5/03/2012: Dallas to Melbourne, Part II

Thursday:  During our extensive layover in Los Angeles, we met friends Dwayne & Kim Sinclair for dinner (At Mama D’s Italian Restaurant in Manhattan Beach). The Sinclair’s migrated from Melbourne to Dallas in 1996-7.  And, of course we’re headed to Melbourne.  We learned they were married in Port Douglas which is where we’ll stay a couple of nights when we visit the Great Barrier Reef.  Our acquaintance is not only a result of working for Mobil Oil – all four of us did – but both couples ride tandems and are/were members of DATES (Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts). We had a great visit with them.

Friday: There was no Friday, even though grandson Chase had a birthday on Friday. I went to sleep shortly after takeoff - just before midnight on Thursday and awoke just after midnight on Saturday.  If I didn’t experience Friday, did it exist for me?  Am I one day younger? Only philosophers can answer. And their answers are questionable, at best.

Saturday: It’s a bright and beautiful morning in Auckland on the north island of New Zealand. We have a 4+ hour layover, even though it’s the same Qantas flight number (but different aircraft)  We’re comfortable in the Qantas VIP lounge.  The  lounge is almost deserted at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.  Brenda is taking a shower.  Now, if I can only keep her from the (immense) duty free shopping area.

First causality of the trip: I lost my hat shown in the above photo:  think it’s at the Sinclair’s house. Oh well, I need an Aussie hat.