Doubtful Sound (Day 1)

Doubtful Sound – what a great experience and what a great organization Real Journeys are in the service of their customers. We've just got back from the overnight trip and enjoyed it tremendously. This blip's a little late as a consequence but I'll hope to catch up tommorrow.
 
There was a bit of rain overnight Wednesday /Thursday. We feared it might put the dampeners on our day but not at all. As we headed towards Manapouri where the first boat sails from, the sky started to brighten. The coach driver told us that having a bit of rain meant the waterfalls would be running as most of them dry up after a couple of dry days. We got on the first boat which took us to Wilmot Pass, then it’s a coach up the Wto Deep Arm, Doubtful Sound. This track is shared with the power station, which is currently renewing its generators and transformers, that’s heavy traffic! After stopping a few times to look at views and the some of the local fauna, we arrived at the wharf and boarded the Fjordland Navigator. By this time the sky had cleared beautifully leaving some nice clouds above and hanging on the valley sides.
 
This wonderful pod of dolphins (the most southerly pod – they’re slightly larger than more northerly ones to cope with the colder waters – came to play a couple of times and the skipper cut the engines so we could get a good view. After that and after an opportunity to kayak, a trip in a tender around the fjord edge and a swim (I only did the tender trip) we headed out of the sound and into the Tasman Sea to see a colony of fur seals, which aren’t really seals but small sea lions, I gather, we headed back into the sound under sail and anchored for the night.
 
I’ll tell you about the return trip when I post today’s, tomorrow morning. There are a couple more here, I’ll try to add more from the hundreds of shots I’ve taken as I go. 

David

PS Thank so much for comments, stars and hearts on my Mirror Lakes blip while I've been away. You've done me proud.