Date: April 26th, 2010
We awoke to a very wet and windy Dunedin. Lots of debating as to whether to stay another few days in Dunedin or to relocate the aircraft to Wanaka while we wait for the weather bomb to pass through (expected to last for the next 4-5 days). After a team meeting it was decided that due to very strong winds, Julie & Karen would drive back to Wanaka with friends and Nick, Peter and Jim would fly the aircraft back to safe hangarage in Wanaka to wait it out.
Jim and Nick left for Alexandra and arrived safely an hour and a half afterwards having been wind blown and put through their paces. Peter left bound for Alex in the Tiger Moth and got within 20miles south and couldn’t penetrate into the wind so diverted back to Balclutha. Interestingly enough it took 1hr 20min to get to just south of Roxborough and 15 mins to get back to Balclutha with winds in excess of 45 knots. He was met by Jeff & Holly McMillan and with the Tiger safely tucked away in a hangar, Peter drove safely back to Wanaka. Nick & Jim were picked up by Kaye from Alexandra after having made some very sound decisions as to not to continue any futher or not. Like anything in life it’s not until we are all pushed to our limits are we forced to make a decision – well done guys for making the right one!
Date: April 24th, 2010
Hi guys the weather has grounded us in Dunedin, so we are visiting all the sights that Dunedin has to offer 🙂
Date: April 23rd, 2010
Spent the morning at the Heritage Museum at Omaka which is excellent. The displays put together by Peter Jackson and Weta Workshops are so realistic. Its tempting to poke the mannequins to make sure they’re not real. Would thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area. The autumn colours from the vineyards as we departed Blenheim were stunning. Flew out to Cape Campbell and down to Kaikoura for a fish and chip lunch by the sea. The final leg from Kaikoura down the coast to Christchurch over the seal colony continued in brilliant sunshine. A late afternoon landing at Christchurch International Airport – had a 737 jet holding for the Tiger Moth to land. Now if that’s not respect for the old girl in her 70th year!
Date: April 23rd, 2010
Spent the morning at the Heritage Museum at Omaka which is excellent. The displays put together by Peter Jackson and Weta Workshops are so realistic. Its tempting to poke the mannequins to make sure they’re not real. Would thoroughly recommend a visit if you’re ever in the area. The autumn colours from the vineyards as we departed Blenheim were stunning. Flew out to Cape Campbell and down to Kaikoura for a fish and chip lunch by the sea. The final leg from Kaikoura down the coast to Christchurch over the seal colony continued in brilliant sunshine. A late afternoon landing at Christchurch International Airport – had a 737 jet holding for the Tiger Moth to land. Now if that’s not respect for the old girl in her 70th year!
Date: April 23rd, 2010
Despite strong protests from Pete, we have picked up another passenger. “Jerry” will never forget his night in Napier where he met the love of his life…“Jemimah”. Since their chance meeting, these two have become inseparable, traveling everywhere together in the back of either Nick or Jims aeroplane. We took off early from Napier in brilliant sunshine down the coast via Cape Kidnappers on track to Martinborough landing on a private strip owned by Pauline and Alistair. In true kiwi hospitality, they lent us their vehicle to get into town for lunch. As the weather was so settled we decided today was the day for crossing the Cook Strait. Having refueled, a quick check of the aircraft and doning life jackets we made our way from Turakirae Head on the south coast of the North Island over the Cook Strait to Omaka at Blenheim.
