The Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora) is a large seabird from the albatross family. At an average wingspan of around 3 m (9.8 ft), it is the second largest albatross, behind the Wandering Albatross.
Today was all about catching up on an old friend from more than 26 years ago ... about wandering out on Otago Peninsula to visit the Albatross Colony ... about Allen's Beach, and about sunburn.
But we were so lucky, the albatross were out and about, and there is nothing quite like one of those enormously graceful creatures flying overhead. Even better, they were flying free out at Taioroa Head.
Tonight I've been unpacking, organising and repacking a lifetime of memories, trying to downsize it all down to an affordable small crate for Belgium. I am so very tired. It's been a huge and beautiful day.