Home Alone

Today Joel, His father (John) and my father (Max) all headed off to Great Barrier Island  for 6 days of fishing, hiking, building and general manliness. Joel's family have a wonderful cottage at Schooner Bay - it's located in the bush with walking access only. It's a really special spot, there is no electricity, but the wood burner stove produces heat for cooking and hot water in the taps. Joel and I last spent time there on our Honeymoon in November 2009. The place is perfect as is but it could also benefit from some serious maintenance. Over the years various tenants have left a lot of inorganic rubbish around the place (like old sewing machines, car windscreens, beer crates etc) that now prove to be quite a challenge to remove as you have to carry it all out.


Joel and John planned to spend some time fixing up the chimney, baiting the rats, and clearing some trees. Max's role (that he took very seriously) was to catch fish and keep the boys fed. I could sense a lack of confidence when Marjan packed him off to Great Barrier laden with bacon & egg pie, sausages, steak and basically enough protein to feed them all for a week.


Anyway, all the men converged on Huia last night and spent a LONG time packing their vehicle for the ferry crossing this morning. John brought a truck full of building supplies from Northland (fence posts, generators, ladders, a chimney). Max brought a truck full of fishing supplies and food from Taranaki. Luckily Joel travels light. Into one truck it all had to converge. They were under the house for HOURS sorting it all out. In the end Max removed the back seats from the truck and they managed to get everything in. Well everything except poor Joel. He had to squeeze into a tiny hole in the back with the fence posts! Luckily they only had a 40min drive to the ferry terminal and a 15min drive at the other end.


This morning they all set off at about 4.30am to catch their early ferry. The weather is perfect for the ferry crossing. I have the day all to myself.

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

The Laden Vehicle

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Ferry Crossing to Great Barrier, 19 July 2011

Arrival at Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island

It will be quite strange not having Joel around for a few days as we have been basically joined at the hip since April. But I am looking forward to spending some time bonding with Elsie and just having some time to myself.


I am going to head down to Taranaki tomorrow, I'm picking up my Grandmother from the Northshore and she is going to drive down with Elsie and I. We're having a girl's weekend while they have their boys weekend.


Hopefully the weather will be nice as you can borrow mobility scooters to use in New Plymouth on the Coastal Walkway and in Pukekura Park (and it's free - go New Plymouth District Council!). Apparently last time Grandma was down there she had the mobility scooter going as fast as possible on the walkway. This I would like to see.


I'm a wee bit nervous about the drive - Elsie and my Grandmother - precious cargo!