lGioy0GQF1p8Nx1H8gY3tfKlTN-OEiTNKeo/s766/Sydney%20Conservatorium%20of%20Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="766" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn_Cc_brFCICiApsf6nzpUc40zOaLxOD6PRhtxckrbRbVzTMw-3GdyTRWiivqK7SUHB8vWkD38tVe-ntMebyPk4vpVeaCqC3D-NPkglIe-YMc6x8ueb01zeGfe0PzRgOoxWHwK3_K4MZG3omdgyU4W7D8lGioy0GQF1p8Nx1H8gY3tfKlTN-OEiTNKeo/w400-h265/Sydney%20Conservatorium%20of%20Music.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our cruise began on October 23rd. There is a Royal Princess Facebook page. Someone who was staying in a hotel on the harbor took these pictures of the ship coming into and leaving the harbor and posted it to that page.</span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG733KGDUWIVT34zqmdbxnEP0U1aslfTkm_J_o6oqzc_99nicDC0M_jO6SIM4K_zyj9LVv3Cw48wDEnATis0UJoDchrKB2t-QPZ0zKzQUTdgnQd3vFvvFxdpovLjkwyyBjf0JkQ2ZKZ9NUyGOWcoU8YeUEdkYEbCkVGzs-HHEknJhxwnOFXJ5YqRBZwp8/s1056/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20arriving%20at%20dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1056" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG733KGDUWIVT34zqmdbxnEP0U1aslfTkm_J_o6oqzc_99nicDC0M_jO6SIM4K_zyj9LVv3Cw48wDEnATis0UJoDchrKB2t-QPZ0zKzQUTdgnQd3vFvvFxdpovLjkwyyBjf0JkQ2ZKZ9NUyGOWcoU8YeUEdkYEbCkVGzs-HHEknJhxwnOFXJ5YqRBZwp8/w400-h193/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20arriving%20at%20dock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ship arriving in the harbor at 6 am</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd2Z8GgWOk73MV_Clw5uQEYt9vTcvjV5piObRZm86zTTITGVjsQxee3FasnAMnEaeXX7VuDZceRTjU_lMd9e02J8S8uR1iTJtTXGjENiVBvrwSb-6oTKiQYfr5ebUdoX9Q0aWJXrplasL59d9WsDMVBs9EX9NidR72zNpDf4HW3WQk6_YyHzxtnQ33tE/s1031/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20docked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="1031" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd2Z8GgWOk73MV_Clw5uQEYt9vTcvjV5piObRZm86zTTITGVjsQxee3FasnAMnEaeXX7VuDZceRTjU_lMd9e02J8S8uR1iTJtTXGjENiVBvrwSb-6oTKiQYfr5ebUdoX9Q0aWJXrplasL59d9WsDMVBs9EX9NidR72zNpDf4HW3WQk6_YyHzxtnQ33tE/w400-h201/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20docked.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Docked waiting for passengers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBykZd5iyH9WhzcYydkHbEKpDVo1joqE0A30YVGT_zuLSHeDpN01wUVJaj_Y-ifZCbhAmIGavRIdxYlFUdDQ8I2U3jTcB5uyfY6R5vKZjH-W5DCiw_G4kBM-g9xY5rlArcyJqJ79O13rUkde81wmD2fy5VnYFjCNt1UyCefTxHT-hPx5xfUh5JkxmsmHI/s1060/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20leaving%20harbor%20Oct.%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="1060" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBykZd5iyH9WhzcYydkHbEKpDVo1joqE0A30YVGT_zuLSHeDpN01wUVJaj_Y-ifZCbhAmIGavRIdxYlFUdDQ8I2U3jTcB5uyfY6R5vKZjH-W5DCiw_G4kBM-g9xY5rlArcyJqJ79O13rUkde81wmD2fy5VnYFjCNt1UyCefTxHT-hPx5xfUh5JkxmsmHI/w400-h174/Sydney%20Royal%20Princess%20leaving%20harbor%20Oct.%2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the harbor at 5 pm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOMsuEJ-oNtY0jC4pmTHb2zvMCNNcT_nDm7ckL0HGo7WowEpjnTLMUJwIfALQKDRnrMV8eoFkqL4FmqWJCA5VAN3IDgBBdiClllMvEuUWN75Byp_9-Ps8EE2P9yi0uPd5fIbbLOjfhKO-kz9rWb6ZkJ5APdpED8bWLvznOewELMzeIF9FHajmsjd_WK8/s576/Sydney%20Sail%20Away%20Party%20Oct.%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOMsuEJ-oNtY0jC4pmTHb2zvMCNNcT_nDm7ckL0HGo7WowEpjnTLMUJwIfALQKDRnrMV8eoFkqL4FmqWJCA5VAN3IDgBBdiClllMvEuUWN75Byp_9-Ps8EE2P9yi0uPd5fIbbLOjfhKO-kz9rWb6ZkJ5APdpED8bWLvznOewELMzeIF9FHajmsjd_WK8/w278-h400/Sydney%20Sail%20Away%20Party%20Oct.%2023.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sail away party on board!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMMP9dDpNZIJMo6g19r15_X-pTpvqouTDxM3A8yQnU1crRr7ugcNPsYwQ6MXiIOR-Ar1htYaZ-soegcazj3eGhyphenhypheno34YGY4X2LM4g4M5GQ9BV85Zp4iUN1wx9V_n9Vs3lkntIfJ_QboyeGH1mdIjBg_dgTTOXsIlkhcoTFf9IN1nuDwIHYT15efICpErI/s809/Sunset%20from%20our%20balcony%20Oct.%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMMP9dDpNZIJMo6g19r15_X-pTpvqouTDxM3A8yQnU1crRr7ugcNPsYwQ6MXiIOR-Ar1htYaZ-soegcazj3eGhyphenhypheno34YGY4X2LM4g4M5GQ9BV85Zp4iUN1wx9V_n9Vs3lkntIfJ_QboyeGH1mdIjBg_dgTTOXsIlkhcoTFf9IN1nuDwIHYT15efICpErI/w400-h300/Sunset%20from%20our%20balcony%20Oct.%2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from our balcony<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Love Boat show that aired in the 1970s was a Princess Cruise ship. The first night at dinner I had the Love Boat dessert. Too bad, it looked a lot better than it tasted.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_boNj6IAHOgdmjrcLvcwFw_XFJG4P5qo1UHqPdiqmUIrf97ie4gNjKm2dbCO3NBdBMdpPG3yT4ddKskdkE7unTWrEIQzcMWZwKvGs4_4gjEvI5Ed9Jy7GEgaJPMJ06rFWsOP26B7FH-5bWoXfMczuhnoBOPML3T7cR7vWsnk1XjwT0pKYoDoP4B8KY/s567/Love%20Boat%20dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="453" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR_boNj6IAHOgdmjrcLvcwFw_XFJG4P5qo1UHqPdiqmUIrf97ie4gNjKm2dbCO3NBdBMdpPG3yT4ddKskdkE7unTWrEIQzcMWZwKvGs4_4gjEvI5Ed9Jy7GEgaJPMJ06rFWsOP26B7FH-5bWoXfMczuhnoBOPML3T7cR7vWsnk1XjwT0pKYoDoP4B8KY/w320-h400/Love%20Boat%20dessert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, that's the end of our stay in Sydney. Our first day on the ship was a sea day. Next stop, Brisbane!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-size: large;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></div></div></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-54039883515780323362023-11-23T16:19:00.000-06:002023-11-23T16:19:19.630-06:00Kauai, Hawaii October, 2023<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">On our way to Australia, we took a few days to visit Kauai, Hawaii. We had been there once before in 2012 just for a day while on a Hawaiian cruise. We didn't get to see it all, so decided to return for another visit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We stayed at the Hotel Coral Reef in Kapaa right on the ocean. The location was beautiful, but the hotel could use some updating and sprucing up. For $300 per night, I was expecting a little better.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqmh0cvU1RPpKVswqFBzKDW88GB30Jjn-Ki5t6V8Z-7BRqaKxnCx7oVB5KB7Dcxhs5aFGt1s7LTb7qJVc5lZxBGltczatMSVTaW7_L0R4Wi6Ll3n_Vvwz1GbAgxek770KSemV4aQJMxbY75kdcKRHZDtQdxO3MMtp2QTiBkJ5XBsbadcsUmubnnFCAp8/s740/View%20from%20hotel%20Oct.%2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="740" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqmh0cvU1RPpKVswqFBzKDW88GB30Jjn-Ki5t6V8Z-7BRqaKxnCx7oVB5KB7Dcxhs5aFGt1s7LTb7qJVc5lZxBGltczatMSVTaW7_L0R4Wi6Ll3n_Vvwz1GbAgxek770KSemV4aQJMxbY75kdcKRHZDtQdxO3MMtp2QTiBkJ5XBsbadcsUmubnnFCAp8/w400-h285/View%20from%20hotel%20Oct.%2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyLgmDC-ySsNdkfypZo7_c0U7HZzEyMESHbyFY7lnHZPeoDr64r1U_nw8cmZ1tPaaMSHOcUBBWukP-NslkXYlvPHBIbe-hUCmfNuma4gP1pxMA0RR2CiEYdqWizekYA_yiyhEX29EfWv_FakxTykGWgkV2U52LxWw5V8QA-9cClpib_lJ59uQOufdprA/s647/Sunrise%20Oct.%2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="647" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyLgmDC-ySsNdkfypZo7_c0U7HZzEyMESHbyFY7lnHZPeoDr64r1U_nw8cmZ1tPaaMSHOcUBBWukP-NslkXYlvPHBIbe-hUCmfNuma4gP1pxMA0RR2CiEYdqWizekYA_yiyhEX29EfWv_FakxTykGWgkV2U52LxWw5V8QA-9cClpib_lJ59uQOufdprA/w400-h294/Sunrise%20Oct.%2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've been to Hawaii before, and there have always been chickens running around all the islands. This time, however, there were more than ever.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstXFbUQiqjjwTg27vGJNptf3-JFxIkaCmuCCJj_qUFC2mGY9qQ2rMgP8j_8V80e7Q5PaKNhPI7___JxuJk8E2YL9XwkFmx3ZY3vjQgyciPuq2ENmiiQWe4M9klFOaEwnAJlNAVExdFFbujExDl9mXjWsgNpSZdOnjAjA5beL2aSssPMfMyDU0d5wd0b0/s776/Chickens%20outside%20hotel%20room%20Oct.%2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="776" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstXFbUQiqjjwTg27vGJNptf3-JFxIkaCmuCCJj_qUFC2mGY9qQ2rMgP8j_8V80e7Q5PaKNhPI7___JxuJk8E2YL9XwkFmx3ZY3vjQgyciPuq2ENmiiQWe4M9klFOaEwnAJlNAVExdFFbujExDl9mXjWsgNpSZdOnjAjA5beL2aSssPMfMyDU0d5wd0b0/w400-h313/Chickens%20outside%20hotel%20room%20Oct.%2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many years ago, red junglefowl roosters were brought to Hawaii from Polynesia for cock fighting. Over time, some got loose and reproduced. Feral chickens became a part of life. In 1992, there was a severe hurricane than hit Kauai very hard. Many chicken coops were blown away, and more chickens became wild. Now, they are everywhere! There are notices for tourists not to feed them, but I don't think most people follow that rule.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFdNAyqUgltZnJ8UEmYVxqu8lyrAQ34dOs3XXdRdryI_xosh-k2K5gcIRNRL0MH4kocoNyiTG74YSBvLzC4bYN3UjC8uITdjbR9UI2bOfkQbqKWQzDmtOcTYUTEgBH52IgPSXYL3931yfneQgNLAkEBarQ3ynT-vH6WmH5LlRsRyd220uNTdaAostb38/s485/Red%20junglefowl%20from%20Polynesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="485" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFdNAyqUgltZnJ8UEmYVxqu8lyrAQ34dOs3XXdRdryI_xosh-k2K5gcIRNRL0MH4kocoNyiTG74YSBvLzC4bYN3UjC8uITdjbR9UI2bOfkQbqKWQzDmtOcTYUTEgBH52IgPSXYL3931yfneQgNLAkEBarQ3ynT-vH6WmH5LlRsRyd220uNTdaAostb38/w400-h383/Red%20junglefowl%20from%20Polynesia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This fun driftwood swing was behind our hotel.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vbyw9I3sYPC0lKk6CgyWpOjozTNV36-3D9dy7nIc4CF3CZSuvkdJ9FrnTwAfuJn1fu_bKuxg7pMA-AZBr1s2IQaVLqkDplxj1eeN0kkrVyAe1QUdJgokmxbCyjbxspKEQ5L5mtrKZrhP1_1GPx82OOXxYf2MI2fxBaLHqoG_A2sYV5MrD5LUAepRH_s/s499/Evelyn%20on%20driftwood%20swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vbyw9I3sYPC0lKk6CgyWpOjozTNV36-3D9dy7nIc4CF3CZSuvkdJ9FrnTwAfuJn1fu_bKuxg7pMA-AZBr1s2IQaVLqkDplxj1eeN0kkrVyAe1QUdJgokmxbCyjbxspKEQ5L5mtrKZrhP1_1GPx82OOXxYf2MI2fxBaLHqoG_A2sYV5MrD5LUAepRH_s/w329-h400/Evelyn%20on%20driftwood%20swing.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We did see some other birds as well, including this Red crested cardinal and Common myna bird.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_0X43Y5tBFugDwVoCRHDQDYy3aCM8ajmhjzsEFrIrrEKvlViQjLd5HjAsdAk9rI0jdMjHvH813bOaOkuoyD-ozdFURNmhKZKCI55inWNSTB40xvdoeQspPKzUIO9GIErb-bTZbFFGea_l2K2vWfAd5ORuuoDpOWswZS6sxaDM9-KFcbQhcB5of1T4SY/s505/Red%20crested%20cardinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="505" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_0X43Y5tBFugDwVoCRHDQDYy3aCM8ajmhjzsEFrIrrEKvlViQjLd5HjAsdAk9rI0jdMjHvH813bOaOkuoyD-ozdFURNmhKZKCI55inWNSTB40xvdoeQspPKzUIO9GIErb-bTZbFFGea_l2K2vWfAd5ORuuoDpOWswZS6sxaDM9-KFcbQhcB5of1T4SY/s320/Red%20crested%20cardinal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ncQdAZuWGhrTYqkOMBDpZtu9NHC-F4GxmdiVbj4GuZkvSEDNxh_sU5R0-PonXxNbgS1CkOMmE9nuFeBysnR3t6ZQc1u7X1NgF5UuwbHADwxHhqa0SQ8OAiOWT8OdE0IKkV-vcsBv6D4jwkE92cLXo8Z4W4lGYFu-eIfiWCUmiXjSoPLX5QE4VXw9WBw/s651/Common%20Myna%20bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="651" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ncQdAZuWGhrTYqkOMBDpZtu9NHC-F4GxmdiVbj4GuZkvSEDNxh_sU5R0-PonXxNbgS1CkOMmE9nuFeBysnR3t6ZQc1u7X1NgF5UuwbHADwxHhqa0SQ8OAiOWT8OdE0IKkV-vcsBv6D4jwkE92cLXo8Z4W4lGYFu-eIfiWCUmiXjSoPLX5QE4VXw9WBw/s320/Common%20Myna%20bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There are so many beautiful flowers and plants all over Kauai. Here are just a few. The flowers of the Pulmaria tree are used in lei making.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_J21batfqC3K8Dk_O7owp6HdJFsK_W1YOJi3dloFs2sTb0LWhyphenhyphen8414FB2CIrxflF7tl09hZ3FMh0jB6uDQGEYj3XyuiarjOtjveeFk8MYoDAZMYqZar8XIVHHOQ8rbtUaXrF6hL6KGGLNFYZmkC6AKgK9NlyKv9Q5UF275j6dbggjuHYsIWHcCZ8btg/s671/Pulmaria%20flowers%20tree,%20used%20in%20lei%20making.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_J21batfqC3K8Dk_O7owp6HdJFsK_W1YOJi3dloFs2sTb0LWhyphenhyphen8414FB2CIrxflF7tl09hZ3FMh0jB6uDQGEYj3XyuiarjOtjveeFk8MYoDAZMYqZar8XIVHHOQ8rbtUaXrF6hL6KGGLNFYZmkC6AKgK9NlyKv9Q5UF275j6dbggjuHYsIWHcCZ8btg/w400-h320/Pulmaria%20flowers%20tree,%20used%20in%20lei%20making.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulmaria tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TB3h-WUc1vyBpN0e7rV8iZDS6nZicrj9CWPxWkc-e6RAJ5xaqxWfDK__AGsTWRNkrgz6yspAVmp_wE_oBQdAj7objXK9513qGYiOOMqLUox7UqtwYmcc0o01xqdSzgn-vrmIoC93SEkd9rW7Z_uPSjj2I5hBpfnt8B5lIbqI4rghr71ZlD38dpz-P54/s585/Hybiscus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="585" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TB3h-WUc1vyBpN0e7rV8iZDS6nZicrj9CWPxWkc-e6RAJ5xaqxWfDK__AGsTWRNkrgz6yspAVmp_wE_oBQdAj7objXK9513qGYiOOMqLUox7UqtwYmcc0o01xqdSzgn-vrmIoC93SEkd9rW7Z_uPSjj2I5hBpfnt8B5lIbqI4rghr71ZlD38dpz-P54/w400-h390/Hybiscus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibiscus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyZpHyd7gL6tVYZwds4QJQHSDZKhn6ucfjxyEqdwE9BoYQxE1NwQYOAidcLGwRU_aAQ1v8ffJhcLqO_CKN_ETCT_6AGlr6JuE63bL96INpBejjZgbO0F2r-oUiqyj53fiIeEbCstaT0oGe9z-lq09Plp9CgcRlaSuYn9i04fhZBu-ArkAPfHQl9lU_5k/s809/Hydrangas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyZpHyd7gL6tVYZwds4QJQHSDZKhn6ucfjxyEqdwE9BoYQxE1NwQYOAidcLGwRU_aAQ1v8ffJhcLqO_CKN_ETCT_6AGlr6JuE63bL96INpBejjZgbO0F2r-oUiqyj53fiIeEbCstaT0oGe9z-lq09Plp9CgcRlaSuYn9i04fhZBu-ArkAPfHQl9lU_5k/w400-h300/Hydrangas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydrangea<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">We drove to the west side of the island to Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. We drove to the farthest lookout point where there are supposed to be fantastic views of the Napali Coast, which is where some of Jurassic Park was filmed. Unfortunately, it was mostly fogged in.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIApCRlpB9oNXXiyTXJW-98IAWaB-SWcIITdjSGgYtisbulThikbFAx4bHfcReDRoSKQwxIB-SdlQr90MP7QW_pWHXwztOLN7P6rWMnSKJuSGtJobsHePC4EHVtdFFTqRCtHQqro0ndQqwtvGvxOdIQFV32Yb20pTYwfVF6eGGpCMxI2ZnXvN1XRtCvE/s1010/Kalalau%20Lookout%20foggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1010" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIApCRlpB9oNXXiyTXJW-98IAWaB-SWcIITdjSGgYtisbulThikbFAx4bHfcReDRoSKQwxIB-SdlQr90MP7QW_pWHXwztOLN7P6rWMnSKJuSGtJobsHePC4EHVtdFFTqRCtHQqro0ndQqwtvGvxOdIQFV32Yb20pTYwfVF6eGGpCMxI2ZnXvN1XRtCvE/w400-h240/Kalalau%20Lookout%20foggy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A bit further down the road, the canyon was fully visible. Such a beautiful place!<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-u1Ty5be6Ky2AHYjZVMY5Szk0HBgcVF9ek2Nz316FW8GODKYQbs91hQ82QrsHYLgVA0ywyIX2lzj-f4WMYXQAHIh_IthzHqWnbqmJL0wiehSAcs9Aa-FW7sAVSiNR2goHJJPRNPgLraUbUyYtATPvsD_LR0s-rXZwzGoPRorPUedrpQ-8aL7Ldm2bNs/s285/Waimea%20Canyon%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="285" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-u1Ty5be6Ky2AHYjZVMY5Szk0HBgcVF9ek2Nz316FW8GODKYQbs91hQ82QrsHYLgVA0ywyIX2lzj-f4WMYXQAHIh_IthzHqWnbqmJL0wiehSAcs9Aa-FW7sAVSiNR2goHJJPRNPgLraUbUyYtATPvsD_LR0s-rXZwzGoPRorPUedrpQ-8aL7Ldm2bNs/w400-h265/Waimea%20Canyon%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNwM5i2hz69ccNa4TZh1oMkOxMXtGVIEXiloIHhM9G6nW1cqUz8CHQa227Xym2E-JMvaHtI_Nm9_cbvL-WOr2gvqkrFct0K1vadKARgBzUiVtFJeuA6TNz2fT0u2NMREczBHWvCminMUMHcje3zE2KCWVfXvu-8ePYuiy0oaLW5C5_HpOa_FPuiZ1Yds/s809/Waimea%20Canyon%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNwM5i2hz69ccNa4TZh1oMkOxMXtGVIEXiloIHhM9G6nW1cqUz8CHQa227Xym2E-JMvaHtI_Nm9_cbvL-WOr2gvqkrFct0K1vadKARgBzUiVtFJeuA6TNz2fT0u2NMREczBHWvCminMUMHcje3zE2KCWVfXvu-8ePYuiy0oaLW5C5_HpOa_FPuiZ1Yds/w400-h300/Waimea%20Canyon%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOX6WwuqkPiGcv-JBKPWsi8creRYo8DIk3S84633JHYMYWBYgtebsw81kjr3K7IdpDxHNjnQVyTnf57vocBg3yezJyeCNXD8lYWAsZstx00soArG07JTS78wNkDK5OGyNXogMXc39T8x2QVk4wyw7TzHEUJcncs1C6eMk4YK3STfZwTEup5b4KwMXT9g/s1366/Waimea%20Canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1366" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOX6WwuqkPiGcv-JBKPWsi8creRYo8DIk3S84633JHYMYWBYgtebsw81kjr3K7IdpDxHNjnQVyTnf57vocBg3yezJyeCNXD8lYWAsZstx00soArG07JTS78wNkDK5OGyNXogMXc39T8x2QVk4wyw7TzHEUJcncs1C6eMk4YK3STfZwTEup5b4KwMXT9g/w400-h176/Waimea%20Canyon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We visited Wailua Falls the last time we were here in 2012. There seems to be much more vegetation growing along the road, so it was harder to get a good picture this time. The first picture below is October, 2023. The second is January, 2012. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAIZTZWixZCci9aGGsphKx9OfxxZatK4Kf9UC8Ul42XnTs0eo6A7m1u1dY0JOuIkGk9-IyzPLgkHf4nWvxJ0_uvbMkcmV6sWtnkYCFPgiQL9ikLwvU-4Nuv5N7O8ZzefCgJAIogK2zROF339XsDPFaYPD2FWth2rzQAeh4np8xUrWJyFH_klkVd2zc6k/s607/Wailua%20Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="455" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAIZTZWixZCci9aGGsphKx9OfxxZatK4Kf9UC8Ul42XnTs0eo6A7m1u1dY0JOuIkGk9-IyzPLgkHf4nWvxJ0_uvbMkcmV6sWtnkYCFPgiQL9ikLwvU-4Nuv5N7O8ZzefCgJAIogK2zROF339XsDPFaYPD2FWth2rzQAeh4np8xUrWJyFH_klkVd2zc6k/w300-h400/Wailua%20Falls.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3b0DRgPUJDXrIbm-vsDKFzqxOzroCPvEB0SNwQbjsJBol3m1bz1_8bKL09f6JQRs3SNLmbi03PlYGUTzowMiykjUGnvLoNH8opWmIQ1044RQM_kioLMIfOOqjb39QYlhdBuxX9x71KmF23VhnCsBSu0K8STh2XC2H7I8BdBQEpCtmlCTZAjCqewlKAQ/s3648/P1120547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3b0DRgPUJDXrIbm-vsDKFzqxOzroCPvEB0SNwQbjsJBol3m1bz1_8bKL09f6JQRs3SNLmbi03PlYGUTzowMiykjUGnvLoNH8opWmIQ1044RQM_kioLMIfOOqjb39QYlhdBuxX9x71KmF23VhnCsBSu0K8STh2XC2H7I8BdBQEpCtmlCTZAjCqewlKAQ/w300-h400/P1120547.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We visited the Kauai Coffee Plantation. The first picture below is a coffee plant. Each tree only produces one pound of coffee each year. They sure have a fantastic location with beautiful views.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKh3eYIRxBrMPRlpseNvjwhK7caIfJJMiu_amgJ_ZKkp3OtwhQzE66ysAYlKjEzLd3nvXwgw-Ch49iVuNg4oaEA44-9fv4tzTTplWYD7v8vAzfFobQDfp7o-KMUMWqRvHZpOm4_HyZTfZabed0xx4WVZGwwP6B7s1sqmIGceXNd7WiuRNNvZ9h0DM80A/s548/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20Coffee%20Plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKh3eYIRxBrMPRlpseNvjwhK7caIfJJMiu_amgJ_ZKkp3OtwhQzE66ysAYlKjEzLd3nvXwgw-Ch49iVuNg4oaEA44-9fv4tzTTplWYD7v8vAzfFobQDfp7o-KMUMWqRvHZpOm4_HyZTfZabed0xx4WVZGwwP6B7s1sqmIGceXNd7WiuRNNvZ9h0DM80A/w300-h400/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20Coffee%20Plant.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLduvqR7L9Wj4jBhrPzovo7wgdqJaGP3N3L2jEjRoI8Ffc_LYvzLpfpLgR2eCmVj44UMBHw72KXNV1uAzgU9R-fnx3zpJOFQujXghwv2WOwofcz7HH5ap1pDN14ggz35M_cSCOSxmLmXhuh-TZcAtEXNbkPNry-UTegCWrlYiC_Veu_bVx8HTRizv98w/s809/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="809" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLduvqR7L9Wj4jBhrPzovo7wgdqJaGP3N3L2jEjRoI8Ffc_LYvzLpfpLgR2eCmVj44UMBHw72KXNV1uAzgU9R-fnx3zpJOFQujXghwv2WOwofcz7HH5ap1pDN14ggz35M_cSCOSxmLmXhuh-TZcAtEXNbkPNry-UTegCWrlYiC_Veu_bVx8HTRizv98w/w400-h228/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a self-guided walking tour at the plantation. A mama feral pig and her three babies were hanging around the path.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL07n_ETYhl58g2_pTqTbvMMdmuH38vuZBfrt2XmBtWUBLrNxSccndh1ubO3UjQwdaHwHaqxhtmiQRQkcvXMgQ3JUDXWQSNyarqHnlv6H4MnoveAh1jFy18oDcSZdsHF5GMqaHzmdUD8nNtXxK6z6Go9oFh56yUtYjyzfUm5Q7rNWu5FIb7QOglPKIeBQ/s634/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20mama%20ferel%20pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="634" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL07n_ETYhl58g2_pTqTbvMMdmuH38vuZBfrt2XmBtWUBLrNxSccndh1ubO3UjQwdaHwHaqxhtmiQRQkcvXMgQ3JUDXWQSNyarqHnlv6H4MnoveAh1jFy18oDcSZdsHF5GMqaHzmdUD8nNtXxK6z6Go9oFh56yUtYjyzfUm5Q7rNWu5FIb7QOglPKIeBQ/w400-h328/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20mama%20ferel%20pig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama pig</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7UF8RO3CgfjN-EHKy3SdBw81MvVfmkoNgZT5FBhq9j3Shja8GxbWAcYulzy4n8ERx-2rJMnmlCjzgy9ESxTzkt5k5i-EG9Csl9oIPqJY8nGcY5khlTEO-bOIMstYD8BKQmR_FNisbL9Y0ytDMAHHujk2oEgZeh-w0479Re_U9N08AqdioLRpTQWhkSs/s4896/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20three%20baby%20ferel%20pigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7UF8RO3CgfjN-EHKy3SdBw81MvVfmkoNgZT5FBhq9j3Shja8GxbWAcYulzy4n8ERx-2rJMnmlCjzgy9ESxTzkt5k5i-EG9Csl9oIPqJY8nGcY5khlTEO-bOIMstYD8BKQmR_FNisbL9Y0ytDMAHHujk2oEgZeh-w0479Re_U9N08AqdioLRpTQWhkSs/w400-h300/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20three%20baby%20ferel%20pigs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1UJeTqxxRnKGw2uSupbHExDypSo2lUYYkVM8CP64APrj8HPBIa8pQTj0IFJg7BIEwQRDtLTowwC3fng6IXgLu-4YEYuIRa5AMOifONsT7ObudLauSrd9TmpEEwLKGGZTnnznls7SWGEsRg75_aeMNtY6ZpQuiBmZC9PySU2VKqsp9kK6g5otii4AGX4/s805/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20black%20ferel%20baby%20pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="805" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1UJeTqxxRnKGw2uSupbHExDypSo2lUYYkVM8CP64APrj8HPBIa8pQTj0IFJg7BIEwQRDtLTowwC3fng6IXgLu-4YEYuIRa5AMOifONsT7ObudLauSrd9TmpEEwLKGGZTnnznls7SWGEsRg75_aeMNtY6ZpQuiBmZC9PySU2VKqsp9kK6g5otii4AGX4/w400-h301/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20black%20ferel%20baby%20pig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfinVijYVqCcaynVGh6yxGQeE366SpXByadXQseQmHcD8o5r2uyU6Ff8EbTHJDwcklp3lDwjDpvdWf4sAxe_0_8H4KoBhwyL-TVJsBSCsSrFyunxEatoqavDVgiTd-XcAKpm0tOX0J4nrDDvLbpl3EQa0U00z3ai4XPEONlJRphtciczOoLAe12Fv4JQ/s719/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20brown%20ferel%20baby%20pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="719" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfinVijYVqCcaynVGh6yxGQeE366SpXByadXQseQmHcD8o5r2uyU6Ff8EbTHJDwcklp3lDwjDpvdWf4sAxe_0_8H4KoBhwyL-TVJsBSCsSrFyunxEatoqavDVgiTd-XcAKpm0tOX0J4nrDDvLbpl3EQa0U00z3ai4XPEONlJRphtciczOoLAe12Fv4JQ/w400-h311/Kauai%20Coffee%20Plantation%20brown%20ferel%20baby%20pig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We did a tour that took us to many places where movies have been filmed on Kauai. This bay had a beautiful rainbow.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9shfk1_MIvgCmbhzOhIAzfFyMaDYx38-AyApGqOaQwA8b6UVSPbZ0RNCMG-AN9n9BaAIKl39Z-Z6ekqWwCihmEa0753RM0Qm4vEomOjxgyMBipWxpaXZG075zi0f45ATuqCF1ZmUA7B-7jPQzUdPE2KE8s1st9ojOn17WZTKoBhJcV4GQmyhAehogU/s800/Kauai%20rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="800" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9shfk1_MIvgCmbhzOhIAzfFyMaDYx38-AyApGqOaQwA8b6UVSPbZ0RNCMG-AN9n9BaAIKl39Z-Z6ekqWwCihmEa0753RM0Qm4vEomOjxgyMBipWxpaXZG075zi0f45ATuqCF1ZmUA7B-7jPQzUdPE2KE8s1st9ojOn17WZTKoBhJcV4GQmyhAehogU/w400-h276/Kauai%20rainbow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Opaekaa Falls was in Blue Hawaii. So was the Coco Palms hotel. The hurricane of 1992 also destroyed that hotel. It has been bought and sold several times since then, but development keeps being put off. It is really in bad shape.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN9Mi1i5jNkHWeKvM0ryCLsAga-Ozf2xFpcoP0NEgWJ_33ydbg9-_Tm4OT1JSCBNaa3fgiEMjuK1GFcYqZCwhOjAQaSk3ZDioaJZh66AsuIloflXuZWNXytFTDiwaWbTkpi9bC-Wm91-cbvlJCzqyMHyTIjuwWe7X5E3TkfQXDIbwP8Z860DJMAjsEu0/s556/Opaekaa%20Falls%20in%20Blue%20Hawaii%20film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="377" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN9Mi1i5jNkHWeKvM0ryCLsAga-Ozf2xFpcoP0NEgWJ_33ydbg9-_Tm4OT1JSCBNaa3fgiEMjuK1GFcYqZCwhOjAQaSk3ZDioaJZh66AsuIloflXuZWNXytFTDiwaWbTkpi9bC-Wm91-cbvlJCzqyMHyTIjuwWe7X5E3TkfQXDIbwP8Z860DJMAjsEu0/w271-h400/Opaekaa%20Falls%20in%20Blue%20Hawaii%20film.jpg" width="271" /></a></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1TeX5uh33Er_DjMCsdPw5aWnJqYhRZScWrdhzblbCDwTaTPXZBcz2fKxClDKRmbHrKgzxUi5CAIgNYJxQEXKpOROWYn0yF2802OrUqdog6DpKDVlMBkUnOOcKOdClPHa2QCWpasPeVjBsRdNs9O-QIRf0G4JTkmFwtvrcPpwICTL_wRm8EjPXlJ0ZGg/s809/Coco%20Palms%20ruins%20where%20Blue%20Hawaii%20was%20filmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="809" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1TeX5uh33Er_DjMCsdPw5aWnJqYhRZScWrdhzblbCDwTaTPXZBcz2fKxClDKRmbHrKgzxUi5CAIgNYJxQEXKpOROWYn0yF2802OrUqdog6DpKDVlMBkUnOOcKOdClPHa2QCWpasPeVjBsRdNs9O-QIRf0G4JTkmFwtvrcPpwICTL_wRm8EjPXlJ0ZGg/w400-h233/Coco%20Palms%20ruins%20where%20Blue%20Hawaii%20was%20filmed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The field below was part of Jurassic Park. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDU5DB3UCNxsNhSwwlXZDTJmX5NG0WCRFbH3g9NJ7iZcxywuNeS9lY1hZfzeCbqInW4wwrs-EocWGC5Iczhwy97hGYRHaCTyke3BAA0QA06S7yiFL1liD2xWbWNsSyWcFJlT-EaCXQqNM4ULPKm0kaKj1tDlp1Ew8OW9VOa-r38EZAgr7ZIMjw3M8orY/s1179/Jurassic%20park%20field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="1179" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDU5DB3UCNxsNhSwwlXZDTJmX5NG0WCRFbH3g9NJ7iZcxywuNeS9lY1hZfzeCbqInW4wwrs-EocWGC5Iczhwy97hGYRHaCTyke3BAA0QA06S7yiFL1liD2xWbWNsSyWcFJlT-EaCXQqNM4ULPKm0kaKj1tDlp1Ew8OW9VOa-r38EZAgr7ZIMjw3M8orY/w400-h193/Jurassic%20park%20field.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you see the profile of King Kong in this next photo?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJU9vu7OUnkBlbAUkFq5sRjz1tD03YCx2NoxqcODDd8vZqtNuC6FrNL-zbK7tWZDA76B7rm4un7S81y-cJivXwkc7v6nUAp0reYtGXvaGKF4v_xc4f-yV35qOs2z8jbEjLs8imNx1eIrleN55kwbXiXPRQE3CIZVSmK1hL1KC4XsM9JqpBMRPotklYZo/s657/King%20Kong%20Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="657" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJU9vu7OUnkBlbAUkFq5sRjz1tD03YCx2NoxqcODDd8vZqtNuC6FrNL-zbK7tWZDA76B7rm4un7S81y-cJivXwkc7v6nUAp0reYtGXvaGKF4v_xc4f-yV35qOs2z8jbEjLs8imNx1eIrleN55kwbXiXPRQE3CIZVSmK1hL1KC4XsM9JqpBMRPotklYZo/w400-h294/King%20Kong%20Mountain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Kilauea lighthouse was in the movie Lilo and Stitch.