Back in Auckland

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Yes, I made it back up North. It seems a long time since last week in Kaikoura. Dolphin swimming was well worth the effort & the horrors of seasickness (although I wasn't actually sick I felt awful and was pretty close to tears for much of the journey - I felt pathetic!). My singing to them went down pretty well I think, they certainly came very close - amazing creatures. My swimming is better than it was a year ago, but I still struggled to swim round and round in circles with them eye to eye! There were 200-300 around us - leaping, tail slapping, somersaulting etc.

Enjoyed the whale watching too, from a plane this time, we managed to track 4 sperm whales down. I have stayed with feet firmly on dry land since then, apart from the ferry crossing back to Wellington. I was very glad that my sailing was delayed by 7 hours as the 7m+ swells had calmed down by the time we crossed.

Met up with Paul in Wellington briefly - more brunch, a quick visit to the art gallery etc and then I drove up to National Park (yes, a place called National Park!) - in the Tongariro National Park. My timing was good - I did the Tongariro Crossing on Monday, it started off grey, cold and misty, then the weather cleared so got good views of the beautiful lakes and the volcanoes.

On my drive up here yesterday the car started playing up again. So, it is now at a garage, waiting for spark plug leads this time. They are 80% sure that is the problem. I hope they are right. Symptoms were very similar to last week so it sort of makes sense... Hmm. As I am trying to sell it in the next few days (before I go to Great Barrier Island on Sunday evening), I am slightly stressed but trying to keep it in perspective. First step is to get it fixed, then spruced up and then take it to one of the car markets.

Anyway, time to add some belated photos... sorry, couldn't do it at this place, will wander around to find somewhere else!

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