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Antarctic
Tour
All Aboard Days 1 & 2
Day 1 - Tue 7 Jan Crazy Queenstown people everywhere - around 24 deg then slowly plunged late afternoon with light rain southerly. Dropped of the massive 2 bags at the hotel then out to Ritchie's who so kindly allowed me to park the car in their (huge) fenced park near the airport. Bussed back and chattered with a young German couple who had just arrived from Tailand (shattered). They were next bussing to ChCh to obtain a rental car as it was much cheaper there. ?? Afternoon strolled around the old Queenstown spots in town - certainly lots of changes in 5 years. There are 106 passengers in the group and dinner at the hotel was time to begin to meet a few. Julia and Mashus from Israel. Julia used to work on secret tech with the military - that line of conversation stopped - real fast - Mashus commented on how lucky Kiwis are "to be surrounded only by fish" Then there was Antony, English, living in Switzerland, works with grasses for agriculture development (g.e. stuff). Cathy (sketch artist) and Anthony dairy farmers in Golden Bay plus Rose and husband Christchurch. it will be interesting to meet up with the other sea of faces in the room over the course of the tour. Nice buffet dinner too.
Day 2 Wed 8th Jan The operator has a facebook group called "Heritage Expedition Group" if that means anything, and, there is a film crew doing a doco for punters to have later on. Passengers are all very friendly. Ausies, Kiwis & Americans seem to be the dominant nationalities. Plans are to spend tomorrow in Stewart Island - am Ulva Island and pm Oban. This change is to avoid a bad weather bomb further south. Boat left Bluff at 9-30pm. 11-30 arriving Patterson's Inlet as this garble is penned. Weather mild and calm. :-)
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