DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT—NEXT TIME
In mid-March, 2005, free ticket in hand, I met Daryl in the LA airport, looking ahead to a vacation without a care in the world. It didn’t happen exactly that way.
Of course, the first trouble I encountered was that nuisance of a bomb dog scare. A few other minor incidents also interrupted our serenity at unexpected times.
---I carelessly forgot my purse in the kitchen even before leaving for the airport. It contained my passport, all my money---and of course my airline ticket!
---Daryl lost her New Zealand Airline ticket----twice!
---Our “cheapo” rental car flashed ominous red warning signals in remote regions of New Zealand several times causing us a few anxious moments and hours. But more about that later.
--Finally, the last thing in the world I expected was encountering the dreaded poison ivy plant in this benign location. I can tell you it grows on the South Island, and of course if I come within a dozen miles of this evil plant, I get it! And I did.
But despite these and a few other minor snafus, my friend and I met at LAX, boarded the huge New Zealand Air Airbus, and all was well as we crossed the South Pacific.
[Go to New Zealand Part Four]
