It's all good so far

Thought that I had allowed enough time to get to the airport and get checked in on Sunday morning. I got to the airport and the economy checkin was slammed with a US school tour group. There must have been 100 plus people in front of me. All having to do a the full check in procedure for international flights. Time was ticking.

At the recommendation of a fellow traveler, I bolted to the service counter and was able to get a boarding pass. Next to security and failure to check the backpack resulted in the inspection of and confiscation of all my razor blades. Another traveler rookie mistake on my part. Much easier to deal with than the TSA

Next stage of security and surprise, guess who was drawn to have a random explosives check and pat down. managed to make the jetway at the final boarding call. Good plane, full of Spanish speaking rugby players. Made it to Auckland without mishap.

Nice international terminal, but had a 15 minute hike to the domestic terminal following the green line. From the 21st century back to the 1960’s. Domestic flight is a turbo prop. 7 kilo limit on baggage in the cabin, so the boots came off the pack which was checked at 34 kilos. No wonder the walk between the terminals was trek like. A couple of hours of layover then to New Plymouth.

45 minute along the coast and we land at the new airport, again similar to Midland in the 1960s. Cab to the hotel. Another retro experience, the rooms furniture was very similar to the original. Only new paint and a flat screen. Limited wifi. Another burger for dinners and picked up more cold meds. Grey and raining.

Breakfast in the hotel on Monday, then a cab to the plant. Turns out that there where not definite meetings set, so I have tried to pin folks down for the remainder of the trip with full points of contact and acknowledgement of who I will be meeting and when.

Meeting went well. Need to look at the reports and expansion plans to see that they meet “code”. Will try to help get the AFE through but revision needed to work the surface discharge component into recycling system. Also need to see that adequate assessment is done for clean up of wash area. Cab back to the hotel mid afternoon.

Spent a couple of hours walking the boardwalk along the coast. Several pictures and video. (drawback is when they upload they eat the data on the hotel wifi plan and habit capacity). Stopped at the Puke Ariki museum and spent some time walking through the exhibits on the settlers and the natives. Two displays and interpretations. The native name for the area is Taranaki and the local rugby team is named same.

Walked back the main drag and watched them roll up the sidewalks. Another student tour group had arrived at the hotel and had taken over the pool. Had a couple of beers in the hotel pub; a good Celtic red , and the TUI pale ale. Good steak and salad in the hotel restaurant, the replacing and watching the tube before crashing.

Up Tuesday am, timing the final doses of cough medicine which I had to leave behind.

Spent some time getting boots cleaned for Aussie inspection, and packed. Don’t want to be bringing something non-indigenous back into Australia. They better pass or my work willl get a little more difficult the rest of the week.

Breakfast buffet downstairs and then checked out. Backpack checked all the way to Brisbane and killing time in the terminal before the flight. Hope to get some shopping done in the international terminal before heading back to brisbane.

Enjoyed the flight back. Got seated next to a independent Geophysist who was interesting. He consults on non E & P work. Cleared customs and rode the train with him to Central Station. First walk to/from station to hotel was done in the dark schlepping luggage. Got in and settled then out for a late burger.

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