Arrived in New Zealand

The trip from LA to Auckland was pretty uneventful. It took off about a half hour late since someone who had checked in didn't board and they had to unload their luggage. It turns out they decided to take an earliere flight on Air NZ--now there luggage is still in LA.

Arriving in Auckland, the bike case came out wet, which I couldn't understand. After wiping at it, it seems that they disinfected it on arrival. The airline seems to have been rather hard on the duffel with the trailer. It is full of holes, including a rather large three-corner tear.

I took the bus to the ferry dock, where my friend, Mark, met me. The water front has changed quite a bit since I was here last, with a big Hilton right on the waterfront on its own wharf, next to the fery terminal. Ther area behind it has been rebuilt as well, as the America's cup compound. Evidently, all of the syndicates are here and one of the New Zealand boats was being towed out as the ferry left for Waiheke. I hope to get over there in the next couple of days since the Volvo Ocaen Race boats are here as well. They start the next leg of their round-the-world race on Monday.

Mark's wife, Marine, is supposed to be meeting me at the Waiheke end. More later