White Island on a very wet day!!

Very early start again to get to Whakatane for 8.45. So another short walk for Tot today.

We arrived in Whakatane for 8.45 after driving through some wet weather and it was very cloudy and overcast. For the last two years I have always said that I would only go across to White Island on a clear, calm sunny day!!! So how had I managed to get myself roped into the trip on a day like today!!!

We paid for the tickets and were told that they could see on the web cam that the sun was shinning out there and so all would be well. We had time for a coffee before getting on the boat.

The beginning of the trip was not too bad but as we got out further it was very bouncy and rough and you could not walk around the boat. We stopped to see some dolphins which was really good and then set off again and it was then really rough. Kirsty was looking ill, Jon not much better and Heather was in a panic as to who was going to be sick first!

I asked one of the crew members where was the best place to sit if you felt ill and he told me the lower deck, and so I asked if we could go down. they had to slow the boat right down so we could get down the stairs as it was so bad. Down below and outside at the back resembled a war zone with so many people sitting holding paper bags. Kirsty got a seat in the middle with Heather and Jon and I got one at the side out in the open and the crew kindly gave us an extra raincoat to cover our legs. Poor Kirsty looked dreadful. James was fine and walked around the boat like macho man!!! I told Jon to keep looking at the horizon and we managed to make it to the Island without being sick but not so for Kirsty and many others. Heather sat with her hood up and her hands over here ears and when we arrived I was surprised to see that she was actually smiling. It was a very long 80 minute trip. I have to hand it to the crew, they were amazing handing out bags and face cloths to people, certainly not a job I would like to do.

When we arrived at White Island you need to board a small rubber dinghy to get across to the jetty. As we were at the back and eager to get on dry land we were the first off the boat. As we were crossing to the jetty we had a really heavy downpour and the rain came down with spots the size of peas and we got soaked. We had all been given gas masks and told to keep them dry and probably that was the only dry thing on us as we were soaked to the skin and my trousers were sticking to me and Heather had jeans on which then became really heavy. We had to scramble up a wooden ladder and then cross some big boulders to get onto the island. The only shelter was a ruined wall from the old sulphur factory and we all stood along it like penguins but it didn't offer much protection so we got VERY wet and stayed like that for the two hour tour BUT our gas masks were dry!!!

It was a really good tour and we certainly needed the gas masks as the fumes from the volcano were so strong it made you cough and your eyes water. They gave us sweets to suck which did help. It is a really dangerous place to be and you need to follow the guides instructions as there are no safety rails and when the steam covers you you just want to get out of it but we had been told not to run anywhere so had to stay put till the wind took it away, a very odd experience but well worth it.


We were taken back to the boat for a very nice lunch asparagus rolls, egg sandwich, fruit, cheese and biscuits and a choc bar and drink. The captain was driving the dinghy back and I asked him how rough it has to be before they cancel it and he said 'Oh much worse than this'. I will never again believe anyone in a booking office when booking a sea trip. We did wonder about eating the lunch but the captain said the journey back would be better as the wind was behind us. I believed him and he was right! I was surprised to see that one side of the island had lots of trees growing on it and they say this is where the workers who used to bring the sulphur out used to live. What a life being stuck out there for three months at a time and no communication.


It was a very soggy drive home to a welcome shower and dry clothes. The hot water heater worked overtime with five of us. I did manage to get Tot out for a walk in the evening.

We had dinner and a very early night as the clocks changed last night and it is now dark much earlier and after such a busy weekend we were all so tired.


WEATHER
Cloudy to start then showers and rain on White Island then watery sunshine back in the Bay