Time to re-write the book of Barb & Stew's dolphin experience
The most extraordinary day yet of an extraordinary journey. We'd have been happy to see a handful of dolphins - instead, we found ourselves for two hours in the midst of a pod of 200. Not only that, they clearly decided to make up for their cousins' previous reticence with us and put on a five-star show: jumping, twisting, somersaults and backflips. I'm sure I saw a triple Axel in there somewhere.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP (except the triple Axel).
While this was great for spectators, I'd already decided that these dolphins weren't going to get away and had signed up to swim from the boat. So another new experience - distinctly up close and personal, swimming in the middle of the dolphins. These Dusky dolphins are absolutely wild and natural, which made it truly wonderful and memorable: being accepted by these beautiful creatures (which are about the same size as us) in their own realm. A privilege indeed.
A very different direction next - up to Blenheim, for another U3A visit and a tour of the famous wineries of Marlborough. We'll let someone else do the driving for that one.
How wonderful, what a fantastic experience. Did you hear the reports of a group of dolphins off the NZ coast deliberatly protecting a group of human swimmers from sharks?
ReplyDeleteApparently they encircled the swimmers for around an hour or more while sharks tried to break through the ring. To begin with the swimmers thought they were under attack from the dolphins, but later they realised what was really going on.
When the sharks eventually swam off the dolphins made their farewells and left the swimmers to be picked up by a rescue boat.
Really, really delighted to read of your success in finding whales and dolphins by the hundred - we look forward to some super photographs when you return!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, surprise, surprise, we now have Gunn, Crook and Deehan back at Carrow Road!