A long day to LA

It is 10pm on Wednesday, and we are in Los Angeles.  We left Auckland at 11pm on Wednesday, in 1 hours' time!  It has been a long day, and the end to our long day has been a slight stuff up with our accommodation.  Because we have 5 of us staying together (Eric, Karl, Robin, Pita & I), we have deliberately looked for places with at least 2 beds and a sofa bed or a trundle bed.  We only have one bed and one sofa bed.  Despite numerous phone calls by Eric to every phone number he can find for this place, there has been no response, so Karl was initially set up on a seat cushion and two spare pillows on the floor.  Luckily we found lots of sheets etc. Plus, we have 2 towels for the 5 of us, and no tea towel (ever the Scout, I did bring a tea towel!).

However, just before we crashed for the night, the maintenance man, whom Eric had rung for a plumbing issue which no-one wants to dwell on, arrived.  Eric had since resolved the plumbing issue, but we talked to him about the bedding.  He said he would see what he could do, and get back to us in 30mins. His 30 mins was a bit longer than ours, but he did arrive back after we had all hopped into bed (my side of the bed creaks each time I roll over!), so Karl ended up with a small mattress as well as the seat cushion, plus a duvet - still no extra towels!

We are staying in Van Nuys, so got to drive along 405 on the way here, and saw where the fires had scorched the hillsides just a few weeks ago.

We had dinner at a nearby Wendy's, and went to a Walmart so now have breakfast, lunch and snack supplies (including some fruit and baby carrots, so some healthy options).

 Before we left Auckland, going through security at the gate, Karl was taken aside for special testing. It was randomly assigned to his seat, and was testing for explosives.  Because he was underage, I stayed with him, although it was just to the side of where we all went through.

As for Marjo, she did fly with us, then she stayed at the airport to confirm her ongoing flight to the east coast first thing Thursday morning.  She then stayed at a hostel closer to the airport, but we hope to see her later in our travels.

It can only get better, I am sure!