Feb 10, 2012 Fri. Day 1 Los Angeles-Auckland, NZ

 Flight to Auckland was 9:15 pm local time.    Again flight left on time.  Long 13 hr
flight, but we had booked the front seats in advance.  Lots of leg room.   Another safe
trip. Shuttle bus picked us up on arrival in Auckland to pick up the motor home.  An older unit,
but all the comforts of home.  All linen, bedding supplied .  It was a standard, so the
stick shift is also on the left.  Peter got elected to drive.  Big city of Auckland.  He
pulled out, stalled the motor home a few times, hit something on the left side.  By the time we
stopped to check for damages, there was nothing to see.  A few minutes later knocked over 8
orange pylons.  Killed them.  A few minutes after that more pylons. Witches hats as they are called here.
Not quite the write off as the first ones though.   Our first roundabout was an adventure.  We stopped all traffic.  All the while Marcel was using his thumbs to guide Peter to the right or left.  At the end of day one he had cramped thumbkins.  Immy, meanwhile sat in the centre by the table, cramping her neck to
see where Peter was driving.  Me?  Well, I got the back bench, and have a great view
of all the scenery.  Don't need 4 drivers.    A very stressful first couple of hours, till we got to the country.  We arrived in Bay of Islands 2 hrs later.  238 k was more than enough for our first day of adventure.  Campsite name was Olive Grove Park in Paihia.  We camped between the olive trees.  Then picked up some groceries (essentials only).

Stopping to pay the toll. 

Inside of the motor home. 

Water lilies at our first campsite. 

Do not know the names of any of the flowers here.  Beautiful. 

Olive Grove Park in Paihia.  Camping between the olive trees. 

Olive Tree.