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jDdKKj6bMLXoDRLgADnjrbsixS9mrzqAWhcovzSym-1maS8ho_3eWOoqzr835P2RF0wDT7trfDyGeUvaYQ2ALUtvkJ8P55chuxTgA7P_uMFm85JO4iEXXcC53sNUFUrhNZGYi3xAHCzP08xVk5evqertKsUVviaSEGwPy9gZAL6GBW3L00FViHShwT0/s809/Kilauea%20Lighthouse%20in%20Lilo%20and%20Stitch%20movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jDdKKj6bMLXoDRLgADnjrbsixS9mrzqAWhcovzSym-1maS8ho_3eWOoqzr835P2RF0wDT7trfDyGeUvaYQ2ALUtvkJ8P55chuxTgA7P_uMFm85JO4iEXXcC53sNUFUrhNZGYi3xAHCzP08xVk5evqertKsUVviaSEGwPy9gZAL6GBW3L00FViHShwT0/w400-h300/Kilauea%20Lighthouse%20in%20Lilo%20and%20Stitch%20movie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These Albezia trees are all over the island. They remind me of scenes from Avatar which was also filmed on Kauai.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwE672s2rWN_ery8X6ppaei7QY0AC-WSN4lKCu8AwD3aCHIV73okGJjwFIFnmNPY998_tdgRTgIRGTAi1A3rAQnarA9dvNui-lrePodszgan_XQIQej_Hfv7-jOeudZoCtXSfCEQYpgECPt39b6szehtbXxTJ4b_CJ7MM4ush0QPXwDXfolUjSxejSPg/s758/Albezia%20trees,%20Avatar%20movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="758" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwE672s2rWN_ery8X6ppaei7QY0AC-WSN4lKCu8AwD3aCHIV73okGJjwFIFnmNPY998_tdgRTgIRGTAi1A3rAQnarA9dvNui-lrePodszgan_XQIQej_Hfv7-jOeudZoCtXSfCEQYpgECPt39b6szehtbXxTJ4b_CJ7MM4ush0QPXwDXfolUjSxejSPg/w400-h264/Albezia%20trees,%20Avatar%20movies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We headed all the way to the north end of the island to Hanalei Bay. Another beautiful spot!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKrEwRyv6p5KItZdtpkH2ck8BY3PqeR5BO1TuEUdcnYjf0Fm0aDm13HQMB57b_qT6mr6rBMgL5od13WAVP0RC-_gHYJo0MzbSfs4tcNWCMzj_ydlbh96Aigkxxot6QtMiNbsmG6-q0_AGXYYoMolS7Mq6E-mZaNLC-uJaI_KQKzDebTKokNLjYkYdE00/s809/Hanalei%20Bay%20North%20side%20of%20island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKrEwRyv6p5KItZdtpkH2ck8BY3PqeR5BO1TuEUdcnYjf0Fm0aDm13HQMB57b_qT6mr6rBMgL5od13WAVP0RC-_gHYJo0MzbSfs4tcNWCMzj_ydlbh96Aigkxxot6QtMiNbsmG6-q0_AGXYYoMolS7Mq6E-mZaNLC-uJaI_KQKzDebTKokNLjYkYdE00/w400-h300/Hanalei%20Bay%20North%20side%20of%20island.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mount Waialeale is at an elevation of 5,148 feet. It's in the clouds below. It gets on average 450 inches of annual rainfall, making it the second wettest place on earth. In 1982, they had a whopping 683 inches of rain. Wow!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9jagHy9ETidC5OCJo6842L_szo9jM36-Xq6l1-OyCASrhRznr_sYBhKY5AdGNuKlJoe4iaoV-FP-zzHttgn-hzGQCbTOlg0w2TQJ3XX0YKw0U5nF6BIFi3-tANJ6ROrDWnbnDpX71G73ESPd0c3LUQ23gKl7uDN7l5NDKLIwalbLYdMi2FLKWyaNIy4/s809/Mt.%20Waialeale,%20450%20inches%20of%20rain%20per%20year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9jagHy9ETidC5OCJo6842L_szo9jM36-Xq6l1-OyCASrhRznr_sYBhKY5AdGNuKlJoe4iaoV-FP-zzHttgn-hzGQCbTOlg0w2TQJ3XX0YKw0U5nF6BIFi3-tANJ6ROrDWnbnDpX71G73ESPd0c3LUQ23gKl7uDN7l5NDKLIwalbLYdMi2FLKWyaNIy4/s320/Mt.%20Waialeale,%20450%20inches%20of%20rain%20per%20year.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The latest version of The Jungle Cruise movie by Disney was filmed on the Wailua River.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WV3y830vbXqBCGb6eXeEVKuz0JsRQ-btnlIOVHMOtbEGDpLLDHEjyOzM4HSsPQti0X-X4j7vc-Owy9xdueQ7bGJAjghXUPWIRBpiLdy2j0sg85H3e808qU2r-JExlh0pvKeq72eXlX13Tpdi6kXk-ttRTU-6LpyFuhHkzpCps4dUC-xzX1S4iMdad1w/s809/Wailua%20River%20in%20Jungle%20Book%20movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WV3y830vbXqBCGb6eXeEVKuz0JsRQ-btnlIOVHMOtbEGDpLLDHEjyOzM4HSsPQti0X-X4j7vc-Owy9xdueQ7bGJAjghXUPWIRBpiLdy2j0sg85H3e808qU2r-JExlh0pvKeq72eXlX13Tpdi6kXk-ttRTU-6LpyFuhHkzpCps4dUC-xzX1S4iMdad1w/w400-h300/Wailua%20River%20in%20Jungle%20Book%20movie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>The spouting horn is a blowhole created from a natural lava tube. It can blow up to 50 feet.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1BNXpCK8llgaqQsbLce6Cg9jZ9WsmO5pNaRNtOwhj-fx04cfkDfESDUdT14a3P0r4leKyW_tBAkqAwP5c369oVWLdhMZNws_DCJhcfta26zcRj0mZOGb-ZmJgRo3OEWU5InSzDZbdsYD8lpxGvETF_I8aK-cV2FWVSoJgPhXUHgbp5m8k_Ur2q4Jixs/s607/Spouting%20Horn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1BNXpCK8llgaqQsbLce6Cg9jZ9WsmO5pNaRNtOwhj-fx04cfkDfESDUdT14a3P0r4leKyW_tBAkqAwP5c369oVWLdhMZNws_DCJhcfta26zcRj0mZOGb-ZmJgRo3OEWU5InSzDZbdsYD8lpxGvETF_I8aK-cV2FWVSoJgPhXUHgbp5m8k_Ur2q4Jixs/s320/Spouting%20Horn.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We did another tour with Mountain Tubing Adventure where we went tubing down former irrigation canals that were dug out of lava on the former Lihue sugar cane plantation. Hawaii stopped exporting sugar cane in 2016. High labor costs made it impossible to compete with other countries. We went through several tunnels that had been hand dug out of the lava. It was a great tour. They drove us through parts of the plantation and explained some of the history, and then we went tubing. Here's the vehicle we were in. I don't have any pictures of the actual tubing, but I've included two from the web.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ19O__B25yECVqLqnnO6Lz9K2tuici1Xv5tf5lWy6rI3OB4Ev0VH67HClMBOzPp64UZibZaFP6oDsPzYUH1e-8xB4Whj87US-zdI9Bm3df3OXoEZ585NGIgK0gKFPY7Pyp7hPDrvyt-MzbPRBgm5D5yckshbeOfhCvrx4Jtub9cKJs4d5Lxx6dyJrC_A/s809/Vehicle%20to%20lava%20tube%20tubing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="809" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ19O__B25yECVqLqnnO6Lz9K2tuici1Xv5tf5lWy6rI3OB4Ev0VH67HClMBOzPp64UZibZaFP6oDsPzYUH1e-8xB4Whj87US-zdI9Bm3df3OXoEZ585NGIgK0gKFPY7Pyp7hPDrvyt-MzbPRBgm5D5yckshbeOfhCvrx4Jtub9cKJs4d5Lxx6dyJrC_A/w400-h300/Vehicle%20to%20lava%20tube%20tubing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhVlYXTiqHCoTEqew_SA3nR8QeYV0GJQR-KLNomlEc9osfo_iU-eXpO59pEmEC4lXJo3ekHvgzqAmNvAm2DU5QGfXnmv-L7wDPu-18iJ6imUv4ZX_r2hsj9m4wBj00iKNjG7Yqoja7CNcvoExVYFluiy6JV-hbTht86BnjQTwuy1UZnAyJ1xRLtThiM8/s474/tubing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="474" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhVlYXTiqHCoTEqew_SA3nR8QeYV0GJQR-KLNomlEc9osfo_iU-eXpO59pEmEC4lXJo3ekHvgzqAmNvAm2DU5QGfXnmv-L7wDPu-18iJ6imUv4ZX_r2hsj9m4wBj00iKNjG7Yqoja7CNcvoExVYFluiy6JV-hbTht86BnjQTwuy1UZnAyJ1xRLtThiM8/w400-h300/tubing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj4wMy1KaMxTtNDRhPHzYC6ejDy8cOygD9XGL8Vk7SSCmPjk76Zi3utnbCxNx-0FFasogiunCnFKVN8iuvr5MUlvwkWVx18pMdOEsrPDNQc45L9LPPZmO3fdSN7OeZ9z0-i8GbgbqGe32qs-9UWUdjqrLFaBFWSKqUP6ju0SRUPmmUh7AAl6lMTPyLhE/s550/tubing%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="550" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj4wMy1KaMxTtNDRhPHzYC6ejDy8cOygD9XGL8Vk7SSCmPjk76Zi3utnbCxNx-0FFasogiunCnFKVN8iuvr5MUlvwkWVx18pMdOEsrPDNQc45L9LPPZmO3fdSN7OeZ9z0-i8GbgbqGe32qs-9UWUdjqrLFaBFWSKqUP6ju0SRUPmmUh7AAl6lMTPyLhE/w400-h268/tubing%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">So, after five days in Kauai, we boarded a plane for a ten hour flight to Sydney, Australia.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-36986593970068076012023-10-07T12:31:00.002-05:002023-10-07T12:31:37.839-05:00Santa Fe, New Mexico<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Colorado and headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico on our journey back to Yuma. When we traveled with our RV, we always stayed in a campground in Albuquerque. We were so close to Santa Fe, but never visited. So, this time, we decided to spend a day there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">By the way, we decided to leave the fifth wheel in Wisconsin from now on. So, no more towing for Kevin.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I did not find many tour options in Santa Fe. There is one company that does trolley tours, so we made sure to be there early to get a seat as they don't take reservations. A driver had called in sick, so they only had one trolley running. Luckily, we got there early enough and were able to get on the first one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We learned a lot about the city. Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the country, founded in 1610 by the Spaniards. There is a great deal of history here. This sculpture was outside one of the museums. The city is known for its art. We saw many sculptures and art studios during our visit. Most of it was quite pricey!!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpxT1xiBSpRbkQ8nJQNS9PY-sR4rhNhfuj9hjMeD6alNp6GmU8Ybtqpmg2NVEQ3ioKVy-B4ue-rPLFLr7YpbA30PUZJ8DwB_BiOVNlhokJn9-ccDXWO7VXAzBL4tLXH7LA9HGjZCyG4emvjNv_ZhaMevVE0dqWADLwvmxIvWe2SdKAOFVEvEwkinlXIc/s865/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Wagon%20Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="865" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpxT1xiBSpRbkQ8nJQNS9PY-sR4rhNhfuj9hjMeD6alNp6GmU8Ybtqpmg2NVEQ3ioKVy-B4ue-rPLFLr7YpbA30PUZJ8DwB_BiOVNlhokJn9-ccDXWO7VXAzBL4tLXH7LA9HGjZCyG4emvjNv_ZhaMevVE0dqWADLwvmxIvWe2SdKAOFVEvEwkinlXIc/w400-h233/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Wagon%20Statue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After the tour, we visited the Basilica of St. Francis built between 1869 and 1886. It is a beautiful church in the old town area. In one of the side chapels is the oldest statue of the Virgin Mary in North America. It is a 30 inch tall wooden statue, hand carved from willow and olive wood. It is believed she was carved between 1448 and 1648 based on tree ring dating, and brought to Santa Fe by the Spanish in 1626. She has 300 outfits and an extensive jewelry collection which is changed monthly to correspond with the church calendar. A Papal Crown was bestowed to her by Pope John XXIII in 1960.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJw09k-oQs3WKLCUrECGO521jc4YT3gd3KO1AZJjCur8crFGc2a6ku_YmuZVJxQ7-40W0O4Cbiy3ia8JGIH-btQKCJYjIVtYOk2gdMhIB2tzKDF4a-yXp0D5XZQosb1Krcb9e9F-zy9S1fC2JrV7HiD_niPiqlN9Uqpy2gYN2JlKk6V6jYYGLeb5LoHU/s708/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Basilica%20of%20St.%20Francis.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="708" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJw09k-oQs3WKLCUrECGO521jc4YT3gd3KO1AZJjCur8crFGc2a6ku_YmuZVJxQ7-40W0O4Cbiy3ia8JGIH-btQKCJYjIVtYOk2gdMhIB2tzKDF4a-yXp0D5XZQosb1Krcb9e9F-zy9S1fC2JrV7HiD_niPiqlN9Uqpy2gYN2JlKk6V6jYYGLeb5LoHU/w400-h343/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Basilica%20of%20St.%20Francis.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoxjTWttSJlcN5NPqzCEpNJCBp9W1PVzuerjFIefY1PrTJfgD3it9rH_vGOXOfqYKjkqaoi2j25OEE67I8-3AcmKK5YonW1RIEQwfKr-QjvqMD5jz12vBcsRaM5lu7wMFIBXqJ36ESB3zlYYb2HBhW1ZcITICprnpjtVLVF43jvHIdIINeqF1WoKC4g0/s886/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Basilica%20of%20St.%20Francis%20Mary%20Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoxjTWttSJlcN5NPqzCEpNJCBp9W1PVzuerjFIefY1PrTJfgD3it9rH_vGOXOfqYKjkqaoi2j25OEE67I8-3AcmKK5YonW1RIEQwfKr-QjvqMD5jz12vBcsRaM5lu7wMFIBXqJ36ESB3zlYYb2HBhW1ZcITICprnpjtVLVF43jvHIdIINeqF1WoKC4g0/w286-h400/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Basilica%20of%20St.%20Francis%20Mary%20Statue.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We wandered around the central plaza which is a National Historic Landmark. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNaAVR6MufnUQlco0TfYKRa_FYROs2xYIGY00431eTOsAPp-IjpD6UlgS4aoHaNV9QMNA26N1rElvMnsu8xfGfa0FjhcwmKryizFzSi-tuzh9TtVKa45bHHWTikt7k8g8OHs_ZEw2a40zF3T_8FdG2emQ92IKtBMjxvIYNdT0eJLqlHbu_74d0VUouRw/s913/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="913" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNaAVR6MufnUQlco0TfYKRa_FYROs2xYIGY00431eTOsAPp-IjpD6UlgS4aoHaNV9QMNA26N1rElvMnsu8xfGfa0FjhcwmKryizFzSi-tuzh9TtVKa45bHHWTikt7k8g8OHs_ZEw2a40zF3T_8FdG2emQ92IKtBMjxvIYNdT0eJLqlHbu_74d0VUouRw/w400-h284/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Plaza.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-size: large;">Santa Fe is the 3rd oldest city in the US, after St. Augustine, Florida and Jamestown, Virginia. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in the old town area. Along the Palace of the Governors (the oldest capitol in the US and now a museum), there were dozens of Native Americans selling jewelry. I managed to find a beautiful turquoise necklace made by James B Eustace of the Pueblo of Cochiti Native.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgj0K59ErYwaHRRqR1Xcjjw6q29tjhQ2OyoedGkfiBcmJ7vTK9YXBBZRMWf7ROTZkyhQ1r19VPynbYbDpBSoQ7yc-Ne_cWLsBZ_GfU7YRV1_xBZgHzYaLp2A-IdJ23Q7_r8-CdXwtaepVL2y_AXi9F847v5fWWcqY8_yk8drf9y21LkDOM3U_RbdaHXI/s1487/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Turquiose%20Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgj0K59ErYwaHRRqR1Xcjjw6q29tjhQ2OyoedGkfiBcmJ7vTK9YXBBZRMWf7ROTZkyhQ1r19VPynbYbDpBSoQ7yc-Ne_cWLsBZ_GfU7YRV1_xBZgHzYaLp2A-IdJ23Q7_r8-CdXwtaepVL2y_AXi9F847v5fWWcqY8_yk8drf9y21LkDOM3U_RbdaHXI/w290-h400/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Turquiose%20Necklace.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><p style="font-size: large;">Our next stop was the current capitol building built in 1966. It's the only round capitol building in the US and was designed to resemble the Zia sun symbol when viewed from above. The Zia sun is on New Mexico's flag.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccejRTzGoaxhnd-tZtwutI6S288DUUY3rM7z0Tfeycsl2BCU7YJvhfpa_GiNXkJ2RSsP6dSSp5RjXNyoR1gGPYJDoLM1hGTjtwFCuexqnQomb_Ho-ANseD-vU5RDRpnhytj8wyL9KKIkkOjvHRXcVSle2Aed5_CedQt96RChGCFTHjakAWFi6hx6iERE/s471/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="471" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccejRTzGoaxhnd-tZtwutI6S288DUUY3rM7z0Tfeycsl2BCU7YJvhfpa_GiNXkJ2RSsP6dSSp5RjXNyoR1gGPYJDoLM1hGTjtwFCuexqnQomb_Ho-ANseD-vU5RDRpnhytj8wyL9KKIkkOjvHRXcVSle2Aed5_CedQt96RChGCFTHjakAWFi6hx6iERE/w400-h241/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW96FlCoJx1mhi13TGD2lFTTOP5bINYGgAcnd1YV1IfTTA4B4bahxNfoKqv0_zYRcQ8t6emkSeNkPmbZSSAeAypzrR_2ZxRHn2a_MOcaFVr3m1h_PyTzgS9WISZImZ9DcDDFxzJozwCAyjbSt5OemBNDsVNsYX_jTkjunTHb2h0vLLSHtHkflCPYtN14/s2000/R.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIW96FlCoJx1mhi13TGD2lFTTOP5bINYGgAcnd1YV1IfTTA4B4bahxNfoKqv0_zYRcQ8t6emkSeNkPmbZSSAeAypzrR_2ZxRHn2a_MOcaFVr3m1h_PyTzgS9WISZImZ9DcDDFxzJozwCAyjbSt5OemBNDsVNsYX_jTkjunTHb2h0vLLSHtHkflCPYtN14/w400-h266/R.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;">The sun symbol is seen all over New Mexico including on their state seal. There is a beautiful mosaic on the floor in the center of the capitol of the seal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLrd1bOTYqU3_Px1fTOxivQQYjg9JaYF7T0YoIsEP8QdcKU-SgVf7-1foNsrKfFYzfRsGZ0RqjopVf0dAiILCvELcD-oJxx__PmtXmPvDR70s71E65F50OFbx-zc5IjfGQX5PzDmTkkEY3NB3qC9a3XscJUypuElMX551tXDl-Yil4agUC9hef5c6Ujs/s771/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building%20State%20Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="771" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLrd1bOTYqU3_Px1fTOxivQQYjg9JaYF7T0YoIsEP8QdcKU-SgVf7-1foNsrKfFYzfRsGZ0RqjopVf0dAiILCvELcD-oJxx__PmtXmPvDR70s71E65F50OFbx-zc5IjfGQX5PzDmTkkEY3NB3qC9a3XscJUypuElMX551tXDl-Yil4agUC9hef5c6Ujs/w400-h281/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building%20State%20Seal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;">The four sets of lines on each side of the sun represent the four directions of the earth, the four seasons of the year, the four times of the day, and the four divisions of life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;">There is a great deal of art on display in and around the capitol building. The Capitol Art Foundation was established in 1991 to assist in the acquisition of art by New Mexico artists for permanent, public display. I thought this sculpture outside of the building was amazing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFln9Am0JzugGUVpHUKZPEpj9yFSc10dtS9nI0rWaF6mwIkZDEP3j3uubQeKJHPY6zGkiUngL8s9wBHR4ti8eN0YQmKY8vYxsChyphenhyphenvBK8noFyhq_4rq76MOsdkI0N3zHWWNjs_0IoQDyJvXSAKxa8kE5OOqXPa_0dcg9_jLDVOQNb7lLjWeZ14zVvVVKw/s1007/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building%20Indian%20Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFln9Am0JzugGUVpHUKZPEpj9yFSc10dtS9nI0rWaF6mwIkZDEP3j3uubQeKJHPY6zGkiUngL8s9wBHR4ti8eN0YQmKY8vYxsChyphenhyphenvBK8noFyhq_4rq76MOsdkI0N3zHWWNjs_0IoQDyJvXSAKxa8kE5OOqXPa_0dcg9_jLDVOQNb7lLjWeZ14zVvVVKw/w239-h400/New%20Mexico%20Santa%20Fe%20Capitol%20Building%20Indian%20Statue.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;">In five days we leave Yuma again for our next 35 day adventure. We begin by flying to Kauai, Hawaii for a 5 day stay. Then we fly to Sydney, Australia for a 4 day visit. On October 23, we board the Princess Royal for a 10 day Australian cruise including the Great Barrier Reef. Next, we stay on the same ship for a 13 day cruise to New Zealand. Then we fly 16 hours from Sydney to Los Angeles, and drive a rental car back to Yuma. I'm sure we'll be quite exhausted by the time we get back home. Not much time for rest, though, as golf leagues will have already started, as well as all the other activities at the resort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></div><p></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-229114855618217232023-10-02T09:40:00.000-05:002023-10-02T09:40:05.426-05:00Black Canyon of the Gunnison<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Wisconsin on September 21st and headed to Lincoln to spend a few days with our family there. It has been two months since we saw Eden, and she sure has grown during that time. It was so wonderful to hold her again. We took some walks and just enjoyed family time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm9MfP28CAvuIyLJQZYhk2wEvkrh-MpWBHnM0-I3ggSLhdGKJ2IYwLX_jbxnnt8d8-2H67Ugh6VmUe05wxOuec1Dz77klbjcH8FB8nMX6zTWrZWjm-ADFoof0EnT9GjRsTPu_n5m2E26NnqL6faZLv5hg0rdF_f0OWj7inwwdOUCCAorvAohZ90QFEY4/s1080/Eden%20Walk%20Sept.%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlm9MfP28CAvuIyLJQZYhk2wEvkrh-MpWBHnM0-I3ggSLhdGKJ2IYwLX_jbxnnt8d8-2H67Ugh6VmUe05wxOuec1Dz77klbjcH8FB8nMX6zTWrZWjm-ADFoof0EnT9GjRsTPu_n5m2E26NnqL6faZLv5hg0rdF_f0OWj7inwwdOUCCAorvAohZ90QFEY4/w300-h400/Eden%20Walk%20Sept.%2023.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrO4w9h4ULVtXZ5aDMg8nOE8fxCwlgJ6moU63UA7C6Zw9XB8TeqGbO3v41kLNFOQ-Ag5cICgLZSRQkcCM6YT8pgFcKNHEcTZTfaCeD08OMAB4xbXZDp_W17dSmWGRoOXPEIgspm7NZj5WwYV3lh80HOPtPgawjczobzahfu2FKVghHMtIy8qmV7vyFGA/s912/Eden%20Sept.%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrO4w9h4ULVtXZ5aDMg8nOE8fxCwlgJ6moU63UA7C6Zw9XB8TeqGbO3v41kLNFOQ-Ag5cICgLZSRQkcCM6YT8pgFcKNHEcTZTfaCeD08OMAB4xbXZDp_W17dSmWGRoOXPEIgspm7NZj5WwYV3lh80HOPtPgawjczobzahfu2FKVghHMtIy8qmV7vyFGA/w353-h400/Eden%20Sept.%2022.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is "talking" to her mom. She's so alert!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdIQ0_zr4LS8oFrbBHcB01gfAue7g-VT_zv4kI44DCBTArrY35tBbkEiEKAJcc0iS1uHDQRdgV66eOrhBwLj23uL8OYPzIYurb3fzsMLVchgcGifjS684eNs25MrSglr5I_Z5mhv5FB7VdbQfb8ZOv3ABrwytgMfobqITNtcBRq9QRqqCvaQStkMVB_I/s1176/Eden%20with%20Grandma%20B%20Sept.%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdIQ0_zr4LS8oFrbBHcB01gfAue7g-VT_zv4kI44DCBTArrY35tBbkEiEKAJcc0iS1uHDQRdgV66eOrhBwLj23uL8OYPzIYurb3fzsMLVchgcGifjS684eNs25MrSglr5I_Z5mhv5FB7VdbQfb8ZOv3ABrwytgMfobqITNtcBRq9QRqqCvaQStkMVB_I/w313-h400/Eden%20with%20Grandma%20B%20Sept.%2022.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_534VVTRhJGD_Uo532Nnjit3gJXAr6AHjkNgWldAlCBl_mJoRzRJ5PLcgEeyKlgh0mcO9iEQrb6_G2Jmg-h9y-VbSKY8Li9I-Zmrs3gpkqBj4OtK4WmPJ5MpY4-SVeIqKmytH731_02b-SRZfwurCgNQYzmCnCUW_OjU9WhHvB6-wuSWj0vdTHY7oLow/s1018/Eden%20with%20Kevin%20and%20Cathryn%20Sept.%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1018" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_534VVTRhJGD_Uo532Nnjit3gJXAr6AHjkNgWldAlCBl_mJoRzRJ5PLcgEeyKlgh0mcO9iEQrb6_G2Jmg-h9y-VbSKY8Li9I-Zmrs3gpkqBj4OtK4WmPJ5MpY4-SVeIqKmytH731_02b-SRZfwurCgNQYzmCnCUW_OjU9WhHvB6-wuSWj0vdTHY7oLow/w400-h325/Eden%20with%20Kevin%20and%20Cathryn%20Sept.%2022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After some much needed snuggling with Eden, we departed and headed to Montrose, Colorado. National Parks are places we really enjoy visiting. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is our 43rd park visited. There are a total of 63 National Parks in the United States, so we have visited quite a few of them. Some of them are in very remote areas that we will probably never go to. There are about 10 more that we plan to visit at some point.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Black Canyon of the Gunnison does not get nearly as many visitors as some of the more well known parks. It was established in 1999, and has been on my radar for some time. As we drove across Interstate 70 through the Rocky Mountains, the scenery was just breathtaking. The aspen trees were in full autumn color. The area around Vail was beautiful.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72BMIccsZEmumd-0tBi8OGcOa-iahKEhOMLhYQn1_Bp2pUo_6CMyRrrOmOsZ0WItYp1AxHyP82yVSZeW0Otf1WyKTXiAUjPOavlE4UjbDJaI-c40VZCXyCWf2U6mK8D5_82JT2J-dAqcdW2rT_Vgzg1V9OHiRX3jq-AvMDcwh6hmJy8Q_iPp1EgPhHXg/s1074/Colorado%20Aspen%20Color%20Sept.%2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1074" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72BMIccsZEmumd-0tBi8OGcOa-iahKEhOMLhYQn1_Bp2pUo_6CMyRrrOmOsZ0WItYp1AxHyP82yVSZeW0Otf1WyKTXiAUjPOavlE4UjbDJaI-c40VZCXyCWf2U6mK8D5_82JT2J-dAqcdW2rT_Vgzg1V9OHiRX3jq-AvMDcwh6hmJy8Q_iPp1EgPhHXg/w400-h231/Colorado%20Aspen%20Color%20Sept.%2025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The canyon was formed by the Gunnison River eroding the rock. It is a 53-mile-long canyon that’s one of the narrowest and deepest in the western United States. So deep, in fact, that sunlight rarely reaches the bottom—a feature that helped give it the name.</span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfePNZFiaA1FG1AdofgDqozkYReH4V5wNLNESTGxkPlrrnWPmZD8JVUlGhFWbHP8wgsUmZ4lvUavpUCkDuCWw3DALOA7wjqAkrd3yRHmzJXRWvQCffgnZnlBfExLAeYscBluu0QYBX-5R2oIVqpj59a-LFA70ThyJV-kHV-FaR40cObwiYHA9S3BvP_I/s1074/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Visitor%20Center%20Overlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1074" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfePNZFiaA1FG1AdofgDqozkYReH4V5wNLNESTGxkPlrrnWPmZD8JVUlGhFWbHP8wgsUmZ4lvUavpUCkDuCWw3DALOA7wjqAkrd3yRHmzJXRWvQCffgnZnlBfExLAeYscBluu0QYBX-5R2oIVqpj59a-LFA70ThyJV-kHV-FaR40cObwiYHA9S3BvP_I/w400-h269/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Visitor%20Center%20Overlook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View behind the visitor center</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At it's deepest part, the canyon is over 2,700 feet deep. This sign gives you a perspective on just how deep that is. The Empire State Building would only reach about half way. The tallest building in the world in Dubai is about the same height.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGcjhW6exRqvpb2JlZbOJDdKcf6fmLgUzGjtcFBh3us9NV01XBzstZwjdCnj9x5fGmxWDaVUwsfK0Ix-hVvWV7UDbjIKGu3m2sVD2xwLNO7JHmLYYj8tkn8aX9h6DdbG2d9_lQ_Sb-gdGxQOVeS3WBfLPwSJ7XQrshMY-20gxk687Gmh7_k2_tvIjS7I/s1015/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20depth%20perspective%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1015" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGcjhW6exRqvpb2JlZbOJDdKcf6fmLgUzGjtcFBh3us9NV01XBzstZwjdCnj9x5fGmxWDaVUwsfK0Ix-hVvWV7UDbjIKGu3m2sVD2xwLNO7JHmLYYj8tkn8aX9h6DdbG2d9_lQ_Sb-gdGxQOVeS3WBfLPwSJ7XQrshMY-20gxk687Gmh7_k2_tvIjS7I/w400-h239/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20depth%20perspective%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a 7 mile road with 12 overlooks along the south rim of the canyon with a visitor center at the start. You can also drive along the north rim, but much of that is a gravel road. We stayed on the south road. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day for our viewing pleasure. Some of the overlooks didn't have a parking spot for us, but we think we saw plenty at the overlooks we were able to visit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We attended a ranger talk on the geology of the park. There are three main types of rocks that form the walls. I don't remember their names, but the lighter one is what creates the veins and makes for the pretty designs at the Painted Wall Overlook.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmPjicwVp-rzryQFYKZhbzjkhsKYD5ygK5PHoMg20KM18Ga03e2962G7WJY7kQg_Q3Lx6NuPs7tOJtBZpak7sEvZN1YiZG8DXOgjqcgWbdLTdTEYw0OLUr2GCQ8NzW0LjfPZ_rDUmcjiVF1YpXlAx9KeT_QHDY5jtlVrQhXqY3fnRRs4ssJ9EyXMFAUc/s905/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Painted%20Wall%20Overlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="905" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmPjicwVp-rzryQFYKZhbzjkhsKYD5ygK5PHoMg20KM18Ga03e2962G7WJY7kQg_Q3Lx6NuPs7tOJtBZpak7sEvZN1YiZG8DXOgjqcgWbdLTdTEYw0OLUr2GCQ8NzW0LjfPZ_rDUmcjiVF1YpXlAx9KeT_QHDY5jtlVrQhXqY3fnRRs4ssJ9EyXMFAUc/w400-h250/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Painted%20Wall%20Overlook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiv5GC78lzcnQye-01DkqoebMjzDNmjLoIpbkhaPP-VVasdrLS9VBHLi2azVm40Syw1yYFBmBu0dzR-sl4a3hmHFDijobomkALMZ_UtkKTOrQtjE6HHxAQQ7sS1GWKvR9CtFHS9w0vHg9SeLYOazJa-EslBR1mT_skYfqx0sgrl0hBE5hZJRgLklg09Y/s1053/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Painted%20Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1053" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiv5GC78lzcnQye-01DkqoebMjzDNmjLoIpbkhaPP-VVasdrLS9VBHLi2azVm40Syw1yYFBmBu0dzR-sl4a3hmHFDijobomkALMZ_UtkKTOrQtjE6HHxAQQ7sS1GWKvR9CtFHS9w0vHg9SeLYOazJa-EslBR1mT_skYfqx0sgrl0hBE5hZJRgLklg09Y/w400-h360/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Painted%20Wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">At one of the overlooks, we saw what looked like a castle. Let your imagination run wild!