Sometimes despite the best laid plans things beyond our control happen, literally on the first day on our boat ride to Fred's camp we hit some waves, one of which made me lose my footing and hit my hip heavily against one of the big aluminum stanchions on the boat.
I didn't realize how bad it was at the time but as the day went on what started as a dull ache became a throbbing constant pain, to the point I couldn't walk, sit or stand without help etc. Took some pain killers that evening hoping a good sleep would see me right, woke up the next morning no better. Took more pain killers and while the others went for a hunt I went out for a low key fishing session with the boat captain, managed to catch a few blue cod and a spiny dog (which was returned to the sea).
But by the time my pain killers wore off my pain was even worse.
Went back to Fred's camp and left a note for the hunting parties, then made a B line up Pattersons inlet to see the nurse in Oban.
Hats off to the Nurse who met us at the medical center despite it being a Sunday, after a quick check up and some stronger pain relief I was being flown to Invercargill for a precautionary check up due to concern of internal bleeding.
Given the all clear by the Dr at Invercargill but very sore and quite immobile there was no point returning to Stewart Island.
Got picked up at Invercargill by a friend and I'm staying in Tuatapere for a couple nights till my mates get back from Fred's camp and pick up my car ffom Bluff and then me for the trip home.
Pretty gutted about not getting to hunt but still greatful for the experiences I managed to pack into 2 days.
I saw a Kiwi in the wild, got up close and personal with a local Kaka, caught my first Blue cod and my first shark, shared our beach below the hut with a young sealion and traveled further south than I've ever been.
Thankful for good mates who dropped everything to help me in my time of need, Stewart Island.....I will return
Sun setting over Stewart Island on our ferry ride from Bluff
Sun rise on our first day in Oban
Jimmy's pie for Breakfast before heading around to our block
Golden bay
Our boat for the trip the "Myra B"
Rainbow over Pattersons inlet
Fred's camp hut
Fred's camp hut resident sealion
Wee plane ride to Invercargill...
Bruising on my right hip from the stanchion on the boat, what you cannot see in this picture is the swelling compared to my left hip.
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