Open Writing

Auckland came into view after a long overnight flight. I had arranged to stay with a Servas host in the north of the city. I put my bike into store at the airport and took the bus into the centre of the city. Picking up a local bus as directed by my host I arrived in a smart suburban area on the far side of the bay. My arrival was fortuitous for my host's daughter and her husband. They were soon to take a holiday in Vietnam. I was able to give them some useful tips.

Auckland is renowned for its harbour and numerous boats. One in three Kiwis lives in the city. Mary joined me from the UK two days later. After a pleasant day spent at the home of our host we left them to return to the airport to build up the bikes on the specially provided facilities, an indication of the popularity of the country as a cyclist's haven. Making our way out of the airport we were struck by the high level of house building taking place. In Britain we refer to the 'north-south' drift of people seeking employment. In New Zealand it is a' south-north' drift with the movement from the South Island and the southern region of the North Island to the Auckland environs.

The first night saw us booking into a caravan park for the night having failed to find any alternative accommodation. We had to get our bikes into the caravan which made it a tight squeeze to say the least; better safe than sorry.

**

Eric’s book The First Seventy Years can be obtained for £10 by contacting http://mary@bike2.wanadoo.co.uk or telephoning 01484-658175.

All the cash raised by the book goes to a water aid project in Malawi.