You Gotta Start Somewhere!

Good Morning, Quiltvillians!

At least I think it is still morning.

This trip started off and ended the same way - plane delays, flight cancelations and re-bookings and a whole lot of terminal time.

Our 8pm flight was set for departure out of LAX - but ended up being 3 1/2 hours on the runway due to a maintenance issue, needing paperwork signed off, then needing more fuel, and before they could get it all done our pilots and crew had timed out.

That lead to being bussed back to the terminal from where we had been sitting (It must have been the furthest corner of the tarmac because that bus trip seemed to go on forever at that hour.)

Then it was 2 hours more of standing in a line waiting for one gate agent to take care of us with hotel vouchers one-by-one.

It was crazy - they finally got more people to help, but by the time I got a hotel room it was 2:30am.

We made the best of it - 

This was the next afternoon's go. (I can tell by the window daylight!)

The baby was borrowed - she belonged to the mama in the row behind us who was getting things settled in and our row of aunties was eager to help entertain.

Luckily they locked the plane up tight, we didn't have to do anything with our luggage - we even all had the same seats as we headed off to Auckland on a 2pm flight the next day.

Airport arrival in the land of the Māori!

The plane delay thing wasn't over yet.  It was past midnight.  More lines, more hotel vouchers and plane re-bookings.

And a shuttle to a hotel where we only had  75 minutes until we had to be back on the shuttle to the airport for our flight to Queenstown.

To shower? Or to nap? That was the question.  And I brushed my teeth and napped.  Shower could wait a few more hours.

My phone is loaded with moments from this whole 2 1/2 weeks away.

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Here's a little video I took at a famous bungee jumping spot on our first day.⁣

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There is no way you would catch me doing this, but I am tickled to say that one of our group did!

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I missed Xenia's jump due to the rain, but she has a shirt to prove it!

Yes, the river is that color! The mountains are amazing and so green.

It's a wonderful thing to get away from ice and snow and polar vortex temps and head to where it is summer in January.

This kind of beauty - right off the bat on our first day.

There were also zip=line chairs - but as I said it was raining and we were all so exhausted -

We headed to nearby historical spot - Arrowtown is built on the banks of the Arrow River, once a rich source of gold. In 1862, thousands of miners from around the world flocked to Arrowtown to make their fortune. The miners moved on, but left the little town behind which has become a hot spot for tourists and visitors.

And the rain stopped in the nick of time!

Lunch - Kiwi style!

I had been told that meat pies were a thing in New Zeeland, and I was not disappointed! 

Neither was anyone else!

Super flaky pie crust outside -

Steak and mushroom inside - yum!

Add a crispy cold coke zero and I was a happy girl - it was the irst real meal since this whole plane debacle began.

Blocks of shops - let the shopping begin!

Park - so cute!

Check out the pharmacy and the red phone booth.

Give Way, so much nicer than our YIELD signs.

Some of the original miner's cottages.

Wedding photography session!

This was a lovely sight to see, though I feel sorry for the dress on that wet sidewalk!

Our bus driver said that wedding photography in places like this is really popular. 

This wasn't the wedding - just the photo session.

The rest of this day is a blur.

We checked into the hotel in Te Anau around 3pm - and I dropped everything, crawled into bed and slept until 6am the next morning.

It was a rough start, but amazingly we didn't miss out on anything but sleep the night before on our first day in New Zealand.

Much adventure awaited and we were there for it!

Time traveling to homeward bound -

We arrived back in Los Aneles on Saturday afternoon.  I had an overnight in LA - so before heading to bed and wanting to soak in as much of the California sunshine as I could - I threw on some shorts, sandals, summer top and walked 3/4 of a mile up the road to make a Target run and stop at In-n-Out burger for dinner - animal style!

It tasted so good after so long away!

And that Target run - yes, this girl has picked up another round of bronchitis.  It always happens when I travel and I was stupid and didn't pre=arm myself with meds from the doc before leaving.  I thought I'd be fine.

Yesterday, 5:30am - boarded for home.

Sunrises over the California Coast -

It was magnificent!

The travel delays were not quite behind me yet - My 2 hour layover in Atlanta turned into 5, and included a plane and gate change. (Yes, think of us running much like the airport scene in Home Alone)

It was 9pm by the time I was on the ground in Blountville, TN - and still had 1 1/2 hours drive home from there.

Luckily Texas Road house is open until 10pm because it was a belated birthday dinner night we'd planned for weeks!

Lola, not leaving my lap.

There is more to come.

Unpacking has started.

Laundry is running.

So is my nose.

I'm taking it easy over the next few days, but I know we'll be back in the swing of things soon.

I have just over oa week and our Quiltville Inn 2024 season begins!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

What's little to you, might be huge to somebody else. Watch the ripple effect happen right before your eyes.

New Zealand was off the charts wonderful, but it's so so good to be home!