We arrived at Lord Howe Island no problem, the flight over had been in a thirty six seat Dash 8 aircraft. Some of the seats had been removed to install life rafts, a very comforting modification especially as you fly out from Sydney Airport to a tiny speck in the Pacific in this aircraft with only one propeller spinning around on each wing.
We climbed off the aircraft onto the tarmac and headed around the small airport building to a group of greeters from the various hotels and accommodation on the Island, Al remarked this was the first time she had arrived somewhere on an aeroplane without going through the airport building.
The Weather was not hot, nor cold, it was around 22 to 23 degrees, overcast and windy. As is the way in Load Howe we were picked up at the airport by the people who ran our motel and taken back to it via everywhere on the island. It was a great introduction tour to the place.
Our small motel room, had a bedroom, kitchen, dinning/lounge room and a veranda at the entrance with a small table and chairs. Once we had found our way around the motel room which didn’t take long, we headed back into town to pick up our transport for the rest of our stay which was a couple of push bikes.
Bicycles are the main mode of transport on the island, both had small baskets in the front and we were soon to find out why. Picture Al and Vic cycling down the road on push bikes that were mobile bars. In one basket there was a cask of wine and in the other chippies and coke etc.
We had been on the island on two hours and we had notched up walking some 2 kilometres and cycled about 4. The first night agenda is complimentary drinks at our motel and afterwards we had booked a restaurant just across the way called “Trader Nicks” for dinner at seven.
Our host Brian knew how to put on great complimentary drinks, well all complimentary drinks are great but these were really great. The late afternoon get together started slowly as people arrived, however it improved significantly we all crushed into the bar when the rain started.
We wobbled out of their at 7pm and headed to “Williams” the restaurant at Trader Nicks still in our shorts and T-Shirts. The meal at Williams wasn’t bad and we got home around 9pm. We sat and had a bad cup of coffee and a Tim Tam and feel asleep only to be woken around 1.30 am to the rats in the ceiling. I got up and went to the kitchen and disturb the cockroaches having a party on the kitchen bench and walls. Welcome to Lord Howe Island.
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