Iteris

We have wracked up a fair few air miles and by the end of this trip we will have wracked up a fair few more. Even before this trip I’ve been no stranger to flying but I have never been treated as well as when we flew with Air New Zealand, none of our requests for help were a problem for them. Once the cabin staff found out about our various disabilities and that we were going to cycle across New Zealand they became positively effusive with enthusiasm. We were brought three very nice glasses of Sparkling New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from first class, which we coudln’t believe. Not long after we were brought an entire bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and were welcomed to New Zealand. The various staff gave us contact details for family or friends who they told us we should speak to about everything from sights to see, to bike repair to even a place to stay, it was a very novel and extremely agreeable experience. I can say unreservedly that it was one of the best, if not the best flight I have ever been on and it will certainly be a fondly remembered highlight of the trip.

We arrived at four thirty in the morning, but by then our body clocks were spinning around out of control and even now I’m not sure they’ve recovered. We are staying with some friends of Jimmy’s Martin and Charlotte who very kindly agreed to allow us to crash, with all our stuff, in their home. Although with two very active and very curious young boys, I’m pretty sure they’re no strangers to chaos, but I am very grateful that they have allowed us to add our own dimension to it.
Martin took the time to take us for a drive around Auckland to see some of the sights, but I’m afraid my fifth gear syndrome hit and I only remember a few of the spots we visited. I’m almost ashamed to admit that it was my own snoaring that woke me up.

I’m still finding it hard to believe that I’m actaully in New Zealand. It’s a country that I’ve wanted to see for such a long time and I feel like an idiot to keep repeating it, but I still have to take a breath and realise that I am here. The weather here is amazing and the sun is very strong, fear not however, for I have sun cream.

It has to be said that a long sleep and a shower improves San Francisco immensely. Despite all the short comings of the hotel and the room, of which I could mention a number. Such as the continental breakfast which turned out to be a loaf of bread, a toaster, a jug of watery orange squash and plastic cutlery. Sitting around the table, our bountiful breakfast before us we discussed what we had planned for the day. Breaking out a map and stuffing water and various valuables into a bag, we set off into the sprawl of the city. Our first stop was Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, from the end of which you are able to see the prison synonymous with the city (and of course a number of block buster films) Alcatraz.

After we had our fill of staring at the ominous monstrosity (the appeal of large and distant edifices, no matter what their past, fades quickly), we went to see the sea lions which apparently come to the pier due to the plenitude of herring and shelter they receive because of the breakwater.

Our view of the Golden Gate bridge was brief. We were under the impression our bus drove over it and stopped on the other side….We were wrong. Doubtless it is an impressive structure, the arches, I am told, are over seven hundred feet in height and the bridge is so large that it must be constantly painted. However the bus drove on and our last glimpse of the world famous bridge was in the buses rear view mirror. Still, the bus did take us to the Golden Gate park, apparently one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Quite what is meant by ‘urban park’ was a matter of some discussion. It was a very picturesque park and at its heart was a lake which lent the park a welcome air of tranquility. There was a building in the park whose name escapes me, but nine floors up there was a viewing platform, off of which the onlooker\ is afforded a three hundred and sixty degree view of the park and city.
As I am sure you have gathered by now my opinion of our accommodation was not high and although it was a short walk to the main shopping centre, the location we were in was less than salubrious. One thing that struck us all was the sheer number of homeless people, they seemed to be everywhere, and yet if you moved just three blocks over they had disappeared, it was quite a surreal experience.

At some time during the afternoon we all gave in to the market pressure and became hapless consumers. Sitting down in a cafe inside the main shopping mall we talked and put the world to rights. Where I believe I was quite vehement on having a nice meal out as I was determined not to spend another sober night in the hotel room. The restaurant was very plesent, as of course was the company. Make of it what you will, but the bill at the restaurant came to more than the price we had paid for two nights in the hotel.

As well as being my first post on my new Netbook, this is in fact my first post from San Francisco. We have arrived and it’s been a pretty long day.

it started at five in an attempt to beat the London traffic and get to the Airport on time. It was good that the three of us finally all met up, starting the trip we had casually suggested so many months ago. I believe I knew that the trip had started when I knocked over an entire display of products in boots. I stood in shocked horror as i watched it teeter and rain down lilac coloured boxes of who knows what. It did occur to me that I could turn away and pretend it hadn’t been me. My body was ready to jump into action, unfortunately my brain was still reeling at all the boxes falling around me.

Other than some rather rough turbulence, the flight was uneventful and long, though seemingly shortened somewhat by the large selection of films available. However, after the flight there were some developments which would have been nice had they not occurred, but doubtless will be things that stand out in our memories. After collecting our luggage we went to retrieve Jimmy’s bike which, as it turned out, had been broken during the flight. After several discussions with people who clearly didn’t know what was going on, we were finally put on the right track and told to go upstairs. We said thanks and went off in the direction they’d pointed us in, this meant we had to get past customs, a much harder task than you’d expect. My view of the lady customs officer is perhaps somewhat colored by her exicrible treatment of us, not to metnion pointing out that if we had stepped across thel ine in other countries they would have tasered us. She was the stereotypical customs officer, obviously a stanch advocate of the crispy cream diet and quite aware that she could make us unpack all our bags if we displeased her. While this was going on of course I was attempting to get through to my parents with the SIM that I purchased the Sim4travel. None of then umbers I’ve tried are allowed and the card is active so it is yet something else to sort out.

However at the end of the day we are in San Francisco and willing to give it a good try in the morning. The weather is nice and the hotel room looks great when you switch the lights off. I would continue but I am very tired and written down most of the important points

The New Year has begun and the date of departure draws inevitably closer. Last Friday I received my final injections, which means that I am now fully vaccinated for the trip. I have had my last day at work, which was busier than I had expected, and I left thinking how strange it was that only as I was leaving did I get to know more people in the company, perhaps that is just my experience though. I’ve booked the hotel in San Francisco so we actually have a place to stay once all three of us clamber out of the plane after eleven hours and get through customs. I’ve been told it’s a great city, makes me think we should stay longer than two days perhaps.

Now all that I really have left to do is pack the contents of my wardrobe into a suitcase and make sure it weighs less than twenty eight kilos. I’ve also been tweaking the Blog so now if anyone would like to leave a comment you have to register. I know it’s a little more effort, but it means that I don’t get spam comments which, while I’m not able to get to the Blog, would just sit there advertising for who knows what.