Auckland, at last!

Saturday, 8th March, 2008

Kia ora everyone.

We have arrived at the Langham Hotel in Auckland, after a long day, and it's a super hotel. We will be eating in here tonight as a friend of Lucy's (and godmother to one of our granchildren) is living in Auckland at present and she is going to pop along to say hello.

For our last night in Russell we all went down to a club in the town and had a farewell drink or seven and had a really enjoyable evening. Then an early night, so that we could get all packed up and ready to go early this morning. Firstly we had to get the motorhome down the nearly vertical drive from the b & b, which was hair-raising (if we had any). Then we set off south, stopping for a bit of lunch at Orewa where we stayed four days ago in the rain - it looks completely different in the sunshine and so beautiful. The whole run down was beautiful, in fact, even the drag through the Auckland suburbs. The harbours there and the bridges are marvellous, and we got some good photos as we were coming through. Then we had to wait two hours at the motor home drop-off point for the coach into town. But we're here now and it's a super hotel, with all the usual luxuries - but sadly no launderette. I'll have to save all my washing and do it when we get to Jane's house. Sorry, Jane! And we have a bath - wonderful to soak in a bath after all the showers.

We're all quite sad that this part of the holiday is over, and I suspect there'll be a few tears from some of our members when we say goodbye tomorrow. We still have an exciting part of the holiday to come, so we're looking forward as well as back.

It's been very hot again today, so the air conditioning in here is very welcome. When I can find something respectable to wear, we'll wander on down and see what's cooking.

Wendy - thanks for the comments and for telephoning for me. You. Josie and I will have to do a three-way talk at the RSA on how to travel the world and meet your neighbours!

I will hopefully be in touch tomorrow from Queensland's capital city.

Kia ora again, and for the last time

Christine and Richard