Homeward Bound

Christchurch to Poole (20,184km)

A little further and a bit longer than the Southwest Trains journey would take, experiencing two whole nights on the journey.

The flight from Christchurch to Auckland was the best. Daylight, and you could see the fantastic mountain ranges previously viewed from the ground, but now we were about 7,500 feet up in the air (I think that's what the pilot told us our cruising height was). A fantastic country from the ground and from the air.

We left Auckland at about 10:45pm, and it was dark. The view of the Pacific Ocean at night is not exactly something to grab you with excitement. However, it was light by the time we reached Los Angeles, and it really is amazing how big that city is. It seems to extend forever.

Leaving Los Angeles, the flight took us back over the Pacific, followed by a U-turn to take us back inland, and another 90 degree turn whilst you can easily see the mountain tops of the surrounding countryside. I really do wish that planes would not do this!!!! Beautiful views over the American White Mountain range, the surrounding desert and another snow topped mountain range. The flight took us over North Canada and Greenland over night, but we could see Northern Ireland as we got near to home.

And that was that ... back on terra firma in London Heathrow airport. They happily let me back into the country, so over to the bus terminal to head back home. Ah ... rain. How I'd so much forgotten about you.