Twenty Twenty-Four

October - Christchurch

  On October 2 I landed in Christchurch after a 36 hour journey including a night in a pod in Dubai airport. I picked up my van and slept for 14 hours, then went to my storage locker to sort stuff. I sat on the floor amid piles of my worldly possessions feeling entirely discombobulated. The transition back to a "homeless pensioner" did not come easily. I had a very long list of ToDos and got stuck in, as I slowly adjusted to this new situation. I went out of town to local retreats for the weekend, and then made a week-long campervan tour to Marlborough and Nelson to visit friends and continue my adjustment. Happily, after returning, I got involved with the many Antarctic season events, re-connected with many friends, played a bit of golf and Bridge, and started would on some projects for the Ross Sea voyages. After 7 weeks I was very well adjusted - but it was time to head out for the southern summer season.

  The scenes from this period include the terns and crashing surf at Ohau Point near Kaikoura and Jill's flock including new lambs

         

         

November - Tasmania and the Sub-Antarctic

  My first voyage of the southern season started in Hobart, Tasmania on November 22, so I traveled a week early and had a few days to look around. In Hobart I was able to visit the replica of Mawson's hut at Commonwealth Bay and the excellent Tasmanian Museum, as well as catch up with some old and new friends. I made short trips to visit the historic penal colony at Port Arthur. While I normally like to try to see wildlife in the wild, there was no chance of that on this short visit, so I went to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to see Tasmanian Devils and more.

  Some scenes from this period: Port Arthur - views from the sea and through a cottage window, the penitentiary, the asylum, the watch tower, a cell from the Separate Prison, crumbling bricks, the statue to commemorate the "Dog line" that was the final barrier for the prisoners.Bonorong - Tasmanian Devils x 2, Echidna, Wombat, Tawny Frogmouth, Kangaroo and Kangaroo video

    

    

         

         

         

         

         

         

    


   On that first voyage - Galapagos of the Southern Ocean - I took very few photos. The reasons are varied. As wonderful as they are, I had visited these places (Macquarie Is., Campbell Is., Auckland Is., Snares) many times before - and in better conditions as we got less-than-ideal weather. Despite the lack of photos, the voyage was excellent and I relished the camera-free enjoyment.

December - Sub-Antarctic and Christchurch

  December 1 was toward the end of the voyage with a very busy changeover day in Bluff on December 3 to start the second voyage - Birding Down Under (BDU). Again the weather and my dis-inclination led to few images captured, until we had absolutely perfect conditions for our landing at Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island - one of the most special of all the special sub-Antarctic destinations. I hadn't been there so early in the season so the newly weaned Elephant Seal pups were a highlight. They are fattened into little sausages (weaners/wieners) in just 3 weeks before being abandoned by their mums. They lie around on the beach, or approach boldly to try to suckle, with the biggest, most pathetic, yet endearing, eyes. Somehow they manage to steal the show from the King and Royal Penguins - no mean feat.

    Some scenes from Sandy Bay: Royal penguin; King penguins, King back plumage detail, King chick, Weaners at play, Are you my mother?

         

         

         

  Birding Down Under returned to Buff on December 19 and I returned to Christchurch. The challenging sea and wind conditions continued for this voyage - including a new personal record for windiest-place-I've-ever-been at the top of the boardwalk on Campbell Island where I was lifted completely off my feet and thrown down. Luckily no damage done. The special things about BDU is that it visits 2 very remote and seldom visited island groups - the Antipodes and the Bounty Islands. They are quite different - but both are rugged with no landings allowed. In both cases the Zodiac cruises were superb. I was driving at the Antipodes but still managed a few images of the Erect Crested Penguins from the bobbing Zodiac. I must say that on this voyage I started to have severe envy for the skill and the equipment of the professional photographers. I hope that you will look at the slideshow and trip log to see the difference. Some is their skill, no doubt, but the huge lenses, high mega-pixel count, and fast processing in new cameras makes a huge difference too.

  To me the Bounty Islands are among the most remarkable wildlife hotspots on earth. Captain Bligh, when he discovered them in 1788 (before the mutiny) didn't approach closer than "3 leagues" about 15 km. They are just barren granite rocks that are swept by the seas so regularly that there is virtually no vegetation other than kelp. Every inch of rock is covered by seals, penguins, albatross and more. Just amazing.

  Some scenes from the Antipodes and Bounty Islands: From the Antipodes: Erect Crested Penguins x 2; From the Bounty Islands: Salvins albatross soaring over the rocks x 2, in flight, taking flight; Erect Crested Penguin

         

    

         

         

  Use these links for the Galapagos of the Southern Ocean Log and Slideshow and these for Birding Down Under Log and Slideshow

  I have the remainder of 2024 in Christchurch before heading south again in 2025. The holidays will be with old friends and Jill.

  As anticipated at the start of the year, it has been action packed. I'm not sure that I have adhered to my intention to include more reflection - but hopefully I (and you) will be able to get a feeling for this year of voyages and reunions when I look back. Certainly I never forget how fortunate and privileged I am to have been able to see and do all that I have seen and done. I try not to take it for granted, and, to the best of my ability, to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with my fellow adventurers. Wishing all who read this the time, energy, and inclination to open yourself to new experiences, and to allow the wonders of our world, large and small, to invoke true wonder in you. If you have the opportunity, then keep looking, learning, and sharing every day.