Thursday dawned a mixture of sun & squally showers, but we were soon all loaded up ready for our trip down to Auckland. Tiger was fast asleep in the sun and was not expecting another holiday so soon! Fiona gave us a lovely cup of coffee and afghan before we drove downtown. We are fortunate that we can drive onto the wharf and right up to the ship. There were only 199 of us boarding in Auckland so the process was pretty smooth and we were aboard and having lunch in no time.
By now the sun was out in full and it was a delightful afternoon on our balcony, watching all the ferries coming and going. Of course we had to attend our safety demonstration before sailing and we caught up with our neighbours (twice removed), who said that there were another 4 or so from the Warkworth area on the ship.
Dinner was an open sitting as we don't sail until 8.00, so have to wait to see who our tablemates might be. The sea was so calm and the moon reflecting was great - even at 4.00 in the morning, when we awoke to the sound of vacuum cleaner & blower! When we got up later in the morning I found that the carpet by the door was wet as well. Turned out that a water pipe outside our cabin had broken and caused the flooding. Apparently the cabin is to be recarpeted tomorrow (Saturday).
Friday 7th
Tauranga was very and fine and we were met by Fiona's Godmother, Janet who we had not seen for a number of years. She took us on a short trip around and then back to her home for a cuppa and catch up. But, the big news from the area was the arrest of Phil Rudd of AC/DC fame. He lives about 8 houses down the road from Janet's in a huge mansion overlooking the harbour. The place was being staked out by media/cameras and Mob security!!! Most exciting for Tauranga.
Janet dropped us back into Tauranga and we caught a bus back to the ship - free thanks to our Gold Cards and of course the former MP for Tauranga (I thought it most appropriate!). Our sister ship, Sun Princess was also in port, so there were some 4,000 passengers about. We met some of the Sun passengers and they are doing a reverse cruise to ours and they have had shocking weather, with rain & hail in Napier and rough weather down south. They were so p!eased to see the sun at last.
Back on the ship, quietly treading our library books and a knock on the door and there is the big bunch of flowers and an apology for the inconvenience of our plumbing problem. Not being ungrateful, but a bottle of wine would have been more useful. Seriously though it was an unexpected and appreciative gesture by Princess.
Down for dinner later we find that we are at a table of 8, but only 6 (including us). Heather & Jim from ..... Mt Maunganui! and Gordon & Audrey from Matamata. Gordon & Audrey are living in a retirement community, as opposed to a village etc. and they are travelling as a group of 6 and it seems they were a bit miffed at not being allocated the same table as the others. Anyway, all great company. Heather & Jim had been home today and were a bit dismayed that there had been hail here too yesterday and Jim's tomatoes were severely damaged. We have been so lucky to have missed the worst of the weather and hopefully this will continue.
Too late for the show, so had a green tea and gentle swell. The Captain promises a change to more bumpy weather at 3.00 tomorrow we round East Cape. We'll see!
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