She'll be coming round the mountains...

I've had a mixed day. This morning I went out over the bay of Paihia (in the Bay of Islands area) in a HELICOPTER!!!!

It was only a twenty minute flight but it was well worth it. I've seen the land from the water and the water from the water but seeing the land and the water from the air is something else. The copter was remarkably steady with less movement than an old train, except when crossing from water to land when the uprising winds create a small amount of turbulence. I was sitting in the front seat next to the pilot and had a grand view of everything - there was even a hole in the roof to look through (but no sticking any part of your body out anywhere).

Then this afternoon I went on a swimming with dolphins cruise. Only there weren't any dolphins. I think I'm jinxed. I tried to swim with dolphins in Akaroa but there was a nasty storm (hail and snow). I tried again in Kaikora but there were high winds. Now I've tried again in Paihia and the dolphins decided not to show themselves. However, as we didn't see any dolphins or whales I got a voucher to repeat the trip, so I'm going again on Monday - keep your fingers crossed for me.

As I'm coming to the end of my long trip home, I find I'm less and less worried about doing things and thinking more and more about what I want to do next. I think I've seen all the wildlife (except dolphins) that I can stand, all the landscape my brains can remember and all the activities my body can cope with. Having said that I might try skydiving before I leave the southern hemisphere, who knows?