by Steve Sharp | Feb 11, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
February 12, 2024
Super Bowl Monday! Starts in 2 hours.
So, last night after I went back to my harbor master duties, I was able to safely move cargo ships in and out. Even the Viking Cruise liner got out to sea safely. Finally, it was getting close to our departure time of 11 PM. Precisely at 10:30 two bright yellow tugboats showed up and one hooked a line to our bow and the other to our stern. At exactly 11:00, the tugs started pulling our ship away from the dock. Everything went as planned. Soon we were under our own power navigating our way through the narrow one-way channel. Once we were safely out of the channel and in open waters, my last and final job was to safely extract the Pilot from our ship. The Pilot boat slowly approached our ship and got closer and closer to the open gangway where the Pilot was waiting. Then precisely at the right moment the Pilot would jump onto his boat. The first attempt was waved off by the “handler”, a man that was strapped to the rail of the boat to assist the Pilot with his mission. A wave hit the boat just as the Pilot was about to leap. The pilot boat came back around for another attempt, this time the handler gave the Pilot the nod and he lunged toward the boat and his handler. Mission complete and time for me to go to bed.
Bay of Plenty? If you remember, I promised I would report back to you about plenty of what. Well, this area has some of the most fertile grounds in the world, the climate is perfect for growing almost anything. Their special treat is that this is the only place on earth to grow Kiwi. Kiwi grows on a vine like berries or grapes, so there’s century long berates over what exactly a kiwi is, is it a fruit, a berry, a grape or what? Like the Israeli war, it may never end. So, now you know because I know.
by Steve Sharp | Feb 10, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
February 11, 2024
First a shout out to my brother- and sister-in-law for a successful 45 years of marriage. Kip is Kim’s little brother. I have been told there is a special place in Heaven for women that put up with guys like Kip, hang in there, Colleen (and I guess Kim also).
Today I played harbor master and got the freight ships in and out safely and kept the small sailboats out of harms way. I’m not off work yet as it’s 5 o’clock and we don’t leave until 11 tonight. But, it’s 5 o’clock here and I’m taking a beverage break.
Kim headed off early to go to a beach we found 5 years ago here in Tauranga. The beach was full of perfect shells then. Now it’s just a bunch of shell pieces. She explored around the island and along the way she found this beautiful place, today’s picture.
Tomorrow is a sea day and Super Bowl Monday. The game starts at 12:30 on Monday afternoon and they will play it in the Grand Salon. It has 3 big screen TV’s. Our ship was provisioned today and I was assured we now have plenty of Lagunitas IPA. Enjoy the game, GO HAWKS!
Okay, my beverage break is over, and a Viking Cruise Ship is leaving now. More after the big game.
by Steve Sharp | Feb 9, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
February 10, 2024
As we left Auckland Harbor this evening, we finally saw some sea life. We spotted a pod of Orcas! The last time we saw anything in the Ocean was way back at Catalina Island. What a treat.
We are off to the Island of Tauranga, located in the Bay of Plenty. Plenty of what? I have no idea, maybe I will find the answer tomorrow.
Kim went out early this morning and was back aboard by 9:30. Then we just hung out mostly on our veranda. Today was the end of our first segment and therefore, many guest got off and we gained some new faces. We also lost some crew, so, we will need to retrain them to our way of doing things😉
Not much to tell today, more later….
by Steve Sharp | Feb 9, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
Did you know that New Zealand has more sailboats per capita than any other counrty in the world? It’s true!
by Steve Sharp | Feb 9, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
February 8, 2024
Another day, another Island in New Zealand. From where we anchored, we could see Auckland, so why did it take 13 hours for us to sail there? Kim went exploring and I made sure no one drowned in the pool. Today was our second day at anchor and I pleased to inform you that the earplugs did the trick and the tenders did not wake me as they were lowered. Great day, great weather, and great views.
February 9, 2024
Auckland New Zealand, today I had to set my alarm because a friend and fellow colleague from Kim’s Houston days, picked us up at 10 and gave us a bit of a tour around the city before taking us to her house. They had lots to talk about because the last time they saw each other was 27 years ago. I’m pleased to announce that this is one more of Kim’s friends that I’ve never met. We took her to lunch at this amazing café right on the harbor and boat basin. We had Fish and chips. We returned to the ship about 3 in the afternoon. Well, when Jan picked us up, she told Kim to sit in the back with her puppy and instructed me to sit up front. So, I went to the passenger door and opened it, when Jan said no no no, I’ll drive oops cars drive on the wrong side of the road here. It reminded both of us about the time 5 years ago when we rented an RV and toured around New Zealand, Kim was forever trying to climb into the wrong side of the motorhome. Auckland is our second 2-day port, so we have all day here tomorrow.
And now more from the Pool deck Chronicles, you just can’t make this shit up.
So, two ladies at the table behind me. The bar server asked them what they would like to drink. One said she would like a Margarita; he got it and served it to her. He soon came back around and asked how she liked it, she said it was a little too tart and wondered if could somehow be made a little sweeter. He immediately said let me have the bartender make you new margarita, she replied no no we can’t waste good tequila. He went and got her a shot of simple syrup (sugar water) and poured it into her drink and asked her to taste it which she did and said it was perfect. Not long after this, she ordered another one. When he brought it to her, she asked if he needed her cabin number of key card to pay for the drinks, of course he told her there was no charge. She thanked him and gave him a tip. I’ll look for you when I thirsty again. Well, there are two problems here. Everyone on this ship got on in Los Angeles a month ago. How could she not know that drinks are free? Two, tips are neither expected or desired by the crew, Seabourn takes very good care of its employees.
Tonight’s photo is our dinner on our veranda. It was 8 PM and the sun was just starting to set. 73 degrees, perfect!
More another day.
