The pilot arrived by chopper

We were turned out in fire gear with hose and foam for the arrival of the chopper. We tucked in behind a hatch in case it all went pear shaped. 

Arrival at Newcastle

As we entered the hunter river mouth we were met by 4 tugs. It took 2 hours to push us into our berth at the coal loader

The boys

Sunset over the bridge

Me and the chief

Earning my keep

Pedro was spying on me from the luxury of his day room while I sang for my supper. They found something I could do and gave me a fire hose

Leaving port kembla

Leaving port was a real thrill. It was a carefully rehurst exercise to get the ship turned and out of port. 

Engine room

This shot is standing with the engine running at 1/2 ahead. Doing about 70rpm

This is the top of the engine. (Heads) it goes down another 2 floors. 

Drifting of Newcastle

Today we have had a 12 hour drift off the coast to wait our turn to enter Newcastle. We have been bust readying the ship to take on its coal cargo before leaving for japan. 

Big boys

These two Diesel engines are. 2 of the 3 generators that provide power used on board. They burn around 2 tonnes of fuel each day. The piston and conrod I have in my workshop are from one of these engines. Pictured is Tony the first engineer. 

Pedro's cabin

Good to be the chief 

Desert

Barista at work

The mess is off the hook

Can't believe how good the food is. You seem to spend an aweful lot of the day eating. 

Breakfast 7.30-8

Morning tea. 10/10.30

Lunch 12-1

Afternoon tea 3-3.30

Dinner 6-7

The mess is a bit divided between blue and white collar. They sit on different tables. I just keep swapping between the two. 

First day on deck

I had my first day of work today. I spent the first few hours doing a full induction with the 2nd engineer. After that I was assigned to the IR's for the day working as a deck hand. The boys were a great bunch to work with and made me very welcome. We spent the day doing maintenance tasks around the deck. We also went into one of the cargo holds to change some bilge filters. It's a spin out how big this ship is. 

Tomorrow I'm spending the day in the engine room. I will get to experience an engine startup. What a hoot

State of origin in style

Number 6 hold

Ther are 9 of them. 

We were in the bottom changing the bilge filters. It's a fair climb down. Bigger climb out

My cabin

View from my cabin port hole

All at Sea

I'm just about to start another great adventure. Pedro has worked a miracle and got permission for me to join his ship for the first part of it voyage. More to follow

Home safe

Next adventure starts in 10 days. Watch this space

Auckland R&R

Not that we really need a break but it was nice to spend a couple of days in Auckland. We totes love it

Allpress headquarters was a definite stop for a coffee 

25m euros yacht ready for charter at 200k per day. 

Boat trip on coromandel peninsula.

While we were at coromandel peninsula we opted for d boat tour to see the beautiful coastline. The are we specifically visited was used in the 2 nd nania movie

On the road north to Auckland.

We picked up a bomb and headed off on a road trip. 5 days to drive up to Auckland. 

Napier. What an Art Deco masterpiece. 

We stayed in the coolest hotel called the Art Deco Masonic hotel. 

Best coffee in NZ and beats 

Great hot springs at lake taupo

It rained on the hike. We got wet

We got muddy at Rotarua

Coromandel peninsula is cool

North island adventure with Lisa

So I've been a little slack. After a wonderful ferry trip from picton to Wellington I picked up Lisa from the airport and we had a wonderful week in Wellington. What a great city. Here are some highlites

Wellington from the top

The sea Shepard docked as we walked past. 4 months at sea. We watch the crew step onto dry land for the first time. 

The White House restaurant. Best meal in years

Sunday markets. Broccoli almost as good as Quentin's. 

North to Marlborough Sound

Today started pretty early with a 7 am departure on the coast train out of Christchurch. It rained half the night and blew thanks to ex cyclone luci. The 5 hour journey was pretty cool. I love a good train ride. Once we got above kiakora the weather started to improve a bit. I jumped off the train at Blenheim and spent the arvo at the aviation museum largely orchestrated by sir peter Jackson. It's bloody incredible. 

Off to Wellington tomorrow on the ferry out if picton. 

This is the most beautiful plane I have ever seen. You gotta go.