Even though all pigs are created equal, some are less equal than others. So, too, with excellent adventures -- some are less excellent. And so we've created a new category for these -- the "Not-So-Excellent Adventure" or "NSEA." Today we report on our first of these, the flight to Rotorua.
We left Queenstown last Tuesday without too much trouble -- just a short delay into Wellington. That's when the "fun" started. Our flight to Rotarua was delayed on takeoff for more than an hour. When we finally left, the ride was quite bumpy, but we were content to be on the way (especially since our big hike around Lake Waikaremoana began the next morning at 8 AM).
Sadly, a prompt arrival was not in the cards. Weather in Rotorua stank. Our pilot tried TWICE to land (full flaps, gear down, etc.) but both times he couldn't see the runway and so we powered up and went around. Eventually, we were diverted to Hamilton where we landed 3 hours late at 7 PM. Of course, the airport was closed so there was no food. Dinner was two tins of tuna fish bought from a vending machine. The bus to Rotorua took about an hour to get organized and then we endured the rain-soaked 2 hour bus ride to the airport and a taxi (thank god there was a taxi there!) from the airport to our hotel.
Instead of arriving, as planned at 5 PM with a leisurely evening to pack up our bags for the hike and put the rest of our gear in storage, we got to the hotel at 10:30 PM. We hurriedly tried to repack for the hike (hoping we didn't forget anything) and had a horrid late night "dinner" from room service. We finally got to bed at 12:30 AM, with the alarm set for 6:30 AM for a wake up to begin a 4-day hike.
This truly qualifies as an NSEA -- but we just have to roll with the punches. Onward.
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