Lord Howe Island 1

Sunday 15 May 2022

Elaine stayed over last night to save herself the drive home after our quilting day yesterday so that we could catch an Uber from mine to the airport. She went for her early walk then we had breakfast and readied ourselves for a 9am Uber. We were at the airport in plenty of time and after a bit of a wait for bag tags to be printed by the assistant I messaged Judy (our leader we were to meet at 10am) and she said to go through security. On the other side we had morning tea and wandered the shops while waiting.

Four of our group (including us) were catching the earlier flight to Lord Howe Island and the rest were flying on the second flight. Just as we were to board Judy and the others came through security so we said a quick goodbye and boarded a Dash8-200 (a two propeller plane). The flight was reasonable but noisy with no gluten free food for Elaine. The landing was a bit bumpy as we banked across the reef but not bad. 

As we left the plane past the sniffer dog there seemed a lot of commotion at the airport and we soon found out that people who had been booked to go on the second flight out when eventually it arrived were told that flight had left Sydney but had to return to Sydney as it had mechanical issues. Luckily 4 of us had the owner of our accommodation waiting with her bus and took us to our lovely apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and a lounge and kitchen area. However, the other two we were with did not want to share our bedroom (which had 3 beds) and did not even want to share a room at all. Apparently they thought they had paid for single each (they were friends travelling together) so after much kerfuffle a spare bed was put in their double room.

Blackburn Is in the coral reef enclosed lagoon

Looking south to Mt Gower which is apparently usually covered in cloud

Looking north

Looking up to our unit from the road

Then the next issue for me was that the free internet connection in the common room seems to be working very intermittently for me. Everyone says it takes a lot of tries before you get it on but mine seems to be having issues. However, the Telstra calls from the phone box are free, even to Sydney so I was able to phone Geoff just to let everyone know I was safe and well and there would be no communication. Mobiles do not work as there is no mobile tower on the island. A lot of time in the late afternoon was spent on our communication issue until I just gave up.

Meanwhile the second flight did not arrive and won't be here until tomorrow. So our evening activity (I think a service at the local church) was cancelled as we were only four. We went for a few walks. The beach and reef area on the western side of the island is beautiful and Mt Gower is certainly impressive (I won't be climbing that). The speed limit on the island is 25mph but if you are on a bike that does not seem to be adhered to, especially on downhill runs.

Dinner was arranged for the Golf Club so our bus took us there and just we four had a great dinner - I had coconut crumbed squid and sweet chilli sauce - then we joined another bus to get home again.

After settling in rather quickly I was asleep in seconds.

Monday 16 May 2022

Today I woke at 6am LHI time (which is 30 mins ahead of Sydney). It is a bit rainy but is a beautiful morning. I am in a Tshirt and thin trousers and very comfortable.  

I spent a bit of time fluffing over internet connections then Elaine and I walked down to the cafe for breakfast. Because the others have not arrived we were allowed to order from the menu rather than them setting up a buffet for us. They don't open for the public until 9am.

Back to be ready for our tour of the island but our first stop was the airport to collect the rest of the group from the first plane in which landed at about 10am. We were even there to see it land. After sending half the group in one small bus (they only seat 12) back to their accommodation we headed off for our Chase 'n' Thyme tour. 

One of the many Woodhens back from the brink of extinction

Shell of a landsnail

Gerald the Dorper sire

Our group coming off the plane

Off on our tour of the island

Bill the bull

The view from the golf club.

We covered all the roads on the island but as it was raining we did not get out except at the golf club to go to the toilet and look at the view. We heard the plane taxi to leave but it did not take off as there were mechanical issues again. We heard it take off later in the day.

During the day the rain and clouds became quite dense which meant even the free satellite phones went down and all communication stopped. We even heard a plane come but it did not land and had to return to Sydney. This is certainly a remote community who have to deal with all sorts of issues as best they can.

One issue Lord Howe Island does manage extremely well is environmental sustainability. We had a tour of their waste management area where we saw a pile of palm leaves added to by residents (there are lots of palms) but residents also come to collect them to use as mulch. All food, paper and cardboard and green waste is turned into compost and it is free to collect, all other waste is sorted. PET and metal are compressed and sent to the mainland to reuse. Glass is crushed to use as road surfacing so the saying "having one for the road" at the local takes on a real meaning. White goods are bled for their useful bit and if you own a car it is your cost to have it shipped back to the mainland when it dies. On the beaches there is a bin for 'beach plastic' as well as the normal three bins in public spaces and in our accommodation. Actual rubbish that cannot be reused or recycled is very little and still has to be burned.

Small mountain of shredded glass

Our driver Peter knew lots about plants and animals and history of the island so we had commentary and lots of questions answered.

The supply boat that was actually in today.

Back to lunch at the museum cafe then a bit of a browse of the shop there and of Joy's Shop (the supermarket that is just opposite our apartment).

At about 4pm Elaine and I were invited along to Judy's room for a glass of wine and chips before dinner. We met Judith who is also in the apartment with Judy.

Dinner was at the museum cafe again but first we were able to look around the museum and had a talk by Ian who came to the island 46 years ago to run the weather station and is still here. His talk was really interesting as he had been involved in much of science on the island. He knew various botanists from my past and there is a volunteer weeding program for the island which might be interesting to look into so he's sent me an email about it which I can't get until I am back home unless I find internet somewhere.

Dinner was lovely then back to our common room for a short devotion session. Then it was off to bed. The rain came in very heavily through the night but no thunderstorms as predicted.