20100924 Los Angeles CA
At this moment, it is 0301 PDT, 2400 miles southwest of LAX. Hawaii is abeam to port. We passed over Christmas Island two hours ago. We took off around 1000 and it's now 2001 there. The trip was slated to take 13.5 hours, so we're ten hours into it. We started with 12,700 km to go, now it's 3800. After takeoff, the crew had us set watches for LAX time, 16 or 17 hours back, where it was still Thursday.
We arose this morning and packed. We checked out and walked our luggage through a skywalk to the terminal (the hotel is on the top of the parking garage). We checked in without problems, but we encountered some later.
We went through security. There, I found I'd brought my toiletry kit in my carry-on instead of our pills. So the scissors and hemostat were confiscated. While I was undergoing this, Dolores was being patted-down searched. Guess she looks dangerous.
We waited for boarding. It started, we were admitted into the area toward the gate. When they scanned my boarding pass, they found it coded for extra security checking, and they were distressed I had gotten that far – I should have been caught outside and searched then.
So I went back to the start of check-in, and got searched, along with the carry-on and computer. Then I could go to the entry where the passes are scanned and found Dolores waiting for me. Then we boarded into the Premium Economy section topside aft in this double-decker Airbus.
We had a decent lunch, a VB and a couple of glasses of wine. Then we sat back to alternately watch the entertainment system, or listen to music from it, or read. I mostly read, finishing one Henning Mankell thriller and eventually a second. Good books – Kurt Wallendar is the main character; they are set in southern Sweden.
Most folks are trying to sleep, but we were rested when we boarded. We each slept a couple of hours, so we'll be tired when we reach LAX at 0720 today, a few hours before we left Melbourne, and about midnight body time.
More later.... Later (1530 PDT):
We were fed a decent omelette, prepared to land, and landed pretty much on time. That is one long flight! Then we (with the rest of the mob on the huge A380) got through immigration, then waited for luggage. It takes a long time to unload one of those things. Finally got the bags and went through customs, and then we were admitted to the USA. Nice day in LA, 75* and sunny.
We called the Four Points Sheraton, which verified the shuttle was running and where to find it. The shuttle delivered us to the door. We checked in and YES they had a room we could have at 0900. So we got into the room and caught up on our sleep. Now we'll go out and get something to eat.
More later.... Later (1915 PDT):
We decided to eat in the hotel (still tired) bar & grill. Nice enough food. Now we’re relaxing in the room. Tomorrow, we go home.
Later (2130 PDT):
We both fell asleep again. I wonder if we'll sleep at all tonight.
Now we're watching the Australia Football League grand finals live in our hotel room. Our friend Paul had given us some of his knowledge of the game; now we find it very interesting. At the half-time Collingwood was substantially ahead of St Kilda. Then St Kilda staged a comeback and actually led for a while.
The game ended in a draw at 68-68. There is no overtime to resolve the winner in the AFL, so the entire game will be played again next week. Wow.
Enough for one (very) long day...
20100925 to Home
Up early (0530), to breakfast. Then a ride in the hotel's van to LAX and the Southwest counter. Security was its usual hassle. Sat around and waited for the plane.
Then we had a non-event trip to Nashville, followed by a three-hour layover there.
Dolores's neighbor in her row was Hamish Davidson, one of the Davidson Brothers, a country-bluegrass band from Australia. They live in Bendigo, SA. When Dolores said we'd just been there, he was quite startled. He says they're doing the introductions at the Country Music Association awards event this Thursday, October 30, for banjo and vocals. We must watch.
Their web-site is: Davidson Brothers
The trip to the new PCB airport (ECP) was a non-event.
We were met at the airport by John Burns for Sunshine Shuttle (we pre-ordered this over the internet from LAX). He helped with our luggage, showed us to his mini-van, and drove us home for a fee not more than a taxi. He gave a brief run-down on events here while we've been away (no rain, brush fire near the airport today, potential 747 repair facility to be located here, others). They provide excellent service and I hope they succeed in this business.
Our body clocks are so far out of whack we don't know what zone we're in. So I unpacked and started laundry at 2200.
We’re home. End of the trip. Thanks for coming along.