Don Starts

My journey started today, Monday 10 September, with my arrival at Palmerston North airport. The rain had stopped but the wind was still blowing hard, not unusual for the Manawatu. After being dropped off by my daughter-in-law, Liz I walked into the terminal and up to the ticket counter. Lucky me I had been promoted to Premier Economy class seating for the Auckland to Los Angeles flight. With this good news I headed upstairs and grabbed some macaroni cheese and a cappuccino for lunch.

Waiting for my Auckland flight I sorted out the contents of my shoulder bag, filled out my departure form and put all the necessary papers into my passport. Still plenty of time, I fired up my iPad and started on one of my ebooks.

A strong westerly wind meant a bumpy take-off, after which the flight was smooth until we approached Auckland Airport. Once on the ground I walked over to the International terminal -- a walk I have done many times since the early 90s, always following a blue stripe on the footpath marking the route. However, this time it seems the conservationists have had some influence -- the blue narrow stripe had been replaced by a wide green one.

Through emigration and through the security checks and into the departure area. All very quick and I didn't have to take off my belt and shoes, a big thing for an older person with enhanced waist line. Passed through all the duty free shops ignoring those so called bargains. On into the seating and eating area before the individual departure lounges. Glance up at the departure screen to check the boarding times. Read down the list to my flight and saw instead of a time just the word 'relax'. I did, had a glass of beer and pulled out my iPad and continued reading my ebook.

The flight was good. Although they told us to expect a bit of bumpy weather the flight was smooth. Landed at LAX about 12.35 pm. Passing through immigration to 25 mins, much slower than my previous visit. The man in charge of juggling the queues, ensuring each immigration station had the same size queues, was not as good as last time. I was out side the terminal, found my ride to my hotel in Laguna Niguel, and on the road by 1.45 pm. This is where the fun started. Four passengers: two to Long Beach, one to John Wayne Airport, and myself to a hotel in Laguna Niguel. First the GPS system kept sending us to strange locations. This worried me as I am the honorary navigator on our road trip. Honorary in that Gary has a GPS system. If American GPS's work as good as one on the shuttle, I am in for a lot of work. At the John Wayne Airport the driver went to the toilet leaving just me in the van. Along came a cop armed to the teeth riding--no not a horse--but a standup three wheeler motorbike. He stopped and slid open the side door and in a gruff voice said "What are you doing?" To which I replied "Sitting here waiting -- I am a passenger." "You know you can't park here," he said in an even gruffer voice. Just then the driver came running out of the terminal. After a threat of $500 fine and some talking back and forth the cop left standing tall on his three wheeler. After a couple more GPS misdirections I finally arrived at my hotel about 5 pm. Booked in, had a meal and bashed out this post.

Sorry no pictures you will just have to look at the words

Don
from Laguna Niguel, California
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad