Comments on: Not in Lake Michigan anymore

By: Moon Over Martinborough

Moon Over Martinborough — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:50:05 +0000

I can’t wait to read Mia’s!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:40:17 +0000

Mia is writing a “personal narrative” all about ”The Day I Almost Stepped on a Stingray” for a school project. It will be published in the school publishing center. I can’t wait to tell her that her Uncle wrote about it too. I was right back there in Able Tasman! Beautiful story!

By: Jana

Jana — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:07:05 +0000

Loved your story about Mark, Amy, Mia and Holly. I can just see Mia climbing on Rick’s back. too funny! Sounds like a grand family adventure and memory.

By: Julia Goolia

Julia Goolia — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:34:06 +0000

I’m with Rick. I had the same cautious attitude with my sister in Galapagos. It was her first time snorkling and she kept chasing a HUGE stingray, having never seen one in the wild before – this was JUST after Steve Irwin was killed. I was then chasing her, trying to grab onto her leg and hold her back. Use your imagination to picture this scene with two middle aged twins 300 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, fins, masks, oh how graceful! That should get a laugh out of Rick….

By: The Mad Scorpion

The Mad Scorpion — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:29:00 +0000

Stingraaaaaaaay, Stingray!

By: Michael McKay

Michael McKay — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:42:44 +0000

I have to come to the defense of the gentle sting-ray. Roslyn and I have swum with them many a time with nothing but happy results. We have been in shallow water in Western Australia where very large sting-rays (there called bull-rays) would swim right up to us and enthusiastically bump our legs. They let us run our hands over their firm, warm, rubbery bodies and seemed to revel in it. In the Caribbean we snorkeled with them and had multiple sting-rays all over us. Well, I have to admit that there was food involved so they were extra interested… Roslyn even got a hickey from one rather enthusiastic fellow. The all had the barbs that you mention but never were they raised in warning. I think you really have to startle a sting-ray to get barbed.

(It is also interesting to note that most sting rays keep to a gluten free diet)

I look forward to further exploration of GF sting-ray issues when Roslyn and I return to Martinborough in March! See you in March, I hope.

By: Penny Hopkins

Penny Hopkins — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:43:06 +0000

Yes – we saw four last February, in Wellington (the afternoon of the Pancake Party). They were in the pool by the Boat Shed, and we were looking down on them from the end of the bridge, so had a good view. I thought they were very creepy.

By: MinnieRunner

MinnieRunner — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:37:42 +0000

I can feel the heat on my feet with your narrative description.

By: Juli Ryan

Juli Ryan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:45:04 +0000

Abel Tasman is one of my favourite places. We sometimes see sting rays here on the Kapiti Coast, but they are usually just dead ones that have washed up on the beach. And they are little!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:38:45 +0000

Scarily exciting. I felt like I was right there. Kind of wish I was – but then would there be room on Rick’s back?! Dan and I kayaked the Abel Tasman year’s ago and we’ve never forgotten the experience. It is the most beautiful place. Great photographs.