New Hosting Options

I have until September 2009 to decide where Snuva’s Haunt should move to; the person who has been hosting me since I set up that blog will be moving his hosting and won’t renew the tasgeocaching.com domain.  Sigh.  So I’m just checking to see what being hosted on WordPress.com might be like.  So far it seems I can’t have the theme I like and can’t use any plug-ins.  If that’s the case, I might have to think of another option.

Ho-hum.

Day 24: Pisco

We were at Pisco today; took better part of an hour on a bus to get ot town from the port, we walked around a few blocks, then took thel ong bus ride back. When we got off the bus, we were let off at the main square of town and told not to go more than 2 blocks from the square. We were walking along at about that limit, but on our way back, and a guy came up to us telling us not to go further away from the square – too dangerous! Doesn’t bode well for Peru – but we’re having an adventure!

So we got back to the MV Discovery fairly early. We still had some Hinano beer from Tahiti and we bought a few beers at the souvenir stalls on the quay. We asked our steward Flor for some ice and had a taste test! Always important to do the research and know what beer we’ll prefer drinking!

Last night on board. Lots of packing to be done. For the rest of the trip we’ll have to pack, unpack, carry baggage – not having to do all that stuff was one good thing about being on a cruise!

I’m hoping the Cuzco will be a bit nicer than Pisco; I’m expecting great things from the capital of the Incan Empire (and at least a virtual cache at Machu Picchu!). . .

Day 18: 2nd day at Rapa Nui/ Easter Island

Despite still feeling sick and being quite tired, my coughing and poor TS’s nose ensured I didn’t get much sleep. I gave up and went downstairs before 7 and waited in the lobby until tender tickets were available so that we could go ashore on tender 1. I went to breakfast but didn’t see Bernie, so TS and I collected our stuff and headed off. Bernie was in the tender! The tender crew does an amazing job getting people in during such enormous swells – even those who are quite elderly. They get on both sides of you, pass you along, and say ‘timing’ and suddenly you’re on! They try to keep everyone going fairly steadily – probably not just so it takes less time but also doesn’t give people as much time to think and therefore get scared!

Day 17: 1st day at Rapa Nui/ Easter Island

I thought we would NEVER get here! I didn’t sleep well and hadn’t been feeling well, so I got up not long after 7am and went up to brekkie. Checked my GPSr; still 57 kilometres from Easter Island. Dad and TS came up, and TS suddenly realised that although at a distance we could see the island in front of us!

Day 16: Last Day at Sea en route to Easter Island

Another day at sea. Highlight of today was probably the lecture by Tom Christian. A few biographical notes: Thomas Coleman Christian was born on Pitcairn Island on 1 November 1935. Tome went to school on Pitcairn age 6 to 16 years, then went to New Zealand for 3 years and was trained as a Radio Operator/Technician and also did a course in Meteorology. In November 1955 he took of radio communication on Pitcairn and spent most of the next 45 years working for the Pitcairn Administration until retiring on 1 November 2000. He is a great, great, great grandson of Fletcher Christian, leader of the Bounty mutineers.

Day 15: First Day at Sea en route to Easter Island

After the excitement of Pitcairn Island one day and a total eclipse the next, we had a day spent at sea. There were several post-eclipse lectures as one as one by a doctor from the Mayo Clinic. Dress for dinner was formal.

Day 14: South Pacific Total Solar Eclipse

I have some photos somewhere around here!!!

The day the eclipse geeks have been waiting for!
First Contact: 10.22am
Second Contact: 11.47am
Third Contact: 11.48am
Fourth Contact: 1.19pm

Day 13: Pitcairn Island

Pitcairn Island today! After the information sheet we had received the evening before detailing the dangers of going ashore in the Pitcairners’ longboat, from signing your life away before descending the ship on a rope ladder to being bounced about in the severe waves while going to shore, there was a hum of nervous chatter at breakfast! Some declaring they would go at any cost, some who would never consider it, etc. So we eagerly awaited finding out if we would be allowed to go to shore.

Day 12: at sea again

Seems today was my day to sleep in while TS left for brekkie! One minute I look at my clock and it’s 7am and TS is just across the room; the next minute it’s 8am and she’s gone. 🙂

Day 11: 1st full day at sea

Our first full day at sea.