Initial Travels

October 7                                                                                                                                                                        
Left Joe Foss International Airport with Liz Ulenburg at our side guiding us to Auckland.  Liz has plans for Cheryl once they arrive in New Zealand, but Tom stays out.  He will work.  Liz introduces us to New Zealand Airline lounge and libations.  13 hours to Auckland.  Taxi to the Amora Hotel in Auckland and slept 13-14 hours.  By the time we woke it was October 10 and Dennis Trebilcock met us with our car, a 2009 Toyota Corolla Hatchback.  We stuffed four 50 pound bags, backpacks, and one carry-on item in the car with Cheryl in the backseat, Tom in the front and Dennis driving.  Stopped at the licensing bureau to present my papers which consisted of a lady working out of her home.  We were early.  She was in her bathrobe and required time to tidy up.  I passed.  I mean I had the right credentials.  I mean I had all my papers in order.  90 minutes later we were in Thames.  Dennis filled us in on the countryside, the driving, the virtue of free range eggs.  He and his wife operate a bed and breakfast spot in Thames, and he certainly left us with our first taste of Kiwi friendship.

Once Dennis left us at the hospital,  Tom climbed into the driver's seat with his American driver's license and drove down the Left side with his left sided car.  Everyone else had the same type, so he just followed someone.  Over the next several days he came to reach an agreement with the machine.   Cheryl did not step into the driver's seat for several days.  She has yet to meet an agreement with the car, the roads, or the rules of New Zealand driving.  Gas is $2.00-2.10/liter.  The stations require declaration of the amount when one fills.  $30 gave the travelers  about 1/3 of a tank.

Another Liz and another Tom are the proprietors of the Coastal Motorlodge, our first home in Thames.  The home intended for us was being "readied", and not available.  We grunted our life's possessions into one of their rooms and spent 4 nights adjusting to the location.  Tom, the owner, had moved his wife, Liz, to Thames a couple years ago and bought the lodge.  He originates in New Orleans.  Spring flowers  bloomed all over.  Liz baked an apple cake and delivered a good bit of it to us.  The cake blended right in with the cheese, peanuts, apples, and 'Porters Pure Ceylon' tea, Sri Lanka's finest served with manuka honey.  For $25 an ounce, we will protect ourselves from indigestion, crud, lamentations, and listlessness.  High profile bees responding to specific NZ flora conjure up this magic stuff.  It has the consistency of Karo syrup and the color of used motor oil.  If diluted well enough, the traveler's constitutions should be in top form.


The flora is most impressive in Thames.  Multiple gardens, well manicured, with scores of flowering plants adorn the town.   The country side is most impressive as well.  This picture of the Coastal Motorlodge shows a small example.  We based are activities from this spot.  Hopefully the impressive burst of Spring's life indicates good things to come.