</span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1miCtCgAOwlCgsANBlFHYA3okehlzccxkA6Sm29shbc1uYljMvhWYxeHNKLucNYL7NtbJd-Q26WrmWs2usNcj8XqkfTPfcKztD83I27gRaJ6_afipfhrdpT-xKpuPifipjFDtOGuNUC-IhTV9RiZuvgzuUyB56-4QJuRyrqngQdQnPW0elIO8-xp-Q/s1311/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Castle%20Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1miCtCgAOwlCgsANBlFHYA3okehlzccxkA6Sm29shbc1uYljMvhWYxeHNKLucNYL7NtbJd-Q26WrmWs2usNcj8XqkfTPfcKztD83I27gRaJ6_afipfhrdpT-xKpuPifipjFDtOGuNUC-IhTV9RiZuvgzuUyB56-4QJuRyrqngQdQnPW0elIO8-xp-Q/s320/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Castle%20Rock.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see it? (Top center)</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWCtbkYuYSSM7Mx0qq3wqNoIVOLUMi37G0Xch_F9NzkcJF-Fst7Qd7RR2wXJtUlwwMvtyEdB_GnkN5BkxYt0bHwGcMARTOm5G3SmnUfqe_I-sX2doCjm0vSlpJvvseOQQsINtQA32nvSjnJOP8n1-4nVrhLgIkLOWLbS2vPCj4ypWlWRTPh2FfuMH1AI/s1067/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Castle%20Rock%20up%20close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1067" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWCtbkYuYSSM7Mx0qq3wqNoIVOLUMi37G0Xch_F9NzkcJF-Fst7Qd7RR2wXJtUlwwMvtyEdB_GnkN5BkxYt0bHwGcMARTOm5G3SmnUfqe_I-sX2doCjm0vSlpJvvseOQQsINtQA32nvSjnJOP8n1-4nVrhLgIkLOWLbS2vPCj4ypWlWRTPh2FfuMH1AI/w400-h274/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Castle%20Rock%20up%20close.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer view</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The area below is popular with rock climbers. We didn't see any climbers that day. There is no way I'd try that!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sCwbirfSoBaEMw16xGrRY7_pf5f6tF0kAWAAt4npF2to05ptVvCAOr2slI6yfjqa3JvJt1e6w4VoSOAx_JoCQuQy5AtV4cA9gDMopNjRj3df744zey7IohdLcsq_uNGKsZZnSSQvmeP9ds_CD4JBQwlgB0DspIGcRoMm69_vBCgawPWp0ojDFF0l4o8/s1440/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Rock%20Climbing%20Spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sCwbirfSoBaEMw16xGrRY7_pf5f6tF0kAWAAt4npF2to05ptVvCAOr2slI6yfjqa3JvJt1e6w4VoSOAx_JoCQuQy5AtV4cA9gDMopNjRj3df744zey7IohdLcsq_uNGKsZZnSSQvmeP9ds_CD4JBQwlgB0DspIGcRoMm69_vBCgawPWp0ojDFF0l4o8/w300-h400/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Rock%20Climbing%20Spot.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Chasm Overlook View</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG67Ge_JQ3sxmnVNPRCuufdGBvSBnydrZxKGTxH8BW_uKWYsCkRYudDZHXkbOsdmeKonQtmhGATrTMlfuzqPE2maNCIlBpM-JNsYQGA4rhS2RV08lD2kJH-fyX5DPHDhdH3HD5BU5GoL3xD0elpw3F1qOIHZYlcxgTEGBJrJeH8RzPazwB4kWFpbsSmk/s1038/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Chasm%20View%20Overlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG67Ge_JQ3sxmnVNPRCuufdGBvSBnydrZxKGTxH8BW_uKWYsCkRYudDZHXkbOsdmeKonQtmhGATrTMlfuzqPE2maNCIlBpM-JNsYQGA4rhS2RV08lD2kJH-fyX5DPHDhdH3HD5BU5GoL3xD0elpw3F1qOIHZYlcxgTEGBJrJeH8RzPazwB4kWFpbsSmk/w306-h400/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Chasm%20View%20Overlook.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The Gunnison River runs throughout the canyon. From above it looks quite tame. The river drops 2,100 feet through 14 miles of the canyon. The sand and gravel grating against the riverbed act as a liquid buzz saw. During the spring runoff, the river roars with 2.75 million horsepower. A jet engine has 110,000 horsepower. That powerful water can move rocks weighing over 5,000 pounds through the river. Wow!!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOH_NNx9E7A62SPm7E_keqpdoKxbfQeRm64dzyuHmZa0u0fvmrikpcQKEzERoy8vrhw2CQadkR2xA2vmGOvtQ4bPPYBQUSgct5W0Vsha5tni6pyV9Wu4uKofuwtLCbY_pLC_ztTACRd-w3Zl-1k1i-JHVtqz3oBOlyujxS83EzxhI71eT-EneJKKWyi4/s1043/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20with%20Gunnison%20River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1043" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOH_NNx9E7A62SPm7E_keqpdoKxbfQeRm64dzyuHmZa0u0fvmrikpcQKEzERoy8vrhw2CQadkR2xA2vmGOvtQ4bPPYBQUSgct5W0Vsha5tni6pyV9Wu4uKofuwtLCbY_pLC_ztTACRd-w3Zl-1k1i-JHVtqz3oBOlyujxS83EzxhI71eT-EneJKKWyi4/w400-h208/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20with%20Gunnison%20River.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Along with the river in the above picture, notice how the wall on the left is much steeper and more jagged than the wall on the right. This is due to more sun exposure on the left which evaporates the snow quickly. The right side has the snow stay on longer which causes more erosion making it smoother.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These scrub oak bushes were showing their vivid fall colors throughout the park.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJdqPja8kKhFisoyb2aJa04u6pYICoAWKPWQlYVJyRtRI4Zt52s1QEDnbfLSyjWC2c2TakPLeHW10I_nRQeUz3Kzf0ixfhAmsZV2qU8Yoq27zFaOPB0OX3I_G6XnqN2pRpajtwrPtUQU6uqGF6Z-78c_h4OjUvOu9awhhEjE6Zf-I14xW3z6udCvtvLg/s842/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Shrub%20Oak%20Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="842" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJdqPja8kKhFisoyb2aJa04u6pYICoAWKPWQlYVJyRtRI4Zt52s1QEDnbfLSyjWC2c2TakPLeHW10I_nRQeUz3Kzf0ixfhAmsZV2qU8Yoq27zFaOPB0OX3I_G6XnqN2pRpajtwrPtUQU6uqGF6Z-78c_h4OjUvOu9awhhEjE6Zf-I14xW3z6udCvtvLg/w400-h308/Colorado%20Black%20Canyon%20of%20the%20Gunnison%20Shrub%20Oak%20Leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We had dinner at the Horsefly Brewing Company in Montrose. The food was good. Kevin tried two of their beers, and said it was some of the best beer he'd ever had. If you're wondering how it got it's name. it's named after Horsefly Peak. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-73768379150301778312023-09-20T06:44:00.000-05:002023-09-20T06:44:08.150-05:00Welcome Granddaughter Eden<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our youngest son Korey and his wife Cathryn welcomed their first child, a daughter named Eden Ann in early July. She is the first grandchild on both sides, so is truly a blessing for all!!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnDYiREWJ1gn03DB7KBbkWXbkN5diFzxbCzKLOGOIdK3AVgXHWpWL86lHyk8DCazl8tp7VQjEzYBCcN6mxYaceENo3zpPxFiAwp3l5CJt-DZW0K0XgL2XoagQqZYIG4AkNxvWkq8M6Mb6EivR27BML55RHfMzIISxue9rKjZSz6B3q54jcF5Sz81MZH0/s1349/Eden%20in%20basket%20July%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1062" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnDYiREWJ1gn03DB7KBbkWXbkN5diFzxbCzKLOGOIdK3AVgXHWpWL86lHyk8DCazl8tp7VQjEzYBCcN6mxYaceENo3zpPxFiAwp3l5CJt-DZW0K0XgL2XoagQqZYIG4AkNxvWkq8M6Mb6EivR27BML55RHfMzIISxue9rKjZSz6B3q54jcF5Sz81MZH0/w315-h400/Eden%20in%20basket%20July%2010.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03XcySa9JDLnR_PJ5Z_9UKE8Y2y89atHsuxtBrlbBopIT4qojzEJq7695WaNrV_X8ofCUnTuyi3aTsNFD32MlbkAeXIXbCY8cSYpLqZs0FRHWKEeDMz32M9GtybpyBFT7iv4z80b6tUFtN2t2Lflo6E_5aOrqNhjgXPZacPJ_eebBHNVPO6NaSpTguYs/s811/Eden%20with%20Korey%20and%20Cathryn%20July%2010,%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="811" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03XcySa9JDLnR_PJ5Z_9UKE8Y2y89atHsuxtBrlbBopIT4qojzEJq7695WaNrV_X8ofCUnTuyi3aTsNFD32MlbkAeXIXbCY8cSYpLqZs0FRHWKEeDMz32M9GtybpyBFT7iv4z80b6tUFtN2t2Lflo6E_5aOrqNhjgXPZacPJ_eebBHNVPO6NaSpTguYs/w400-h324/Eden%20with%20Korey%20and%20Cathryn%20July%2010,%202023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoOJIMxIm5NYDI6nG1YIkutGWyr-CHKeuRJxZIfLe50qi8Jbi6p0yclvH1r1oU9NL6h6Cze3rAGHRywKLQpxktn2MmPVYWXYkSam88dKXzov6LQQN23fAlyIfvioYTeXVDpx-0gk6jmfc7z2RiNM0pNZXbqaZx8yBwFXUPhJSollmw7j9mtxv1huw0iI/s1080/Eden%20with%20Grandma%20and%20Grandpa%20B%20July%2022,%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1080" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoOJIMxIm5NYDI6nG1YIkutGWyr-CHKeuRJxZIfLe50qi8Jbi6p0yclvH1r1oU9NL6h6Cze3rAGHRywKLQpxktn2MmPVYWXYkSam88dKXzov6LQQN23fAlyIfvioYTeXVDpx-0gk6jmfc7z2RiNM0pNZXbqaZx8yBwFXUPhJSollmw7j9mtxv1huw0iI/w400-h319/Eden%20with%20Grandma%20and%20Grandpa%20B%20July%2022,%202023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">We left Yuma on July 17th and headed to Nebraska to meet our sweet granddaughter. We were able to spend a few days with them, and then made our way to Wisconsin. On the way, we stopped and visited with Kevin's brother and wife in Iowa. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We've spent about seven weeks at our lot in Wisconsin. During that time, we visited with our son Eric and his family a few times. Eric started playing hockey two years ago at the age of 40. He had never played before, but did skate as a kid. He asked us to come watch a game, so we were happy to do so. It's amazing how good of a skater he has become in such a short time. We're happy he has found a hobby he really enjoys!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXAlmvGjjTN5Lb2DhDARyhXuFMVufKRBnuXT2fINtRG5lpW_KAjms0GVg6e94xljStYn3JdSM_NlpDCsPpZpeFmHJgO-teh-WL3mNih_2c4WSNCrz0v-TB2rOZg-Ya-pleoqnnnkZOrVndZJYdxUBl4cqzPFMX8fs9OPjVzC_DWBC01z0D_fTI_uwIlc/s526/Wisconsin%20Eric%20hockey%20August%2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="341" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXAlmvGjjTN5Lb2DhDARyhXuFMVufKRBnuXT2fINtRG5lpW_KAjms0GVg6e94xljStYn3JdSM_NlpDCsPpZpeFmHJgO-teh-WL3mNih_2c4WSNCrz0v-TB2rOZg-Ya-pleoqnnnkZOrVndZJYdxUBl4cqzPFMX8fs9OPjVzC_DWBC01z0D_fTI_uwIlc/w259-h400/Wisconsin%20Eric%20hockey%20August%2027.jpg" width="259" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILNwdS4UDnV2lNBdLGaapos-xifFsn8Tmu3TwSpNH_uFwAr8Q_ueLYhD-RFCH1gHtBD6NKcle-4FXgre25R_0UB64GTxmQ3fJM59mxNwMdgbWfkdAsJ-yo3ZepEIyL8L4yU6SUYvTOfhm-5N0mfUpzuPpG7-kGGK4oaums-w-_PxIS_3z04ixkaib2UA/s1920/Wisconsin%20Eric%20at%20hockey%20August%2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILNwdS4UDnV2lNBdLGaapos-xifFsn8Tmu3TwSpNH_uFwAr8Q_ueLYhD-RFCH1gHtBD6NKcle-4FXgre25R_0UB64GTxmQ3fJM59mxNwMdgbWfkdAsJ-yo3ZepEIyL8L4yU6SUYvTOfhm-5N0mfUpzuPpG7-kGGK4oaums-w-_PxIS_3z04ixkaib2UA/w225-h400/Wisconsin%20Eric%20at%20hockey%20August%2027.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />During August, there is a farm that allows people to come and view their sunflower fields. They are just beautiful!! </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-suTiGJJF6PToEhDuLSJKnt0-_MfW6oRgYR5fTkFQDR0bjvEqCauWBC9sHvIZT6ar0V_Xu5pBOSKizdVSQA0uKMZQXZ9fKU-eghkzkyaTAswgCR6Fm75td_CPNF_Wq1ODkvSb04nL4Bcy5QtEgUb3uT_Z5K_JaljuMlWfy0W6DIl_gsPqK5QqVBi9DA/s1075/Wisconsin%20sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1075" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-suTiGJJF6PToEhDuLSJKnt0-_MfW6oRgYR5fTkFQDR0bjvEqCauWBC9sHvIZT6ar0V_Xu5pBOSKizdVSQA0uKMZQXZ9fKU-eghkzkyaTAswgCR6Fm75td_CPNF_Wq1ODkvSb04nL4Bcy5QtEgUb3uT_Z5K_JaljuMlWfy0W6DIl_gsPqK5QqVBi9DA/w400-h214/Wisconsin%20sunflowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03fk4BY856XLaYJnNSlOMx6wQveeIhuhV5qOmUBY-YcwZks8A6kOMxAW5huWuICmcHUX1x1jUcF4wR0i-daSiDrT25-aUWYZFTFZlSUmcMF4XJRe9-xfqziRzJicQHTSzEBErpwZuXeGy6whzRJkd94M07dNYv-67Ei0QMflCsKxvHG4cGgSc3NBSwzE/s1080/Sunflowers%20tire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1080" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03fk4BY856XLaYJnNSlOMx6wQveeIhuhV5qOmUBY-YcwZks8A6kOMxAW5huWuICmcHUX1x1jUcF4wR0i-daSiDrT25-aUWYZFTFZlSUmcMF4XJRe9-xfqziRzJicQHTSzEBErpwZuXeGy6whzRJkd94M07dNYv-67Ei0QMflCsKxvHG4cGgSc3NBSwzE/w400-h293/Sunflowers%20tire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I went kayaking with Eric and his crew on Labor Day weekend. Kevin did not go, as he didn't want to risk a fall and injuring his chest wound.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglofeoBsRVjIlhRomReO6hz78FO3OkOh0MRgrF-qrF_6YO_ZKIfIbi2T2QfoALPgg9GZjYLkOSyNJHc0HbY16rcPG_l4hD3hYsabOqSM78xqaA3S3lXDocT0hZmVc8Uha4ehTpuwQKdxIKWSR0tRjrXp0bCz3OMnj05-yDdonbJWQn2eiP_tlYOkMsdWo/s903/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Eric%20and%20Evelyn%20Sept.%202.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="903" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglofeoBsRVjIlhRomReO6hz78FO3OkOh0MRgrF-qrF_6YO_ZKIfIbi2T2QfoALPgg9GZjYLkOSyNJHc0HbY16rcPG_l4hD3hYsabOqSM78xqaA3S3lXDocT0hZmVc8Uha4ehTpuwQKdxIKWSR0tRjrXp0bCz3OMnj05-yDdonbJWQn2eiP_tlYOkMsdWo/w400-h271/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Eric%20and%20Evelyn%20Sept.%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju822EZ-Qmk4-3Pciimky6X1wD4Vb9VpK8fv-UPHZ3IsXwuRwi5bv_uWubYMIkF9GxeQlSp6lpSSTR_E3prKnc5zqMjb2FRi4B7sPKgY4JdbAPhonuOMEdNs22BOatl_pQNWj4Jj1BkFtG7W-_Xmm1J-1IjpFBVZGyT6ATT-meC7nlH1VOHQuwwNvACps/s614/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Eric%20Sept.%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="614" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju822EZ-Qmk4-3Pciimky6X1wD4Vb9VpK8fv-UPHZ3IsXwuRwi5bv_uWubYMIkF9GxeQlSp6lpSSTR_E3prKnc5zqMjb2FRi4B7sPKgY4JdbAPhonuOMEdNs22BOatl_pQNWj4Jj1BkFtG7W-_Xmm1J-1IjpFBVZGyT6ATT-meC7nlH1VOHQuwwNvACps/w400-h221/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Eric%20Sept.%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR6Xld-cn_EOJVXb6c0zThkvSiIieDkRsouzZ7T1Nhh6iUH1v_aKABlqq2_SHdHC82MSO13O5kzEXZv4JRkyOIoVDvEdeHjJTOTKPu1HH7yXwsA6yVnu3EzHPZzNkhp7D8kiwmhPYVQ3BFGB0ni2OuTrGOX-ErPKjp6fJqwV3j6J4PeBkIfxJ-F2LaFw/s690/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Tyler,%20Mady,%20Zach,%20Eric,%20Evelyn%20Sept.%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="690" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqR6Xld-cn_EOJVXb6c0zThkvSiIieDkRsouzZ7T1Nhh6iUH1v_aKABlqq2_SHdHC82MSO13O5kzEXZv4JRkyOIoVDvEdeHjJTOTKPu1HH7yXwsA6yVnu3EzHPZzNkhp7D8kiwmhPYVQ3BFGB0ni2OuTrGOX-ErPKjp6fJqwV3j6J4PeBkIfxJ-F2LaFw/w400-h226/Wisconsin%20kayaking%20at%20Hartman%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Tyler,%20Mady,%20Zach,%20Eric,%20Evelyn%20Sept.%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Kevin is doing very well! September 9th was the four month anniversary of his surgery. That was when the doctor said he could return to normal activities including golf. He's still being careful as we leave for our Australia/New Zealand trip in October, so he isn't taking any chances.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We spent the summer enjoying some time relaxing in Wisconsin and cleaning up our lot. The previous owners hadn't done much, so we did some tree trimming and stained the concrete. Next year we plan to put up a gazebo and do some grass seeding on the dead spots. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a huge (maybe 50 feet tall) white pine tree in the middle of our lot. It is very messy and drips sap all over everything. We had hoped to have it cut down, but the board of directors at the park wouldn't allow it. So, we had it trimmed. We were able to hire a tree service and have some branches cut off that were hanging over the front cap of our fifth wheel. Kevin spent about two hours cleaning the sap off the paint. We also had two arborvitae bushes at the back of the property. They were totally overgrown, so we had those cleaned up as well. It looks much better now.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuNj5hTENRQ5Fg__nZUNe0_D9L8hSZaVQ8-2-knTyILZraFue33BYVgrXMPMUN1VNTqaci1b9ujlSUGY5YcELYrK5hBHQBQ2zrFvBdhXzIeGHC9WarXO-EHOfVvI3UhurndJyxjjDR4uc1A0WE0z9i4UzTUbHdpA8_ohPujGa-3fuL6T5gk4Eu2KvKsQ/s1053/Wisconsin%20tree%20trimming%20at%20Fountain%20Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1053" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuNj5hTENRQ5Fg__nZUNe0_D9L8hSZaVQ8-2-knTyILZraFue33BYVgrXMPMUN1VNTqaci1b9ujlSUGY5YcELYrK5hBHQBQ2zrFvBdhXzIeGHC9WarXO-EHOfVvI3UhurndJyxjjDR4uc1A0WE0z9i4UzTUbHdpA8_ohPujGa-3fuL6T5gk4Eu2KvKsQ/w400-h281/Wisconsin%20tree%20trimming%20at%20Fountain%20Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the tree trimmer on the lift?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMPdyFEkL2w7KAYIMI404X2Cp20DU4q4S-WVpeb_jHPrXZuizkqV2AWYJapPoIjHwN78mmnVOSTTy9KDTHtHgJqs42y6pQR9RmcIXfN9Ba0CI6FlbpTV5qlXv0NTt4ZCPOllYG0PmkOMtZCvxV3g3q1IDV_5LdnKr3U9REqTVN77sHfSDLh_0C0MlySg/s1008/Wisconsin%20tree%20trimming%20finished%20at%20Fountain%20Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1008" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMPdyFEkL2w7KAYIMI404X2Cp20DU4q4S-WVpeb_jHPrXZuizkqV2AWYJapPoIjHwN78mmnVOSTTy9KDTHtHgJqs42y6pQR9RmcIXfN9Ba0CI6FlbpTV5qlXv0NTt4ZCPOllYG0PmkOMtZCvxV3g3q1IDV_5LdnKr3U9REqTVN77sHfSDLh_0C0MlySg/w400-h279/Wisconsin%20tree%20trimming%20finished%20at%20Fountain%20Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks much better. Especially, the bushes in the back!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We leave here on Thursday morning, heading back to Lincoln for four nights. Eden is now over two months old, and has grown quite a bit. I can't wait to hold her again!!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO7pn0XXW7bOrX-zhRuxi7I6DaPf98rHpsDPda9eBT_UcVpbzcL6GczeHsToEjb2t9fZ_Cf94Cxj4XEfZC01j21grA31OacuOtQsxItHu_ngfuYpwIPCe2SgXMgmKhilxTDLLnp7YywG9SrpYOfG8yKef4zpD-60Lkd2Us7JEdnHn3hilEfVHVHRI5m8/s575/Eden%20two%20months%20old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO7pn0XXW7bOrX-zhRuxi7I6DaPf98rHpsDPda9eBT_UcVpbzcL6GczeHsToEjb2t9fZ_Cf94Cxj4XEfZC01j21grA31OacuOtQsxItHu_ngfuYpwIPCe2SgXMgmKhilxTDLLnp7YywG9SrpYOfG8yKef4zpD-60Lkd2Us7JEdnHn3hilEfVHVHRI5m8/w376-h400/Eden%20two%20months%20old.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Our plan is to make two stops on our way from Lincoln to Yuma. I'll write about those once we get home. Then, we're in Yuma for about twelve days, and we head off on our month long great adventure to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand!</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-71432247945468891302023-06-07T15:12:00.001-05:002023-06-07T15:12:47.509-05:00Baby Shower in Nebraska<p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I stated in my last post, our departure from Yuma has been delayed this summer due to Kevin's bypass surgery. He is doing super well, but we have to wait for the breast bone to heal so he can tow the fifth wheel safely.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our granddaughter is due in early July. Cathryn's sister, Samantha, was hosting a baby shower on June 3rd with help from myself and some of their friends. Initially, we had planned to travel to Nebraska with the fifth wheel in time for the shower. That wasn't happening, so I flew and stayed for five days. It was a wonderful shower, and I had a great time visiting with Korey and Cathryn, whom we hadn't seen in over a year.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-1LP9gMTSdzxOdmTeOWGvKRHbE7NQepES2PhEkln-hd9MHwjntL8VenAOlMWV706XyEeIwawx5pReRolSySpUspOkZ2cjKm8onzrYJixsSdnM5ip32H1ieSC2aoJBJDoc9QjfXQSaTTIUoJROQxgLAyS-wiH5vHcFDYzHQiI36wMgva2s6CE4lA6/s994/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Cathryn%20and%20Korey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="565" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-1LP9gMTSdzxOdmTeOWGvKRHbE7NQepES2PhEkln-hd9MHwjntL8VenAOlMWV706XyEeIwawx5pReRolSySpUspOkZ2cjKm8onzrYJixsSdnM5ip32H1ieSC2aoJBJDoc9QjfXQSaTTIUoJROQxgLAyS-wiH5vHcFDYzHQiI36wMgva2s6CE4lA6/w228-h400/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Cathryn%20and%20Korey.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">They are both huge Disney fans, so the theme of the shower was, of course, Disney. Samantha made these cute cupcakes. The yellow ones were Dole Whip pineapple flavored. So good!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRYCQgXoSIDMlvCYgFAyoRETp96lPAbW45Z1QI8fu_YYfF_GKJTYMagksrUd9X626CAtYGIn4olBQAnnU8oueqlGpRC-cZ8fL6uNTekfWxOt9MIojM1ErtJlBX8kwkqSitX7gQy34Z44OSPMnPyCW3jsZU_wPAWHJEsw40oMG0livT25VFZCIZgvb/s1080/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRYCQgXoSIDMlvCYgFAyoRETp96lPAbW45Z1QI8fu_YYfF_GKJTYMagksrUd9X626CAtYGIn4olBQAnnU8oueqlGpRC-cZ8fL6uNTekfWxOt9MIojM1ErtJlBX8kwkqSitX7gQy34Z44OSPMnPyCW3jsZU_wPAWHJEsw40oMG0livT25VFZCIZgvb/s320/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Several months ago, at a friend's baby shower, Korey had mentioned that if he ever had a baby shower, he wanted a dragon cake. Instead of breathing out fire, he wanted it to breath out a baby. This was before they knew they were expecting. Samantha is quite the baker, and she remembered this comment. She did a great job. Disney has a character named Figment on one of their Epcot rides. Korey has always loved Figment. The large figure belongs to him. Not only was the cake beautifully decorated, it tasted great, too!</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmz3IY48dcX4M8BhFD7mm1OKv4vgL54SQJezNeQclmKLuOZnGiVSAUQDim7vu3nCJU7U_lThGwXUi2qD2xksmDaZicBNIVKTbxIW5W1EI3udue4hSah0h-AUZebtNaZpn1yeqnfcxNL2grHt7ofOxS2cMwJIgSw8k2CczZy4Plg37gNHgEMXXKhvL/s1080/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Dragon%20Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmz3IY48dcX4M8BhFD7mm1OKv4vgL54SQJezNeQclmKLuOZnGiVSAUQDim7vu3nCJU7U_lThGwXUi2qD2xksmDaZicBNIVKTbxIW5W1EI3udue4hSah0h-AUZebtNaZpn1yeqnfcxNL2grHt7ofOxS2cMwJIgSw8k2CczZy4Plg37gNHgEMXXKhvL/s320/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Dragon%20Cake.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I made the Mickey Mouse fruit bowl and cut out the cheese with a Mickey cookie cutter. Everything turned out so nice.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjlq43STsmQwdTGwBV_JwPFv1ko2C3lLqXNMm92yCYg9W4MqJICTKR2ED1Cjr69zCD4OawmqJQox6GsPzqAeEevoJ8VRIdOKHzXmC4q0Wm4k9fhQu6V_UADAaGOesfvfrZkAEe_g_yw8qw6QKUWFyy48y9sFcLDcsu2sj1V6GGTxTkT0Q8PmZl9jZ/s977/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Mickey%20cheese%20and%20crackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="977" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjlq43STsmQwdTGwBV_JwPFv1ko2C3lLqXNMm92yCYg9W4MqJICTKR2ED1Cjr69zCD4OawmqJQox6GsPzqAeEevoJ8VRIdOKHzXmC4q0Wm4k9fhQu6V_UADAaGOesfvfrZkAEe_g_yw8qw6QKUWFyy48y9sFcLDcsu2sj1V6GGTxTkT0Q8PmZl9jZ/w400-h217/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Mickey%20cheese%20and%20crackers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqHpOXym14GABMR11jaI1zvUKI5LL1_SFU3fobmR0lyvDSp8aGsceSeLCxq_oW0Yd0hfp7WwMj38g5wd7GjNaaZC3vMFmPZNU1G-Y9W55HncLJt818aVYNJxcqVA8QmFmGSJC_gGf4IyaltbDZVisUfNx2YQ-qX20eQ4DdLuBakN8TE2Iwqxk9_Hc/s901/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Mickey%20Mouse%20fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="901" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqHpOXym14GABMR11jaI1zvUKI5LL1_SFU3fobmR0lyvDSp8aGsceSeLCxq_oW0Yd0hfp7WwMj38g5wd7GjNaaZC3vMFmPZNU1G-Y9W55HncLJt818aVYNJxcqVA8QmFmGSJC_gGf4IyaltbDZVisUfNx2YQ-qX20eQ4DdLuBakN8TE2Iwqxk9_Hc/w400-h341/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Mickey%20Mouse%20fruit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Cathryn's parents traveled from Minnesota for the shower. Both grandmas were given these cute badges to wear at the shower. This will be the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents. How thoughtful was that!! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cathryn's mom and I both had saved some baby items from our own children. She brought the cutest little dresses. We looked through my bin, but most of it is for boys. There were a few things they might be able to use.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGtkKqheDCi-B4gIIGdJOY9t2aZpIhqn2LZtUBqOxufw4h7mwn46dYVl_1xpUFr_zfyT3sy4TNc8ySjOLwkXbteyBWZE7gQAvs_8uh3cGfWpOiJH_F81zsg69rUlQ25zjPU72phNT_8-GI0MwWblguBITthnjCcOv_oWSgMYJi1wI6Lcwm9tG_kmS/s1664/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Evelyn%20and%20Sharon,%20grandmothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGtkKqheDCi-B4gIIGdJOY9t2aZpIhqn2LZtUBqOxufw4h7mwn46dYVl_1xpUFr_zfyT3sy4TNc8ySjOLwkXbteyBWZE7gQAvs_8uh3cGfWpOiJH_F81zsg69rUlQ25zjPU72phNT_8-GI0MwWblguBITthnjCcOv_oWSgMYJi1wI6Lcwm9tG_kmS/w241-h400/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Evelyn%20and%20Sharon,%20grandmothers.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhQyt7cIK_30YjtHqmqIVOkOep433ppRH7NKnTpkN_ZXDBCHScav_1HDghnda9hQ_HzeLPkzZmNdmXLynhTml8Z3CJk_Y6cQh-_JGiX4mbgyuOaZKG2LHyoyBXE4pwv0-pW7hg_23FK5TumViWnrO-o_ihijyXnHOrsuHYDkXRBGI7eDx7mtQdCH/s954/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Grandma%20to%20be%20badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhQyt7cIK_30YjtHqmqIVOkOep433ppRH7NKnTpkN_ZXDBCHScav_1HDghnda9hQ_HzeLPkzZmNdmXLynhTml8Z3CJk_Y6cQh-_JGiX4mbgyuOaZKG2LHyoyBXE4pwv0-pW7hg_23FK5TumViWnrO-o_ihijyXnHOrsuHYDkXRBGI7eDx7mtQdCH/w251-h400/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Grandma%20to%20be%20badge.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I made two quilts for the shower. The baby will lay on the angel wings and then have a picture taken each month to show her growth. The background is actually white. I'm not sure why it looks like there are blue lines in it.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2T-C6fC6h5Szh2ZLPzxphCawXrcningJdRUrTz2VYiECMWlR17OLiBaYgdjm5uJafT462rnPMYKYXol71Hu1wcFIOdRX45BMxFusfA07i0JxZaGja03a73sbN6TM4uxkY0ZluEOAtZZ82CSgtHka3CbfrrpRR4c93omBSywr2wVaIJ3YIqX61hek/s1061/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Angel%20Wings%20Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1061" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2T-C6fC6h5Szh2ZLPzxphCawXrcningJdRUrTz2VYiECMWlR17OLiBaYgdjm5uJafT462rnPMYKYXol71Hu1wcFIOdRX45BMxFusfA07i0JxZaGja03a73sbN6TM4uxkY0ZluEOAtZZ82CSgtHka3CbfrrpRR4c93omBSywr2wVaIJ3YIqX61hek/w400-h324/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Angel%20Wings%20Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXw6G1h4zk90kLGYb-URXIIZlQlSaGgPKGP-uxOYDLs1HO0lOs2tyJ3dPIzZIaoGlELk_1DAYKb4LTi6CsacEi3gTRZ96-ZZd2QCikGMf-Wf4vHEkh3bauUHCHY8M5cfpSNywMJh0ZGfKrUsVchhKM_IP86f8wft8ndY9sMCSKBqRWepX2b4TFP3Gw/s997/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Love%20Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="997" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXw6G1h4zk90kLGYb-URXIIZlQlSaGgPKGP-uxOYDLs1HO0lOs2tyJ3dPIzZIaoGlELk_1DAYKb4LTi6CsacEi3gTRZ96-ZZd2QCikGMf-Wf4vHEkh3bauUHCHY8M5cfpSNywMJh0ZGfKrUsVchhKM_IP86f8wft8ndY9sMCSKBqRWepX2b4TFP3Gw/w400-h308/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower%20Love%20Quilt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the family members that were present. Korey, Cathryn, Samantha, her parents and myself. Our son Eric was not able to come from Wisconsin because his girlfriend just had surgery. Also, Kevin stayed in Yuma. When I was making the plans to fly, we weren't sure how well his recovery would be going, so felt it was best he didn't travel.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWlrtje3buiXIVyWUOLtxnvRH5SMdBetXkpgR-z0dF7699EH9PuhHd7CWaDsg2Jq5Ow4PPfmEVR3YmgKTxMDpuQaIjq_k9_AUiHQi1flD3rrC0CYgHTgP7hOTmHQW6Iu91_ZgH6EGEwzt_00n3WSqC1BUub02lBUiaQxexON0CO2_0G-HVQiXfzTa/s957/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower,%20Samantha,%20Dennis,%20Cathryn,%20Korey,%20Evelyn%20and%20Sharon.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="957" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWlrtje3buiXIVyWUOLtxnvRH5SMdBetXkpgR-z0dF7699EH9PuhHd7CWaDsg2Jq5Ow4PPfmEVR3YmgKTxMDpuQaIjq_k9_AUiHQi1flD3rrC0CYgHTgP7hOTmHQW6Iu91_ZgH6EGEwzt_00n3WSqC1BUub02lBUiaQxexON0CO2_0G-HVQiXfzTa/w400-h304/Nebraska%20Baby%20Shower,%20Samantha,%20Dennis,%20Cathryn,%20Korey,%20Evelyn%20and%20Sharon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I was flying home late Tuesday afternoon. Korey took me to work with him where I helped with a service project the campers are doing. They're painting a large mural to hang in one of the camp buildings. </span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQjLZABmsqCWQQEDDvQcyjjwzo7ovY9-o--o7feNaP3igZHl5cmeFRO8udcmSkJ51zloPntLwnlEeUZQJYxYqC7sIg7X7IERYIc_zpbSbGcCYTxfWCmNYFn0Hf_0IVgUYx79uKIx_vcux6gWZlWLJcspLdFdkQt_VBQFdNgn1raxzzAWArUjpK-XO/s1043/thumbnail%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="1043" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQjLZABmsqCWQQEDDvQcyjjwzo7ovY9-o--o7feNaP3igZHl5cmeFRO8udcmSkJ51zloPntLwnlEeUZQJYxYqC7sIg7X7IERYIc_zpbSbGcCYTxfWCmNYFn0Hf_0IVgUYx79uKIx_vcux6gWZlWLJcspLdFdkQt_VBQFdNgn1raxzzAWArUjpK-XO/w400-h159/thumbnail%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the finished product will look like.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNic3UrJ5RbXvR-AFlWOJG5oCgyW9XigBTBjXwgtrwwEKJ3fr4nBh-KPkSEuuQgqfaqsQVQym5Ry3QFwUn9h5rHURqZDYqRMWv5PiVGXBgJI28AUj8WPNO2kojFhxonUE0WQ_vQtIx2YpLsRJE0dnr7sS1Qgfs-imC5UwIkRqcdX4d-Z9yUZYL7GUL/s1080/thumbnail%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNic3UrJ5RbXvR-AFlWOJG5oCgyW9XigBTBjXwgtrwwEKJ3fr4nBh-KPkSEuuQgqfaqsQVQym5Ry3QFwUn9h5rHURqZDYqRMWv5PiVGXBgJI28AUj8WPNO2kojFhxonUE0WQ_vQtIx2YpLsRJE0dnr7sS1Qgfs-imC5UwIkRqcdX4d-Z9yUZYL7GUL/w400-h240/thumbnail%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">As I was sitting outside of the building, I saw this swallow nesting in the eaves.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpIIIiaJPXUY31y40JSpZxAUXC-2BnnuTTYR6u4IpIIa68-xrDfMiW_YVW3jhyHAj3Kz4PU9p2LtTJQ_zHBNBm-Dlkw1X5qqavnjXCrbXCMw7NBuglQifhl-dV8ts6zUdSVksaRXVTEjDv-7xlyGDd5Knq4TzzQ36jyl0jB3qjapU38orgtPITgY/s1080/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBpIIIiaJPXUY31y40JSpZxAUXC-2BnnuTTYR6u4IpIIa68-xrDfMiW_YVW3jhyHAj3Kz4PU9p2LtTJQ_zHBNBm-Dlkw1X5qqavnjXCrbXCMw7NBuglQifhl-dV8ts6zUdSVksaRXVTEjDv-7xlyGDd5Knq4TzzQ36jyl0jB3qjapU38orgtPITgY/w400-h300/thumbnail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">On the flights home, I flew from Omaha to Dallas, and then to Yuma. Dallas was having thunderstorms and the flight was delayed well over two hours. Luckily, I had a three hour layover. I had to sprint through a very large Dallas airport to get to my next gate. I haven't run like that in quite some time, but I made it with about 10 minutes to spare!</span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-22006614260859829482023-05-11T18:01:00.000-05:002023-05-11T18:01:03.750-05:00A Medical Hiccup<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a fun and busy season. Played lots of golf and participated in many of the activities here at the resort. Kevin did have a medical issue crop up, which we dealt with for much of the winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In early January, he was experiencing some chest tightness and pressure when walking the nine hole golf course. He happened to have a scheduled visit with his primary doctor, who referred him to a cardiologist. After many tests and office visits, it was determined that he had blockage in his main artery. The plan was to do an angiogram and place a stent or stents during that procedure, which was scheduled for late March. During all of this time, as long as he didn't exert himself too much, he was feeling fine and playing golf most days using the riding cart.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, waiting for the procedure made us feel as if we were sitting on pins and needles hoping he didn't have a heart attack. He did have nitroglycerin pills which he never needed to take. Turns out the stent was not possible due to the location of the blockage and the thickness of it. The cardiologist was not able to get the stent in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, next step is to see a heart surgeon to discuss bypass surgery. After many more tests and a few office visits, bypass surgery was scheduled for May 9th. It turned out to be a double bypass. The main artery was 99.5% blocked and quite a bit of it had blockage. A secondary artery was 70% blocked and was also bypassed. Kevin asked me not to post anything about this until it was over. Our kids and some friends at the park were the only ones who knew.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The good news is that the surgery was a success. Today is day two post surgery, and he is doing great. He even did three laps around the nurses station. Tomorrow he is being moved from the ICU to a regular room. He should be coming home early next week. He allowed me to take this picture to prove he is doing well!</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WOjgT9ve3w_-GD1G2kaOw-apvln-Qxt4Ax2iJEGd99qBO0geOf3zq6oLEaxQt_Dwxo68mPTDkYoRSZRKGomsAjzE0M0uZOXa5mPg0PdOza01XXEpkU8Dj0NpOI8wGZflsRKWFu8a2K45uG_5ZXzTxve4LfYgtaIham_E7r9YfTmwDWVMpRaqKTWR/s713/Yuma%20Kevin%20Bypass%20surgery%20day%202%20recovery.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="713" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WOjgT9ve3w_-GD1G2kaOw-apvln-Qxt4Ax2iJEGd99qBO0geOf3zq6oLEaxQt_Dwxo68mPTDkYoRSZRKGomsAjzE0M0uZOXa5mPg0PdOza01XXEpkU8Dj0NpOI8wGZflsRKWFu8a2K45uG_5ZXzTxve4LfYgtaIham_E7r9YfTmwDWVMpRaqKTWR/w400-h368/Yuma%20Kevin%20Bypass%20surgery%20day%202%20recovery.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We are very impressed with the team of doctors and nurses at the Yuma Regional Medical Center. His care has been excellent. We are so grateful for the love and support of our family and friends and for the successful outcome of all of this. We are again reminded that you never know what life will throw at you; so live life to the fullest as much as you can!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our original plans were to leave Yuma at the end of May so we could be in Nebraska for Korey and Cathryn's baby shower. That's not happening. I will fly there instead. After some rehab and recovery, the doctor estimates a two to three month recovery time. So, we are hoping to leave Yuma around the end of July so we can meet our new granddaughter who is due in early July. Then, we'll head to our lot in Wisconsin and leave our fifth wheel there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our trip to Australia and New Zealand in October and November is still on. Hopefully, that will all work out!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-10888255549643786512023-02-26T09:25:00.003-06:002023-02-26T09:25:54.205-06:00Puerto Penasco, Mexico <span style="font-size: medium;">We took a little vacation to Puerto Penasco, Mexico last week. Yuma has a company called Tour West that provides bus tours. They have been closed for the past three years due to Covid. This season they have reopened. One of their employees, Lavonne, comes to our resort during the weekly information meeting to advertise some of the trips. She arranged a four day trip to Puerto Penasco for just our resort. There were about 50 people that signed up.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We left at 7:30 am on Sunday morning. Along the way, we stopped at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo, Arizona. The organ pipe is a large cactus rarely found in the United States, although it is common in Mexico. The monument protects the bulk of the US range.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8kwMYzMgyOgNjaqKklphuvDbVNTASCN7n4qMHtY6aOZo8ZauFhCVYgQCTHPUZTjAL1tO1wDsyQdVY8pDAvvjSbc0Y5BcvBPERiIykKRTd8njokRpzCrPtGXxwJdFjlroQ8yRQm-tAEQ4WpKwqeB4240uaMLBR3oTa50HYwgd7iUkmDnwXWSkrARD/s797/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%202%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8kwMYzMgyOgNjaqKklphuvDbVNTASCN7n4qMHtY6aOZo8ZauFhCVYgQCTHPUZTjAL1tO1wDsyQdVY8pDAvvjSbc0Y5BcvBPERiIykKRTd8njokRpzCrPtGXxwJdFjlroQ8yRQm-tAEQ4WpKwqeB4240uaMLBR3oTa50HYwgd7iUkmDnwXWSkrARD/w336-h400/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%202%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAH66qwiIA06qJbe7KQRzfcuDICEtKuEU1sEzcbE3BzKzU2g7vSZWLAD07lT5KUufvpvsWMKSnqLZq4dMZt-PVOAYUpTiE1-DiXZ4S7Jxd_RIgaE1tVCxtxSlSsXcPRLQbB5-D7LR1-CT-W6eobPhxsxNK3kpi921y3hg3rTUFtAFei0r4UEIcHpc/s884/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%203%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="577" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAH66qwiIA06qJbe7KQRzfcuDICEtKuEU1sEzcbE3BzKzU2g7vSZWLAD07lT5KUufvpvsWMKSnqLZq4dMZt-PVOAYUpTiE1-DiXZ4S7Jxd_RIgaE1tVCxtxSlSsXcPRLQbB5-D7LR1-CT-W6eobPhxsxNK3kpi921y3hg3rTUFtAFei0r4UEIcHpc/w261-h400/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%203%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5poXHA0MSFYImGtmCeYcu860kDwJY9enPtJqiODj-pxaAOHpfd3x4z055p7Lz499Hw9koN3sGo6y9tEoliB_J_sAyuPH7851lS0qPUsWRSq9rdPDC_MR9PzFWiI2hwtUkkUfYQPPyBg1TXhTbZO9ypK70ZmOUYWGSlptfyX-IcVDbIewpyyS-K6Jf/s706/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="570" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5poXHA0MSFYImGtmCeYcu860kDwJY9enPtJqiODj-pxaAOHpfd3x4z055p7Lz499Hw9koN3sGo6y9tEoliB_J_sAyuPH7851lS0qPUsWRSq9rdPDC_MR9PzFWiI2hwtUkkUfYQPPyBg1TXhTbZO9ypK70ZmOUYWGSlptfyX-IcVDbIewpyyS-K6Jf/w323-h400/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Kris Eggle Visitor Center is named in honor of a young park ranger who was shot in 2002. Two men involved in a violent confrontation in Mexico fled through the desert and entered the monument illegally. While pursuing one of the men, ranger Kris was shot and killed. This monument has been placed in his memory.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg--HueQRxJ5iJVJl59kPcuivQV6tEXYP3Jl1Ol2-W5QL9FyI9td51VBXetJVNRi-tHE1dZdsinb0icfjwj8r9wdYPjNVCODaFWYjewu5O2PddsKDcsiLsp1BXEBzK1YQRovtQRr1VG8GjznEaqinJLZwgBU3A-4NtIrdSttXMpgmLpNkFl8fs8QeQc/s1055/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%20Memorial%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="721" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg--HueQRxJ5iJVJl59kPcuivQV6tEXYP3Jl1Ol2-W5QL9FyI9td51VBXetJVNRi-tHE1dZdsinb0icfjwj8r9wdYPjNVCODaFWYjewu5O2PddsKDcsiLsp1BXEBzK1YQRovtQRr1VG8GjznEaqinJLZwgBU3A-4NtIrdSttXMpgmLpNkFl8fs8QeQc/w274-h400/Arizona%20Organ%20Pipe%20Cactus%20National%20Monument%20Memorial%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on the bus with our neighbors, Everett and Nancy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB6lXUgz0V1Wq2YBmyvgsxDsufJ6HuKxLGWmTAH-XrRams3IEYse2sqvT_2l8k7ZcNIyGO-sruFL5w0h3FY0usY71-6rmNSFvhOvrAEPhhHu_dUjq6tjRKyXzs07y0ivt82tgJrFeeJzWXaiI3JxgwEgKJX7IoZgavSJVGa0csUoc87I6VtnSEypi/s860/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20boarding%20bus%20with%20Everett%20and%20Nancy%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB6lXUgz0V1Wq2YBmyvgsxDsufJ6HuKxLGWmTAH-XrRams3IEYse2sqvT_2l8k7ZcNIyGO-sruFL5w0h3FY0usY71-6rmNSFvhOvrAEPhhHu_dUjq6tjRKyXzs07y0ivt82tgJrFeeJzWXaiI3JxgwEgKJX7IoZgavSJVGa0csUoc87I6VtnSEypi/w304-h400/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20boarding%20bus%20with%20Everett%20and%20Nancy%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It took two hours to cross the Mexican border. They took all the luggage off the bus and searched every suitcase. Then we all had to exit the bus and wait in line to have our passports processed. There was only one employee doing that, so it took a long time. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We finally continued on, and arrived at the Playa Bonita hotel at about 3:30 pm. They were waiting for us with a free margarita at the pool bar. One of the pools was very cold, but the other was quite nice. They also had two hot tubs. Many of the ladies enjoyed their drinks at the pool. It was a beautiful afternoon.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B1FS11IyHanBSygDWud_oSaymTl4_WZ9OGyUmBYPmwCgaKSbdCJzul-QlKLr2WlGoWMDMNsI_PCYxx2XoTQIuAXi55z8oZIfAOUFbtCK0TQypV4EzjpUJxyXn61TwDVJ-9bTNkKK4ubc9rYkq2D-MuDhvJtiZH5yQOlPRWZvhDCxz4loCN13deq8/s965/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Ladies%20at%20the%20pool%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="965" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B1FS11IyHanBSygDWud_oSaymTl4_WZ9OGyUmBYPmwCgaKSbdCJzul-QlKLr2WlGoWMDMNsI_PCYxx2XoTQIuAXi55z8oZIfAOUFbtCK0TQypV4EzjpUJxyXn61TwDVJ-9bTNkKK4ubc9rYkq2D-MuDhvJtiZH5yQOlPRWZvhDCxz4loCN13deq8/w400-h205/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Ladies%20at%20the%20pool%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i7A_JAUwdRvWYsydOv369dnvB3jDGOMerG5mr6KAfS5iStRzJcxOEkYUVeHPzDjtg5y_vo1LozQGnTnxWATOiLpUTToCcGyA22BfkAe4-twyEdkDvbTFBeDZkrbegSv0sDetu8XHre0oIlYOFJUusdnslMm1aEHACLTJ7ATicaxojVHdmH6SM4fC/s1080/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20selfie%20Evelyn%20and%20Kevin%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i7A_JAUwdRvWYsydOv369dnvB3jDGOMerG5mr6KAfS5iStRzJcxOEkYUVeHPzDjtg5y_vo1LozQGnTnxWATOiLpUTToCcGyA22BfkAe4-twyEdkDvbTFBeDZkrbegSv0sDetu8XHre0oIlYOFJUusdnslMm1aEHACLTJ7ATicaxojVHdmH6SM4fC/w400-h300/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20selfie%20Evelyn%20and%20Kevin%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Our room was on the first floor at the back of the hotel. Although the hotel is located right on the beach, we had a limited view. Overall, the hotel was very nice. It has recently been renovated, and our room was great. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjvlztYtajwUVlcqCfsNHvYDYGQdWA0cSIxTTmKV3g6e7bkSVBraxZQk87H3l6ZPcXgL_7ZqY1C5KOGxTTjMBN6Bbj8g8IfCFwHJfR-zVJ99A-r64R6nuxC6zX2vNdsKaOn9mjplRDrc5GLv-XS9JqiQ554pR7yuh2IMW3aZJkl6c1lF-uuejwl2W/s932/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20view%20from%20our%20room%20at%20Playa%20Bonita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="932" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjvlztYtajwUVlcqCfsNHvYDYGQdWA0cSIxTTmKV3g6e7bkSVBraxZQk87H3l6ZPcXgL_7ZqY1C5KOGxTTjMBN6Bbj8g8IfCFwHJfR-zVJ99A-r64R6nuxC6zX2vNdsKaOn9mjplRDrc5GLv-XS9JqiQ554pR7yuh2IMW3aZJkl6c1lF-uuejwl2W/w400-h341/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20view%20from%20our%20room%20at%20Playa%20Bonita.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiAl9W3D10d1zzKbcc9DkjJ-8GcvsRQnTsnFEWJ9nlYb0qBf3IxY2wctzhyJHeOHTw6I_7JEyym4Ug7u4OZEEr1382Aund-roNG_YN6i7jUCZHwhZdVLQuGL14-t_WL2EcWbHZB6iRnhwr7T7ia_s5zAEIjMNz_OASza-8QjmrM8nPFm0r8Prqm3Q/s1074/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1074" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiAl9W3D10d1zzKbcc9DkjJ-8GcvsRQnTsnFEWJ9nlYb0qBf3IxY2wctzhyJHeOHTw6I_7JEyym4Ug7u4OZEEr1382Aund-roNG_YN6i7jUCZHwhZdVLQuGL14-t_WL2EcWbHZB6iRnhwr7T7ia_s5zAEIjMNz_OASza-8QjmrM8nPFm0r8Prqm3Q/w400-h251/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Beautiful views of the water from the pool deck. It was quite interesting to see how far out the tide went.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwKL0PXo8wpvSUy6nyHskATnlQHf1Fa1AatXrluyzSjsBV7CoTZImhXXKcMjfy9KzGinOCqwYQfsY_XWOhUpjYZoq9S_kz8BZ6847cST60PAL5wrOW6kC0XMDtX00IbNyHrK-cpALHs3Z7BR06IUC7FfM_gXwgC_8LkPwaK1cesAlMt9ajuoogGkJ/s1080/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20ocean%20beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwKL0PXo8wpvSUy6nyHskATnlQHf1Fa1AatXrluyzSjsBV7CoTZImhXXKcMjfy9KzGinOCqwYQfsY_XWOhUpjYZoq9S_kz8BZ6847cST60PAL5wrOW6kC0XMDtX00IbNyHrK-cpALHs3Z7BR06IUC7FfM_gXwgC_8LkPwaK1cesAlMt9ajuoogGkJ/w400-h300/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20ocean%20beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwWba9x4jT_tSfqgiY3xXqa3lSkkPyATQBtcC4DScwi5fAltWp9HdmxZbCUOoXsuhT6igaUtQtgPLegYM3do-ZIIy2cafYFphI61RAFiSayd0puxyIgwqsE-8LOE_33ChUcxuOdAilWe4zlbs97ZT0Fnrkz0sAHUeRFQESdDt6V7TGO1UlA7HDmLw/s738/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20ocean%20view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="738" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwWba9x4jT_tSfqgiY3xXqa3lSkkPyATQBtcC4DScwi5fAltWp9HdmxZbCUOoXsuhT6igaUtQtgPLegYM3do-ZIIy2cafYFphI61RAFiSayd0puxyIgwqsE-8LOE_33ChUcxuOdAilWe4zlbs97ZT0Fnrkz0sAHUeRFQESdDt6V7TGO1UlA7HDmLw/w400-h308/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20ocean%20view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The hotel has a restaurant. Most of us had dinner there the first night. The food was very tasty and inexpensive. They even had live entertainment. The restaurant also offered a breakfast buffet each morning for $10 for our group. The food was good with lots of choices. Some of them were quite different than what we're used to.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJymkN8Td1C3YSFnExCfyN9nAYx0O3XuNkphS3MOcU4tve5HBcdiuB3LHOGFNEvpnTOfReAdS1xvo8fy6QYxobDLzfuOpR5rO0XrviBm_AB30NjukiFnRzRxNWP7-uTAGAMRjVPte-r9EuX_-H06kOnlvXL3dMQtjEG41VuhUoxjBqqHWnyWZ8as/s1267/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Dinner%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1267" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJymkN8Td1C3YSFnExCfyN9nAYx0O3XuNkphS3MOcU4tve5HBcdiuB3LHOGFNEvpnTOfReAdS1xvo8fy6QYxobDLzfuOpR5rO0XrviBm_AB30NjukiFnRzRxNWP7-uTAGAMRjVPte-r9EuX_-H06kOnlvXL3dMQtjEG41VuhUoxjBqqHWnyWZ8as/w400-h297/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Dinner%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We enjoyed a beautiful sunset our first night.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV8RWX3bLGOXPo4pXZY_f8kcYcgCqGTiYE2sAJwQh3Ks8nvJaoMNKV21mPW9v0QpHEBpK7o_Cu--IPbCkJd7SCF21WMEysGHUr6oMNh9qb4g-x4ptDE1KnoAQMAc-RxkS10XbvUcFHRduMJjmcoNeLDAnLHrYawU_1Wr88hPUDdI23IX2nI65J0HK/s1077/Mexico%20Pureto%20Penasco%20sunset%20Feb.%2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1077" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV8RWX3bLGOXPo4pXZY_f8kcYcgCqGTiYE2sAJwQh3Ks8nvJaoMNKV21mPW9v0QpHEBpK7o_Cu--IPbCkJd7SCF21WMEysGHUr6oMNh9qb4g-x4ptDE1KnoAQMAc-RxkS10XbvUcFHRduMJjmcoNeLDAnLHrYawU_1Wr88hPUDdI23IX2nI65J0HK/w400-h293/Mexico%20Pureto%20Penasco%20sunset%20Feb.%2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday morning most of us boarded the bus for a visit to The Malecon, a downtown Puerto Penasco shopping and restaurant district. We did some shopping and enjoyed relaxing at the central plaza along the Sea of Cortez. There is a large statue of a fisherman on a shrimp. It was dedicated in 2003 and is known as El Camaronero. Fishing and shrimping are the main industry in this town.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PHeXf15qc8ttsDO3rONyiW-S0xJVT1UBfLmc1G_ZaXl5LqGy0BdrrydmP9FJ3bcMSA8vMNLSR83NStHi2xiZvZO-CS3DAd_yvPhZFq0JLmkZn2gUdXIVYiT9368t0PS4NZJlQeugBZtAgytpsug9Zh74gqGAdmOxmTG1pPoQYw9q4XV1LUTYXaIJ/s887/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Fisherman%20on%20shrimp%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="543" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PHeXf15qc8ttsDO3rONyiW-S0xJVT1UBfLmc1G_ZaXl5LqGy0BdrrydmP9FJ3bcMSA8vMNLSR83NStHi2xiZvZO-CS3DAd_yvPhZFq0JLmkZn2gUdXIVYiT9368t0PS4NZJlQeugBZtAgytpsug9Zh74gqGAdmOxmTG1pPoQYw9q4XV1LUTYXaIJ/w245-h400/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Fisherman%20on%20shrimp%20statue.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The steps leading to the upper plaza, had a beautiful tile mural. Can you see the whale and sea turtle? Click on the picture to enlarge it. Really impressive!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5prEBzl4k8rFHvXUX02nez9LX0gtR6Jo3FJR8_Xy0AsduN6FRwnWqQHTTDZGeD0e5IC8ph2A6HcKKoTYV-gP7nXwLlQubCAUYjTV4sORRXhuswjWVjhDPC7H3YV87IMX8Hyql2GfrGcJu5rD3t5TdVaaj8dGgr--mh1Ig2JNISTkr5jI1KoDgG4dF/s956/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Tile%20Mural%20Steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="956" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5prEBzl4k8rFHvXUX02nez9LX0gtR6Jo3FJR8_Xy0AsduN6FRwnWqQHTTDZGeD0e5IC8ph2A6HcKKoTYV-gP7nXwLlQubCAUYjTV4sORRXhuswjWVjhDPC7H3YV87IMX8Hyql2GfrGcJu5rD3t5TdVaaj8dGgr--mh1Ig2JNISTkr5jI1KoDgG4dF/w400-h221/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Tile%20Mural%20Steps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking out across the plaza to the sea.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpiXItDjCwaN-vy8TIggMwTgc1GL6Sqh-W7a793cwIQtHYz8DyefRsO3gCxeDq6ymQakBaAhd1ruT6k63PRXxxQhqkl-0bDpp7UdjA9ztHJsRwgSH6445V7JBVbBwyFxkNXQU_rJMfw-M7Oou3TG0enIZhTuVDne_tJqyEmtVcViKGd61mEkRIbfd/s895/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="895" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpiXItDjCwaN-vy8TIggMwTgc1GL6Sqh-W7a793cwIQtHYz8DyefRsO3gCxeDq6ymQakBaAhd1ruT6k63PRXxxQhqkl-0bDpp7UdjA9ztHJsRwgSH6445V7JBVbBwyFxkNXQU_rJMfw-M7Oou3TG0enIZhTuVDne_tJqyEmtVcViKGd61mEkRIbfd/w400-h266/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Plaza.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRdWMV6HBas4dFcw8tePe8eGEz0gPckl2gASFscRjRLCsmCowMiNMDCf6NrXVqDOWhC4ODSQd6Pxsoxtor9jBoZvmlZWxrh2XbAJV3kIllambRpwIrIbCmkWhI_wVNfpbPYtQN9DHR1_TBte7xQWUFEjN1Bnu0xhjzP_UwD_rcsq8-CplvalEsOJu/s922/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Evelyn%20at%20Penasco%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="922" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRdWMV6HBas4dFcw8tePe8eGEz0gPckl2gASFscRjRLCsmCowMiNMDCf6NrXVqDOWhC4ODSQd6Pxsoxtor9jBoZvmlZWxrh2XbAJV3kIllambRpwIrIbCmkWhI_wVNfpbPYtQN9DHR1_TBte7xQWUFEjN1Bnu0xhjzP_UwD_rcsq8-CplvalEsOJu/w400-h238/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Evelyn%20at%20Penasco%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoAMO5rHfMxfFQABM5Zp_DtB49mbwOyphEVxtPRD33hzfSasshlQkAHcpx247cvz3JSLPTblwdIScshMLPKAcOVJKrq1esxlQmXo_szynUDnjjQjxmdxU4LJG2Mp80EDsuZaGPqV3PkTq3imMnLDQvma7LdHXA170tmA-vg3_orgcPq14sToLy76F/s928/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="781" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoAMO5rHfMxfFQABM5Zp_DtB49mbwOyphEVxtPRD33hzfSasshlQkAHcpx247cvz3JSLPTblwdIScshMLPKAcOVJKrq1esxlQmXo_szynUDnjjQjxmdxU4LJG2Mp80EDsuZaGPqV3PkTq3imMnLDQvma7LdHXA170tmA-vg3_orgcPq14sToLy76F/w336-h400/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our group enjoyed a few Mexican beers at the BooBar.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1HM0mxu06TGtMKyhKvDw_PfOJgzUv2_5dxU_bcNsu4Qg3cfn0joI6JZXD3tQD7A1OS21_Os89Ky6tFiZorEgFRQEcm4aVLTA-PUGRZgpyzvr-4o8doIKLztPCwiwUZyHUngm3YJJDsZVRbYc2pW04S3JJQUpDduQFTnwVX4D6zDQAQTz7o_OfOrw/s1006/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Boobar%20Carla,%20Kris,%20Evelyn%20and%20Nancy%20Feb.%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1HM0mxu06TGtMKyhKvDw_PfOJgzUv2_5dxU_bcNsu4Qg3cfn0joI6JZXD3tQD7A1OS21_Os89Ky6tFiZorEgFRQEcm4aVLTA-PUGRZgpyzvr-4o8doIKLztPCwiwUZyHUngm3YJJDsZVRbYc2pW04S3JJQUpDduQFTnwVX4D6zDQAQTz7o_OfOrw/w398-h400/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Boobar%20Carla,%20Kris,%20Evelyn%20and%20Nancy%20Feb.%2020.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI8rHUnP6hl6CvVMq3F0KiUIFLph4nEo20RKHTR1OKyE1bnxZOep70oPrfcS_xes756d7FLYd9Fa-R5zT48iEf1UQ66_39BBD9h8cr-XfYuBT5nnr-Mv--JZijKSPyx-QufHER-fK0bUaWcEjBP1FQTbe6kTH1xGtWHxKE3_i9NGOu2zdcx0sEWuK/s881/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Boobar%20Kevin,%20Everett,%20Tony%20and%20Dan%20Feb.%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="881" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI8rHUnP6hl6CvVMq3F0KiUIFLph4nEo20RKHTR1OKyE1bnxZOep70oPrfcS_xes756d7FLYd9Fa-R5zT48iEf1UQ66_39BBD9h8cr-XfYuBT5nnr-Mv--JZijKSPyx-QufHER-fK0bUaWcEjBP1FQTbe6kTH1xGtWHxKE3_i9NGOu2zdcx0sEWuK/w400-h333/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Boobar%20Kevin,%20Everett,%20Tony%20and%20Dan%20Feb.%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Then we enjoyed another yummy meal at a local restaurant. Shrimp meals were inexpensive and delicious everywhere we ate.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQQGycJDOfjmLXv-75LAdKNkFQ3c_Vsu9Y-ji6yHNmORjsyFVXFUOIVxz3_XfMiUZ7d9dXiCHiIrc6hSCxlPTpjT745mPcKTCvLy7EUt_CQEHtwv3VnU-17NaWv2sFQIcWkwSROXhE0zqsMQ1HKZjWgx_y4gL6xyW6wQKS4kbMV1qs42z4MawS6Mv/s1049/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Lunch%20Feb.