New Zealand Parting Shots

As we sit in the Auckland airport awaiting our (delayed) flight to Fiji...

One of the sorrows of international travel is that, with today's luggage weight limits,
you can't always take it with you; and sometimes it's dear things that are left behind...
here, a bottle of 100% DEET Viet Nam-era Campmor Neverbite, which we have been
carrying and using since, well, we think, 1972; used sparingly it lasts a long time, is
really hell on mosquitoes and sand flies, and, in larger doses, will remove paint from
your ice axe, your car, etc. Probably not so good for your skin...

Well, I'd read most of it...I'll get another copy and keep it next
time

The Manukau Top Ten Holiday Park is both an entry and exit point for people
touring New Zealand by RV or tent or otherwise backpacking; people exiting
leave behind all their unused food, camping equipment, clothing, whatever won't
fit; Monday morning's haul at Manukau...

If you're camping in NZ, stop here first to stock up on staples, herbs and spices,
oils, coffee, tea, some perishables, some canned goods, camping chairs and
chilly bins and other accoutrements; our last day I scored two unopened bottles of
(good) wine and two beers; of course, we left a bunch also...

And so we checked out of our cabin

Turned in our rental car...I drove nearly 5,000 miles without incident...upside-down
and wrong side of the road, too

And are here at the airport, pondering what life will be like
not in Middle Earth; but knowing we'll be back soon, a lot
sooner than the previous interval...