Friday 19 February – to Auckland

Nothing much to say about the flight really… good take off, chatted to a Chinese girl next to me who had spent Chinese New Year with her family in Beijing and was now returning to her home in Auckland – she teaches Tai Chi.  I tucked into chicken noodle supper as we passed over Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam and such like….. Then lights out for the huge expanse of Pacific…. Over 12 hours in an aircraft seat is a long time…. but perfect landing.  Never ceases to amaze me how those huge planes full of people stay in the sky and slowly and gently come in to land with no wing flapping…

I’d forgotten about the seriously slow queues getting through biosecurity at Auckland but that’s a good thing.  Poor Leigh was impatiently waiting outside for me having tracked the flight til it landed.

then finally…..

Then once out of the airport, the long drive to the Coromandel Peninsula and Little Bay?  It was a shame the awesome scenery I knew was there was not visible in the dark but there was a clear sky and that same old moon that accompanies me on my travels now sent a beautiful reflection across the water welcoming me to New Zealand.

This is where we stocked up with smoked mussels the last time I was here.

The final part of our journey is extremely winding and in the middle of nowhere but we finally made our way down the step track to Mary’s Bach, and there was Mary in her dressing gown to meet us at nearly midnight!  ….quick catchup, slice of toast and tea then that much longed for bed!