26 December 2024

The weather forecast for today was for showers and possible thunderstorms, so we made the decision to go for a walk to Islington Bay whilst it was still fine, and hopefully get back before the weather packed up. Because we hadn’t had breakfast (well, I hadn’t. Pen had a snack bar of some description), I brought some OSM bars (One Square Meal) with us so we could have “breakfast” on the journey.

As the road was easier walking (the coastal track was washed out some years ago and I don’t know if it’s been repaired yet), we took the more “direct route”, aside from the detour I escorted us to. On the way we passed a Department of Conservation worker who was changing the eggs and mice in the rat/mustelid traps that are dotted around the island. He told us that he does this about once a month, trying to see if any have snuck onto these two predator free islands. They don’t use chicken chicks because of concerns with bird flu.

The detour was to Yankee Wharf where the Americans had been based during the Second World War. And of course, being Americans, when they created a road, they made it straight as a die. Even though the logical thing to do was follow the contours of the scoria lava flows.

When we’d finished at Yankee Wharf, and got some day trippers to the island (off a boat moored in the bay) to take our photo, we walked along the coastal track past some of the baches.

We were just walking past one when Steph, who, along with her husband Quincy, is paid by the Rangitoto Island Conservation Heritage Trust (RICHT) to manage the three Book-A-Bach baches. She was just getting “Arrowsmiths” sorted for today’s influx by water taxi. But she allowed us to have a look through and see how the baches are set out for paying customers. A bit like normal baches, really.

We had our “breakfast” (OSM bar) in the shelter shed attached to the gangway leading to the ferry pontoon, as it offered shelter from the passing showers and the sun. After that, we continued on to Motutapu Island, in the hope that we might see some takahē. We saw some Pukeko, and the sign saying watch out for takahē, but no birds. But I do think that we may have heard some.

As it was after midday and getting very hot and sunny, we put another layer of sunblock on and walked back to Whare Taare along the road – keeping a wary eye on the dark clouds in the distance.

I’ve just realised that if you click on a photo within a “gallery”, like above, you’ll get to see the full photograph.

As today is the anniversary of Thunderbirds’ creator, Gerry Anderson’s, death, we filled up our glasses with leftover sparkling apple juice and took a photo of us on the running track saluting him. Wearing our Christmas hats.

The we had breakfast/lunch. In other words, I had my porridge and Pen her croissant and cheese.

The morning was hot and sunny, so I washed two tea towels. When we got back from our walk it was still hot and sunny, so I decided to wash my Rangitoto T-Shirt and socks that I’d been wearing, meaning that I could put them away clean, rather than having them hang about dirty. As at 10pm, they’re still damp, but at least they’re clean. Unfortunately, I’d put too much water in tonight’s freeze dried Sweet and Sour Lamb, and I’d managed to slop it onto the wet dishes draining cloth, so I washed it, and the cover of the “fridge” this evening.

We started packing everything away before the rain hit, so we were able to watch the downpour drench Achilles Point/St Heliers and then draw closer and closer to Rangitoto. It was a dash to ensure everything was inside, but I think we’re pretty well right.

After tea we had another game of Yahtzee, which I think Pen enjoyed more as she had a better understanding of how it worked – and was more awake.

And we head back to Auckland tomorrow. Two full days isn’t long enough to spend on Rangitoto.

My watch’s battery only had 14% charge, so I turned it off today. My phone, however, said I took 22,148 steps, and that was only when I was carrying it around the island.