Wednesday - Friday, 27-29 June 2012 - Arrivederci

Wednesday, looks like a nice day, that's a bit of a waste as we are leaving today.  This holiday has come to an end.

After a quiet breakfast we go for a walk around Wadhurst.  Looking at the beautiful countryside.

Countryside around Wadhurst

Very soon we are loading our stuff back in the Ford and we say our goodbyes and head for Heathrow.  I am dreading this bit as Hertz don't advertise their locations very well.  A street address, or something more scientific, would be nice for me to program into TomTom.  Instead we just have a road.  We had issues with this in Pisa and Heathrow has more potential to get completely lost.  Anyway we set off early to allow for any issues.  The trip was fine and thankfully uneventful.  You don't need an exciting trip to an airport.  We did find Hertz OK and dropped off the car with no issues except the bill for the tyre we shouted them.  Got on the shuttle bus and arrived at the right terminal ages before we needed to.  Sat around outside, dodging the smokers, bought another expensive and somewhat unsatisfactory airport lunch.  Then made our way through the system.  One flash of excitement.  Through the gate window is the gigantic shape of an Airbus 380.  We get to fly on one of these!

The flight from Heathrow to Singapore was boring, but the service and amenities were excellent.  At Changi we had to wait a while for our flight, at least Changi has stuff to do and see.  Not a 380 back to Auckland, but it was another excellent Singapore Airlines flight.  Arriving in Auckland gave us all a buzz - home again.  Across to the Domestic terminal and catch our flight to Wellington.  The Shuttle we had booked so long ago was waiting there for us - isn't it great when a plan comes together.  Home now, peace and quiet, but a sense of sorrow that our adventure was complete.

Still, we're not done yet.  Maybe we will return in a few years to continue the adventure.  Thanks to Christine, Michael and Tricia, and everyone else we have met along the way, for making this journey an experience to remember.

Tricia ended her diary with:

Wed: Left for Heathrow.  Sad to say goodbye to Sue and Andy.  Flight to Singapore OK.

Thurs: Flying.

Fri: Home safe.  Great Trip