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Posted By:
Hal Brown
Date Posted:
Mar 25, 2014
Description:
You just know it could be a good day when the skies are blue, the seas are quiet, and the gulls are resting on your wing. Add to the equation that a long paid vacation was finally coming to an end, with home on the near event horizon, and it all equals a fine day for farewell flights.
It wasn’t a good day on the yacht. The crew was near mutiny. Used to dealing with the high stress environment of catering to every whim of the guests for a week, or maybe two, this time was going well into overtime.
The chef broke first. He had a yelling fit with the Clubhouse’s Captain. I figured he would be keel hauled. That was postponed, though, until after lunch.
I had avoided an international incident at the airport earlier. The helicopter pilot was intent on leaving the rental car parked in the middle of the runway with the windows down and doors wide open. “See how the rental agent likes this kind of insanity and insecurity!” Calmer heads prevailed when I promised I’d leave the car with keys in the ignition parked in a handicapped space. (It was his rental!)
When I was given leave to go fly about while the guests were out fishing, I flew away. I wanted to say goodbye to the stretch of coast that had been too windy the day before.
Date Taken:
Mar 25, 2014
Place Taken:
Bay of Islands, NZ
Owner:
Dan Nickens
File Name:
Peaceful_Perch.jpg - Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDWP0000h">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDWP0000m">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZDWP0000s">
Category:
446, Yacht Tending NZ
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Click on photo to view the original size. |
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Read what others had to say:
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Without a wild wind, the convoluted coast looked absolutely, spectacularly welcoming.
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Convoluted Coast
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Upon closer inspection, there were lots of sea caves to be seen.
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Sea Caving
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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A double eagle for sea cave spotting is two holes in one rock!
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Two Holes in One
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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It’s a big drop from the pasture to the sea for any mad cows.
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Sharp Edge
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Some seriously unstable real estate. Not that it prevents people from building on it.
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Edgy Ground
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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A sweet looking land left good cause for return.
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Looking Back
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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The rolling hills of a basaltic volcanic field are an unlikely result of block faulting (10 Ma to 60 ka). If it really was block faulting you’d expect a lot more choppiness. Could be the blocks were smoothed by waves of flowing magma. Very smooth.
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Rolling Swales
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Last look leaving the Bay of Islands…for a while. With the owner of the SuRi buying another SeaRey for New Zealand, I figured to be spending a lot more time in the land of the flightless Kiwis.
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Last Look
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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Inland there was a lake showing on the GPS. It looked like good cause to investigate for a fresh splash.
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Jungle Scene
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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The rocks are not really crenulated. Geologic crenulations form through metamorphism and are best seen with a magnifying lens. Nothing but a zoom lens was needed for these features. I checked the lake for a splash area, but saw nothing but non-motorized boats. There was a man-made dam at one end. I figured since it was just an irrigation pond, who would mind?
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Rocky Crenulations
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Dan Nickens - Mar 25,2014
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On the radio I heard a helicopter call saying he was heading back to lake. I asked about a splash. “Off limits to seaplanes,” was his curt response. I didn’t ask about dropping in on his helipad. Instead I went back to the North Shore airport to wait for permission to come back aboard SuRi.<br /><br />“We’re still investigating your last departure,” the Habour Master told me. “You need to check with the seaplane base operator.”<br /><br />The Base Operator was in a tizzy. “You wouldn’t believe the problems you’ve caused. The owner of the marine repair station complained about your seaplane departure. Multiple sailboat owners have complained of the helicopter's operation. I’ve been meeting with everyone trying to smooth it over.”<br /><br />I had a suggestion. “Why don’t you just blame the oblivious Yanks? You don’t need to take the hit. We’ll pay a fine and get out of your hair.”<br /><br />“If only it were that easy, mate. I’ve a dozen or more bureaucrats to meet with before I can even think of letting you come back.”<br /><br />Fine. I went to the Captain. “It might be easier to just sail out of the harbor and I’ll join up with you on your way out.”<br /><br />“There are multiple problems with that scenario,” I was told. “First, Customs has to clear the boat before we leave. That means we have to be completely loaded before leaving the dock. Second, the Harbour’s jurisdiction extends out some thirty miles or more. And, I’ve decided to give the crew four days off. We can’t take you back aboard until next week anyway. Be patient and let the bureaucrats have their time.”<br /><br />Sigh. Another delay going home. Another change penalty for the airlines.<br /><br />The helicopter pilot wasn’t sympathetic: “We knew there would be casualties.”<br />
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Lake Refuge
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Kenneth Leonard - Mar 26,2014
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Sounds like your helo pilot has some maturity issues. But better to be stuck on vacation than stuck <br />before getting to your vacation adventure...
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Dan Nickens - Mar 26,2014
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It was way worse than immaturity, Ken. It was heresy. My friend, the whirlybird pilot, left his wingman and went home!
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Bill Canino - Mar 26,2014
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I am loving the story but have little sympathy for the teller..............
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