%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1049" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQQGycJDOfjmLXv-75LAdKNkFQ3c_Vsu9Y-ji6yHNmORjsyFVXFUOIVxz3_XfMiUZ7d9dXiCHiIrc6hSCxlPTpjT745mPcKTCvLy7EUt_CQEHtwv3VnU-17NaWv2sFQIcWkwSROXhE0zqsMQ1HKZjWgx_y4gL6xyW6wQKS4kbMV1qs42z4MawS6Mv/w400-h351/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Lunch%20Feb.%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That evening we went on a sunset cruise on the Intrepid boat. For $20 we were supposed to get a three hour cruise, two fish tacos and open bar of beer or margaritas. The tour ended up being only two hours due to fear of getting stuck at low tide. The tacos were okay, and the margaritas had no tequila. We missed seeing the sunset because the trip was cut short. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qV6cOIUbZS-44fVW1AUVI1fEPM9gyysg-F2fkFmGbtPhHQCvq1rkBhMdI2kpNFpg97T6RimvROEVwJtdVFhwta8viZ0HZigN42xPLU_RXJYDVPxr0VCBNDo_a3_DJMIc3VzfuYc1qsSKdetXhZ3U6EtPUIDRiBCmYlgCuWkmfm7gZXxTeub82L21/s752/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Intrepid%20Sunset%20Cruise%20Feb.%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="752" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qV6cOIUbZS-44fVW1AUVI1fEPM9gyysg-F2fkFmGbtPhHQCvq1rkBhMdI2kpNFpg97T6RimvROEVwJtdVFhwta8viZ0HZigN42xPLU_RXJYDVPxr0VCBNDo_a3_DJMIc3VzfuYc1qsSKdetXhZ3U6EtPUIDRiBCmYlgCuWkmfm7gZXxTeub82L21/w400-h200/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Intrepid%20Sunset%20Cruise%20Feb.%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Lots of shrimp boats.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGcUwIM3s7KRXuPJc8VUHFoHtpFWOu-JnxGQhtVIU7EgkgHZBRzoJVn5B5VgYGST4jpGKAemIfLkwMQ30bxzotqJlnurAZQJ42gOBq0ulGF1hxxT64UfYqTOiP1SQ8xavHEfGNGVPAtHNo2G4evdm_uepA3czyUA8pQFeb3eP1mHauF88M4Uq1q3E/s1047/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20shrimp%20boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1047" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGcUwIM3s7KRXuPJc8VUHFoHtpFWOu-JnxGQhtVIU7EgkgHZBRzoJVn5B5VgYGST4jpGKAemIfLkwMQ30bxzotqJlnurAZQJ42gOBq0ulGF1hxxT64UfYqTOiP1SQ8xavHEfGNGVPAtHNo2G4evdm_uepA3czyUA8pQFeb3eP1mHauF88M4Uq1q3E/w400-h205/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20shrimp%20boats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Tuesday was a free day. I took a nice long walk along the beach. Other than our hotel, there are a number of condo complexes and an RV park. The RV park has 300 sites. They looked pretty tight. Waterfront sites are $900 per month.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7Q2CeDEymaAvq7QbzrsKWF8HtGLsn9n8Lgsgbdeha9NK_2WA3By-FGwdLREBi08n-t5rfnP4STu01sri2vtVmLcSRVK5xG_MT5nHQSM84UvIVwhzskHg7PSzxNdrSCKHILGKq5EWQXkuD7cfg4paquJ_5-26vnwPxBz_5ab3svVeyQEPMSFnGH3X/s1074/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Condos%20and%20RV%20park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1074" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7Q2CeDEymaAvq7QbzrsKWF8HtGLsn9n8Lgsgbdeha9NK_2WA3By-FGwdLREBi08n-t5rfnP4STu01sri2vtVmLcSRVK5xG_MT5nHQSM84UvIVwhzskHg7PSzxNdrSCKHILGKq5EWQXkuD7cfg4paquJ_5-26vnwPxBz_5ab3svVeyQEPMSFnGH3X/w400-h214/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Condos%20and%20RV%20park.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul8M6fvIWNRR_5cSRAOtFPHFKaEiE_JGSEVAjjboOqSDUSR_HLk9Wcr6WbqhIXSJSiovQAy7r7Pecf5QP9FTMoT58P-OYB35ExCxEv7gWVSXlI4z9KRmmoI02ViXo-H0h-UopvXjm__t5bZ2Oz2CMf275r6ylNYTfSnekqZkNU8_iuPPT_Q_Fk_ZI/s903/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20and%20campground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="903" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul8M6fvIWNRR_5cSRAOtFPHFKaEiE_JGSEVAjjboOqSDUSR_HLk9Wcr6WbqhIXSJSiovQAy7r7Pecf5QP9FTMoT58P-OYB35ExCxEv7gWVSXlI4z9KRmmoI02ViXo-H0h-UopvXjm__t5bZ2Oz2CMf275r6ylNYTfSnekqZkNU8_iuPPT_Q_Fk_ZI/w400-h145/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Playa%20Bonita%20Hotel%20and%20campground.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I collected some seashells and a piece of coral.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j9w_WJN62PIXILJTC60FyozhmZXRFnU5w45P4xwm4AvLE1Ga-yToOy1tkE-9EIr31fKAX2dCDP7tJV8CrYbFgyf2hsGSfaWF1eKgFUMDZjr_XrQQnRev3TLOD3kWH2J5S67vG_9cGYCbOnn6bfG5X8P7d3A6n7QJRJ394S8AKULxXg7rC4kj_FsS/s932/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20seashells%20and%20coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="932" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j9w_WJN62PIXILJTC60FyozhmZXRFnU5w45P4xwm4AvLE1Ga-yToOy1tkE-9EIr31fKAX2dCDP7tJV8CrYbFgyf2hsGSfaWF1eKgFUMDZjr_XrQQnRev3TLOD3kWH2J5S67vG_9cGYCbOnn6bfG5X8P7d3A6n7QJRJ394S8AKULxXg7rC4kj_FsS/w400-h283/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20seashells%20and%20coral.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />That afternoon our bus driver, Tom, brought out his karaoke machine. Everyone had a good time singing and line dancing. Tom is the one with the microphone. We had some great singers in our group.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jm97XbXm1X5tLfVFU1SNfAjm4B5cU1ugTb9PJBaxTXGsTdgSib9_19RPwf54L-nBBXOHX_HN-_8XGbYxj9yjbPplBds2UcEqoFvQ2CkoldyExCGxAQScnYjv-Z2DC4FH0oxkjbWKifnAB_pwP_CcqXn5ZpYr3AEzVCmt2MfcUMJjwgMZyV9jSxYu/s868/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Karaoke%20with%20Tom%20the%20bus%20driver%20Feb.%2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="868" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jm97XbXm1X5tLfVFU1SNfAjm4B5cU1ugTb9PJBaxTXGsTdgSib9_19RPwf54L-nBBXOHX_HN-_8XGbYxj9yjbPplBds2UcEqoFvQ2CkoldyExCGxAQScnYjv-Z2DC4FH0oxkjbWKifnAB_pwP_CcqXn5ZpYr3AEzVCmt2MfcUMJjwgMZyV9jSxYu/w400-h233/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Karaoke%20with%20Tom%20the%20bus%20driver%20Feb.%2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That evening the bus took us to the Wrecked on the Reef bar for happy hour. What a fun place. Then we had dinner at Mare Blu restaurant.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbVMo3wHDvZxhXHPxxBqTkYdR2BLE8Eo3lyG3632fzPsK2HMcGv1gVyQrX5OsLm0yk_kH9VeLVfln-PWJEe38hb_rxTBMunw7ZN7p0ms7pQI3SQQ30JmuRZjsyzJqy6I8asSGfPDt565z9c-vgdhWCCLU4oPHKuggRRM1-sxADW3ChiF4HXC7O4fd/s920/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Wrecked%20at%20the%20Reef%20bar%20Feb.%2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="920" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbVMo3wHDvZxhXHPxxBqTkYdR2BLE8Eo3lyG3632fzPsK2HMcGv1gVyQrX5OsLm0yk_kH9VeLVfln-PWJEe38hb_rxTBMunw7ZN7p0ms7pQI3SQQ30JmuRZjsyzJqy6I8asSGfPDt565z9c-vgdhWCCLU4oPHKuggRRM1-sxADW3ChiF4HXC7O4fd/w400-h286/Mexico%20Puerto%20Penasco%20Wrecked%20at%20the%20Reef%20bar%20Feb.%2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday morning we left about 9:30 am. There was a fisherman there selling seafood as we loaded the bus. We had been informed to bring coolers for this. We bought two pounds of large shrimp, a pound of scallops, and five pounds of sea bass for $38. What a deal!!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It was quite windy on our return trip. Our driver did a fantastic job getting us home. The border crossing only took an hour this time. We got back at 3:30 pm to howling winds. We had to collect stuff from our yard that had blown around. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Our trip was fun with a great group of people. I'm not sure we would ever go back. San Diego and the California coast are about the same distance. I think we'll go there for beach time in the future.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday was the 9th annual FDO Golf Tournament. In previous years, there have always been more men than women who sign up. So, each year there have been some "special ladies" chosen to even out the teams. You may recall Kevin was one of those special ladies last year. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This year with 216 participants, there were exactly the same number of men as women. In order to keep the tradition going, there were six special ladies chosen and 6 special gentlemen. It was a great tournament with many laughs. I won a hybrid golf club as a door price at the dinner.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwYEG9b4ur7DWZrbwRo8sGVwah53oe2gr9yxTqDliDdI6Ozwm1gFwRUmjOZQ34dF-93vyDATBnZqWV81wX7TG_rMIaVcGKZWVxcTlJ80NPVwI0_I_4UkzPeNMEABpivg8cX82ZtbdeUit4cI8qKdWYY1spoTxfkQrdjugZ0-T53jsWeuflN0iYbtM/s510/Yuma%20FDO%20Golf%20Tournament%20special%20gentlemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="510" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwYEG9b4ur7DWZrbwRo8sGVwah53oe2gr9yxTqDliDdI6Ozwm1gFwRUmjOZQ34dF-93vyDATBnZqWV81wX7TG_rMIaVcGKZWVxcTlJ80NPVwI0_I_4UkzPeNMEABpivg8cX82ZtbdeUit4cI8qKdWYY1spoTxfkQrdjugZ0-T53jsWeuflN0iYbtM/w400-h330/Yuma%20FDO%20Golf%20Tournament%20special%20gentlemen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyomYmq6QY5zONkR1rzCysfjgZYxMZ7-i0pgnTP9qhc9SSkS75wd9nbdFDybMqCj9GL1xKb5lpjxl0LLh8Gb0xStyr4pUzcY-GE0x_xzOu9LDYwI2trAuBcEjhrZKQFfeZ5yLSWcwEyDYzY7aF-XYDUU7vZo3Nyu64lJMUc1tONmF1qPaK5plrUCD/s723/Yuma%20FDO%20Golf%20Tournament%20special%20ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="723" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyomYmq6QY5zONkR1rzCysfjgZYxMZ7-i0pgnTP9qhc9SSkS75wd9nbdFDybMqCj9GL1xKb5lpjxl0LLh8Gb0xStyr4pUzcY-GE0x_xzOu9LDYwI2trAuBcEjhrZKQFfeZ5yLSWcwEyDYzY7aF-XYDUU7vZo3Nyu64lJMUc1tONmF1qPaK5plrUCD/w400-h250/Yuma%20FDO%20Golf%20Tournament%20special%20ladies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-91928823565921398182023-02-08T08:49:00.003-06:002023-02-08T08:49:49.999-06:00Very Exciting Announcement<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are very happy and excited to announce that we will become first time grandparents in early July!! Our son Korey and his wife Cathryn are expecting a daughter. I'm busy working on some quilts for the new addition to our family. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We will be spending the summer in Wisconsin, so will be able to drive to Nebraska when she arrives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We continue to enjoy our life in Yuma. Last weekend was the 10th annual North American golf tournament where the Canadians and Americans compete against each other. We had a good time, but lost our match. It is a competition, but mostly we have a great time with our friends from both sides of the border.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr6lBGERWS-qrqhdZb3LeySw19xFQPWS5aqAUzs1Itlpd-KD1WYAbg2u627Kv1hJfoIdWh4QMcx41SVvilgnPKJK4xeXK7XaZPZ8M8-fKkK7rmqApn0khal_hnNzHtJFXRssEFy36HOmlz0xt5SRAgj3wTiSDrMScP_qjGiBvk8oS89oPlubGr6En/s1052/Yuma%20Canadian%20American%20Golf%20Tournament%20February%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1052" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr6lBGERWS-qrqhdZb3LeySw19xFQPWS5aqAUzs1Itlpd-KD1WYAbg2u627Kv1hJfoIdWh4QMcx41SVvilgnPKJK4xeXK7XaZPZ8M8-fKkK7rmqApn0khal_hnNzHtJFXRssEFy36HOmlz0xt5SRAgj3wTiSDrMScP_qjGiBvk8oS89oPlubGr6En/w400-h265/Yuma%20Canadian%20American%20Golf%20Tournament%20February%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiDeXyv-MiPdrNMklSefe14xxzI9niv8LV0VKzXh--HkT_PwQHnwq7MxznDkL4mbaY4s6J-zTgBiG0UqBlw26HbgIVKMgr_EHistB27FtnXZpGgJmkTvZYVeRC0SckiI9ystgqTySkgcxupv5SsvZ1zPx7R6gWg3TGeCJEbGgOLPdFYAy_Smh1EMM/s717/Yuma%20Canadian%20American%20Golf%20Tournament%20with%20Judy%20and%20Bill%20Lagoni%20Feb.%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiDeXyv-MiPdrNMklSefe14xxzI9niv8LV0VKzXh--HkT_PwQHnwq7MxznDkL4mbaY4s6J-zTgBiG0UqBlw26HbgIVKMgr_EHistB27FtnXZpGgJmkTvZYVeRC0SckiI9ystgqTySkgcxupv5SsvZ1zPx7R6gWg3TGeCJEbGgOLPdFYAy_Smh1EMM/w363-h400/Yuma%20Canadian%20American%20Golf%20Tournament%20with%20Judy%20and%20Bill%20Lagoni%20Feb.%204.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Last week we attended the Howling at the Moon party here at the resort. There was a band playing and a big bonfire. Hundreds of people attended, which was the most ever. They had 200 bowls of chili available for sale. It was sold out in no time, so we ordered burgers from the saloon. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHS0W1eB9T4l0KNbjJbi3jCXxpueBHxmPg-_9aRZPB9CycGTI-YJBb-CoIslQq97DL2I2lPXJRtCjzmQ875xpZIE6_IxPb2S4ZBPh4PMKt2enhumSA__dF2jkxkq5rtfZ5HfOYe2Yz6dpkK0mPezV1OLIdoI_DJgpFEmRnSrnsnwuuKklZwaiJHAy/s1030/Yuma%20Howling%20at%20the%20Moon%20Feb.%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHS0W1eB9T4l0KNbjJbi3jCXxpueBHxmPg-_9aRZPB9CycGTI-YJBb-CoIslQq97DL2I2lPXJRtCjzmQ875xpZIE6_IxPb2S4ZBPh4PMKt2enhumSA__dF2jkxkq5rtfZ5HfOYe2Yz6dpkK0mPezV1OLIdoI_DJgpFEmRnSrnsnwuuKklZwaiJHAy/w265-h400/Yuma%20Howling%20at%20the%20Moon%20Feb.%203.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTXkxjRuH3a-545ziFLpb_FHwfukfBscXdZx7vUSPKAkdSyDXVG4L-uyuNGDMe-abGYiaPN_P0Q_VyfWkxtbvBJ7JcWewsM12Sd41xKUxXHpk2jPbNpI7bogccRv4bNBpK3DGGCKn8SqqL_PN_ZL1xSzzRRajOIrvUCUB_pft01kIOU8j0BzWih1s/s873/Yuma%20Howling%20at%20the%20Moon%20with%20Brent,%20Jan,%20Kevin%20and%20Sue%20Feb.%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="873" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTXkxjRuH3a-545ziFLpb_FHwfukfBscXdZx7vUSPKAkdSyDXVG4L-uyuNGDMe-abGYiaPN_P0Q_VyfWkxtbvBJ7JcWewsM12Sd41xKUxXHpk2jPbNpI7bogccRv4bNBpK3DGGCKn8SqqL_PN_ZL1xSzzRRajOIrvUCUB_pft01kIOU8j0BzWih1s/w400-h314/Yuma%20Howling%20at%20the%20Moon%20with%20Brent,%20Jan,%20Kevin%20and%20Sue%20Feb.%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I went golfing in the nearby community of Wellton with friends, Anne, Ione and Clara. We had a great time.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-Z1qU0Yhh_7o5CSJZ-2e6LBKhEXzG69NEcNbSUv4fAo3X4WtKojMyaW5DpI4FXE3g4UrmSZsWgb14hNlJ-rZSakOObeXIxE9Gh56-xsUJeel7Dmb9yKW4baUlj8LvXqimey99F0CNLVyDGL1UmOR7gi74z9x55F4rlNicAI8fSQisO9vHYFhuOV-/s580/Wellton%20golf%20at%20Butterfield%20with%20Ione,%20Anne%20and%20Clara%20Feb.%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="580" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-Z1qU0Yhh_7o5CSJZ-2e6LBKhEXzG69NEcNbSUv4fAo3X4WtKojMyaW5DpI4FXE3g4UrmSZsWgb14hNlJ-rZSakOObeXIxE9Gh56-xsUJeel7Dmb9yKW4baUlj8LvXqimey99F0CNLVyDGL1UmOR7gi74z9x55F4rlNicAI8fSQisO9vHYFhuOV-/w400-h335/Wellton%20golf%20at%20Butterfield%20with%20Ione,%20Anne%20and%20Clara%20Feb.%207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After golf we had lunch at the Desert Penguin bar and grill in Wellton. The food was delicious. A very interesting decor for the desert.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTr_4g-gpRiptdefKqZB3ebAItBdM3xKGToiqBfkfE8p1zY1zx5SFMFWo9UcQaz8L7sPI-0UuuZOd3J8M-8al7e8oek8fVb36PoqMMDK4LyjGqHhAkfaJtV_qNw3JcSKdCQLUlj6qm9M6hqzynGxw7ezt_FhGpxU93hsgGv9MrPp5szCli60AbWHK/s841/Wellton%20lunch%20at%20Desert%20Penguin%20with%20Ione,%20Anne%20and%20Clara%20after%20golf%20at%20Butterfield%20Feb.%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTr_4g-gpRiptdefKqZB3ebAItBdM3xKGToiqBfkfE8p1zY1zx5SFMFWo9UcQaz8L7sPI-0UuuZOd3J8M-8al7e8oek8fVb36PoqMMDK4LyjGqHhAkfaJtV_qNw3JcSKdCQLUlj6qm9M6hqzynGxw7ezt_FhGpxU93hsgGv9MrPp5szCli60AbWHK/w354-h400/Wellton%20lunch%20at%20Desert%20Penguin%20with%20Ione,%20Anne%20and%20Clara%20after%20golf%20at%20Butterfield%20Feb.%207.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Last Sunday we attended a concert in the park at the Colorado River State Historical Park. Yuma has several locations where you can take your picture and be the Y in Yuma.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzr2PX2-kNZj0C4Iv2I-ondF1jmnX_26Ct4OkzGCpLeGL8fwOprSgmSV8AGBp4hyrT0EQw8-geZzDbp2pCMsN9tvF-PNPc1Lo1MSx0ErgEslpEP7frKdOaUwGxkCl78Kjv3uUqJOgOG07ghOR1LEYPsVrYcC2hX3AxSOqZ431Y7JGL3zTtb3AgEor/s831/Yuma%20Evelyn%20at%20Yuma%20sign%20Colorado%20River%20State%20Historical%20Park%20February%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="831" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzr2PX2-kNZj0C4Iv2I-ondF1jmnX_26Ct4OkzGCpLeGL8fwOprSgmSV8AGBp4hyrT0EQw8-geZzDbp2pCMsN9tvF-PNPc1Lo1MSx0ErgEslpEP7frKdOaUwGxkCl78Kjv3uUqJOgOG07ghOR1LEYPsVrYcC2hX3AxSOqZ431Y7JGL3zTtb3AgEor/w400-h249/Yuma%20Evelyn%20at%20Yuma%20sign%20Colorado%20River%20State%20Historical%20Park%20February%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We enjoyed a musical performance by the Gadsden Mariachi Band, a group of students from the nearby town of Gadsden ranging in ages from 9 to 14. This is the fifth generation of this group keeping their cultural music alive. They did a great job, and we enjoyed listening to the music native to this area.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTUFK2kjFxttKmgJMZXgAnIjNTG_8aBZeNwb9p4XQADtJU6oE5d8HLwUX-ChWOUH2AQQUZKUrGFnDU-K5eRtfh2PSzeR3Ws8xNpBa9cG7u0lsP2_eU8DqJrq0i1pCJ9QmgePLacSrckBfviBEhPhSb-YLVxzlS7L0qdiEyRmK0991PKo3X1znSJC-/s967/Yuma%20Mariachi%20Gadsden%20performance%20at%20Colorado%20River%20State%20Historical%20Park%20February%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="967" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTUFK2kjFxttKmgJMZXgAnIjNTG_8aBZeNwb9p4XQADtJU6oE5d8HLwUX-ChWOUH2AQQUZKUrGFnDU-K5eRtfh2PSzeR3Ws8xNpBa9cG7u0lsP2_eU8DqJrq0i1pCJ9QmgePLacSrckBfviBEhPhSb-YLVxzlS7L0qdiEyRmK0991PKo3X1znSJC-/w400-h240/Yuma%20Mariachi%20Gadsden%20performance%20at%20Colorado%20River%20State%20Historical%20Park%20February%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We continue to enjoy our activities. Kevin plays golf six days a week. I play three or four days. I also participate in the quilting group and woodcarving group. A new activity I'm working on is making a mosaic project in the stained glass room.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We are also still working with another couple on the golf leagues. We do the computer work that sets up the league teams, create and print the scorecards for each of the four leagues and record the scores of the players. We take turns working every other week with the other couple. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The park has been super busy this season. Every activity is seeing record numbers of participants, including golf. This is keeping us quite busy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our son Eric, his girlfriend, Erin and her son Tyler are coming to visit us in March. We're looking forward to welcoming them to our home and to Yuma.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></div>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-3112105052881208362022-12-25T07:46:00.004-06:002022-12-25T07:46:43.780-06:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year<p><span style="font-size: medium;">We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your life be blessed with love, good health and peace in the year ahead.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWL4bro368IGOjviwuAaG-5SWt_OZQbEjFON3Qwh8Rrw67fQLm3vrOHt5WBWNVwaU-fSQD1fQXs1FZFlCeCyreqc61i13ErEm_tVSnzezRCi_nCc0RTZKK_KQ9Ck5U2Xl_adtxIEcIz_Dd_MERmQRrka2tmBF0EM_HWcf04ZVVY0W04xYt-euU_K/s1200/Christmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWL4bro368IGOjviwuAaG-5SWt_OZQbEjFON3Qwh8Rrw67fQLm3vrOHt5WBWNVwaU-fSQD1fQXs1FZFlCeCyreqc61i13ErEm_tVSnzezRCi_nCc0RTZKK_KQ9Ck5U2Xl_adtxIEcIz_Dd_MERmQRrka2tmBF0EM_HWcf04ZVVY0W04xYt-euU_K/w400-h266/Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We feel bad for our friends and family in the Midwest who are dealing with crazy winds and wicked cold weather. We are so grateful to be here in sunny Yuma where the highs today and tomorrow will be 75 degrees. We are definitely missing our family, though! Thank goodness for video calling!</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhQRG4E3lSAy7PcjPEp1hdybkEqVCgFZWN-xn88XH1v12JXl7BGTEB2EISOTgPGXVA90_QEqr_OySUCAvMpBw3L1EUA-NajLSwmm4zFF9sjzA191cl6cPxaCbVxIxr8c3KnqSPhAxm3-1AmlNJEedOEbSWL_HdnsdwiHySsrR175UiKaVQWg9U_DS/s1080/Merry%20Christmas%20from%20Arizona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1080" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhQRG4E3lSAy7PcjPEp1hdybkEqVCgFZWN-xn88XH1v12JXl7BGTEB2EISOTgPGXVA90_QEqr_OySUCAvMpBw3L1EUA-NajLSwmm4zFF9sjzA191cl6cPxaCbVxIxr8c3KnqSPhAxm3-1AmlNJEedOEbSWL_HdnsdwiHySsrR175UiKaVQWg9U_DS/w400-h284/Merry%20Christmas%20from%20Arizona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Since my last post in October, we've been back in Yuma enjoying our life here. We've played plenty of golf, enjoyed time with friends and did a few projects around our park model. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the fun events we participated in was the annual golf cart Christmas parade. This was our first time now that we have a gas golf cart, and were able to make it around the entire resort. Our previous cart had old batteries, and wouldn't have made it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There were over 60 golf carts in the parade. Everyone decorates their cart with lights and whatever they come up with. This is just part of the line up waiting for it to get darker.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxulYoBQ6jIfHiZbzzmqvC96exL4ntoBymXDSiJql4gZtNTWTaFVpWBb_L1tRENoamipS7XsWNocT60YhKaPv8XaRBEX46HidRF8Qlq4o1CDiJ3h8qtDIC9ltNByjFMFS5QGMQsBlLpkaSf73mpNQ1QAmgXrcYxYO5GZzD8PpPme0NfAIz2k-bCO4/s1055/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20line%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1055" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxulYoBQ6jIfHiZbzzmqvC96exL4ntoBymXDSiJql4gZtNTWTaFVpWBb_L1tRENoamipS7XsWNocT60YhKaPv8XaRBEX46HidRF8Qlq4o1CDiJ3h8qtDIC9ltNByjFMFS5QGMQsBlLpkaSf73mpNQ1QAmgXrcYxYO5GZzD8PpPme0NfAIz2k-bCO4/w400-h225/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20line%20up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is our cart looking festive.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsFFgFaJjbycOik6yCHQQj78uaWrpGRhcKdrgzHs1dJLuBrqyHszTO54IYhPPif5JlQLBX0sZchzZnZOet7J1LP74-qhk9exqUbaJXLmAnHp9saWjXycE0s24Rtq1Ri773_up-bQJR-IM3YoBLHb19VJbvJvByZ4C8mWpddmjVxblTlnZRJTIxpO5/s1693/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="1019" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsFFgFaJjbycOik6yCHQQj78uaWrpGRhcKdrgzHs1dJLuBrqyHszTO54IYhPPif5JlQLBX0sZchzZnZOet7J1LP74-qhk9exqUbaJXLmAnHp9saWjXycE0s24Rtq1Ri773_up-bQJR-IM3YoBLHb19VJbvJvByZ4C8mWpddmjVxblTlnZRJTIxpO5/w241-h400/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20in%20cart.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pS94bf7k-sn1dGRwFI0thdjlfKQIu-dUcT5XEYvnnkZvtUXTkBQ_I4ufWz9nYtU_ZJXAKwxU-4LjtBfLcNcABWlvBHcxoZ7b6uJiVTFZz8cwZsDjxEg3-CXljt4uK_Z2218A-C628pbazN1aqJZPW1SgpKcVkuS-CL0Ke3y7kXHpckxK0HcOsL0p/s990/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="781" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pS94bf7k-sn1dGRwFI0thdjlfKQIu-dUcT5XEYvnnkZvtUXTkBQ_I4ufWz9nYtU_ZJXAKwxU-4LjtBfLcNcABWlvBHcxoZ7b6uJiVTFZz8cwZsDjxEg3-CXljt4uK_Z2218A-C628pbazN1aqJZPW1SgpKcVkuS-CL0Ke3y7kXHpckxK0HcOsL0p/w315-h400/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of the participants dress up including myself and some of our friends.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMmEquAY_BtTIn32XBnXJTMklC2W0Zdom9L2awKVXkBVKVbut3R1RoQILhLgChecuLP5FezQmJdTcoXZ-Z9-5gyWJHYiUVDnqziac0uS9-PxQGx2igAen_o_Xijkjv9OFuc30SSDofCqctYyhPKsAXdt5eYZBt4vzIkh60x0vKDUiMrg4YClyP0js/s1032/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Cynthia,%20Gloria%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMmEquAY_BtTIn32XBnXJTMklC2W0Zdom9L2awKVXkBVKVbut3R1RoQILhLgChecuLP5FezQmJdTcoXZ-Z9-5gyWJHYiUVDnqziac0uS9-PxQGx2igAen_o_Xijkjv9OFuc30SSDofCqctYyhPKsAXdt5eYZBt4vzIkh60x0vKDUiMrg4YClyP0js/w306-h400/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Cynthia,%20Gloria%20and%20Evelyn.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw64BASgQkgK9KwjdSBfu3AXgr-PDDIwmkaWETRWdqM_is9CcJHqjercTSuwQdcRHBHghhix2N1T7Z8-0cnsiO2YUTDdvv8hiO4Hn4nA-BPhXUvnG_I2PVAgwWBufiO0JAs0zh4rNyzQy9FzynzdZ1ayhCkuWjqaOW_gDOZwfcAH30bIwqsaQkwXK/s2048/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Cynthia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="2048" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAw64BASgQkgK9KwjdSBfu3AXgr-PDDIwmkaWETRWdqM_is9CcJHqjercTSuwQdcRHBHghhix2N1T7Z8-0cnsiO2YUTDdvv8hiO4Hn4nA-BPhXUvnG_I2PVAgwWBufiO0JAs0zh4rNyzQy9FzynzdZ1ayhCkuWjqaOW_gDOZwfcAH30bIwqsaQkwXK/w400-h276/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20Kevin%20and%20Cynthia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">These guys were super creative with their gingerbread house. They did say it was quite hard getting in and out!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV5ieS--SsXs1zNixKW9uZuT7gJcBsBkxBxmwtKavrN98gSA_brMivWCsJTBUE-wc0ZtTnrg-XdLdMhPDRAtWqEXtky-_HLPKKfXYBdFCcrc9eGmFsoUpu6iwCr-xbcw50uMRhzBFg4oHZNRKK-8zoPXuamCdvJEhAGrBKJdHJ1br4frJ5u3Bt1JY/s810/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20gingerbread%20house%20cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="635" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV5ieS--SsXs1zNixKW9uZuT7gJcBsBkxBxmwtKavrN98gSA_brMivWCsJTBUE-wc0ZtTnrg-XdLdMhPDRAtWqEXtky-_HLPKKfXYBdFCcrc9eGmFsoUpu6iwCr-xbcw50uMRhzBFg4oHZNRKK-8zoPXuamCdvJEhAGrBKJdHJ1br4frJ5u3Bt1JY/w314-h400/Yuma%20Golf%20cart%20Christmas%20parade%20gingerbread%20house%20cart.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After the parade, we all met at the main hall for cookies, cupcakes and hot chocolate and coffee laced with some holiday cheer. It was a great time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night on Christmas Eve we had several friends over for dessert and drinks. It was a beautiful evening, and the new firepit was just right for the chill in the air.