Hi All

Sorry we havent posted yet. Would like to thank Jess and Ade for dropping us at the airport. Thanks to Sam and Tania to for coming to say goodbye in Auckland. . A few adventures so far. On the LA Miami leg the plane (American Airlines nothing special in the sky)was hit by lightening over the gulf of Mexico! We heard a loud muffled crump and a minute later the cabin filled with the acrid smell of burning electrics! The captain had already asked everyone including the crew to be seated and belted, this was 2/3 the way thru the last drinks service, and yes we did miss out. The plane was full and everyone is looking at each other and there  is a rising level of murmer and anxiety you could cut thru. The crew member from the back walking very purposefully up the plane to the cockpit really got our attention. The captain came on and announced that, yes, they were aware of the smell, they had run the usual checks, and we would proceed to Miami. As the only other choice was a crash landing at sea seemed like a good plan. We did land safely and it did make the news here. 

Florida is in the grip of tropical storm Debbie. It has nearly been upgraded to a hurricane, and there is also a tornado warning in place. 

Today we went shopping at the biggest Walmart in the states. We talked to one of the staff who said that it turns over  a million dollars a day! Also visited an enormous mall and got some of the  stuff we had been holding off on, particulaly some good walking sandels for B. It was raining torrentially so we were looking for something to do and stay dry. Rain is easing now and we are visiting one of the disney parks tomorrow, not sure which one but James and Wendy are the experts.
Will write again soon.
Cheers.