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TRAVELSCRIBBLES is a blog featuring travel reports, advice, and idea sharing for those interested in both domestic and international exploration.


Roger Sauer and his wife Donna have spent years traveling the world but have many places yet to see. You can follow their past and current travels here as well as post comments and questions about places they have visited.


Roger and Donna travelled to New Zealand and Australia in September, 2013. They will be in Paris in September 2015 with a train trip to Nice and Barcelona. They will then be aboard the Disney Magic (again) for a transatlantic cruise to Miami. Follow their travels on Twitter @rsauer3473.



Donna and Roger own Disney Vacation Club memberships at Old Key West and Beach Cub resorts in Walt Disney World. They also have other timeshare interests in Maui, Cancun, Orlando, and Palm Springs.
Feel free to contact them at 503-585-3473 if you would like rent one of these properties.















Where Do You Want To Go Today?

Saturday, November 9, 2013

September 23-24 Russell, The Bay of Islands


September 23, 2013: RUSSELL

 

For resort guests a walk downtown is about the only activity unless one takes the ferry to Paihia or a boat cruise. We did the afternoon cruise through Dolphin Cruises for about $95. We were comped a ticket to Paihia to start the trip there and get a lunch.

 

The trip to Paihia took ten minutes and we spent some time looking at shops. I picked up a Team NZ t-shirt for the America's Cup boat races now going on in San Francisco Bay. New Zealand leads, but USA has won the last four races. We have been watching the races every morning since we got here.

 

A quick lunch of fish and chips preceded our boat trip (we were afraid we'd be late so we took leftovers onto the boat). The boat was very much like those plying the waters around Maui. Room for a sixty or so inside and out. We sat and talked with a couple from Auckland who were using a voucher given them for a free trip they had received some time ago. Guests get a free trip voucher if the boat fails to see dolphins. We got a voucher after we failed to see dolphins on this trip. Good for our next trip. Sometime. 

 

The highlight of the trip is to pass through the "Hole in the Rock" formation in the east. Our boat passed easily through it. On the way back the skipper tried to find dolphins. No luck. We did see some fur seals lying on some rocks, however. And hundreds if not thousands of seabirds surrounding schools of fish.

 

September 24, 2013: RUSSELL

 

It was raining today and the forecast was for a real storm later in the day and Wednesday. However, by 3 PM there was not some light rain. We were told by a resort receptionist that storms tend to pass quickly here because the island in rather narrow. We drove a little up the hill to the east and saw the other side of this promontory that is Russell. Many vacation homes lined the hills and the shore.

 

After a stop for groceries for lunch we headed back in the rain to eat and see what happens in the weather. Fortunately there is CNN with news about the Nairobi terrorist attack. There was only one America's Cup race today and USA won bringing the score to 8-6 in favor of the Kiwis. 

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