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From Chalky to Bluff
0650 Getting ready for an early start...start engines...oops stalled...who didn't turn the fuel on. A quick prime and we are underway. 20 mins later we pick up the craypot but only caught starfish this time...think we need to try a new tactic.
0750 rounding Pusegur Point dodging craypots again...sometimes mistaking seals taking a peek for buoys. While Owen and Marty catch some Zzzzzz Geoff and I put out a couple of tuna rigs without any success.
1600 Contact Bluff Harbour to obtain instructions for entering the harbour... prior to which we had spoken to Bluff Harbour Radio (Mary) who organised a berth for us.
Mary is a local resident to Bluff who's husband was a fisherman...she does a great job keeping in touch with all boating in the region. Mary found us some days earlier as family hadn't received contact from us while travelling down the west coast. Mary was able to advise them that we were all safe and well. All Mary's work as Bluff Radio is voluntary!
28 February to 3 March 2012 in Bluff
First day in Bluff and we start to receive visitors...the Towai is in town. We met a number of people who had worked on the Towai in the 60's. In particular we met Morey who had worked her 50 years ago as a crayfish boat spending 2 months at a time at sea. Morey is a lovely man in his late 70's. We welcomed him aboard and he took to the skippers seat behind the helm and looked as if he had caught up with an old friend...you could hear in his voice and see in his face a certain amount of joy when he reflected on old times working the Towai.
Morey is a trusting fellow...he even leant us his car for a day so we could go into Invercargill and collect supplies etc...
29 February 2012
Morey comes down to Wharf with the car as promised and Marty takes him back home and returns with our ride. The car is an early crew cab style...those ones with two little pads in the back and no leg room for the crew. It was a wet and windy day and all of us make for Invercargill. On arrival we visit the Visitor Centre which has a gallery attached housing memorabilia of Bert Munro the New Zealander who broke the land speed record on an Indian motorcycle and later portrayed in a movie.
After obtaining information about Invercargill we made a beeline for the laundrette and dropped of our clothes for washing and pick up latter. Its amazing what seniors can get reduced charges on...Geoff no matter where we went would produce his NSW Seniors Card in a desperate hope to make a saving.
Hayes Hardware (GOMs (Grumpy Old Men's) Crèche) in Invercargill is one man cave that cannot be missed if you have a man cave or have an interest in engineering, cars or motor bikes. It houses a number of Bert Munro's motor bikes which were sold to the store on the proviso that they are to remain in the district. The bikes, machinery and cars are well looked after and presented in the store (E Hayes and Sons Ltd). E Hayes and Sons go back over 100 years to 1895 which all started from a man cave (workshop). The founder Ernest Hayes started up a workshop in Central Otago where he invented agricultural equipment which was used by many farmers in NZ. It was Ernest's son Irving who started up the first E Hayes Store in Levin Street Invercargill in 1934. From the original lease ($2.85/week) in 1934 with the Railways Department the store has grown to a city block size consisting of 4000 square metres of floor area ranging from hardware, plumbing, fishing, camping, automotive, houseware, kitchenware etc... For the fellas there is a 100 metre long tool wall which is boasted as the longest in NZ.
Bluff Oysters
We stayed sitting in Bluff NZ waiting for fair weather passage up the East Coast.
It just happens to be there when the first catch of Bluff Oysters has occurred.
It is said they are the finest oysters in the world. They grow naturally and slowly developed in the cool clean waters of the Foveaux Strait. The Kiwis go crazy every time you mention them. Bluff oysters being wild oysters are also found in the Tasman Bay areas. The harvest season starts 1 March and finishes in August. As I understand it Bluff Oysters are among the first to be managed under NZs rudimentary quota system. Fortunately, as I also understand, there is no means to farm them e.g. they are el natural. There are signs about the Bluff promoting the annual bluff seafood festival which features oyster eating competitions, where the competitors have to devour a dozen oysters in the quickest time possible. The record stands at 10.70 seconds. I can only assume after eating all these aphrodisiacs that there will be some seismic activity (able to feel the earth move) in the Bluff during March and August each year.
We finally got hold of some Bluff oysters at the local fish shop...well not so sure...they were not much bigger than your thumb nail...suspect all the good ones have gone overseas and to well known eateries.
9 to 5 fishing in the Bluff
One would be excused if they thought the Bluff fishermen only worked 9 - 5. With a quota of 9 million oysters to be caught and where half is taken by one organisation it doesn't leave much for the rest of the fishing fleet... We would observe the local fishermen go out early in the morning comming back early afternoon.
The people in Bluff were very friendly and provide help and advice when they could with the exception of some shop keepers...they seem to stop serving before the advertised closing time. I went to one store 30 mins before closing to get some take aways when the attendant said we close at 8 pm so I cant prepare anything for you. Guess who didnt patronise that dairy any more?
Thank yo to all those that provided advice and assistance in Bluff during our stay.
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