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December 2014 and January 2015
At the time this page was updated we had 1 week to count down ...
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December 2014
Hugh bringing in their huge Christmas tree.
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The cows are where they will winter & Hugh is looking forward to some sun!
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We'll miss the cows & horse, guess we'll have to find some in New Zealand and Australia.
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Hugh has to build all the shows up to the end of February ahead of time.
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Hugh busy finishing up in the studio while Billie packs all his clothes.
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January 19th - on our way!! This is at the airport in Vancouver.
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January 21st - a wonderful welcome dinner at the Harbourside Restaurant.
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Our first night ... this is our hotel - the Rydges Auckland Hotel in New Zealand
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Night one in Auckland .... this is Richard and Eileen Bently from Sherwood Park.
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Kim and Barb Bamber after 14 hours of flying ... they look pretty good at our welcome dinner
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Jim and Audrey Brown from Edmonton ... night one in New Zealand.
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Clinton and Lorraine Ziegler from Vegereville - this is their 3rd Spirit of the West cruise
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Nancy & Darrell Peterson from Olds - been a few years but they're on their 2nd cruise.
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Leaving the hotel in Auckland, New Zealand
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January 22nd - Kim Bamber wants to make sure he's the first one on the bus for the city tour!
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Agnes Jackson and Kathy Reimer experiencing the ice walk....
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Shearing a sheep in one minute...
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The audience was in awe...
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Richard Preston from Hanna being conned into milking a wild cow!
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Kids from around the world having a memory created...
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Agridome Sheep Show in Rotorua - great skill and fun show.
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Larry Speers from Rochester being up close and personal with some sheep.
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Unni Lorenz loves this sheep. Unni is a weaver, too, so she's probably checking out the wool.
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Wayne & Unni Lorenz, 70 Mile House, enjoying time with one of the 20 breeds shown at the Agridome sheep show.
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Touch nose to nose twice ok, but three times is more serious...as our Spirit of the West Tribe are welcomed.
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Pick up the offering and keep your eyes ahead on the person inviting you into their home is a good sign...
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Picking it up and wanting not to offend anyone...
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Our Tribe in our Guests Home!
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Jean Duniec & Sharon Anderson performing a rhythmic dance of balls adding to the ceremony of Maori music.
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Maori dance during welcome ceremony of our "tribe" to the Maori village at Te Puua...
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Lunch is served! Rotorua style...
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Robert our Maori Guide at Te Puia... fantastic.
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First sing a long night and it was warm...
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Two sisters, Diana and Shirley enjoying their first sing-along on a Spirit of the West Cruise.
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Larry and Pat Selin from Camrose look like they're enjoying the sing-along night.
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Dave and Jean Duniec from Sherwood Park at our first sing-along.
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Al and Connie Nikkel from Coaldale AB enjoying our sing-along.
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Richard Preston, 5th time cruiser, sharing one of his latest poems.
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Larry Speers sharing some poems from an old timer who wrote them - great stories.
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Walter & Katharine Wolbert at our "gathering" on sea day viewing the slideshow. 2nd time cruisers getting denim shirts this year.
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First day at sea ... Karen, it looks like Hugh needs help to get into the canapes delivered to the room - what a hoot!
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Kim Bamber showing off his dessert - a heart for those of us still at home.
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Joanne Wallace and Audrey Daines
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Walter & Katherina boarding tender in Christchurch - it was a beautiful day.
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Zieglers disembarking in Akaroa
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Bonnie Speers and Eldon and Marge Greanya
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Lorriane and Clinton Ziegler boarding Christchurch Tender
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Waiting for our bus in Akaroa for the beautiful 50 minute ride into Christchurch...Hugh found a canon and a target
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Waiting to board the gondola car to take us to the viewing point overlooking Christchurch
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Audrey and Jack on the Christchurch gondola
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Christchurch Gondola
sign posts ...
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Stopped for lunch and wine near Christchurch...everyone liked the wine especially Billie...
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Lunch and wine tasting at Melton Estate Winery... great Pino Gris...
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Returning to the pier in Akaroa from Christchurch. This is one of many fantastic views along the way.
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Evening sing-along as we sail away from Christchurch.
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Charlotte Eliuk sharing some great poems with the group
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Hugh getting some help from Billie.
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Larnach Castle
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Dunedin Train Station
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Darrel & Nancy Peterson at the often photographed "train station" in the heart of down town Dunedin
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Kim & Barb (birthday girl) in front of the Law Courts building in Dunedin. Just down the street from the Cadburys factory!
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Just out of Dunedin our private guide showing our group the restored Larnach Castle and grounds...absolutely beautiful.
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Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world, here in Dunedin.
