Cruising the Kimberley coast on Le Laperouse, Darwin to Broome

[RooFlyer]

Continued, with a nice G&T on the pool deck. Some whales have been around for hours.

We then did a bit of a cruise around some of the inlets. Some great geology, but my dozy zodiac driver got the explanation hopelessly wrong. Oh, well.





We poked into a quiet creek. The birders went absolutely nuts at the numerous calls. I mean, they are just glorified dinosaurs, aren't they? Anyway, here's one in a tree.



I thought the patterns in the water were more interesting.





We then went to a secondary set of rapids through a wider gap.







It was worth it phwoar

 

[RooFlyer]

Later in the day, after the tide had turned, we wen back to the falls to see the outgoing flow. And it got a bit annoying. Our fast boat rides through the falls got cancelled after the accident there & we got refunds (in fact I think I double dipped - refund to my cc and an on-board credit). Was told the fast boat wasn't operating, which was correct. But it had just started operating by the time we arrived. It would have been nimble of Ponant to re-arrange it at late notice, so fair enough to still miss it.

But we went out in our zodiacs, in turn, to do a 'drive by' and a standing zoom into the flood. But the whackers from both the fast boat operator AND the little 'Great Escape boat (the one with helo) arrived just after us and asked (via radio) if they could go first. Our people said yes. So we hung around for abt 20 minutes watching these guys go back and forth a few times, have the fun that we were missing out on.







Meanwhile, we all circled ...

 

[RooFlyer]

One final shot, perhaps the most telling - you can see the water level difference as it comes through the chute. Would be about at max flow- abt 4m down of the 10 m today.



I have a number of videos that I'll post when I get some decent wi-fi.

Back into Talbot Bay, and seeing Slug Island



On board, we later had another Captains Gala. On went the snazzy off-white jacket (think Richie Benaud) and (non) matching shoes.

Aw, cough, the wi-fi has clagged again, and the bar is open, plus afternoon tea. TBC.

 

[RooFlyer]

So Afternoon Tea is flambé pineapple


Washed down with Veuve



I fore-went the other goodies - I’m on a diet

 

[JohnM]

I'm unclear on your H Falls experience - did you end up shooting it properly or not?

 

[tgh]

In general, the food presentations look to be ok….you probably need to do a (ververyshort) cruise on a mass market boat to build some perspective…...
You are starting out a fair way up ; we started out low and worked our way up so we have some perspective... Princess >Celebrity >Seabourn >Silversea.

One issue relating to the tidal overfall is that the duck drivers tend to be quite inexperienced..I have had to bite my tongue hard sometimes as an inexperienced duck punting dunderhead did something fairly simple..poorly.
I did offer to train them better but it was politely refused...

 

[RooFlyer]

The drinking games have begun. My first, and probably last, cosmopolitan

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm unclear on your H Falls experience - did you end up shooting it properly or not?

No. Was in the maw on both incoming and outgoing tide, but did not transit.

 

[RooFlyer]

One issue relating to the tidal overfall is that the duck drivers tend to be quite inexperienced..I have had to bite my tongue hard sometimes as an inexperienced duck punting dunderhead did something fairly simple..poorly.
I did offer to train them better but it was politely refused...

I had no problems with the skills of the zodiac drivers. Some were less experienced than others but they all handed every condition quite confidently and safely. The guy who backed us into the outgoing tide was very good.

The problem with the horiz falls is simply the power of the engine they have on the zodiacs. Not enough to get us through the torrent and even if it was the stability I don’t think would be within their risk parameters.

Strangely I’m not to stressed about not doing a proper transit - we got to see the power of it and even up close the difference of water level so I’m pretty happy.

 

[Daver6]

Here's a couple of videos from my horizontal falls experience about five years ago. Jump to about the two minute mark for the boats passing through.

 

[RooFlyer]

OK @Cruiser Elite here is the snazzy off - white jacket. As for matching shoes - judge for yourself if you can see past the stomach



Edit: Never mind the stomach, check out the thatch!!

 

[Matt_01]

I'm appalled by the behaviour of the Captain. It appears like sheer arrogance; certainly insensitive. I was also thinking Costa Concordia hubris.

I am hoping @RooFlyer sea voyage does not end in the same way Concordia did, I am assuming he does want the same

 

[JohnM]

Booking in for a heavy duty suspension upgrade on my vehicle. Jeez, I hope they can do it before Saturday night.

 

[RooFlyer]

I am hoping @RooFlyer sea voyage does not end in the same way Concordia did, I am assuming he does want the same

Well, I visited the bridge today ( after much difficulty and controversy). Hosted by a cadet, the lowest ranking possible person, who could take me onto the bridge.

An officer commented, solemnly, that the captain was in charge of the vessel for 15 minutes during arrival of any stop and 15 minutes during departure of any one point. Other than that, the ship was in the control of the “officer of the watch“.

Costa Laperouse?

 

[JohnM]

BTW, are there mirror ceilings throughout that tub?

 

[JohnM]

Well, I visited the bridge today ( after much difficulty and controversy). Hosted by a cadet, the lowest ranking possible person, who could take me onto the bridge.

The person that showed me around commented, solemnly, that the captain was in charge of the vessel for 15 minutes during arrival of any stop and 15 minutes during departure of any one point. Other than that, the ship was in the control of the “officer of the watch“.

Costa Laperouse?

Cadet misinformed, surely?

 

[RooFlyer]

Cadet misinformed, surely?

Not the cadet, but another officer.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The drinking games have begun. My first, and probably last, cosmopolitan

View attachment 288244

Practice!

 

[RooFlyer]

BTW, are there mirror ceilings throughout that tub?

Only in the lounge. Where I hang out.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Only in the lounge. Where I hang out.

Ouf !