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N3jFV7X9TQwfwyaAyG-KNd1U3b6abEVv60HGXoEcxvjWBtsm-985nwjLp39ljUBu_PwbvhSbjMHog_gt9BJ3VCLprkpVK1fDdXXVYo77hWOMuJTlVSZ_-r2xgjJjnfU4d21h6n7ZmBKr6pKm0YyN4zY67pgEtDPPD-N6WjpCCVXwjwa1fzOFKd1x/s1054/Yuma%20Christmas%20Eve%20with%20Gloria,%20Glenn,%20Cynthia%20and%20Anne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1054" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9N3jFV7X9TQwfwyaAyG-KNd1U3b6abEVv60HGXoEcxvjWBtsm-985nwjLp39ljUBu_PwbvhSbjMHog_gt9BJ3VCLprkpVK1fDdXXVYo77hWOMuJTlVSZ_-r2xgjJjnfU4d21h6n7ZmBKr6pKm0YyN4zY67pgEtDPPD-N6WjpCCVXwjwa1fzOFKd1x/w400-h295/Yuma%20Christmas%20Eve%20with%20Gloria,%20Glenn,%20Cynthia%20and%20Anne.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqi3KpFWgkRqIdmLRMcBgYIa7g6UqqtIA0mATtzUfcq5UaVgshBUzvQHX3PJeYFV7ANoLjRoXx0UQ8Nkd3aVBcJ-AhFlBsebH-5qbmlp2sj1nx3SAOL394CMmPPb0wYvox7XUQdl03mM3V_d9lA-TizhGaN5WbaWAjtzPgBLUc84fOO466WIdq48/s1012/Yuma%20Christmas%20Eve%20with%20Judy,%20Wendy,%20Jeff,%20Dave,%20Kevin%20and%20Bill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1012" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sqi3KpFWgkRqIdmLRMcBgYIa7g6UqqtIA0mATtzUfcq5UaVgshBUzvQHX3PJeYFV7ANoLjRoXx0UQ8Nkd3aVBcJ-AhFlBsebH-5qbmlp2sj1nx3SAOL394CMmPPb0wYvox7XUQdl03mM3V_d9lA-TizhGaN5WbaWAjtzPgBLUc84fOO466WIdq48/w400-h269/Yuma%20Christmas%20Eve%20with%20Judy,%20Wendy,%20Jeff,%20Dave,%20Kevin%20and%20Bill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've decided that while we are stationary in Yuma, I will not be posting as much to this blog. It tends to be the same year after year, and I don't want to bore anyone. I will occasionally post on Facebook if there is something that might be of interest.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I will continue to keep the blog active to record future trips we are planning. When I started the blog, it was to record and share our full time RV journey, and to keep family and friends informed of our travels. What I didn't expect to happen, is that it has become a travel journal for me as well. Many times I refer back to it to help me remember someplace we've been.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This summer we will be headed back to Wisconsin and Nebraska to visit our family and escape the heat in Yuma. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our next planned vacation trip is in October with back to back cruises to Australia and New Zealand. This has been number one on my bucket list for a long time!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-47141976494007589392022-11-03T10:29:00.000-05:002022-11-03T10:29:11.358-05:00Panama Canal Cruise - Last Two Days at Sea<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Days 12 and 13 of our Panama Canal cruise were at sea days on our way to Tampa. There were several fun events planned for those days. The event I enjoyed the most was the International Parade of Nations. Crew members from over 60 countries working on the ship were able to carry their nation's flag in the parade. After they all lined up on the pool deck, each country was introduced. Some of them did native dances as they were introduced. It was a fun and moving event. Ukraine was given a great deal of applause. If only the rest of the world could come together in friendship and respect as was shown at this parade.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4iNhLIKx8LNjv4Pa5qnHR_xJIltnX9Ta3-YdMj7g_Vqg7oFzjNvXEXXXeHXRnLnS56ZlqDul9wWqf2skuOVyZ7CqgDOOpqSiUR8OgBnDTgMyB7GDCeO65O9A0bzhanE032Hj1SJvpGkDsLazavfmGl7Nfbo22LF9wW3AJypuWRvHl3g9eHh_d3l1/s1063/Parade%20of%20Staff%20Nations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1063" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4iNhLIKx8LNjv4Pa5qnHR_xJIltnX9Ta3-YdMj7g_Vqg7oFzjNvXEXXXeHXRnLnS56ZlqDul9wWqf2skuOVyZ7CqgDOOpqSiUR8OgBnDTgMyB7GDCeO65O9A0bzhanE032Hj1SJvpGkDsLazavfmGl7Nfbo22LF9wW3AJypuWRvHl3g9eHh_d3l1/w400-h268/Parade%20of%20Staff%20Nations.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfq_7O-bdYPqSdQQ7ZiPXuXUXhVdUCXjaRb1qa2CTPfRnlv8Fj-_6jUmISVYn4dhfsD-Bk4TChvlR8tHblbFbB26hkI4pvLowMTkOY6XLXa1ykQx6cnEO66FRuSEzi5d_XgqVI76k0MYMNhwA1bt22zATs7HaQNjLNhne03OAht9_n9TDUyx_YDj-R/s763/Parade%20of%20Staff%20Nations%20all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="763" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfq_7O-bdYPqSdQQ7ZiPXuXUXhVdUCXjaRb1qa2CTPfRnlv8Fj-_6jUmISVYn4dhfsD-Bk4TChvlR8tHblbFbB26hkI4pvLowMTkOY6XLXa1ykQx6cnEO66FRuSEzi5d_XgqVI76k0MYMNhwA1bt22zATs7HaQNjLNhne03OAht9_n9TDUyx_YDj-R/w400-h398/Parade%20of%20Staff%20Nations%20all.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Earlier in the cruise, we had been told that it had been Captain Stig Nilsen's 40th Panama Canal crossing on this trip. The crew presented him with a plaque commemorating that momentous achievement.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6w4cRW-rckBJWU5uFoP59_G44FKM-Zmrr6qHTqkjkZ34NuxHI2aWk5G07e-BpldWyKwgOwXTs8h_ZXw6obwuOqB_MEqAbwkZzSVKE80CN78lx5yFl0uMR4jW23Pk81BgeT12-zG0JItgFelvwDIrm3CoWm-vEZZdweO08S7CPEst8EvRsbcFlgSA/s2111/Captain%20Stig%20Nilsen%20receiving%20award%20for%2040th%20Panama%20Canal%20crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="1047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6w4cRW-rckBJWU5uFoP59_G44FKM-Zmrr6qHTqkjkZ34NuxHI2aWk5G07e-BpldWyKwgOwXTs8h_ZXw6obwuOqB_MEqAbwkZzSVKE80CN78lx5yFl0uMR4jW23Pk81BgeT12-zG0JItgFelvwDIrm3CoWm-vEZZdweO08S7CPEst8EvRsbcFlgSA/w199-h400/Captain%20Stig%20Nilsen%20receiving%20award%20for%2040th%20Panama%20Canal%20crossing.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our ship, Serenade of the Seas, had spent the summer doing Alaska cruises. Our cruise was actually a repositioning trip to take it to Tampa for the winter Caribbean cruises. The captain thought it would be fun to bring ice from an Alaska glacier through the canal. At the parade, the ice was brought out for everyone to see and touch. There must have been extra space in the freezers.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4Rhg6NiDmkyuOr6LCl1k-8Ah84seo8wZwROjtNPoCgeeSj2mr1UQ-iI5ycmdcH8jq82xRY71L_1nda1jx8sqyAeZg9H_bxhHL9rT6VGJFdk12_PQWQczNGCm45069tEWzXA7N8JTJyvlxZDB893nV-q8TFvHPv20JcZqxgJn16Cixg9xA9OdHZlg/s976/Ice%20from%20Alaska%20on%20board%20ship%20in%20Panama%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="976" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4Rhg6NiDmkyuOr6LCl1k-8Ah84seo8wZwROjtNPoCgeeSj2mr1UQ-iI5ycmdcH8jq82xRY71L_1nda1jx8sqyAeZg9H_bxhHL9rT6VGJFdk12_PQWQczNGCm45069tEWzXA7N8JTJyvlxZDB893nV-q8TFvHPv20JcZqxgJn16Cixg9xA9OdHZlg/w400-h241/Ice%20from%20Alaska%20on%20board%20ship%20in%20Panama%20Canal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was another beautiful day for a picture.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7XQJdLaQawhcT9al5oaZOrtFX8jbRBO4f1STYXCuQozRNn5bibLpdxUnLrvyl9rKG82Ox0y2Xz91VZ9xwj1bBmRo6mEv0zHyEGrwdEKADldLpO8-9SN8USLFblOjH16scGrXw_wGm8Y0WEUUCeYkAqY1H7cMSKxE2mjtisUwZMkIRH7aIX6Qt6za/s1080/Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20enjoying%20the%20trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7XQJdLaQawhcT9al5oaZOrtFX8jbRBO4f1STYXCuQozRNn5bibLpdxUnLrvyl9rKG82Ox0y2Xz91VZ9xwj1bBmRo6mEv0zHyEGrwdEKADldLpO8-9SN8USLFblOjH16scGrXw_wGm8Y0WEUUCeYkAqY1H7cMSKxE2mjtisUwZMkIRH7aIX6Qt6za/w400-h300/Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20enjoying%20the%20trip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had another formal night, and I was able to convince Kevin to have our picture taken. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqbyXYrp4dz67-dheKBI690L-nJLheCi7opcDTvQK-hYKBgo-u8qIralj8-EWWkb1oynVdDevayWZ1BomUx01EfZvPi2_cwG18vcXVlTVPCBbOWqYTDCbplOQGT3tDTM1cqa3ZHkLVB6jS8D-Kug30FwQGyzcf7k2RfJvNu6m0ziG43fGvOXp4bnp/s804/Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20Oct.%2012%20formal%20night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqbyXYrp4dz67-dheKBI690L-nJLheCi7opcDTvQK-hYKBgo-u8qIralj8-EWWkb1oynVdDevayWZ1BomUx01EfZvPi2_cwG18vcXVlTVPCBbOWqYTDCbplOQGT3tDTM1cqa3ZHkLVB6jS8D-Kug30FwQGyzcf7k2RfJvNu6m0ziG43fGvOXp4bnp/w315-h400/Kevin%20and%20Evelyn%20Oct.%2012%20formal%20night.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">That night they had a thank you party in the atrium with free champagne. I didn't stay up late enough, but Kevin said it was very crowded. There was even a balloon drop. Here they are ready to go. There were thank you balloons on the railings on all levels.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bKSj4bCbnpoY-ZnJA1CTKrvpLZq-AsMWZt1aL-kM25MLjYmN_KG29gEmaqwWrIaCXIzpcf2VG4Kyj_EXEIPn02Wdoh8LDiW_LjNZOwJZ0tigOyLdIDcEkGv5dtSfl6UWcYUL9e_DPfc237h2lyQmAX_6RTQ3ecCV2Bai0iVMFeKagZcNG__Bf04x/s823/Thank%20you%20party%20balloon%20drop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bKSj4bCbnpoY-ZnJA1CTKrvpLZq-AsMWZt1aL-kM25MLjYmN_KG29gEmaqwWrIaCXIzpcf2VG4Kyj_EXEIPn02Wdoh8LDiW_LjNZOwJZ0tigOyLdIDcEkGv5dtSfl6UWcYUL9e_DPfc237h2lyQmAX_6RTQ3ecCV2Bai0iVMFeKagZcNG__Bf04x/w353-h400/Thank%20you%20party%20balloon%20drop.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The full moon was beautiful!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRfgok9MTguXS12DTnUVF0px79dZ21d4wqQ1xy8xGVLEBSQKsy6VwIzsmeSQ1QDLI6p0JATjMjEvJYtry4Pju7WqszkSCGK8Z6uGWf1NqriE9SIrHn21e_13XRxec8oqwtgST3WItvMAtOiR7BfD5sY2Cl4cysj6YHhvSdVsZaCJQKdg77tUUXKmH/s828/Full%20moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="742" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRfgok9MTguXS12DTnUVF0px79dZ21d4wqQ1xy8xGVLEBSQKsy6VwIzsmeSQ1QDLI6p0JATjMjEvJYtry4Pju7WqszkSCGK8Z6uGWf1NqriE9SIrHn21e_13XRxec8oqwtgST3WItvMAtOiR7BfD5sY2Cl4cysj6YHhvSdVsZaCJQKdg77tUUXKmH/w359-h400/Full%20moon.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The final day they had a roast pig in the Windjammer Cafe.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN31Q6r9lAcBQLgzOICrS3yGWLo3Z_7z-0WbdiwHwtzkb_JYpiC0-gWzM5x0eSEyZM77e8ZwpIilGypnsp3ZAl2cJbnCv5C0avhDv1CISbsUFs6EnmbajJTfw3NJtJOa-p6rvsT4es9A8r_0gwCF_ELZ1jqLUK_u4HT1wvQpyk-cfNlv-FuwSXxyi/s942/Roast%20Pig%20in%20Windjammer%20Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="942" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN31Q6r9lAcBQLgzOICrS3yGWLo3Z_7z-0WbdiwHwtzkb_JYpiC0-gWzM5x0eSEyZM77e8ZwpIilGypnsp3ZAl2cJbnCv5C0avhDv1CISbsUFs6EnmbajJTfw3NJtJOa-p6rvsT4es9A8r_0gwCF_ELZ1jqLUK_u4HT1wvQpyk-cfNlv-FuwSXxyi/w400-h306/Roast%20Pig%20in%20Windjammer%20Cafe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, a very tasty raspberry cream cake as a thank you dessert. Outstanding!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnDc8xtNwc836Y6hoYjPyGUosLxN2l_1iwCc4jH6Aqb28-cTZ10lEhQTK0xe5llLt5Vir6c9LvvOpg5JGMlExGDJcclFsukSvYTRg9YKt0Mr_VRP5VedZtYuqBtDee5RVHAKyg7PRsm6WBs2CfXaGZPkKHdYSNEdfS9JTrBKNoSqkfBJcbau6WacU/s1046/Thank%20you%20cake%20in%20Windjammer%20Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="1046" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnDc8xtNwc836Y6hoYjPyGUosLxN2l_1iwCc4jH6Aqb28-cTZ10lEhQTK0xe5llLt5Vir6c9LvvOpg5JGMlExGDJcclFsukSvYTRg9YKt0Mr_VRP5VedZtYuqBtDee5RVHAKyg7PRsm6WBs2CfXaGZPkKHdYSNEdfS9JTrBKNoSqkfBJcbau6WacU/w400-h165/Thank%20you%20cake%20in%20Windjammer%20Cafe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We had no problems at the airports or with our flights from Tampa to Miami, and Miami to Los Angeles. As we rose into the sky from Miami, there were thunderstorms in the area which made for some interesting clouds.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5-91hhMQ-aa4j8S_eT5GFzE6QHSqNpxg0Z-VXhlJiDHVkk1yD19VL_OYal5YSaxNesQaOBJCdy-DArRj_FMNt7Vr7aLPVBAGwZ__M64e9fmJdWh5h6G8kjZwphRpSz1l64DrMaLkyP1Crrq7HZlnzQKmHVsMZoCaOo530qDX4T2P-AEnfjPG4EJQ/s1074/Flying%20through%20rainstorm%20on%20return%20trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1074" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5-91hhMQ-aa4j8S_eT5GFzE6QHSqNpxg0Z-VXhlJiDHVkk1yD19VL_OYal5YSaxNesQaOBJCdy-DArRj_FMNt7Vr7aLPVBAGwZ__M64e9fmJdWh5h6G8kjZwphRpSz1l64DrMaLkyP1Crrq7HZlnzQKmHVsMZoCaOo530qDX4T2P-AEnfjPG4EJQ/w400-h255/Flying%20through%20rainstorm%20on%20return%20trip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had left our car at a park and stay hotel in LA, and flew back to pick it up. The drive back to Yuma was interesting with an hour of thunderstorms and then some heavy fog in the higher elevations of California between San Diego and Yuma. Kevin did a great job getting us home. And, so ended a wonderful trip with memories that will last a lifetime!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-26010830816396754422022-10-30T10:02:00.000-05:002022-10-30T10:02:01.386-05:00Panama Canal Cruise - Cartagena, Colombia<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I forgot to include a few facts in the Panama Canal Transit post. The cost for our ship to go through the canal was $350,000. The cost for the large cargo ships to cross in the new canal is $1 million. A maximum of 40 ships are allowed to cross per day. The annual amount of ships crossing is about 14,000.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 11 brought us to Cartagena, Colombia where we had booked a city tour excursion. When I first saw that this cruise was stopping in Colombia, I was a bit concerned. For years we had heard how the country was infested with drug lords and was very unsafe. Friends who had been in Cartagena on a cruise, encouraged us to take a tour as it was a beautiful city. I'm so glad we did.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our tour guide was very proud of his city and explained how fifty years ago things were very bad due to drug cartels. He said most of those drug lords are now in prison in the US. He also told us that fifty years ago less than half the children in the country attended school. They have made education a priority since then, and now 95% of children attend school. Their country is flourishing with these changes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We started our tour with a drive up a steep and narrow road to the La Popa Monastery built in 1612. Here's a view of it up on the hill from our ship.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NauCXmVTIs3m54rO431OOqoYLuQFiXE2itT1PCCpDVDn6pclvKjTIRyFstvSpkZh5L1p8Q72e-dXF1d2CE0rrMvrIOyVENOzZdLIEycscRK9IeVe01HT83Ngr0QwckKpXEL_XUhhOxnvA1dw-TR4teRP58oOwpiDnIwxjclKdAd8O7MT6y_7m7VM/s798/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery%20on%20top%20of%20hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="798" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NauCXmVTIs3m54rO431OOqoYLuQFiXE2itT1PCCpDVDn6pclvKjTIRyFstvSpkZh5L1p8Q72e-dXF1d2CE0rrMvrIOyVENOzZdLIEycscRK9IeVe01HT83Ngr0QwckKpXEL_XUhhOxnvA1dw-TR4teRP58oOwpiDnIwxjclKdAd8O7MT6y_7m7VM/w400-h340/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery%20on%20top%20of%20hill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the outside of the monastery up close. The second picture is the chapel and alter with our tour guide, Benny.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZIiUGTQYCfPwD9EFFDAR0Isf0seYFqbVfkDO1qV8KsxlZvIo_oGMhcZlyOSYtCycGrQONBB28U0U7790eusNK-rwvDoFCbe4TzT0W3W02VPik7wMV-nUBxIORzt2TEGGwg6dMFCbnGUygt0386XvsckqZXTcCkkaXzOcCsgNpYZpI202yV_KcSAf/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZIiUGTQYCfPwD9EFFDAR0Isf0seYFqbVfkDO1qV8KsxlZvIo_oGMhcZlyOSYtCycGrQONBB28U0U7790eusNK-rwvDoFCbe4TzT0W3W02VPik7wMV-nUBxIORzt2TEGGwg6dMFCbnGUygt0386XvsckqZXTcCkkaXzOcCsgNpYZpI202yV_KcSAf/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJP4CxLtGQKv4qFdoSoHhBiX4Fa_rFvKJb6KL_U_Sw1n7gdrLCJzYqvBd4PTA_uGBpObzA3TyBmWQh8cge_hy2cL5pdMoifoYxDpCgqBnA5lZ_D-f9kxP3ASCvRJAcrxOD4Y9oSkCE1q4gAAORxQgyXHPTspYCOIITkib4x36SMS90Vo3FHrvlwF0/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery%20chapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJP4CxLtGQKv4qFdoSoHhBiX4Fa_rFvKJb6KL_U_Sw1n7gdrLCJzYqvBd4PTA_uGBpObzA3TyBmWQh8cge_hy2cL5pdMoifoYxDpCgqBnA5lZ_D-f9kxP3ASCvRJAcrxOD4Y9oSkCE1q4gAAORxQgyXHPTspYCOIITkib4x36SMS90Vo3FHrvlwF0/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monastery%20chapel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were many of these fruit carts all throughout the city, sometimes in the road. Mangos sell for a dollar a box. Such a deal.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gkap73lwe3jkc2G5oo4Edr1NZPTilhHYQLjmEVWwvjvpg5ktuhOlMm3D_2TmDMeq_sSgiJAv4iO_JoXC7-MFh7-CGNjNR09Hcy6r65UXuVkB_X48KGhA8QVMUDWKn7AeInlCUgBv2cyBlXBQiYSFQkbaMoVCRK9yPyvzUjkO_52H3RdzQoO3dKKl/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20fruit%20cart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gkap73lwe3jkc2G5oo4Edr1NZPTilhHYQLjmEVWwvjvpg5ktuhOlMm3D_2TmDMeq_sSgiJAv4iO_JoXC7-MFh7-CGNjNR09Hcy6r65UXuVkB_X48KGhA8QVMUDWKn7AeInlCUgBv2cyBlXBQiYSFQkbaMoVCRK9yPyvzUjkO_52H3RdzQoO3dKKl/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20fruit%20cart.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The traffic was horrific. Our bus driver was a miracle driver. I would never want to drive there. Also, there were motorcycles scooting through between cars like crazy. This was a police car on the pier.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMGtZLnOjIyYmoZ-x4QBwt_ETQDC_RMd27G7AeyKkT8FJv1QBRWHb41e1W1fTp8T2Dh2mfqv26_ZnUq_5UZaABChMY5R5MXZFd6lpRJWMcNILnI8A2FXEZbaaEWgxFdEk3ULlc8fJdsUkBzmkw2FmffxxP_NxExtc__c7yq13TWJ1yU_vck8d1YTv/s842/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20police%20car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMGtZLnOjIyYmoZ-x4QBwt_ETQDC_RMd27G7AeyKkT8FJv1QBRWHb41e1W1fTp8T2Dh2mfqv26_ZnUq_5UZaABChMY5R5MXZFd6lpRJWMcNILnI8A2FXEZbaaEWgxFdEk3ULlc8fJdsUkBzmkw2FmffxxP_NxExtc__c7yq13TWJ1yU_vck8d1YTv/w400-h320/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20police%20car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop was the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a fortress built in 1536. At that time the Spanish owned this land. Gold, silver and emeralds had been found, and the Spanish were constantly being attacked by pirates and other privateers. We did not go into the fort, but stopped for some picture taking opportunities. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cartagena reminded me a lot of Jamaica with venders constantly in your face trying to sell you their stuff. It was also quite hot and humid, so we took a few pictures and got back on the bus.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Opmhw-ifg-7Pk6oQvVjGqThW8zHcXgNjawEGTVOWskMG_dmjQegeAnHXHeoA12VW7MfQLtxeBuTWuRTd0GRmSMyj49sx7Tt8wP-GW7rVc-rnxm126j7Gjm1a27mYW1EKaQAZc7gk4Uw_1Viv62nTZoJ9BYgzjNw4GDNwSwBNbA_3eWyFKWiHqL4I/s976/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="976" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Opmhw-ifg-7Pk6oQvVjGqThW8zHcXgNjawEGTVOWskMG_dmjQegeAnHXHeoA12VW7MfQLtxeBuTWuRTd0GRmSMyj49sx7Tt8wP-GW7rVc-rnxm126j7Gjm1a27mYW1EKaQAZc7gk4Uw_1Viv62nTZoJ9BYgzjNw4GDNwSwBNbA_3eWyFKWiHqL4I/w400-h214/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo3RfNqCKaOb7m1ib43WPFv0hNz2CYp30PzwKlfT3G5cMgiv6A_7O7G39WKDt6-5Rh1btBGfyCTjvqX2Tszbsb5qHPj-p8KHc5B8d2kR5iR0DjRfsDGPS63nthsb9OPFX2euikncANTtFwGnjSoJAoXaXClNmdZLkKQyCW4T6hM8HpkoHuYb9cure/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo3RfNqCKaOb7m1ib43WPFv0hNz2CYp30PzwKlfT3G5cMgiv6A_7O7G39WKDt6-5Rh1btBGfyCTjvqX2Tszbsb5qHPj-p8KHc5B8d2kR5iR0DjRfsDGPS63nthsb9OPFX2euikncANTtFwGnjSoJAoXaXClNmdZLkKQyCW4T6hM8HpkoHuYb9cure/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A statue of General Blas de Lezo is prominent at the fort and throughout the city. He was a Spanish navy officer best remembered for the Battle of Cartagena in 1741 where forces under his command decisively defeated a large British invasion fleet. Throughout his career, the general lost his left leg, left eye, left hand and complete mobility of his right arm. He continued to fight despite all his injuries and died four months after the 1741 battle from typhus.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-jRZdtz1J-fwIna8zoL4Sz4vVeVfOYA1hZb1HC2Km7c56BRbxewPI_lL7qIPMt2Va34BGZ2uimeItAI1woLLQua9qhytjjt8dHPiGN-gzQVlxbVXO8Jyo6dzhUhyeSMYX5a_oRSo0vB0iP05ra_ZbbyepZNZdoGn9bMT6Q422QGFzBW7GdW_Z2_O/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas%20with%20statue%20of%20Blas%20de%20Lezo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-jRZdtz1J-fwIna8zoL4Sz4vVeVfOYA1hZb1HC2Km7c56BRbxewPI_lL7qIPMt2Va34BGZ2uimeItAI1woLLQua9qhytjjt8dHPiGN-gzQVlxbVXO8Jyo6dzhUhyeSMYX5a_oRSo0vB0iP05ra_ZbbyepZNZdoGn9bMT6Q422QGFzBW7GdW_Z2_O/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Fort%20Castle%20San%20Felipe%20de%20Barajas%20with%20statue%20of%20Blas%20de%20Lezo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Throughout the city there are these women dressed in costumes. They will let you take a picture for a price. There is usually fruit in the basket on their head which they will also try to sell you.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tVBPAXZlQ_-YndvUWC6qH3tkx--THAAv7P50RvyNtzkGcPYRu8n0V5jaX_8WaCcOM8IzBPXnaNWBkx9x16P5CH8b1wCef66DjXCfoVrXv1Dmzdy0UlpmqVlZqjzPfSvPc3l6QdcjRdt8NgoLg-lhiL94UmCzJaGugg5pn4tUl9agFubjQJ7lsb4j/s3645/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20fruit%20lady.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3645" data-original-width="1753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tVBPAXZlQ_-YndvUWC6qH3tkx--THAAv7P50RvyNtzkGcPYRu8n0V5jaX_8WaCcOM8IzBPXnaNWBkx9x16P5CH8b1wCef66DjXCfoVrXv1Dmzdy0UlpmqVlZqjzPfSvPc3l6QdcjRdt8NgoLg-lhiL94UmCzJaGugg5pn4tUl9agFubjQJ7lsb4j/w193-h400/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20fruit%20lady.JPG" width="193" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Our next stop was the old walled city. This was the original city built in the 1500s. Originally, the coral, limestone and shell wall was over 17 miles long. There are about 5 miles remaining. There are now lots of hotels, restaurants and tourist areas in the old city. Here's a typical square. Lots of bright colored buildings. It has a Caribbean feel to it.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPIr5-18A3MwV-CaVRgormoAXtSMFoa13sDxZEAq-qZAYXxSzX3kMDYEDWdGvEi6ooZMnMinJq-RbVSQ5ISr8z82WYsVuiu1xdq1wCD1UWe-FrcSbjyKwA3BZZZlsR8aGlH3ooplxXPPgptBW3Sm2-8Si21ezxZzo16hyAPlacpixuOKl_FaUJnTX/s978/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="978" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPIr5-18A3MwV-CaVRgormoAXtSMFoa13sDxZEAq-qZAYXxSzX3kMDYEDWdGvEi6ooZMnMinJq-RbVSQ5ISr8z82WYsVuiu1xdq1wCD1UWe-FrcSbjyKwA3BZZZlsR8aGlH3ooplxXPPgptBW3Sm2-8Si21ezxZzo16hyAPlacpixuOKl_FaUJnTX/w400-h274/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20square.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a section of the wall with vendors lined up along it. Our guide is pointing to the balcony across the street, which is one of the longest in the country. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAsA-IuVty1rOOwjdRtRIcXdEnySMSjxXck8mVYm60VW0UtR3aSRhqzs4535gh_p7EUlwbk5aUy1i8rC8iGPih2RJhHJc3ZIYg4HiCOypNc8m2wwQMdGo8VmM5pMyAShbJFiBt4DPaTfi6tw_7bLerN6SEMxlcYfCyAd2FuvDq3WrRC5rgmld2Ged/s979/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20walled%20city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="979" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAsA-IuVty1rOOwjdRtRIcXdEnySMSjxXck8mVYm60VW0UtR3aSRhqzs4535gh_p7EUlwbk5aUy1i8rC8iGPih2RJhHJc3ZIYg4HiCOypNc8m2wwQMdGo8VmM5pMyAShbJFiBt4DPaTfi6tw_7bLerN6SEMxlcYfCyAd2FuvDq3WrRC5rgmld2Ged/w400-h329/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20walled%20city.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The San Pedro Claver church was originally constructed by the Jesuits in the late 1500s. It is named after Saint Pedro Claver, a priest who came to Cartagena in 1616. He worked tirelessly to help the slaves, treating the sick, ministering to the slaves and campaigning for them to be treated better. At the time, it is estimated over 10,000 slaves were sold there annually. If you look closely at the bottom of the alter, you will see Claver's skeleton. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeMfR3BBMd26Sm1EDU0Roz9P5VivgDhorNNMkT5muTLPRH7Hx8qVmMeSZBBbVZiEkjvqNAa7LdXjOcMPM6y26yyey-pQcMwOpoIXWIokoJd99qrmkJxnRpRSyfugGStKB0HPR7wZckZ7-YG4WerLIPWk5-EKqel_atJHLIUkz-JPxc20lXa1aXHbE/s906/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Iglesia%20de%20San%20Pedro%20Claver%20alter%20and%20skeleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeMfR3BBMd26Sm1EDU0Roz9P5VivgDhorNNMkT5muTLPRH7Hx8qVmMeSZBBbVZiEkjvqNAa7LdXjOcMPM6y26yyey-pQcMwOpoIXWIokoJd99qrmkJxnRpRSyfugGStKB0HPR7wZckZ7-YG4WerLIPWk5-EKqel_atJHLIUkz-JPxc20lXa1aXHbE/w276-h400/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Iglesia%20de%20San%20Pedro%20Claver%20alter%20and%20skeleton.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This statue outside the church is of Claver and a slave.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF10FoQLhFZDeusg4gDJAbtznUJQ2XnP2BkkUxFwH7tMS66AP4aLW2044YuPwG-a67EzAwT0T5wa57xVJfHXV-L8yd-qYlB9T3XaALpWgSKJRcL0kYTluqNnRbsum1mEZwEHqqMNLf2H-83Or5ugl0LG9_I7Nn3CG2DHn449zOwiD24Y4-sYBwSKoH/s844/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Saint%20Peter%20Claver%20statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="844" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF10FoQLhFZDeusg4gDJAbtznUJQ2XnP2BkkUxFwH7tMS66AP4aLW2044YuPwG-a67EzAwT0T5wa57xVJfHXV-L8yd-qYlB9T3XaALpWgSKJRcL0kYTluqNnRbsum1mEZwEHqqMNLf2H-83Or5ugl0LG9_I7Nn3CG2DHn449zOwiD24Y4-sYBwSKoH/w400-h293/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Saint%20Peter%20Claver%20statue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a view of the old city from outside the wall. You can see the church towers.