Lyttleton Harbour, (Te Ana Marina)
Friday 14 February 2020
The drizzle that persisted through the night did nothing to disturb our sound sleep, as we lay at anchor in Little Pidgeon Bay. It was very snug, both outside and inside.
We had planned to stop the night in the much larger Pidgeon Bay next door, but the cruising guide suggested that when the wind blew, it funnelled down the long stretch of water making things a bit uncomfortable. And that’s not a word I like to associate with sailing … given the choice.
Little Pidgeon Bay is one of many bays that extend into what is known as Banks Peninsular … actually named by Captain Cook way back in 1770 after the (onboard) botanist Joseph Banks. If truth be told, Cook actually named it as an island, not realising that low land either side of the high volcanic outcrop made it a peninsular. Given his overall track record we can probably let the great man off with a small reprimand on this inaccuracy.
For me, this was very much a home coming, with the waters of Banks Peninsular being a regular playground when Matt Brosnahan and I owned a small dinghy while I was at university here between 1978 and 1981. The dinghy could accommodate 4 people, and the adventures we got up to in that wee craft could fill a small book. I’ll include a few old photos I happen to have on my computer to give you a bit of an idea of what I’m talking about.
After our 240 mile trip from Picton, it was now just a 10 mile hop around a couple of headlands to the Port of Lyttleton. It was still overcast, but at least it had stopped drizzling, as we entered the small, inner harbour, where we did a quick look-around – past a big cruise ship snuggly tied up in the corner – towards the Te Ana Marina, where we took our (pre-arranged) allocated berth. This berth offered safety, security … plus the all-important hot showers and on-shore facilities.
Soon after our arrival, we were greeted by John’s wife Maryke and daughter Felicity, plus Matt’s wife Philomena along with her brother Tom and two family dogs … all happy to see the safe return of their men. Particularly Marke and Felicity because they hadn’t seen John since January when he flew over to Melbourne to join me for the initial leg across the Tasman Sea.
Felicity had baked a wonderfully large chocolate “Guinness Cake” to celebrate John’s birthday (from a few days earlier), with everyone singing Happy Birthday to create the usual level of desired embarrassment.
Once tied up and settled in, with gate keys issued from the office, Dean, Sandy, Samantha and I went for a stroll into town, with Matt and John returning to their respective homes onshore – John to Christchurch and Matt late in the day to Little River (actually on the Banks Peninsular)
Our walk took us up a nearby hill to see the historic (and recently restored – after the earthquake) TimeBall – used to help shipping back in the day to accurately set their chronometers. It was then a leisurely stroll downtown for a coffee.
Around this time a long-time, close friend from Melbourne texted me to say that her and her husband were on a cruise ship that had just dropped anchor in Akaroa Harbour, and were we anywhere nearby. I explained in response that we were 1 ½ hours drive away, and whilst it would be nice to catch up, the chances were against it, given they were only stopping for the day. A few hours later Helen texted again to say that she was booked on a Christchurch bus tour that was returning via Lyttleton where it was really only going to slow down for photos. We agreed that it would be virtually impossible to synchronise any sort of catch-up. Then, out of the blue, as Matt and I were walking back to Chimere after some time down-town, my phone rings and it’s Helen … “Look to your right” … she says … and there before me is a big tour coach with Helen standing at the front window waving frantically, phone to her ear, as the bemused passengers sat quietly in their seats behind the tinted windows.
The obedient and accommodating driver let Helen disembark and soon after brought the bus to a halt nearby as Helen and I behave like silly teenagers, catching a kiss and a selfie before she jumped back on the bus once more – like I say, Helen and her husband Guy go back a long way with our family back in Melbourne, because the casual bystander might have got the wrong idea?! The photos kind of tell the story
As a special treat Dean and Sandy treated me to dinner at the nearby establishment … the Eruption Brewery – a local restaurant and maker of boutique beers with names like Lyttleton Pale Ale, Pyroclastic Haze and Eruption IPA …
While Dean, Samantha and I indulged in the local drop … only to support local industry and employment you understand … Sandy sipped on a wee glass of Pinot Gris.
Once back on board, it was a case of … “lie down before you fall down”, with tiredness quickly taking over.
Being tied up in Lyttleton was great feeling and was good to be back in familiar waters
Smooth seas, fair breeze and a real homecoming!
Rob Latimer
NZ2020 