After 5 days in Samoa it was again time to move on.
I arrived on Saturday morning to again find no customs or immigration anywhere around the airport. So in spirit of continuing to be an illegal visitor to Samoa I decided I really didn't need a customs clearance stamp on my General Declaration, after all its just a piece of paper; how important can it be, and I would sort it out in Niue.
So after checking the weather I jumped in the plane for what should have been a 2 hour flight south east to Niue.
Once airport things started to work out a little differently. First the landing gear did not want to retract. It turns out the gear motor had decided to quit on me. This is a bit of an issue as the plane only goes about 2/3 as fast with the gear out but continues to use the same amount of fuel per hour. As there was no AVGAS in Samoa or Niue or Tonga, what I had on board would have to get me to Fiji. So I gut the power back to conserve fuel and toured along at about 100 knots. I reasoned that it was better to not be able to get the gear up rather than not get the gear down as that would make for a somewhat uncomfortable and expensive landing.
I had an uneventful landing in Niue after 3 hours flying where they had opened the airport with air traffic controllers, customs, quarantine and immigration officials (about half the country's population). Normally they get only two planes a week, Polynesian enroute Samoa to Auckland via Niue.
On arrival the customs officer asked to see my General Declaration from Samoa. When I told him that I couldn't find the customs officials in Samoa he seemed to get a little excited. Finally his big day had come and he had a international criminal to contend with. He promptly told me that I had breached the 1850 Customs Act and he would see me doing hard time with the other 2 prisoners in the Niue jail. He said unless I could come up with a customs clearance from Samoa he was going to enforce the Act to the fullest extent possible. Quite a welcome. Luckily Frank the air traffic controller was a little more fun and called his counterpart in Samoa and we quickly organised a stamped Gen Dec from customs there even though they had never actually seen me and I was off the hook. I think the zealous customs man was a little disappointed as this was turning out to be his big break in foiling international terrorist activity.
Niue is about as laid back a place as you can get. On Sunday virtually nothing moves. Luckily the owners of the guest house took care of me and brought me some food for breakfast and dinner.
I managed to check out some of the great swimming spots around Niue with Colin the manager of the Hotel Niue (ex Melbournian and a Niuean). Swimming was really the only way to survive the oppressive heat and humidity. Unfortunately the diving guy Ian was away so I was unable to check out the world class diving that Niue has to offer.
On Monday I ran the Hash with the other local Harriers which was lots of fun but tough in the heat and humidity therefore requiring copious amounts of VB beer to ensure I remained fully hydrated. I also met the one token Canadian on the island a girl from Kelowna married to a Niuean guy.
On Tuesday I was ready to depart Niue for Tonga. As the arrival of a third plane during the week was such big news the local tourism official Ester came out to the airport to document the departure for the Niue news and website. You can check out Niue and the story on "www.niueisland.nu"
So I am sure that is enough info on Niue for you all. If I told you anymore there would be nothing left to find out when you go for yourself.
You'll still have to wait for pictures I am afraid.
Vava'u Tonga is next. So until then
JB
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