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3iBdqSQkCAVvUWklQjWUpuKlo0i_wiC0kSjrPhJ3ZOnh32hTFOKi-T3zvm94vEGHvOAI2lgRlxY436bjsdU25UPUXiGPo-i1nvWsEot1umBUQvXOqIKaRnFdnXLSkbRgO-Ef372c69XKpMbB9gx3esKLaS70no51_9N2rDn_LXqaCk6KfpiBXxE6/s751/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20Catedral%20Santa%20Catalina%20de%20Alejandria%20with%20wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="751" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3iBdqSQkCAVvUWklQjWUpuKlo0i_wiC0kSjrPhJ3ZOnh32hTFOKi-T3zvm94vEGHvOAI2lgRlxY436bjsdU25UPUXiGPo-i1nvWsEot1umBUQvXOqIKaRnFdnXLSkbRgO-Ef372c69XKpMbB9gx3esKLaS70no51_9N2rDn_LXqaCk6KfpiBXxE6/w400-h318/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Old%20Town%20Catedral%20Santa%20Catalina%20de%20Alejandria%20with%20wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I enjoyed our tour, but my favorite part of Cartagena was the free bird and animal park at the entrance to the city from the pier. It was kind of a zoo, but the birds, monkeys and sloths were not caged. I think they stay around because they are fed. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH7Hiea1TopYlkV7h-WkGK9S0JWwfDPawKLn1Kvo3cxWK3ZF4SVN0tBx6gAsTeZegp8gVcHi4Efxq1O_jL-7hfuLlJRQPjJxMSCsRVis27450FWgIaIxXrq8oL3yIGKmBRwyEsezOv7vAidzH4xZPN610PFzLcaFkDppIpNWWBYxn0cRIKKJDfRsd/s828/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="828" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH7Hiea1TopYlkV7h-WkGK9S0JWwfDPawKLn1Kvo3cxWK3ZF4SVN0tBx6gAsTeZegp8gVcHi4Efxq1O_jL-7hfuLlJRQPjJxMSCsRVis27450FWgIaIxXrq8oL3yIGKmBRwyEsezOv7vAidzH4xZPN610PFzLcaFkDppIpNWWBYxn0cRIKKJDfRsd/w400-h179/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uGik5c3GJphAEX6XhPlxB1m1n4QE4TYT_bQJL98O2pdeuLct8f5qa2h5kdYdmN76W8T58ZxxJjlpZMwHEWaY6_CoJtndZPD188kdodrdK_WGfgCllT3eg_mxkDItnGyO-vENOKeUfxe6wN_WRC-CRTxum1FPT1ySqkVxSrd9WLMcCHUJMwALNwcg/s1208/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uGik5c3GJphAEX6XhPlxB1m1n4QE4TYT_bQJL98O2pdeuLct8f5qa2h5kdYdmN76W8T58ZxxJjlpZMwHEWaY6_CoJtndZPD188kdodrdK_WGfgCllT3eg_mxkDItnGyO-vENOKeUfxe6wN_WRC-CRTxum1FPT1ySqkVxSrd9WLMcCHUJMwALNwcg/w358-h400/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20monkey.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were several red howler monkeys in the trees.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczp84Wg3Bh641FPF9WpUEaJPmfwgELcTlt2uKsFiSFkIFxygoWUnGR0Dk9r9rk0U5I00g2WvFo_HpViNNYjJqdubhru4pJvzgmJdciZFoYGDypINDxPLlXoqyP_QlkfpW3BqhAhCKS8iCqfCIlHmU94LyhHAuW8qhuxow4plPqafn9rDPt-5LmBKB/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20red%20howler%20monkey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczp84Wg3Bh641FPF9WpUEaJPmfwgELcTlt2uKsFiSFkIFxygoWUnGR0Dk9r9rk0U5I00g2WvFo_HpViNNYjJqdubhru4pJvzgmJdciZFoYGDypINDxPLlXoqyP_QlkfpW3BqhAhCKS8iCqfCIlHmU94LyhHAuW8qhuxow4plPqafn9rDPt-5LmBKB/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20red%20howler%20monkey1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SRpDsMydrrhp8UNlwLi6_XgR66F1qusicf_tseXqW4dxBXGaPok7CQUfo42zYCvSaDjQKgJ3ixn4FVRdalCQOuqEwgoO8mO5ZGAeLh2uTEF1DLje_5wfV6yOyPwl2q8XecfBSkVOcvfsRRU7ztoLmrM9Cd2w9UY6ddmZugxD97CGXVvd4yRHiAiM/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20red%20howler%20monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SRpDsMydrrhp8UNlwLi6_XgR66F1qusicf_tseXqW4dxBXGaPok7CQUfo42zYCvSaDjQKgJ3ixn4FVRdalCQOuqEwgoO8mO5ZGAeLh2uTEF1DLje_5wfV6yOyPwl2q8XecfBSkVOcvfsRRU7ztoLmrM9Cd2w9UY6ddmZugxD97CGXVvd4yRHiAiM/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20red%20howler%20monkey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were some anteaters in a pen. I was surprised how big they were.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBlL-vPBPa0Y9YGxkw9XHmWvjBF1ZiNyriDWttvCvq_4U2EADFjOENwB1_hwpx6KoRhjw6XzX1q-wmgz16WeXqmF45Iuu-rkn2NUUbEhHCRIIvdjANykt-ltibHYS6ohUTPWRCyHlPEeb-by6pdD8VnWjfQPxpve6CN3Zp0zglo9V6EN-1evwY33p/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20anteater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBlL-vPBPa0Y9YGxkw9XHmWvjBF1ZiNyriDWttvCvq_4U2EADFjOENwB1_hwpx6KoRhjw6XzX1q-wmgz16WeXqmF45Iuu-rkn2NUUbEhHCRIIvdjANykt-ltibHYS6ohUTPWRCyHlPEeb-by6pdD8VnWjfQPxpve6CN3Zp0zglo9V6EN-1evwY33p/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20anteater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This sloth was slowly moving around in the tree.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuqrxrVHpSrLuSBK901WSekIxgMYyRivxq3DjIXQyGZQaUZP-rE4hU0awLgUECRPmuF917zOFdJ_YdyTiKYKjHfx5gTyTT2vT6MSUOL7QPr42UFi5zeF6oO5OCUNC5vJlb2uW1JPMaHc93idrPWzcwN50oeJ7Kqgz2dHGFyHkQdH1aU11C8NEZk2Z/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sloth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuqrxrVHpSrLuSBK901WSekIxgMYyRivxq3DjIXQyGZQaUZP-rE4hU0awLgUECRPmuF917zOFdJ_YdyTiKYKjHfx5gTyTT2vT6MSUOL7QPr42UFi5zeF6oO5OCUNC5vJlb2uW1JPMaHc93idrPWzcwN50oeJ7Kqgz2dHGFyHkQdH1aU11C8NEZk2Z/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sloth1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiv9n3dfN_xoLV02Sd1dlERBNPYDbmXMVTnAgGazMnJN6BpiZ4Y0XtdTbvXGK3PvFbvi7dksTSL_DyMBJYCaLhpPTLZBhPmJhzNfDEGL3oQN_niNhBGhUrOAAMwzHtN0Cm_A1dAoNzc2xj2dLzhEX2pBvFTs5yXfevMp9yksdVQlUGbIrjqfICs8l/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sloth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiv9n3dfN_xoLV02Sd1dlERBNPYDbmXMVTnAgGazMnJN6BpiZ4Y0XtdTbvXGK3PvFbvi7dksTSL_DyMBJYCaLhpPTLZBhPmJhzNfDEGL3oQN_niNhBGhUrOAAMwzHtN0Cm_A1dAoNzc2xj2dLzhEX2pBvFTs5yXfevMp9yksdVQlUGbIrjqfICs8l/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20sloth2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were several peacocks around. I've never seen a white one.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibV-OhWlPznGhK0_FllWmOFE9_gw8jx6AWCvTv0rjgtzpx9Kp-P6-vEsLMKBaM9rm-3nR8R3iwmAiPPrv83HMIZnv8Aj2huJFV_5VDFltQj9yXDSdrXd0NK3sUKbQXiTZvnGdYQqO0J6xbsEgezHL3Hi8Q6tNsLfJsakz1ssTy5jnA22SMnyhbctL9/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20white%20peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibV-OhWlPznGhK0_FllWmOFE9_gw8jx6AWCvTv0rjgtzpx9Kp-P6-vEsLMKBaM9rm-3nR8R3iwmAiPPrv83HMIZnv8Aj2huJFV_5VDFltQj9yXDSdrXd0NK3sUKbQXiTZvnGdYQqO0J6xbsEgezHL3Hi8Q6tNsLfJsakz1ssTy5jnA22SMnyhbctL9/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20white%20peacock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">There were lots of beautiful parrots and macaws. Wow, were they noisy!!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacEve-Zz4zMa97VNB5MI2jxVzEf3geBZO51EYbtRu41l_7v_RdzI64Tfp959mgZBCo8Vw02I9hD8Km7YjGPxYgQ9U5QCN-YB1mVaOU8QJog1j_Jc3oehpOyEuvEDUdx-5__Z7OZbYquJFy2_WVBMI3XZ5Kb40iFTzbxtingl2qaX6MvEzDssgJLUB/s4896/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20blue%20parrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacEve-Zz4zMa97VNB5MI2jxVzEf3geBZO51EYbtRu41l_7v_RdzI64Tfp959mgZBCo8Vw02I9hD8Km7YjGPxYgQ9U5QCN-YB1mVaOU8QJog1j_Jc3oehpOyEuvEDUdx-5__Z7OZbYquJFy2_WVBMI3XZ5Kb40iFTzbxtingl2qaX6MvEzDssgJLUB/w400-h300/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20blue%20parrots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8snwGYJQUgGLXVFocUVjqw54cI9LWO5upA1C-CMlFM4kIwrb9W-CH-336T08GuRbcVfZ_ZmkZNSBD3bYqgf05nBb5hCy-whlfowh6g-AulDIKDzSOC9h9OBUdehaYH6rCsYZitkjIs-6SSrmnf-ymQ9jmT9kyAq8L4wM28OzQaBUkqjNoKnS5n0Z/s1080/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20more%20parrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1080" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8snwGYJQUgGLXVFocUVjqw54cI9LWO5upA1C-CMlFM4kIwrb9W-CH-336T08GuRbcVfZ_ZmkZNSBD3bYqgf05nBb5hCy-whlfowh6g-AulDIKDzSOC9h9OBUdehaYH6rCsYZitkjIs-6SSrmnf-ymQ9jmT9kyAq8L4wM28OzQaBUkqjNoKnS5n0Z/w400-h233/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20more%20parrots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cmAUqYxOY6EcBKm4KVNAY17a3jQw3w7cYYAJj5H-OhZsDoMN4vYNM6xdHLVVAK-tTMokeS3UuRkJZJYqY3MCFCY2KSiKBmJFXjG3q2sH-yaUDlTJhRG4X2g1s_b4oITl1LboA0JsBm7WVFGSHoXlVV26VVXtXWkNccwlR1Almv0mtYp8yzcYHteq/s834/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20parrot%20and%20peacocks%20in%20tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="834" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cmAUqYxOY6EcBKm4KVNAY17a3jQw3w7cYYAJj5H-OhZsDoMN4vYNM6xdHLVVAK-tTMokeS3UuRkJZJYqY3MCFCY2KSiKBmJFXjG3q2sH-yaUDlTJhRG4X2g1s_b4oITl1LboA0JsBm7WVFGSHoXlVV26VVXtXWkNccwlR1Almv0mtYp8yzcYHteq/w400-h340/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20parrot%20and%20peacocks%20in%20tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacocks and parrot up in a tree<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">I had hoped we would see Scarlett Macaws in Costa Rica, but at least I saw them here.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AKGbqVdgoZeDTdqkDZCDbI7wGvkEONswkpoZSHEh266Bwc4thnQ0tubsrAdV86ylSNZ8om35CRu0fldm9WnebaZ6LYrlRiaxG5RbQqjNlifANAVf0uyKekDqgLyl6sibSAydLSJ9WBoIdFs8zhKwu-_3A0EGKUOmHEfKgm0IrHvoiSSXm_znP-cs/s825/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Scarlet%20Macaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="825" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AKGbqVdgoZeDTdqkDZCDbI7wGvkEONswkpoZSHEh266Bwc4thnQ0tubsrAdV86ylSNZ8om35CRu0fldm9WnebaZ6LYrlRiaxG5RbQqjNlifANAVf0uyKekDqgLyl6sibSAydLSJ9WBoIdFs8zhKwu-_3A0EGKUOmHEfKgm0IrHvoiSSXm_znP-cs/w400-h259/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Scarlet%20Macaw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S-SsTnSAjqp5H52ED3FRs8Mauor7PhzFK0ce537_z0CybArVJIA9Z7zVktgZWc7UEMexWX0d3-ozKVhXUG4xP8d7hp1kyc7mcQgo3Ew5sy30LUGDqLPgFvvML_Ojn4EFKpuANoXYE0Fu9qAhnsKVbnv8WZOPopVWT8i4j8W-WfAcRYPJzZGUpAUT/s766/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Scarlet%20Macaws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="766" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S-SsTnSAjqp5H52ED3FRs8Mauor7PhzFK0ce537_z0CybArVJIA9Z7zVktgZWc7UEMexWX0d3-ozKVhXUG4xP8d7hp1kyc7mcQgo3Ew5sy30LUGDqLPgFvvML_Ojn4EFKpuANoXYE0Fu9qAhnsKVbnv8WZOPopVWT8i4j8W-WfAcRYPJzZGUpAUT/w400-h334/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20Scarlet%20Macaws.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">There was one lone toucan among all the parrots.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjR5Q7GoyVx3kVL3AlR-fXWVyG7DEl_1K8UcBpkgtICFzKkqlXiqsMyNs2flNZ-Hxa0kR2iUpkCeX9G20IyK-mMln70m5V2-hMNdusPVwbXebaIpBy-flovuyJiNdemGymxNjnXg8UAZsv3_YRa1ywPPeAK9SQQeYN42hCQNebvZvdp9c-aCIdZLG/s601/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20toucan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="601" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjR5Q7GoyVx3kVL3AlR-fXWVyG7DEl_1K8UcBpkgtICFzKkqlXiqsMyNs2flNZ-Hxa0kR2iUpkCeX9G20IyK-mMln70m5V2-hMNdusPVwbXebaIpBy-flovuyJiNdemGymxNjnXg8UAZsv3_YRa1ywPPeAK9SQQeYN42hCQNebvZvdp9c-aCIdZLG/w400-h370/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20toucan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">As I had mentioned, it was very hot and humid throughout the day. Shortly after we arrived back on the ship, a huge thunderstorm blew through. As we were pulling out of the bay, I took this picture of the Cartagena skyline.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHKRwAH5_JsBtzAVHBiVczaAOEdH9B2x5ZV20fm_ri38E_wE9b7aVIj8HwuvtxzRhDr9Mj-BLKLg9Ou_pyTo7lN3VPDNvlvzoZUXjXxdM_al1B9I6rLlDXkj4PcWBhaH8Nr4yT7vCc7JGaPCvfhNINLfwk0KFTSj1auw2jJ2ek1WwVG2PYuw0eA51/s1042/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20skyline%20from%20ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="1042" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHKRwAH5_JsBtzAVHBiVczaAOEdH9B2x5ZV20fm_ri38E_wE9b7aVIj8HwuvtxzRhDr9Mj-BLKLg9Ou_pyTo7lN3VPDNvlvzoZUXjXxdM_al1B9I6rLlDXkj4PcWBhaH8Nr4yT7vCc7JGaPCvfhNINLfwk0KFTSj1auw2jJ2ek1WwVG2PYuw0eA51/w400-h205/Cartagena,%20Columbia%20skyline%20from%20ship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This was our last port of call. My next post will cover the final two days at sea on our way to docking in Tampa, Florida.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b><br /></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-25614092296253540512022-10-26T18:36:00.000-05:002022-10-26T18:36:06.550-05:00Panama Canal Cruise - Panama Canal Transit<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our number one reason for taking this cruise was experiencing the transit through the Panama Canal. After attending two presentations regarding the history and mechanics of the canal, we were ready for the special day. On day 10, we got up at 5 am and were out on the front deck by 5:45 with hundreds of fellow passengers. The sun was just starting to rise, and it was a beautiful morning. Our entry was from the Pacific Ocean, passing Panama City.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8u5Dxe-zxIUrLJ72JDLRufAUbQeOYJYJaPTvkq0auxZ18HGcGvmO7ZKIPFHGDM2WcSdy2o7ONAyqtpNqAqz8BE701ApiFRw1B_MDETHK6NgMQ4jyAgnajt4bq0dCc8Slj8kKPvdZYxSi7GZEqarvMSaIBYItl-wVHs2FgFjhyvhU50doA-3HJ5bG/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20under%20a%20full%20moon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8u5Dxe-zxIUrLJ72JDLRufAUbQeOYJYJaPTvkq0auxZ18HGcGvmO7ZKIPFHGDM2WcSdy2o7ONAyqtpNqAqz8BE701ApiFRw1B_MDETHK6NgMQ4jyAgnajt4bq0dCc8Slj8kKPvdZYxSi7GZEqarvMSaIBYItl-wVHs2FgFjhyvhU50doA-3HJ5bG/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20under%20a%20full%20moon.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Panama Canal under a full moon</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iwroxoCU6kb-Bm60IExanPuqBdCo4c-uGJVJASw52gKthMojWSW-tj3jX3NSpWYrzVKcU4RriMmRdlrONapNqZvB7aNpXYVrc67O5bc_BviLvmORu4BHxpwnVzgrtFcJPuHlhnVKvDTp4nX0dZvhZF-podToqBx4b8GKkE_EZSe-K2S3gUbPlu91/s4896/Entering%20Panama%20Canal%20from%20Pacific%20Ocean%20at%20dawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iwroxoCU6kb-Bm60IExanPuqBdCo4c-uGJVJASw52gKthMojWSW-tj3jX3NSpWYrzVKcU4RriMmRdlrONapNqZvB7aNpXYVrc67O5bc_BviLvmORu4BHxpwnVzgrtFcJPuHlhnVKvDTp4nX0dZvhZF-podToqBx4b8GKkE_EZSe-K2S3gUbPlu91/w400-h300/Entering%20Panama%20Canal%20from%20Pacific%20Ocean%20at%20dawn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the canal at dawn with a pilot ship off to the side</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtbAxt_rmlMbWK9MTdE37ISwERQBIylDXENVqRpxbU6_OS6gtpFyosMFzhjKMGSd637QTTiJjygiDbcnV8uCB-Ea6Z35eEB2ZZSRbhdMNMvVU5hw6UyGhcG5q3V-oA87xV4DWfKMmXKWc-ZTFqpY238GoKEMEG_p39UdudEP67pfW3Gfwme74JHRG/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20sunrise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtbAxt_rmlMbWK9MTdE37ISwERQBIylDXENVqRpxbU6_OS6gtpFyosMFzhjKMGSd637QTTiJjygiDbcnV8uCB-Ea6Z35eEB2ZZSRbhdMNMvVU5hw6UyGhcG5q3V-oA87xV4DWfKMmXKWc-ZTFqpY238GoKEMEG_p39UdudEP67pfW3Gfwme74JHRG/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20sunrise.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe9i9l98GKG3vg_7dmkVPGgaXrRz_3IIaBIaLEwhgnNkZ9-AmYrd85iHG6RZfyvsMj592Sdy-X9Q21FHs9WydSNNX2IbaZMd9GM80C0gh-q0LM-2704A5uoJu1SI35vuMkvaZ7CRHJFvvyaDhL10XyqrBuLFwZgJqwDZ6TwEwx-_X-gKg3zhPAJR2/s4896/Panama%20City%20at%20dawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe9i9l98GKG3vg_7dmkVPGgaXrRz_3IIaBIaLEwhgnNkZ9-AmYrd85iHG6RZfyvsMj592Sdy-X9Q21FHs9WydSNNX2IbaZMd9GM80C0gh-q0LM-2704A5uoJu1SI35vuMkvaZ7CRHJFvvyaDhL10XyqrBuLFwZgJqwDZ6TwEwx-_X-gKg3zhPAJR2/w400-h300/Panama%20City%20at%20dawn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panama City at dawn<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a diagram of the transit through the canal. Starting from the Pacific, you go through two sets of locks called the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. The Pacific Ocean fluctuates with the tides up to 18 feet. The Atlantic Ocean side only changes about 3 feet. Therefore, the locks had to be built to raise the ships up into the canal to a point of 85 feet in the center at Gatun Lake. Then the ships go through the Gatun Locks to lower then to the Atlantic Ocean level.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7DUjvyPMO_o_sVEnFmF1Q_JO-ZM1loshDm-1h_XCMvef7lcn58kHmIzbnFCCSy5tP4BAM4qtm_zuzeUKi1195_luFxHQxwfIIlfjAdP9xik3-MMCXdn7_fDDxvNs8DmE9koO4zFLazny-IXyA2naodZ6Vj4jsGDCFokyJMHdjYzUkmpbXwHoXWPJ/s1175/Panama%20Canal%20transit%20diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7DUjvyPMO_o_sVEnFmF1Q_JO-ZM1loshDm-1h_XCMvef7lcn58kHmIzbnFCCSy5tP4BAM4qtm_zuzeUKi1195_luFxHQxwfIIlfjAdP9xik3-MMCXdn7_fDDxvNs8DmE9koO4zFLazny-IXyA2naodZ6Vj4jsGDCFokyJMHdjYzUkmpbXwHoXWPJ/w343-h400/Panama%20Canal%20transit%20diagram.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The French tried to build the canal in the late 1800s using the same method they had successfully used building the Suez Canal. Their engineers were flawed in believing they could just dig straight through without any locks. Over 22,000 people died during that time from accidents, but mostly from malaria and yellow fever. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1904 the Americans took over the project from the French. US engineers designed the lock system. Also, they had doctors familiar with tropical diseases, and were able to deal with that problem. The canal was finished in 1914, and basically still operates the same as originally built. There are two sets of the original locks. Amazingly, in over 100 years, the canal has never been blocked and only closed one day in 1989.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The US had a pact with Panama to own and operate the canal until the 1970s when President Carter signed a treaty turning it over to Panama by the year 2000. In 1999, Panama took complete control of the operation and maintenance of the canal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we entered the canal, a small ship came aside us and a crew of over two dozen Panamanian pilots and technicians boarded our ship to guide it through the canal. Our captain did some of the navigating, but mostly it was the Panamanians. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three bridges across the canal. The first one we passed under at dawn before getting to the locks was the Bridge of the Americas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshP5OoQmWjkXupc01Eskvf5-Uiu8TQh-Uj8YNsCeOsZJXzx5xfTOqC6aTrxfs3hZIi3--CnRuw9xlpBRvskIZ_y3BKm6FlFL4XFz2elQ2AjZnDQzV4GhXe3HiDTRYGA_fp8VS8vkw5wC5tWFLXSqOkhyBauyD04eh0C9iGSRvqa11B50U85ypzcbJ/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Bridge%20of%20the%20Americas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshP5OoQmWjkXupc01Eskvf5-Uiu8TQh-Uj8YNsCeOsZJXzx5xfTOqC6aTrxfs3hZIi3--CnRuw9xlpBRvskIZ_y3BKm6FlFL4XFz2elQ2AjZnDQzV4GhXe3HiDTRYGA_fp8VS8vkw5wC5tWFLXSqOkhyBauyD04eh0C9iGSRvqa11B50U85ypzcbJ/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Bridge%20of%20the%20Americas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our ship is considered a Panamax, meaning it was the largest ship that could go through the original locks. The locks are 1,050 feet long and 110 feet wide. Our ship was 965 feet long and 106 feet wide. That's only 2 feet margin on each side. We were close!! Here we are entering the first lock. You can see in the second picture that we are below the lock doors. The chamber fills with water and the doors open. You can see the ship next to us just left the lock on that side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w70qf7ANFol0JeJjaQbCO3jRmBuZHE704uWzzcHB-B8pssMPHQXFoZonFyFnwKzWX4Ngi2v1xCIDxwzUXhj60SkCS52cdGaudlIOC1znm4XEwq5-vTPkLn-bahtlY9HoYIp0O0pP7ESyxNXEWcTVupKUE6PQtNN6OAz557ls7hsMd7_YXvpFLZuU/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20Miraflores%20Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w70qf7ANFol0JeJjaQbCO3jRmBuZHE704uWzzcHB-B8pssMPHQXFoZonFyFnwKzWX4Ngi2v1xCIDxwzUXhj60SkCS52cdGaudlIOC1znm4XEwq5-vTPkLn-bahtlY9HoYIp0O0pP7ESyxNXEWcTVupKUE6PQtNN6OAz557ls7hsMd7_YXvpFLZuU/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20Miraflores%20Locks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm3c1Ce28zFHA-_gg0i94Ut73hKfXDRAYGhehhJGJ8ibBNDj07ZEsZpIdDK0Zz5JtG__TgD0Q5LByxpljSCqhZlrTvUKZ0ZgPZmrJo2mFK8O7XyrM70UFDDeP1gDdUlpTK_VPbl1gOSvEpPLGiaBhflz6YxBGkNct0ofNPEAYFs_sp8zvuI_-TR_6/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20in%20Miraflores%20Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm3c1Ce28zFHA-_gg0i94Ut73hKfXDRAYGhehhJGJ8ibBNDj07ZEsZpIdDK0Zz5JtG__TgD0Q5LByxpljSCqhZlrTvUKZ0ZgPZmrJo2mFK8O7XyrM70UFDDeP1gDdUlpTK_VPbl1gOSvEpPLGiaBhflz6YxBGkNct0ofNPEAYFs_sp8zvuI_-TR_6/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20in%20Miraflores%20Locks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our ship had four mules (silver train type cars) attached on the corners with cables. These mules gently moved along with the ship to keep it centered within the canal. They used a system of bells ringing to communicate with each other.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WMBPLrsEn5Xrz_6uL9GfOMUfXPYki9PHCaUDurF9tu6PB4EYnVTFVmU1Fb0CNoRTiJnwwq1rpr3-D7CpZ9a8YpsiviA0Z-MFi0T6p0NRwWsj6cUkxgeT831fRRTC7uIxpZ-REmqHQxYq1b-ZwXmWK1VO8t4RuysXosLBVlIIDajLI3-pMcmvaLMj/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20mule%20guiding%20ship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WMBPLrsEn5Xrz_6uL9GfOMUfXPYki9PHCaUDurF9tu6PB4EYnVTFVmU1Fb0CNoRTiJnwwq1rpr3-D7CpZ9a8YpsiviA0Z-MFi0T6p0NRwWsj6cUkxgeT831fRRTC7uIxpZ-REmqHQxYq1b-ZwXmWK1VO8t4RuysXosLBVlIIDajLI3-pMcmvaLMj/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20mule%20guiding%20ship.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mule guiding us through lock<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the view from the back of the ship after we went through and the lock doors close behind us.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVSWPNCgZEQVzaNk09P5_Typ6ijeqkVeJL-cirCyf2sqBHviLYRJa21YwYAD-rHTTkg_h0_5NKsiBxMyrsPn4bdxcfz9HQ9gzolt-ciT5tqajxlZStnwrsEdm1p8_MfGZIIcIXb7E57HWPStDgBDZYx5h_EA7gZ5GeeKvWdlNuvb0KHEYMCUjWSC/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20locks%20closing%20behind%20us.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVSWPNCgZEQVzaNk09P5_Typ6ijeqkVeJL-cirCyf2sqBHviLYRJa21YwYAD-rHTTkg_h0_5NKsiBxMyrsPn4bdxcfz9HQ9gzolt-ciT5tqajxlZStnwrsEdm1p8_MfGZIIcIXb7E57HWPStDgBDZYx5h_EA7gZ5GeeKvWdlNuvb0KHEYMCUjWSC/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20locks%20closing%20behind%20us.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">After going through the first two sets of locks, there is a narrow section of the canal that looks like a river. The ships have to navigate through here on their own. This area originally had some hills that had to be blasted away. This hill is the continental divide for the canal. Do you notice how they terraced it when they cut into it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cSWTyqAwZX1XNQh6BLRFRNUn7-Caez6YrCCKNqutNHuVjt1hUktTRAMy8GqjwbS3AHdxA5K_3qhoT3IR7tL2EkbfpHQ-KyobAJqiFRHsYij_0XyLDbr4_9YTW6CLtTbW5sbvHDmgHfmbro9kTdXVp62X5lbwRvtMzBvVeIkfIdAlVUpIF07U2DIo/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Continental%20Divide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cSWTyqAwZX1XNQh6BLRFRNUn7-Caez6YrCCKNqutNHuVjt1hUktTRAMy8GqjwbS3AHdxA5K_3qhoT3IR7tL2EkbfpHQ-KyobAJqiFRHsYij_0XyLDbr4_9YTW6CLtTbW5sbvHDmgHfmbro9kTdXVp62X5lbwRvtMzBvVeIkfIdAlVUpIF07U2DIo/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Continental%20Divide.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Continental Divide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS54HZhVbVFAM_AVjrhIGQ0Hf8IOGOY4fD1Hl0j_BeIFEoGSGqk_ajmECqPlrvRFE3T6T2jcyN7esCrOp8ctxcMLruElWINBqAVWEIYxnidBnjUjlMMIrVYPuGUQlYYO4VrWLnPGnHby3lPs26hrDdp9L0ewrOynelebr7L_-5yXjxsCctd8n20O1d/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20going%20through%20narrows.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS54HZhVbVFAM_AVjrhIGQ0Hf8IOGOY4fD1Hl0j_BeIFEoGSGqk_ajmECqPlrvRFE3T6T2jcyN7esCrOp8ctxcMLruElWINBqAVWEIYxnidBnjUjlMMIrVYPuGUQlYYO4VrWLnPGnHby3lPs26hrDdp9L0ewrOynelebr7L_-5yXjxsCctd8n20O1d/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20going%20through%20narrows.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrows with large cargo ship in front of us</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">We passed under the Centennial Bridge which is part of the Pan American Highway that starts in Alaska and ends in Argentina.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEplRq6zBDJV-oBUtT5bLvvZ4nSQGE1lSTmBE2SVBnKAySAgRWq_2BeDi8QOEBw0WrSjZekJPEf0j73Fw6wdj2ZAXOKgVlyq52oELS05a4-MlYv_mYatqi28e58dn4DXZR2lF8C4eBRYFKh4k4Cdd9gnD4jrP7HyHddluDAcCwYmgxgeW1ycm7NrBS/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Centennial%20Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEplRq6zBDJV-oBUtT5bLvvZ4nSQGE1lSTmBE2SVBnKAySAgRWq_2BeDi8QOEBw0WrSjZekJPEf0j73Fw6wdj2ZAXOKgVlyq52oELS05a4-MlYv_mYatqi28e58dn4DXZR2lF8C4eBRYFKh4k4Cdd9gnD4jrP7HyHddluDAcCwYmgxgeW1ycm7NrBS/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Centennial%20Bridge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2016 a new set of locks were opened for the larger cargo ships. These locks are 180 feet wide. Tug boats steer the large ships through these locks. I guess they built them extra large for even bigger ships in the future. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Here's one going through near us. It's amazing to me how they built it uphill from the current canal. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKvEruBBtATlB2DTnkBaoeCHXNizA_xUwZx2-Hz41NhNAjJrnwRvaXQzXLIV-boFQcy6MdX665kOj-oMAA_fylYfygVAruu-zVgTESE54aUsZCbU4p3TMdjSJNw6SKoE2X2Nf0CC75Jw5nmemyc3Ye7XoLCQ0SQfUHIb-wuVVDam5yOaooogpKOdm/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20cargo%20ship%20going%20through%20larger%20canal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKvEruBBtATlB2DTnkBaoeCHXNizA_xUwZx2-Hz41NhNAjJrnwRvaXQzXLIV-boFQcy6MdX665kOj-oMAA_fylYfygVAruu-zVgTESE54aUsZCbU4p3TMdjSJNw6SKoE2X2Nf0CC75Jw5nmemyc3Ye7XoLCQ0SQfUHIb-wuVVDam5yOaooogpKOdm/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20cargo%20ship%20going%20through%20larger%20canal.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next we entered the man made Lake Gatun. This lake was created when the canal was built and the Chagres River was dammed. There were many ships sitting in the lake waiting for their turn to enter the Gatun Locks. Some of them had their anchors down. We sat in the lake for four hours. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vZZwaGrpfp2kcl5d9W6M65dEKsDgo9goxuL1ZrXDciA-0PTsxT8smiyDhjm7C3nv6oZcBNee071D9lzNeNJZII62B0WKsaO4b0qdlLp-Sba05lA-ZRQd7WEIJvHJrwzXA3krymVW4VRbk-lRazZ6pK07e7QHDzrE91_vKpS13Xh8IMRilGCY14cw/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Lake%20ships%20waiting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vZZwaGrpfp2kcl5d9W6M65dEKsDgo9goxuL1ZrXDciA-0PTsxT8smiyDhjm7C3nv6oZcBNee071D9lzNeNJZII62B0WKsaO4b0qdlLp-Sba05lA-ZRQd7WEIJvHJrwzXA3krymVW4VRbk-lRazZ6pK07e7QHDzrE91_vKpS13Xh8IMRilGCY14cw/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Lake%20ships%20waiting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We later found out that earlier in the day there had been fog in the narrow section of the canal. This backed up traffic and caused the delay. Cruise ships have priority going through the canal. It normally takes 8 to 10 hours. It took us 12 hours. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's our Captain Stig on the bridge. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_K_FoJXcl1_LdHPF8faPsyT2zM5fRoelQ7E5zGuUqT2jqX_z0gCSv0bKJpqWGxw0ZGsAvlaE83PX5klUcY5c1eQKNPneyk8MeLrJ49aA0ic9Yw-Ve3vFhn01FccEL8EjWHWEfCHfm-I94WP692mmnXHDeYqLLgqXeo3Iz_40qcREV4fDGR13lH06/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Captain%20Stig%20on%20the%20bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_K_FoJXcl1_LdHPF8faPsyT2zM5fRoelQ7E5zGuUqT2jqX_z0gCSv0bKJpqWGxw0ZGsAvlaE83PX5klUcY5c1eQKNPneyk8MeLrJ49aA0ic9Yw-Ve3vFhn01FccEL8EjWHWEfCHfm-I94WP692mmnXHDeYqLLgqXeo3Iz_40qcREV4fDGR13lH06/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Captain%20Stig%20on%20the%20bridge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">We finally were able to enter the Gatun Locks just before supper time. Here we are going through the locks that will lower our ship to the Atlantic Ocean level.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesnzVqydqlr_ikGgtHHpVvEyPA8oEy7Mz9EzuSAaF5dRNV8wFc2LOx3d2Q0DXL0gmuyNAHK3jgEC66BC6XsnPaeb7NmcBEgawlXmiPXtuJ1R0U4YTLsIZ4R1u4w50LmRUcXgaZoPM963uizPIW3l8ScsDUBhNQ2aZ5W2KcsuKtiVhIt9oogSk_dAc/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20Gatun%20Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesnzVqydqlr_ikGgtHHpVvEyPA8oEy7Mz9EzuSAaF5dRNV8wFc2LOx3d2Q0DXL0gmuyNAHK3jgEC66BC6XsnPaeb7NmcBEgawlXmiPXtuJ1R0U4YTLsIZ4R1u4w50LmRUcXgaZoPM963uizPIW3l8ScsDUBhNQ2aZ5W2KcsuKtiVhIt9oogSk_dAc/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20entering%20Gatun%20Locks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Entering Gatun Locks</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrTIULBNF9CI58tiIecC8HAh8G54tpnxfgSKuB7iCjl5MQ-qdVyx7bqrbSpDBC4xjszFrm21j3hth47_q3LL-ZD6RiMRJnhksab0L7uns-1qvzd1mgxplb3OkjW9Mv7OgsySGsfPDj386QJ8DbsSNDg273-77P5mALbgwhlw8HFVsNQ5iTcmHm01D/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20in%20Gatun%20Locks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrTIULBNF9CI58tiIecC8HAh8G54tpnxfgSKuB7iCjl5MQ-qdVyx7bqrbSpDBC4xjszFrm21j3hth47_q3LL-ZD6RiMRJnhksab0L7uns-1qvzd1mgxplb3OkjW9Mv7OgsySGsfPDj386QJ8DbsSNDg273-77P5mALbgwhlw8HFVsNQ5iTcmHm01D/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20in%20Gatun%20Locks.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Gatun Locks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel89FMHwL_frZ2HmdM8JOrOnLORTKLPhgteSgHEAFwR8E9k7DOtqt5whXZxe_4orjyNf9l2o7tHsl__Hyjda8k19UCbHAeCBTXAYQrJInJVeZeX1SYcYq6cFbnsPjiM-h29X-OoIMRf7VeKw7SZnEPqNgGv0NoGEI7B9BrQMWdAAkB0pSDZjsjoUj/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Locks%20opening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiel89FMHwL_frZ2HmdM8JOrOnLORTKLPhgteSgHEAFwR8E9k7DOtqt5whXZxe_4orjyNf9l2o7tHsl__Hyjda8k19UCbHAeCBTXAYQrJInJVeZeX1SYcYq6cFbnsPjiM-h29X-OoIMRf7VeKw7SZnEPqNgGv0NoGEI7B9BrQMWdAAkB0pSDZjsjoUj/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Locks%20opening.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gatun Locks gates opening</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4Cw9hSvdtl0tt4j3vkqLUVWkSlGp70jRaGFtcl4-x1KEh0A5CUC9dAleoicppy_uUj0EUsj9eXQJMfzi3uf8K5ySb_MPevhh-2Y7VP6jjWENyEM-sO90NejvVxGt-o_v4ob_oPqKfBZRtrxn0e99w_Q5uEfPTa8yCj8WiGS55SkLvtE5htMJgPbI/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Locks%20with%20Atlantic%20Bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4Cw9hSvdtl0tt4j3vkqLUVWkSlGp70jRaGFtcl4-x1KEh0A5CUC9dAleoicppy_uUj0EUsj9eXQJMfzi3uf8K5ySb_MPevhh-2Y7VP6jjWENyEM-sO90NejvVxGt-o_v4ob_oPqKfBZRtrxn0e99w_Q5uEfPTa8yCj8WiGS55SkLvtE5htMJgPbI/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Gatun%20Locks%20with%20Atlantic%20Bridge.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Bridge visible from Gatun Locks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We went inside to have dinner. As we were sitting in the dining room, I glanced up and saw us down inside the lock through the dining room window. Normally, when we looked out the dining room window, we saw the ocean. It was strange to see a concrete wall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF71kD-R1MozP0F-hX1b-R-J0HV_iKugFMhNfI2aq36g-LekKLN4JdtvycKPEYBe5Rp2x5orLjxeSz8IJbyfv4wjTgKIq2VCb0El1JpdWZz26RVRTigwI5uABCweLeUHy85Lh9QgpNGG3p-ua-Bs0GCK1i1UWlJhfxUp_C-7xreK8Y7eXUNi8_qD4W/s946/Panama%20Canal%20going%20through%20locks%20from%20dining%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="946" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF71kD-R1MozP0F-hX1b-R-J0HV_iKugFMhNfI2aq36g-LekKLN4JdtvycKPEYBe5Rp2x5orLjxeSz8IJbyfv4wjTgKIq2VCb0El1JpdWZz26RVRTigwI5uABCweLeUHy85Lh9QgpNGG3p-ua-Bs0GCK1i1UWlJhfxUp_C-7xreK8Y7eXUNi8_qD4W/w400-h341/Panama%20Canal%20going%20through%20locks%20from%20dining%20room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After dinner, we went back outside. We saw the Panama Canal offices and an osprey. We were just sailing under the Atlantic Bridge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC6ElieqBF__1wc4wAmtbFfWrRoiXeLBgLEwlWzYVzNQAqOUiM53F_EJqgxkLH5zDtkdD5kB5Wl3nL_viryUXCntv_QThBuoEZ9HxFPBuHS1foLDCNx2vXXv0KB7UEY0de_jNJ4zp7QyNIjhdHdHWZIsQnfjajjiqhzgl0WyfdDu3tqWR7qQ62Iba/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Offices.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC6ElieqBF__1wc4wAmtbFfWrRoiXeLBgLEwlWzYVzNQAqOUiM53F_EJqgxkLH5zDtkdD5kB5Wl3nL_viryUXCntv_QThBuoEZ9HxFPBuHS1foLDCNx2vXXv0KB7UEY0de_jNJ4zp7QyNIjhdHdHWZIsQnfjajjiqhzgl0WyfdDu3tqWR7qQ62Iba/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Offices.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canal de Panama Offices</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK0AYvC-uICccqZc9LkwCZchFxA7mbKVUwhCWVJ8gxjLSa4kBZnHBIyo7_sBvwGdo42aikjA4OA1kiYp0ULUhCxPP8ix6FGASvMyUOirJZcMKpllys4GZofnfMESv3sgVwB1XtH6TnX-XfXYJz9MO4VrbhzPzShXqmVockMEtkSmS0l98qTD6Dy_a/s4896/Panama%20Canal%20Osprey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK0AYvC-uICccqZc9LkwCZchFxA7mbKVUwhCWVJ8gxjLSa4kBZnHBIyo7_sBvwGdo42aikjA4OA1kiYp0ULUhCxPP8ix6FGASvMyUOirJZcMKpllys4GZofnfMESv3sgVwB1XtH6TnX-XfXYJz9MO4VrbhzPzShXqmVockMEtkSmS0l98qTD6Dy_a/w400-h300/Panama%20Canal%20Osprey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey on top of one of the cranes</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosXT0NGup0NQmNRrtPlXUZZPB2y2RaBkXbaKU78GtTfCos8D2PpUZ9M5BVF0J6uqQT145lZwc5narxtkb6Nv0ZtDRvCO4PlkgoF1oQHvkzhKmhV2G0rQsZPeGV4TFzD1o1lAM1RkgRt1mdtEwsN8pQ759pCsz1ZUo0F9PWqKmOr9okcp5RONOE87/s1033/Panama%20Canal%20bridge%20on%20the%20Atlantic%20side%20at%20dusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1033" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwosXT0NGup0NQmNRrtPlXUZZPB2y2RaBkXbaKU78GtTfCos8D2PpUZ9M5BVF0J6uqQT145lZwc5narxtkb6Nv0ZtDRvCO4PlkgoF1oQHvkzhKmhV2G0rQsZPeGV4TFzD1o1lAM1RkgRt1mdtEwsN8pQ759pCsz1ZUo0F9PWqKmOr9okcp5RONOE87/w400-h289/Panama%20Canal%20bridge%20on%20the%20Atlantic%20side%20at%20dusk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj_kjKO8uMlb8GNn1azGeQ6TN_wdHJZJXt46sEVH62IC2R-ki5WNe4a_WWcRUJebfpbESzmQA7PfzyHicUDRd-vEPKI3Ho6St3i9UOsLYLlQxqkMfWDScHfkxWtem5g9G3keb97b8AEt4kr81iBOcb-UgGtkzSDu3Pyh77ofGelqNRtJlZrXXxwnw/s855/Panama%20Canal%20bridge%20on%20Atlantic%20side%20with%20Jupiter%20visible%20in%20night%20sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="855" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj_kjKO8uMlb8GNn1azGeQ6TN_wdHJZJXt46sEVH62IC2R-ki5WNe4a_WWcRUJebfpbESzmQA7PfzyHicUDRd-vEPKI3Ho6St3i9UOsLYLlQxqkMfWDScHfkxWtem5g9G3keb97b8AEt4kr81iBOcb-UgGtkzSDu3Pyh77ofGelqNRtJlZrXXxwnw/w400-h254/Panama%20Canal%20bridge%20on%20Atlantic%20side%20with%20Jupiter%20visible%20in%20night%20sky.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jupiter is the star in the upper left corner</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As I looked down, I saw the pilot boat along side with the Panamanian crew leaving us. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vmP_3obXJN8CvufdFOdX-q0P9_-iQxH6TRIkw7f8UWMhq0vtXam5F8IQjUNzzyMViUyme8s344UrS7Gy2an1KNd7NN560j_e0uciUc6JYBNRKwJqKPgygaAClMw3O3jwkHNNPkYd7V1uJBbSXM9d0M_BtquPmLRa4ADqtE5-PRpMUFmXliQsROAF/s812/Panama%20Canal%20Panamanian%20pilots%20and%20staff%20leaving%20our%20ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="812" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vmP_3obXJN8CvufdFOdX-q0P9_-iQxH6TRIkw7f8UWMhq0vtXam5F8IQjUNzzyMViUyme8s344UrS7Gy2an1KNd7NN560j_e0uciUc6JYBNRKwJqKPgygaAClMw3O3jwkHNNPkYd7V1uJBbSXM9d0M_BtquPmLRa4ADqtE5-PRpMUFmXliQsROAF/w400-h376/Panama%20Canal%20Panamanian%20pilots%20and%20staff%20leaving%20our%20ship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And, so after a full day, we were now in the Atlantic Ocean. The canal is about 50 miles wide. Before it was built, ships had to sail an extra 8,000 nautical miles around the southern tip of South America. What an astonishing accomplishment this canal is. Some say it is one of the eight modern wonders of the world. It was an amazing experience!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Royal Caribbean left these certificates in our cabin that evening. If you look closely it says our entire trip is 4835.1 nautical miles. That's 5,564 miles. Wow! No wonder we had so many days at sea. It sure is a luxurious way to travel. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_5vkjVYu-qpKwYO7OCV8CgzZ_DOn-OBydnN6WO4Bb4ijIXmMWF3RIPznYvYlvLYYujI4Q94tYytJv3Iie5dyeei7k51ixGP_rFcsa0zifVzIm5SeHEOxdHUXjv1bQ6gnHgDzUUj7hztLbUbY3WVz0xur8dYf6ds44GuMkuKsYkNQt500rAPF4_C_/s918/Panama%20Canal%20Certificate%20Evelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="918" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_5vkjVYu-qpKwYO7OCV8CgzZ_DOn-OBydnN6WO4Bb4ijIXmMWF3RIPznYvYlvLYYujI4Q94tYytJv3Iie5dyeei7k51ixGP_rFcsa0zifVzIm5SeHEOxdHUXjv1bQ6gnHgDzUUj7hztLbUbY3WVz0xur8dYf6ds44GuMkuKsYkNQt500rAPF4_C_/w400-h305/Panama%20Canal%20Certificate%20Evelyn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv3NPSrzYqlU6HpYeP-3YRv9p6BJV12fIaEIycIsdomicFTB-MJOUey-WyaBtzkFpjJbQG0BJWcn8FhZvBiXj9CotvXsgr2bGqZBdaNqpH6VekoxzMhbkcl58PZXT9QTNeWD8mGX1YqcA_IuQIrPxaGnQShl8Q3NXy2G52iMAVzwli7czr40XU_dP/s859/Panama%20Canal%20Certificate%20Kevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="859" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv3NPSrzYqlU6HpYeP-3YRv9p6BJV12fIaEIycIsdomicFTB-MJOUey-WyaBtzkFpjJbQG0BJWcn8FhZvBiXj9CotvXsgr2bGqZBdaNqpH6VekoxzMhbkcl58PZXT9QTNeWD8mGX1YqcA_IuQIrPxaGnQShl8Q3NXy2G52iMAVzwli7czr40XU_dP/w400-h296/Panama%20Canal%20Certificate%20Kevin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</span></b><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937272310789395278.post-56527421275269594942022-10-23T15:14:00.001-05:002022-10-23T15:14:26.519-05:00Panama Canal Cruise - Puntarenas, Costa Rica<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Continuing on our Panama Canal cruise, day 8 brought us to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. We spent a week in Costa Rica in March of 2018; but we had not been on the Pacific Ocean side, so we booked an excursion through the ship for a boat trip up a river where we were supposed to see crocodiles and lots of birds including macaws.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember those three hurricanes I mentioned we had been dodging on this trip. Well, one of them was again north of us, but the outer bands of it brought drenching rain to Puntarenas the entire day we were there. We did go on the excursion. They did their best under the weather conditions. Luckily, the boat had a cover, so we didn't get wet while on the river. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here was our greeting as we got off the ship. The only Scarlet Macaw we saw that day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V-LzQlxkn61yw-TFtllF8eujVdNYp99L2nM4Ds_jZcijHgBvE_BAD_0lfTQzIyuxgnyUFQ2Ww4clDQJgKWCYZKfAlZ_ItNEwc_KUtmKjOHcYWspLWYRaPg5sJJ4jZtAo8BbrwUfJUorqfWrICyPSNBuSdxb8LAX5rxd8G9Vmt8Y5NPRSA0MQnbCP/s1119/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V-LzQlxkn61yw-TFtllF8eujVdNYp99L2nM4Ds_jZcijHgBvE_BAD_0lfTQzIyuxgnyUFQ2Ww4clDQJgKWCYZKfAlZ_ItNEwc_KUtmKjOHcYWspLWYRaPg5sJJ4jZtAo8BbrwUfJUorqfWrICyPSNBuSdxb8LAX5rxd8G9Vmt8Y5NPRSA0MQnbCP/w386-h400/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Welcome.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We did see some crocodiles, although most of them were just sticking their snout out of the water. We also saw some birds, but not the tropical birds I was hoping to see. Here are the group of boats out on the river. You can see how foggy it was. I'm sure its beautiful on a sunny day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8LpNcfmxYmDgRcqs1eRbcyxOaHGJ53pS5zEruMMIzmRpuLM_tlnL2zfFDJXsTA4GX8HrJuSLKFJn9rrerRMV1sQPZvDQKEjXUFxzJB-4DVZQEGIHfeyGY4Qau1FkwHz3A2kxqphI80KjKQGr67DNN18ISPoitFpXgohclsH6JkiDyTfl0mBYqjHE/s4496/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20boat%20excursion%20on%20river%20in%20pouring%20rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="4496" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8LpNcfmxYmDgRcqs1eRbcyxOaHGJ53pS5zEruMMIzmRpuLM_tlnL2zfFDJXsTA4GX8HrJuSLKFJn9rrerRMV1sQPZvDQKEjXUFxzJB-4DVZQEGIHfeyGY4Qau1FkwHz3A2kxqphI80KjKQGr67DNN18ISPoitFpXgohclsH6JkiDyTfl0mBYqjHE/w400-h185/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20boat%20excursion%20on%20river%20in%20pouring%20rain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">These two crocodiles were up on a sandbar.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezjebQdh2hFO-eC6K5wQs4hKDJ20pA94K2yfaAFuifJGTNRzBwF6gxae9Gl0z8CA9zQ9lN85Gf--LzhGEPj51jvTZJFy6K6UkmaTp0C8UEWjPHLRfS9DMlxxH1MUQd88dSgy-uythonRYq4z1oDSHJ2uYc5ajNS5AWI1FypDcNfmy4t8U1WfsR8Di/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20crocodiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezjebQdh2hFO-eC6K5wQs4hKDJ20pA94K2yfaAFuifJGTNRzBwF6gxae9Gl0z8CA9zQ9lN85Gf--LzhGEPj51jvTZJFy6K6UkmaTp0C8UEWjPHLRfS9DMlxxH1MUQd88dSgy-uythonRYq4z1oDSHJ2uYc5ajNS5AWI1FypDcNfmy4t8U1WfsR8Di/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20crocodiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some of the birds I got a picture of. They gave us a color brochure with descriptions of birds we might see. I've done my best to identify them. These are all birds I've seen elsewhere, but it was all that was out there on this rainy day. My camera kept trying to focus on the rain, so it was hard to get clear pictures.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPMcuYZyw0GmKaU-kvsSy8Uhf7ZgSBrl-9wA8oWSUojKbXBfFYEqMSm5ajJE2rAq1amrqCfbOfKOy0gVBUxiLrWvTH5rm2YiURtycr7jY40LlvvBMUI8PvjiVgm-pjjObZ0NoQWW4ki-fibKi99uT1E0QngGI4uLNTfTLeZPyCnSh4AU-_gxwnQv7/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Great%20Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPMcuYZyw0GmKaU-kvsSy8Uhf7ZgSBrl-9wA8oWSUojKbXBfFYEqMSm5ajJE2rAq1amrqCfbOfKOy0gVBUxiLrWvTH5rm2YiURtycr7jY40LlvvBMUI8PvjiVgm-pjjObZ0NoQWW4ki-fibKi99uT1E0QngGI4uLNTfTLeZPyCnSh4AU-_gxwnQv7/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Great%20Egret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Egret</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisueVjKkxkuW4qM1yVVk9cKyZ8yAKoRwrbpsygvZHuklCJgPBJ0m95XZH2LQp51jYGdgu--j8fyc2b-pfBVcS0Xz0xb4jgR611MpAuVBIYCzTnOt4M8bSGt0tfHlDBjGyZjoVB9-IvpuoEbDeQGl5y0DgROzIJcYzMR-50RShYe1tWHp4UjEDTcryh/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Green%20Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisueVjKkxkuW4qM1yVVk9cKyZ8yAKoRwrbpsygvZHuklCJgPBJ0m95XZH2LQp51jYGdgu--j8fyc2b-pfBVcS0Xz0xb4jgR611MpAuVBIYCzTnOt4M8bSGt0tfHlDBjGyZjoVB9-IvpuoEbDeQGl5y0DgROzIJcYzMR-50RShYe1tWHp4UjEDTcryh/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Green%20Heron.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Heron</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PjwR9APjnt9dW_aIOXWOkTKwVAvNJKvr34b69a4uFxQD2YPAsKmT0JijxsGY_6wXSzqiaYu1yobvXPw5SVZd4v--b6SjhMX1taIGmngYen5QXnCnx6oI8x8i6oTKCdvTFuIcyxqGOxhY79dsiojW2tbSI9kpmgeAinBCdQDwwbsusMKhLRlT0zWb/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Roseate%20Spoonbill%20and%20Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PjwR9APjnt9dW_aIOXWOkTKwVAvNJKvr34b69a4uFxQD2YPAsKmT0JijxsGY_6wXSzqiaYu1yobvXPw5SVZd4v--b6SjhMX1taIGmngYen5QXnCnx6oI8x8i6oTKCdvTFuIcyxqGOxhY79dsiojW2tbSI9kpmgeAinBCdQDwwbsusMKhLRlT0zWb/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Roseate%20Spoonbill%20and%20Egret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roseate Spoonbill and Egret</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1XtqDy8_EZAUoy-Fkmkp6Wde_npVBm3BuK2TGfo6vwdQFt6rWxvwmZtFMoUCDsRB2zUvKo-YhjUd36Qzvc1bpUMhAHzMLc0-XpHOf4F3NgNb7MgloSu9oX6NEt8yTwyf2lIkHkKcUDtHWq2T5_2Iut-6XPJ5emInmlh9-9SI78o4sjXrtRXfqwtx/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Roseate%20Spoonbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1XtqDy8_EZAUoy-Fkmkp6Wde_npVBm3BuK2TGfo6vwdQFt6rWxvwmZtFMoUCDsRB2zUvKo-YhjUd36Qzvc1bpUMhAHzMLc0-XpHOf4F3NgNb7MgloSu9oX6NEt8yTwyf2lIkHkKcUDtHWq2T5_2Iut-6XPJ5emInmlh9-9SI78o4sjXrtRXfqwtx/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20Roseate%20Spoonbill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roseate Spoonbill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">These cows were grazing close to the river full of crocodiles!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKKmc0GnhTKdipexhN9CtKz67QOmep9_cxU_J83L8hyE_dm_uTnUpkMQF9CSVemfToqpNOcXBmPdnz6xyabM2UtVyVKplkx7DVupFPRK2g-KWwWGnpNqMw7tDUIRww_GAbKJKmzqFyTJoX1LAqHcZs_Kgqb__lxMccHtIg-Nxs4H_rWpFOYbPDCjJ/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20cows%20grazing%20along%20river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKKmc0GnhTKdipexhN9CtKz67QOmep9_cxU_J83L8hyE_dm_uTnUpkMQF9CSVemfToqpNOcXBmPdnz6xyabM2UtVyVKplkx7DVupFPRK2g-KWwWGnpNqMw7tDUIRww_GAbKJKmzqFyTJoX1LAqHcZs_Kgqb__lxMccHtIg-Nxs4H_rWpFOYbPDCjJ/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20cows%20grazing%20along%20river.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wild banana plants were growing all along the banks. The purple and white shoot on the left is the flower. You can see a bunch of green bananas on the right.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23tf_v3ldFb7Y-B1HZD7ToQ3tRv6qb-f7LyBv7vnjsFqZzP41BE5bSu5bgMpmCn0ih7FInDkZDa3Zj7GDUrmNTR6-QM0KXELuNaEXFcnmQ4r7Zl3Lvfs8kno65h42-RPI2x6SPTD_FcK6rMjidTLaSkcBhsmLE6eTIBi8J4_uKbm14LIWEeApY4i5/s4896/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20wild%20banana%20plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23tf_v3ldFb7Y-B1HZD7ToQ3tRv6qb-f7LyBv7vnjsFqZzP41BE5bSu5bgMpmCn0ih7FInDkZDa3Zj7GDUrmNTR6-QM0KXELuNaEXFcnmQ4r7Zl3Lvfs8kno65h42-RPI2x6SPTD_FcK6rMjidTLaSkcBhsmLE6eTIBi8J4_uKbm14LIWEeApY4i5/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20wild%20banana%20plants.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We were pretty soaked by the time we got back to the bus. There was a little shopping area where the buses park, and we were given a banana, two pieces of watermelon and mango juice. Then we boarded the buses for a scenic drive to a small town where local school children were going to entertain us with native dances. Again, I'm sure the scenery is great on a nice day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The dance program is normally performed at a local park. Because of the rain, they moved into a covered play area of the local school. The covering is metal, and it was impossible to understand anything the announcer was saying with the noise of the rain and the poor acoustics. Again, no ones fault, but a disappointment. The dancers did a nice job, and were cute.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr72Lp9vxLQ5B0KhELDWg9i0lXqo-SndtkN5OEyfZHrWZziI_cu6g0PpdjadA2eVqpfdj_9VigWlB8v5Tgm6zdVPfhFrysfiHDN2je09Z4eM4CvZzNRkT2lJdWcVj7uZIybOLuCdTXGD2Q_eEe5SdaAjwHWD5hXGq869eBrubrMcn5pXzT92c9A6o/s1080/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20school%20girl%20native%20dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr72Lp9vxLQ5B0KhELDWg9i0lXqo-SndtkN5OEyfZHrWZziI_cu6g0PpdjadA2eVqpfdj_9VigWlB8v5Tgm6zdVPfhFrysfiHDN2je09Z4eM4CvZzNRkT2lJdWcVj7uZIybOLuCdTXGD2Q_eEe5SdaAjwHWD5hXGq869eBrubrMcn5pXzT92c9A6o/w400-h300/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20school%20girl%20native%20dancing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little girl was so into it and absolutely adorable!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaFXMlhROeBHXuxC2J2gYvPW3angP2TNLfhUs-AIVtA96dvcpKrqvJ_m_ryAyxIBCBgnmg_cVrnSIjWMRaJS9lSBBdPb2Knwbd-rPslgc3OQnSZt2C4jkOSCaALjEUoCnbfBOx96O8LvCGl2PiRrUS0STqRTxJX4NgU7VFrRpmhMVRU6JOyaddZZT/s979/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20students%20native%20dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="979" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaFXMlhROeBHXuxC2J2gYvPW3angP2TNLfhUs-AIVtA96dvcpKrqvJ_m_ryAyxIBCBgnmg_cVrnSIjWMRaJS9lSBBdPb2Knwbd-rPslgc3OQnSZt2C4jkOSCaALjEUoCnbfBOx96O8LvCGl2PiRrUS0STqRTxJX4NgU7VFrRpmhMVRU6JOyaddZZT/w400-h240/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20students%20native%20dancing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Back at the pier was an area with shops and restaurants. I bought a cute tee shirt with sea turtles on it for only $10. Then we decided to try some adult beverages. Kevin had a local beer, and I had a pina colada. Total bill $8. Much better than ship prices. It was the best pina colada I've ever had with lots of real pineapple pieces blended into it. Delicious and filling!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qix6JNjm6Igg2dcUQRmz3yBslImSiAHzfPXNiyROOfDLe3DIcGOR0BghAZiQEVT_j2_xuD5xVNna-BFh7WoJD81wOpGzYHbglUdD69VE4fbuUgxqsdglncp36B2FXL19uf9EaARDCk_ZB3CNopvk05pOfFl5tETFQ2Pv9sEcjnXTkDEeNCLOOiGt/s1173/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20excellent%20pina%20colada%20for%20$5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="896" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qix6JNjm6Igg2dcUQRmz3yBslImSiAHzfPXNiyROOfDLe3DIcGOR0BghAZiQEVT_j2_xuD5xVNna-BFh7WoJD81wOpGzYHbglUdD69VE4fbuUgxqsdglncp36B2FXL19uf9EaARDCk_ZB3CNopvk05pOfFl5tETFQ2Pv9sEcjnXTkDEeNCLOOiGt/w305-h400/Puntarenas,%20Costa%20Rica%20excellent%20pina%20colada%20for%20$5.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's our ship from the end of the pier. There was a black sand beach there with a ton of driftwood on it. It was hard to tell whether the water in the bay is nice because of the weather.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgncAj1HRTNT2T3AKtrn3_Bpx4q5tzPz2qig1nDAFgAYTaXQjikGnPxIXJm-WgJ1F_IYcvyZJHuIbkxZ2c055pOaFAOrnWOF0Wk0HtAVFLFskZGgkCyf-EorVwNm7-qD_oBxUtBlq_pz6o9EuL2bvCIjw3G-TvqQnkSjTXUrzl3bDrqXf-K139hKEY/s684/Serenade%20of%20the%20Seas%20at%20Punteranas,%20Costa%20Rica%20pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgncAj1HRTNT2T3AKtrn3_Bpx4q5tzPz2qig1nDAFgAYTaXQjikGnPxIXJm-WgJ1F_IYcvyZJHuIbkxZ2c055pOaFAOrnWOF0Wk0HtAVFLFskZGgkCyf-EorVwNm7-qD_oBxUtBlq_pz6o9EuL2bvCIjw3G-TvqQnkSjTXUrzl3bDrqXf-K139hKEY/w400-h320/Serenade%20of%20the%20Seas%20at%20Punteranas,%20Costa%20Rica%20pier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on board it was time for a shower and some dry clothes. Day 9 was another sea day. We went to two educational talks regarding the Panama Canal, which will be our next stop. One of the head navigators of the ship gave an interesting power point presentation regarding the history of the canal and some of the navigation challenges. Maybe he'll need my help!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizys0EIlfAC-MOsLm71ElH0pCqkfR00j-NMwLXP7-B-tirrcpItQA3GtEz1uvHyfIMAZStPIlg5DlWu5T_nyKTkk0ftFjP4OrMpr9Rwh6lI9OLj0sbmaNSvrl0YusJgSxc2mF7ygNxF3n-6XgYvf8vC6p9NXpTpA-idq0f5rAnZBVlinIsbmejpHWB/s1128/Evelyn%20in%20Schooner%20Bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizys0EIlfAC-MOsLm71ElH0pCqkfR00j-NMwLXP7-B-tirrcpItQA3GtEz1uvHyfIMAZStPIlg5DlWu5T_nyKTkk0ftFjP4OrMpr9Rwh6lI9OLj0sbmaNSvrl0YusJgSxc2mF7ygNxF3n-6XgYvf8vC6p9NXpTpA-idq0f5rAnZBVlinIsbmejpHWB/w371-h400/Evelyn%20in%20Schooner%20Bar.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The other talk was another power point by a couple regarding the history and mechanics of the canal. This couple were both retired professors and gave talks on all the ports we stopped at. I really enjoyed their presentations, as it made our stops much more interesting. I wish every cruise did this.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We enter the canal at approximately 6 am tomorrow morning, so it will be an early day for us. It is estimated to take 8 to 10 hours to traverse the entire canal. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!</b></span></p>RV Khronicles of Kevelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16612195786405870520noreply@blogger.com0