I left Wellington at 0600, with an unknown passenger from Nelson who wouldn't have otherwise made it!
I arrived at the Ohakea turn-off [400 meters from the gate!] at 0750, only to be told I'd missed an unsignposted turn-off! Diverted back to the now signposted detour, and went around the back roads of the base for 25 minutes to arrive at the same point I was diverted from but from the opposite direction!
Should the RNZAF pay the clowns who organised the traffic plan it will be a serious miscarriage of justice!
Having said that, all the parking on the airfield itself was directed by enormously cheerful airmen and airwomen doing a difficult job which probably isn't in the job description they signed on for, yet to their credit they did it with unfailing good humour. They did a superb job. I'm in awe of the young New Zealanders in the RNZAF of today!
There were, however, some wonderful moments. An elderly gentleman, clearly WW2 vintage, with an escort of his daughter, who wore a set of pilot's wings, a DFC and and AFC, surrounded by a bunch of ATC 16-year-old's. Awesome!
I was admiring the C17 and the ANZ 777, and turned away and knocked over a little blonde girl in USAF uniform carrying a huge camera. I picked her up and apologised profusely, but then became mesmerised by her apologies for parking right behind me, all delivered in a South Carolina drawl. We had a good laugh and a coffee, my shout!!
