Hi everyone,
We had a great day on the island. We caught the ferry from Queen's Wharf downtown, and in about 25 minutes we were disembarking on Somes. We almost missed the boat, but we also saw a penguin swimming by the dock, so I guess that all evened out.
We had to go through biosecurity once we arrived. The island has been used for all sorts of things: Maori village, prisoner of war camp, quarantine, animal quarantine, and now it is a predator-free wildlife sanctuary. This means that it has no rats, mice, or (most importantly) possums. Within 100 years it will be completely rid of non-native plants, as well.
Rory and I had packed a picnic, so the first thing we did was find a sunny bench and ate lunch. The weather was perfect for a day of hiking, and it was clear enough to see all the way back to Welly and the surrounding bays. We trekked along the outside of the island and then walked to the summit to see the old buildings and gun encampments. It is both historical and ecologically impressive.
We stayed for about two and a half hours and then caught our return boat back to the city. All of the hiking had made us thirsty, so we stopped at Mac's brewery for some pints and chips. From there we caught the bus back to Island Bay and made a big pot of vegetable soup.
Today it was back to the grind. I've been tired all day, so hopefully I'll be fully recovered by tomorrow. Tonight I'll be making pizza for dinner. Here is my recipe for the best pizza sauce in the world:
1 little can tomato paste
2 or 3 fresh tomatoes
1 small onion
4 cloves garlic
Blend all that together, and add olive oil, garlic salt, and oregano (or other Italian herbs). Cook it on the hob for 15 minutes or until the onion tastes cooked. It makes a really tangy, tasty pizza base. :)
Love, Amy
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