We are currently on Day 37, and I have to say that Day 26 was my favorite day. As we had not scheduled to go on the Doubtful Sound Cruise the next day, due to the expense, we took a trip to Milford Sound, which Scott said was just as pretty as Doubtful Sound.
Waking up to an unusual sunny day, we were very pleased.
|
Morning from our room |
|
Geoff and Sue prepping with sun tan lotion |
|
Michael and Dave |
|
Starting out |
|
The usual construction zone |
The drive to Milford Sound started out being nothing unusual from what we had seen on our trip to Te Anau, but eventually it started becoming more beautiful.
|
Becoming much nicer |
The road was full of traffic and tour buses heading for Milford Sound. We had been warned of this traffic, but several of the people with us were not staying for the boat ride at 3:30 PM, so we headed out with them with trepidation. And we got further and further behind the group, finally catching up with them at this stop.
|
Caught up with the group |
Patsy and Maggie had not come along on the trip, so Michael had an opportunity to ride in Dave's Morgan on today's outing.
|
Michael at the first scenic stop |
In fact, it became more and more like the road to Yosemite, our favorite place and near to our home in Groveland. This was especially true after we went through the very long tunnel built in the 1930's. The tunnel was very steep downhill and quite rustic.
|
Into the tunnel |
|
Coming out the tunnel |
|
Doesn't this look like Yosemite Valley? It isn't. |
|
Approaching Milford Sound |
|
Milford Sound at low tide |
|
Lyle, Dave and Scott |
While walking around the shore, we heard the cicada's making a racket. A man told us they were on the FLAX, on the dead part. So we searched until we found a cicada.
|
Cicada |
As it was now lunchtime, we had a quick bite to eat, and then walked out to the Tour Terminal, about a 15 minute walk.
|
Michael looking so handsome |
|
With our bug jackets on. |
Michael has a photo of us all bundled up in our jackets, but I can't find it to post.
|
Susan enjoying the sun |
|
Richard and Sue at the terminal |
We had been advised not to take earlier boats as they were filled with people on tours/buses.
We watched them unload…. hundreds of them….
|
Unloading from the big boat |
After those who were not going on the boat cruise of Milford Sound left, we walked the 15 minutes back to parking and Cafe and had an ice cream and coke while we waited for our 3:45 PM cruise.
Around 3:15, we headed back again to the terminal (another 15 minute walk). in preparation for our Milford Sound Cruise.
|
Milford Sound From The Walkway |
Alan and Pam and Christine and John were returning from an earlier cruise, and Philip and I and Geoff and Sue were going on the 3:45 PM Cruise. So a kind person took our photo.
|
Cruisers |
Our group was first in line to get on the boat, so we took the back of the boat. There were no more than 20 people on our boat- ideal!
|
Our Boat |
|
Phil and Geoff |
|
Sue |
|
Me enjoying the breeze. |
|
Waterfall that provides all the power & water for Milford Sound |
|
Leaving the dock |
|
Continuing out the Sound |
|
Here we are. |
|
Farther from the dock |
As this was the Nature Cruise, we got up close to the fur seals on the rocks.
|
Fur Seals |
|
Fur Seals Up Close Sleeping |
|
Fur Seal |
|
We watched the kayakers in the Sound |
|
Clouds Drifted By |
|
Continuing out toward the Tasman Sea |
|
Returning from the Tasman Sea |
|
Returning home |
On the way back "home", the captain steered the boat under a "freezing cold" waterfall, so those on the front deck of the boat had a shower. The song "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", was played for them. Those people were very brave. I watched from inside the boat.
|
Through the window |
When we arrived back at the terminal at 6 PM, everything was closed. The bus parking lot was almost empty and few people were around.
|
The 28 bus parking places almost empty |
|
Walking back to the parking lot |
We followed Geoff and Sue back to the hotel with basically no one else on the road. It was a beautiful long run.
|
Following Geoff |
We stopped at Mirror Lake at the PERFECT time of day with the sun going down over the hill, reflecting on the lake.
|
We stopped at Mirror Lake |
|
Mirror Lake |
After arriving back at our Te Anau hotel, we went to Chinese dinner with Geoff and Sue. It was a very long, wonderful day.
No comments:
Post a Comment