We were wrong to be disappointed when it started to cloud up and rain heavily as we boarded the boat that would sail us the length of Milford Sound. As it turned out, we were to witness an impressive weather cycle and its ramifications. Milford Sound's impressive cliffs were bathed in sunlight when we arrived. Then the rain began to fall. The Sounds waters became very rough as we arrived at the open ocean, with high swells passing the ship. At the mouth of the Sound, the captain turned back and started running with the wind. As he did so, the rain stopped and the weather started to break up. The cliffs that were so magnificent before were now covered with thousands of waterfalls, for there is little soil and the runoff is immediate. By the time we got back to the pier, the sun was out again and the last of the waterfalls were already disappearing, waiting for the next storm. We felt privileged to see one complete cycle of Milford Sound.