Day 1 - Travel Day - Flying Away to the Land Down Under

Wednesday evening found me frantically attempting to get everything ready for a trip that would be over three weeks duration.  Empty the trash, toss out food from the refrigerator that would otherwise resemble a science project upon my return, those sorts of things. Oh, and finishing the packing that I had started a day earlier.  I had decided that since a 2 week cruise is involved, I may as well bring a bigger suitcase, so opted for a 25" bag and my new eBags 21" carry on.  They would ensure me taking many more clothes than I would wear on the trip, but that's another story.  I always overpack.

I was finally able to get to bed around 11:30 pm, with alarm set for 2:30 am.  Yawn.  Up at 2:30 and finished packing those most essential items for travel - chargers for the various electronic devices that I drag along with me: travel adapter for New Zealand and Australia,  computer, watch, cell phone, iPad.  Finally by 3:30 am I was ready.  I turned the after to the house off at at the main shutoff  and typed a note for Erika, who will be home from WSU on Dec. 16, set the light timers and schlepped my bags out to the curb.

My travel companion, Barbara, and her cousin Rob arrived at 3:50 am and we were off for the 8 minuted drive to the airport.  Check in and TSA were a breeze, as is usually the case in Walla Walla, and the plane took off on time.  Rob's flight back to Detroit left before ours so Barbara went to his gate that see him off and I headed for the South Terminal and Hawaiian Airlines. After the gate agent showed up and finished setting up his adjustable people barriers that funnel people to and from the gate, I got our seats rearranged so we were sitting together. We had reserved separately and were on separate records and, hence, separated seat assignments.

The flight boarded on time and was more or less on time taking off for the flight to Honolulu. We were seated in the center seats (row of four) between the two aisles on the Airbus A330, sitting next to a couple returning from Seattle to Honolulu.  Eric and Cathy had been staying at their condo in Edmonds, visiting grandkids and were returning to their home to  their home in Kaneohe.  He is a pilot t for Hawaiian and travels extensively to the Far East.  We had a great time talking with them and they gave us many tips for things to do in Auckland and surrounding areas.  They also told us about "narrow boats," narrow barges you can rent in England to travel the canals there.

All about narrow boats

What they look like: 

 I am going to have to try a vacation that involves narrow boats in the future. 

We were late getting into Honolulu, with about 45 minutes to make out connecting flight to Auckland.  Getting off the plane, the 80 degree temperatures were a pleasant change from what we'd left behind in Walla Walla. By the time we made it to Gate 26 as final boarding was underway.  It seemed they had a computer problem and things were all messed up.  Passports had to be rechecked, which seemed to take an inordinate amount of time. Finally, we were among the last to board another Airbus A330 for the 9 hour flight to Auckland. Out seats, in row 46 were the next to the last row in the plane on the starboard side.

After the stress of getting to the gate, and the problems caused by the computer being down, we sat, and sat and sat for what turned out to be an hour delay departing.  The plane had to refuel for the 7063 kilometer flight to Auckland.  I took the time to send a message to Jenny, our Airbnb host in Auckland that we would likely arrive after midnight.  Finally the plane took off and we were off to the Land Down Under.

The flight was uneventful, but long.  I have a hard time sleeping sitting up, and having slept only 3 hours earlier in the day desperately needed sleep.  After the initial drink run and a meal of rice, teriyaki chicken and a wilted broccoli spear, we settled in to try to sleep.  What was curious about this flight was after the meal service, despite it being broad daylight everyone, and I mean everyone on the plane, lowered their window shades and proceeded to sit in the dark, either sleeping or reading.  It was very curious.  Believe me, nine hours flight time coped up with 300 other souls in a tin can is not a great way to spend the day, but it beats what Captain Cook had to endure to get to New Zealand for his first visit.

Tracking the flight, somewhere approaching Pago Pago -

We were entertained by a woman two rows up who decided to do Yoga in her seat -

We arrived in Auckland a tad more than 9 hours after departing, whereupon we had to sit on the plane while people came through and sprayed some sort of spray over all the luggage in the overhead bins.  The Kiwis are rabid about not importing nasty bugs and toxins and they have strict procedures to deal with that.  More on that in the next post.

 Welcome to Auckland -

Suffice to say, we were finally allowed to take our leave of the plane and proceeded to Passport Control, which is automated and was a breeze.  Clearing the agricultural inspection was another matter.  Again, more in the next post.  Finally, we were able to get out to the transport area, called up an Uber car and made our way to our AirBnb, Club Kakapo, in the Papatoetoe district of Auckland, arriving somewhere around 12:30 pm local time Friday (3:30 am Friday back home).   Finally, sleep in a comfortable bed, with a jasmine vine right outside the open window.