April 29, 2008

April 29, 2008 – Departure from LAX

Weather – 101F in Indio and 96F in Phoenix and 74F in LA with clear blue over all. 

We had a nice flight from Phoenix over to Los Angeles on Southwest.  The weather was very nice and could see all the geographic references on the ground all the way into LAX.  We got in about 2:45PM but then had to wait for the 10:30PM flight to NZ.  Just hung around the airport and eventually met up with the rest of the team.  We left about on time at around 10:45PM.  Air NZ flew a 777 on this flight which we don’t like as well as the 747 as the seats are really packed in.  It’s not at all comfortable for a 13 hour flight.

 

One good thing about the Air NZ flight is that they feed you well.  About an hour after takeoff they provide a very nice evening meal and then before landing I had an omelet, sausage, yoghurt, fresh fruit cup, coffee, etc.  In between the meals I tried to sleep, watched two movies, read, and kept readjusting my position to distribute the numbness in the part touching the seat cushion.

 

In route someplace over the South Pacific we got into some turbulence that bounced the plane around a bit but other than that it was a good flight.

 

It was a good day and night overall.  The numbness should go away soon.

 

April 30, 2008 – Lost Day at International Dateline Crossing

 

May 1, 2008 – First Day in NZ

 

Weather:  Raining in Auckland, but nice sun with broken clouds in Christchurch, 11C.

 

After meeting Dawn at the Golden Arches at the airport in Auckland and picking up our packets of information we departed in heavy rain but as we flew south to Christchurch the sky became mostly sunny and most of the day was very nice.

 

The first place that we usually stop when we leave the KEA depot is a grocery store to stock up for at least the first few days.  By the time that we went about 3 or 4 kilometers and stopped at the New World grocery store Roy was having problems with the clutch on his motor home.  We couldn’t even get it out of gear and the odor was terrible coming from under the hood.  We called KEA and they dispatched a mechanic who came and agreed that the clutch was gone.  He took Roy back to the depot with all their luggage and refitted him with a different KEA.  After that we caught up with the others at the campground.  After that it was pretty much getting clothes and food stashed away, hot showers, a little reading and then to bed.

 

It was a really long day but life is good.

 

Our KEA's in Christchurch campground.