29th January 2017
I receive a call from a lady called Marie, telling me that she is at Auckland Airport to pick me up. Since I'm in bed in Norfolk, this is obviously going to be a problem. I realise that I have given Daniel my departure date, rather than my arrival date...
I apologise and email Daniel - unfortunately this will now mean that they won't be able to meet me on arrival, but have kindly left my paperwork with the desk staff at the Ibis hotel (where I'm booked for two nights).
What a plonker I feel...
30th January 2017
Departure day! I've slept well, despite the guilt I am feeling about leaving my dog Marnie in kennels for an expended period, and my neighbour Nick and I are on the road for 0900, heading south west towards Heathrow. We arrive just before midday - I thank Nick effusively and drag my hand baggage behind me into the cavernous Terminal Five.
I decide it's time for a spot of lunch...
Huevos Rancheros
I feel like I'm in Los Angeles already.
I waddle over to the security check (I'd checked in on line yesterday) and have my anti-perspirant confiscated. I don't bother telling the lady that I've been travelling with the same size and shape of aerosol for over ten years - airport staff haven't generally been recruited for their flexibility or sense of humour...
Once through security, I make my way to the departure gate to see that I'll apparently be travelling to LAX by A380 Airbus...
...which will be a new experience for me.
We board on time and it's clear that the aircraft is not going to be full...
...which is just as well - there's not much legroom (when is there?
)...
...but I have a row of four seats to myself, which easily makes up for it.
BA's inflight entertainment system is excellent - I watch several films and some TV during the 11hr flight.
We eventually arrive at LAX and I have to clear immigration, customs and security, despite never leaving international 'airside'. I make my way towards the departure gate for my American Airlines Boeing 787, distracted only briefly by coffee and doughnuts...
The flight is rammed full - the seat pitch closer than the BA A380 - it's a 13 hour flight, during which time I watch a lot of films and TV, the names and details of which escape me at the time of writing.
Eventually it is over. We land at a bright, sunny, Auckland. Inexplicably (to my body clock), it is now Wednesday morning. The hotel is a mile or so away, so I decide to stretch my legs a little and tow my luggage over there. I arrive about 20 mins later, to find that my room won't be ready for another hour (it's about 1030 local here). I sit in a puddle of sweat in the foyer, answering emails and generally feeling grotty. I drink some water and feel marginally better.
Salvation, in the shape of the lovely Paea (pronounced Pie-Ah), arrives and I am given the key card to my small piece of heaven on the fifth floor. I have a shower that was like a religious experience, turn the ac to Pluto and go to bed.
I sleep like to dead for twelve hours, have something to drink, then sleep for another seven...
I have another shower, then make my way downstairs and pay a visit to the Countdown supermarket across the road, to buy some essentials - like antiperspirant and a couple of plug adapters (mine are on the kitchen table at home
). I then drop into a locally owned and run café...
...which has an extensive menu...
...from which I make this choice...
With my arteries hardening, I make my way back over to the hotel and leave a voicemail for Brian, who runs the Bike Vault, where the Adv has been awaiting my arrival. He has very kindly offered to pick me up from the hotel (it's about a 30 minute drive) and reunite me with my bike.
Since there are no room 'phones, I set up with my laptop in the foyer and make a start on the journal.
The plan will be to get the battery reconnected, reconfigure the luggage and then take the bike down to a testing station (a bit like an MoT testing station) for a certificate allowing me to ride on NZ roads.
By the time midday comes, I am beginning to suspect Brian hasn't got my message, so I try the number again and get through to him. He'll arrange for someone to come over in half an hour - excellent!