Finally arrived here Wednesday evening. Bad journey, coach diverted because motorway closed then the diversion was diverted so we ended up nearly at Southampton and over 2hrs late so if we had been travelling out that night would have missed the plane. Then following day many flights were cancelled we were lucky ours was just delayed but it meant we missed our connection in Hong Kong. Airline put us up in a very nice 5* airport hotel overnight and also arranged evening meal breakfast and lunch. Chinese meal very good nothing like what passes for Chinese in UK. Green tea was included with meal Chris had a beer but I stuck with the tea as wine was £45 a bottle. Breakfast very Chinese with a variety of strange concoctions but Chris would not try any so had burned bacon and pastries. Lunch a choice of Chinese and Japanese buffet Chris again not very adventurous. Airport away from town so not able to see anything of Hong Kong before we left. We arrived in Auckland a day late at 0600h so the friends who were going to meet us could not do so. We had to wait until 1300h for a bus to Whangarei so did not get to boat until evening. Coach quite comfortable but the long wait on plastic seats in a dirty smelly bus station was no fun. We should have flown, although there were no flights available until the afternoon at least the waiting area would have been cleaner.
Next a good sleep and a shower then on to the anti fouling.