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A lone piper bidding us a fond farewell from Dunedin... a Scotland experience away from the real Scotland
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Waiting for the photographer for the Spirit of the West group photo.
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Private galley tour for Spirit of the West cruisers immediately after the group photo
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Jan 29th - Bentleys celebrated their 55th anniversary at sea on the way to Melbourne
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Agnes Jackson prepares to do her presentation on "agricultural farm land conservancy".
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Richard & Charlotte Preston celebrating their 5th cruise with Billie, Hugh, Karen, & Jim in the Sterling Steakhouse.
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Richard Preston at a sing-along with another of his poems - after a fantastic steak diner enroute to Melbourne.
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Larry Speers at our sailing to Melbourne evening sing-along sharing poetry & stories with fellow cruisers.
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Kim Bamber at our sing-along trying to hide behind a too small pillar! Moving in to take a photo I think.
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Melbourne, at the Victoria Markets, driver/guide Dave giving us some tips as we head out to tackle the shops.
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Gary and Vicki Hetrick from Montney, BC shopping for some great sale items at the Victoria Market.
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At the Shrine of Rememberance Karen and 2nd time cruiser, Kathy Reimer from Anola, MB enjoy the view over Melbourne.
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Karen and Jim - they look so cold :-). Preparing - they will be in Antarctica at the end of February for real.
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Battery Point lookout in Hobart. Sharon & Amy Anderson with Gail Robbins & Larry Speers overseeing.
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Larry Selin, Rhonda Roberts & Richard Preston enjoy moderate temps at Bonorong Wildlife Park near Hobart.
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A ready for war Tasmanian Devil. Biting force reported to be 5 times that of a Pitt Bull. Keep fingers away!
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Jean Duniec feeding Kangaroos at the Bonorong Wildlife Park. Jack Daines behind looking to auction some off.
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Chore Time in Tasmania, gotta feed the Kangaroos. Great times with a great bunch of folks, heading for Sydney soon.
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Agnes Jackson spotted this tack shop and we stopped ... let the shopping begin!
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Guess who shopping in Australia ... looking for that new hat.
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... this is shopping at its best. Jim told the shop owner Wayne that his ship had come in today!
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Darrell & Nancy getting ready for our tour of the oldest arbitior in Australia & the only one that does religious meat processing.
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Plant manager & owner, Frank, explaining the workings and challenges in Australia, many of which are very similar to ours.
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Last day on the ship - farewell gathering & we gave away 5 booking discounts & several folks booked for 2016 cruise!
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Some of the resident cattle in Australia.
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Aussie gal training polo ponies just north of Sydney - mostly thoroughbred with some Australlian Stock Horse blood.
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Sydney Opera House from Queens Quay view point.
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Some happy Spirit of the West Cruisers in front of the entrance to Darling Harbour.
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Getting geared up for our escorted tour of the Sydney Opera House.
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At the opera house in Sydney, Australia ... what a fabulous venue!
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At the conclusion of the opera house tour, our guide and Hugh gather folks around for what is truly an amazing event ...
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Hugh McLennan takes on the Sydney Opera House and gets a standing ovation to his rendition of ...
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WAITING for 555 to take us to our hotel only to find out 555 stopped working one hour ago. We walked the 8 blocks.
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Australia's finest wine that was left in Australia for others to enjoy....
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Bondi Beach, Sydney, who's not dressed for the beach? Gary Hetrick & Kim Bamber just about to tip their toes (or boots) in the ocean.
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Leaving Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef on Quicksilver. A quick 1 1/2 hour trip to one of the major wonders of the world.
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Boarding the Sky Tram to assend over the rain forest enroute to the top at Kuranda about 2 miles up the hill.
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What happened in the rain forest? It rained - how perfect! None the less, Larry & Bonnie seemed to enjoy the whole experience!
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A selection of seeds you will find in this rain forest. Some need the inside of birds to make them grow. Glad some are from birds that can't fly.
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An amazing place!!
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Getting ready to head back to Cairns at the end of a great day in the rain forest...
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On the train waiting to leave the station ... pictures time.
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They're not really in jail ... The Bentleys are unlikely candidates to lean out the train window during the trip.
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The Esplenade in Cairns where many a great meal was had after a long exciting day in the rain forest...at 31 degrees Celcius.
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The 2016 Spirit of the West Cruise has now been announced
It's the 15th Annual and will sail from January 7th to January 18th, 2016
on the Crown Princess for a 10 night Mexican Riviera Cruise!
Including the Sea of Cortez and migrating grey & sperm whales.
click here to see the full PDF flyer
or phone toll free: 1-800-530-0131
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click to see the full PDF flyer
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