The Speedy Journal: Almost Back The Starting Line

I finished my course of Paxlovid yesterday and have one more day of "isolation". Ellen had her last required RAT yesterday as well and tested negative still. (Here in NZ they refer to the rapid tests as RATs for Rapid Antigen Test...they like acronyms here).

Since I tested negative two days ago, we have been a bit more informal in our isolation, taking walks and drives, but still trying to stay away from most people.

On Tuesday, after my negative test, we drove into Oneroa to go to the bank to get new debit cards (called EFTPOS cards here). We still have an account here from when we lived on Waiheke (with the funds intended to pay for much of this trip). The Waiheke branch of our bank is only open Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our old cards expired in 2009, but they are able to issue new ones right there. Ellen went in with old cards and passport in hand and came out with the new ones, which we promptly used to by breakfast.

They use EFTPOS cards for everything here. Want a coffee, EFTPOS, a candy bar, EFTPOS. Evidently the fees must be at least as low as cash deposit fees for the vendors. Cash is still accepted, but not preferred.

On Wednesday, we went for a coastal walk at the west end of the island. It was a walk we did often when we lived here, lots of ups and downs and it was a bit steamy. Things have changed a bit with many more fancy houses and vineyards and olive groves where there were fields a decade ago. Not many birds, but still two new ones, the White-faced Heron and the Eurasian Blackbird.

Today, we did another bird-focused walk at the Whakanewha Regional Park. It was partly along shore and partly through the bush, and we had lots of birds. 20 species in all with two life birds for me and one for Ellen. We've had 26 new birds since we arrived

Our original plans for visiting Waiheke included a lot of eating out. Since New Zealand did a good job of managing the pandemic, eating in restaurants here are just like in the "before times". Being positive and in isolation meant takeout and the takeout places in Ostend, where we are near, are limited, so our diet has been not the best with pizza, Indian food and fish & chips. Ellen has tried to supplement diners with green salad to keep us from being totally carbed out. Fortunately, our cabin came with a kettle, a french press and a refrigerator, so we did have coffee in the morning without going into Ostend.

Today, we finally had a decent lunch. Still outside, but the food was better. We stopped at the Beach Store on the edge of Onetangi Beach and had really tasty panini, Chicken and Brie for Ellen and Roast Beef with cheese and horseradish sauce for me. Both had lots of vegetables and very good focaccia.

Tomorrow will be our last day on the island until March 10th. We probably won't be doing much as it is forecast to be rainy and we have lots of laundry to do. We have a 7am ferry on Saturday, the we are away to the south of the North Island.

Here are some of my photos: