It is insane to think that both Barb and I slept ok the night before we took off on a nine week trip. There are times that we don’t sleep when we have to get up early for an appointment. I think that the fact that we had been thinking, and planning for this trip for so many months, there wasn’t really anything else to think about. We had a pretty long day ahead of us, so I was pretty happy.
Because of who we are, we had plenty of time at the airport. ABQ Sunport’s overhaul is coming along quite nicely. There are restaurants and shops again. I think 9/11 was the last time you could get anything besides a crappy breakfast burrito and a $10 bottle of water anywhere in the airport. We chose to have cocktails since we could finally start celebrating Barb’s retirement and my exit from the restaurant business.
Time went fast, we got some steps in, and we were on our way to SFO before we knew it.
I think the “Sky Couches” on Air NZ are probably worth the extra price. You get an entire row for cheaper than purchasing a third ticket. The bottom of the seats pops up, and turns the whole thing into a medium-sized dog bed. If my wife hadn’t married a giant that was made almost entirely out of elbows and knees, she may have stood a chance of being comfortable. Instead, well, it was more room than a small dog bed. I looked at the couple in front of us wistfully several times throughout the night as I moved about the cabin. They were both five foot nothing, cuddled together making little contented snores as they slept peacefully for seven hours. Waking in the morning like contented kittens, they rubbed the sleep from their eyes as they prepared for breakfast. Luckily, Barb and I have a strong relationship that can handle a little discomfort once in a while.
We were turned onto some wonderful hot pools just outside of Christchurch by friends that had recently been. Sounded like a splendid idea to get an Airbnb close by so we could soak and recover from our trip. Overall, a pretty good idea. He Puna Taimoana in New Brighton was just what we needed.
We soaked, we ate, we slept.
Tale of the tape – 7,431 miles travelled (according to Google)
26 hours door to door
44 hours between beds, human beds.
Brushed my teeth four times, didn’t floss once.
Pro Tips:
✱ Sky couch – worth it?
✱ Ear plugs in addition to noise cancelling headphones – worth it
✱ Hest Pro Travel Pillow – even though ridiculously expensive was the only travel pillow that could hold my giraffe neck and basketball head up. Barb used hers like a regular pillow
✱ Compression socks – Wear them
✱ Selling your business, retiring, and traveling – Amazing!