The Coral Route

The weather has been bad lately. This week I watched a rare snowfall from my office window. We may be on a little island in the south Pacific, but the winters are cold. Despite the consolations of winter - such as warmed sake and clear mornings with snow covered hills - the mind turns to warmer times and places across the Pacific.

I was reading about the 'Coral Route' run by TEAL, a forerunner of Air New Zealand. From 1951 to 1960, their Solent 'flying boats' skipped across the south Pacific, from Auckland to Fiji (Suva), to Samoa (Apia), to Aitutaki to Bora Bora in Tahiti and back again on a fortnightly run. How romantic is that! Island hopping and landing on a lagoon inside the reef, with the plane swaying with the waves. I imagine stopping for a swim in the warm waters at Aitukaki while the plane refuels nearby. No immigration or customs. Back on board, a full service awaits with drinks before dinner while the captain sets course for Bora Bora and another day in the warmth of the sun.