Sunday
, January 18th 1998
After
last minute packing etc. we checked out of the King Solomon Hotel at 10.00 a.m.
and took the minibus to the Airport at 10.45 a.m. As we crossed the Lunga bridge
we took note of the four concrete bunker entrances we could see in the hillside.
Timothy had told us that there was a large complex under here and that local kids
said there were American coins and other things in there . Exploring there will
have to wait for another time (I later heard
its great if you like mud and bats!!) .
The
Solomon Airlines plane was delayed for a short time , and we learnt that they
were expecting two more RAAF planes with Bougainville
peace talks delegates. Armed police were again in evidence , including some high
ranking officers and an Australian Army liaison officer. Obviously they wanted
to get our plane away and then seal off the airport as they had on Thursday.
We
took off to the East across the Ilu river
and banked over Red Beach to come in south towards Point Cruz and the
Matanikau . I took the last bit of video footage I could through a not
too clear window and as Guadalcanal faded as we climbed into the clouds
that was it for another year.
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