So Long Stewart Island…..
Thursday 30 January
It’s been a busy few days since my last blog. On Monday I made my way home back to Auckland….dinghy into Golden Bay Wharf, a walk over the hill into Oban and I checked in for my flight on Stewart Island Air. They tell you not to make your own way to the airport, just check in at their office on the sea-front and they will take you there in a shuttle. Easy! The lady checked me in and then Geoff and I went and had a coffee in the Snuggery Café around the corner! What a place – it was like walking into someone’s living room in the 1960’s – look at these photos! Great furniture (those retro chairs would be worth a fortune at Webbs Auctions!) – look at the TV that has been built into the countertop, and apparently still works!
Time to get onto the shuttle with my fellow travellers and off we went. The airport turned out to be an airstrip in the middle of a flat grassy patch. No buildings, not even a shed. We sat at the beginning of the runway and waited, the lady who had checked us in, loaded the luggage and drove the van, then contacted the pilot through a radio – he was on his way in from Invercargill. She told him that all she could see was one deer at the end of the runway and asked if he wanted her to drive down there and move it. No, he said, he had enough room to land and taxi back without going that far. Next minute the plane shot over the roof of our van (and probably not too far off the top of it) and landed in front of us. The passengers got out, grabbed their bags, and in we got! The van looked bigger than the plane! Extremely cosy, in fact far too cosy for my liking! And we were off, pretty much immediately, no hanging around, he revved the engines, and we were gone! Great views – I even managed to spot Salanjo in Golden Bay – take a look, it is the boat at the far top of the photo! Twenty minutes later we landed at Invercargill Airport. Three hours later I was on the plane home. It’s been a full on two days, the best part was seeing Tilly off to school each morning – extremely excited and enthusiastic about her new school. A catch up with a few friends, a chiropractor appointment, laptop problems fixed, new screen on my iphone, a stock up at Chemist Warehouse, sunglasses fixed, some supplies for the boat, laundry done, a pedicure and a much-needed haircut and colour. And now today, the reverse journey, back to Salanjo. Air New Zealand departed on time from Auckland and there was plenty of time in Invercargill to transfer over to my little plane for my return flight to Stewart Island. I’m pleased to report that the weather here, after blowing 50 knots yesterday, is dead calm today – phew! The flight over was easy and our friendly little Bambi was waiting on the tarmac to welcome us back!
Sounds like Geoff had a repeat day like mine on Monday last week, washing, tidying up and a shop at Four-Square before I arrived! I could see Salanjo anchored in the Bay and Geoff brought the dinghy in to meet me. Bags off loaded, a couple of small jobs to do and just like that, the anchor was up, and we departed at 3.55pm. I’m writing this as we are crossing Foveaux Strait, and I’m delighted to tell you that it is lovely and sunny and wonderfully calm.
Stewart Island - its Māori name, is Rakiura, which means 'glowing skies', which come from the southern lights, the aurora australis. We’ve loved you, the landscape, the water, the little islands, the bays, the pristine beaches and coves, the greenery and mountains, the seals (hmm not too sure about that), the birds and all the wildlife – it’s been a pleasure being amongst you for the last few weeks!
