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And here, we archive the adventures of the Maggie B from port to port.

Maggie B back in Hobart til the Easterlies settle down a bit

The Schooner Maggie B is back at more or less the same spot at Elizabeth Street Pier in Hobart, Tasmania. On our return from Port Davie we saw one of the most marvelous sights I have ever experienced. As we came in to the Bay approaching Hobart, four or five dolphin joined us. It was completely dark and the water was full of phosphorescence. As the dolphin rode our bow wave it seemed as if they were illuminated from inside and when they jumped or came up to breathe, it was like fireworks going off. Just marvelous.

We are sorry to lose Claus to the Overland Trail. He left this morning in a discouraging drizzle.

Our unusable “North American” compass has been replaced with a lovely Plath which is set up for southern latitudes. We will store away the useless Danforth until we once again cross the Line northward.

While we are ready (more of less) to leave Hobart and head for New Zealand, the weather isn’t ready for us. A high has settled in to the south of us, which is spinning off strong Easterlies. Not good for the route to Nelson, NZ. There is a nice tight low coming which should bring big NW’erlies, so we’ll just wait, with no hardship, in Hobart the 3-5 days for the wind to shift.

All is well.

  posted by Frank | April 23, 2007  

Frank: Your adventures in Tasmania sound wonderful! The dolphin encounter is similar to what we experienced recently in Lanai’i.
We went out snorkeling and on our return to the hotel about 20 spinner dolphins escorted us back to our dock, running right in front of our bow. They seemed to be having the best time staying just in front of us.
They were close enough to touch (we didn’t) and they looked like they were smiling (I guess they always look that way). Every once and awhile, a dolphin would leap out of the water right in front of us, twirl (showing off) and then rejoin their pals. The next day the dolphin group (are they officially a ’school of dolphin’?) were crossing the bay where we were staying and Nick went out to swim with them. They were all around him and he said it was magical.

Fortunately, Margo reports that your father is doing better after a bleeding spell. She joined us to see a fascinating movie called the Angry Monk–Reflections on Tibet about the struggle with China.
Nick pronounced it the dullest movie he’s ever seen…but he slept through most of it. Alexandra had recommended it. Both Margo and I loved it. It was clearly not a Nick pick.

Bon Voyage en route to New Zealand!

Kevenick

—kevenick  April 23, 2007

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