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Published: November 4th 2018
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04 November 2018
20:58
Well my first day in New Zealand is at an end.
The were further annoyances before I got my hands on the key to the campervan. I cannot remember how many annoyances there were in my last blog.
The continue in a similar vain at the airport.
I knew that the camper van company would pick up at the airport after 10.30. All the confirmation details said call them when you are ready to be picked and they will pick you up outside door 11.
I knew was early, so I had a coffee or two and wrote by blog. 10.30 came and went, as did my unanswered calls, all went to voicemail which did not even confirm the company name. I called a total of 18 times between 10.30 and 11.45 and was seriously thinking the company had gone bust at this point.
What was my back up plan, taxi to their address or book in at the hotel across the road. None of these looked possible with a seriously depleted battery on my phone. No one sold power packs at the airport.
I was seriously considering booking into
the hotel just so I could charge my phone, then I spotted a USB charger in the shop; I bought it and a coffee and started stealing electricity at the airport. Should I admit to that? Oh well, I have already been labelled a security risk on this trip.
I sipped my coffee and called them again; surprise no answer. I needed to formulate a plan. Just as I was about to burst in to tears, I spied their mini bus outside the airport, and headed their way only to see it start to pull away. In my best fish wife voice I yelled "Oi I have been waiting an hour and a half for you pick me, don't you dare drive of without me". Those of you who has seen angry Mitch will have some idea of my tone at this point.
Of we head to the depot with a couple in the mini bus. I get there and the couple went in first, and I waited patiently at reception behind them, thinking that this shouldn't take too long.
How wrong I was; the receptionist wax French and the couple were French, for all I know
they were talking about their schooldays together. This must end soon, this chap really like the sound of his own voice and would not get on with the task in hand.
Eventually, I had to say something to another member of staff and asked how much longer it would be before I could pick my van. It was 12.30 by this stage, so I had been fair I felt, a Happy Camper I wasn't.
The lady,who was cleaner,sorted all the paperwork in a matter of minutes. However, my van had not been prepped; which meant more waiting.
Where do I start, it had not been filled with fuel, the fridge did not work. The fridge was a deal breaker as I need to keep my insulin cool; I explained this and a work around was sorted, apparently one of the 12volts sockets in the van did not work, but if I bought an adapter so the fridge and the Sat nav could be plugged into the cigarette lighter, they would refund me when I dropped the van back with.
Bear in mind that I had not opted for collection from the airport; all the paperwork said I could pick up from the depot at 8.30 am. I have my doubts about this.
Of I go via a service station to buy said adapterandvfinally arrive at the campsite.
So here is my home for the next few weeks, the views for the next couple days and a couple of neighbours
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