Today's the day... even before it was day. We got up at 3:30 am. It was very windy out, always good for a plane flight. I had a quick breakfast then raided the cupboards for food to take on the plane... some cheese, a jar of nearly empty peanut butter, a few slices of bread, and some chocolate.
Regan drove me to airport, parked and came in with me to be sure all was good with my name on the ticket. it was. We said our farewells then I headed into the large waiting area meant for all the gates, with not nearly enough seats.
Well, we are still in the Middle of Middle Earth, after all.
I thought the bubbles were a really nice touch.
It wasn't long before my flight was called to go through security. I got pulled aside. Apparently the peanut butter jar was too big... even though there was almost nothing left in it. But that was my food for the next two layovers, so I asked the guy if I could scoop out the contents into something else. He suggested if I had bread, I could make some sandwiches. Well, it just so happens that I did! And so I stood there using a small plastic spoon spreading peanut butter on some bread. It was quite messy but efficient. The security guy was nice enough about it though, occasionally checking back with me to make sure all was going well. Once I was done, he simply kept the jar. They had also questioned the large block of cheese, but fortunately let it through. There was more room and it was a lot quieter (no running screaming kids) at the actual gate. They even had bathrooms, stores and a water fountain.
It was an uneventful 3 hour and 10 minute filght. The plane was very full and I had an aisle seat with no chance of a view outside. To make up for it, the plane had screens in the back of each seat with lots of movies and tv shows to individually chose from. The flight attendant even found a special vegetarian meal for me... with hash browns, spinach, fake sausage, fruit and a roll.
In Sydney, we had to take a long bus ride from the tarmac to the terminal. We then had to go through security again. Almost forgetting I had filled my water bottle, I quickly drank it all while in line. Again they questioned the cheese but eventually let it through.
Waiting outside the airplane for the bus to take us to the terminal
A distant view of Sydney
I then waited in another long line to get my boarding pass, but when I got to front, I was told I was wrong line. I had to go to the gate but could only check in 90 minutes before the flight. Let's see, it was 9 am now and my flight didn't leave until 2:45 pm.
I went to the gate but there were no power outlets to be found. So I wandered back until I found one in a very busy hallway next to the moving walkway. I sat and entertained myself with computer tasks and watching people frantically run to try to catch their planes.
The sign on the moving walkway clearly reprimanding inappropriate footwear
With still 3 hours left before boarding, I suddenly hear my name called over the loudspeaker. Uh oh, is there a problem with my ticket again?! I walk to the gate and stand in line. There is only one woman in front of me but she takes a very long time. It's amazing how slow time can pass when you are worried! Finally it is my turn. It turns out they simply need my passport number to enter into the computer because it didn't transfer from New Zealand for some reason. I was then handed my boarding pass and returned to my life in the hallway. I managed to get some internet but it had a time limit on it. Lunch consisted of a hard-won peanut butter sandwich, lots of cheese and plenty of Pineapple Lumps.
At 1:45 I returned to the gate. It had been sectioned off now, with half for economy and half for premier passengers. As it was, my section was the last to be called to board. As I stood at the end of the long line, I was called over by the woman at the premier entry gate. They had all boarded so she was starting to help with our side. While all the economy people stood in another long line in the walkway to the plane, I strolled leisurely all the way up to the front. We merged near the airplane door.
So this is how the other half travels!
I got a window seat but it was 100% over a giant wing. I suppose that didn't matter too much as most of the flight was going to be over the ocean. I found myself seated next to a very friendly but VERY chatty couple. It felt like it was going to be a very long flight. Just then, the fight attendant came through the aisle handing out custom forms. She suggested that if I wanted more room, I could move to the row behind us. There was only one person seated there by the window. So I did. I now had an aisle seat but with no one directly next to me.
It took over an hour before we could finally take off, all the while with us sitting on the plane. Our flying time was 12 1/2 hours. I did my best to sleep, but no luck. So I mostly just watched movies.... whatever ones they had playing since we didn't have individual screens this time. Dinner and breakfast were more of the same, with beans and spinach. They were actually more vegan than vegetarian.
Final view of Australia (zoomed in from the aisle seat)
With the 17 hour time difference and crossing the dateline, we landed in San Francisco the same day we left Australia. I didn't worry about being almost an hour late, but many people with connecting fights did. Actually for me it was in some ways a blessing, since I had a huge chunk of time to kill.
We first stood in a very long line for passport clearance. Then we headed to collect our luggage. They kept changing it from carousel number from 2... no, number 4... no, it is indeed number 2... until they eventually determined... just check both places.
I got my bag, tossed it on a free luggage cart and headed to customs. Because I had marked "food" on my customs sheet, I was sent to wait in yet another line where they were scanning luggage. When I told the guy I had cookies, cheese and peanut butter sandwiches, he stared blankly for a moment then just waved me through.
I then had a long walk from the international terminal to the domestic one. But I wasn't in a hurry. I just wheeled slowly along. I stood in yet another long line for the Southwest check-in. It was exclusively computerized kiosks. It wouldn't take passports but only driver's license or credit card, neither of which I had handy. After digging one of those out, I could proceed further. But it wasn't very clear.... it gave me a boarding pass but refused to give me a luggage tag. I finally flagged down someone to help me. She seemed quite annoyed as she explained that you could only check in luggage 4 hours before the flight. So that meant I had to wait 2 hours, stand in the same line all over again, then wait another 4 hours for my flight. So much for finding somewhere to curl up and take a nap!
I wheeled my luggage away from the counter and found a seat nearby that had a power outlet. There was also free, completely unlimited internet. I ended up waiting 3 hours to check in, since that is when there was finally nobody waiting in line. I checked in my bag and was told the plane was running an hour late. Sigh. So I went back and sat for another hour in my old spot.
Not only were there plenty of water fountains, this one even had a tap where you could fill your own bottle!
I had packed the cheese in the check-in luggage in the hopes of not being hassled by security. Nope. For some reason I am almost always singled out for special treatment. Not only did I get the full body scan, they also patted me down then swabbed my hands for explosives.
Near the gate, I found a small desk with an outlet to work at. I finished my sandwiches and enjoyed the highest speed internet I had seen in months. At 7 pm, I packed things up and moved into the gate waiting room. It was still another hour before the flight was supposed to leave, but I was so tired I was finding it hard to concentrate on anything anymore.
Southwest doesn't assign seat numbers. Instead you are given a number which tells you where in line you are to board the plane. When you get in, it's a free-for-all to grab seating. I sooo wasn't feeling up for that. But fortunately the flight attendant announced that it was a very empty flight... only 81 out of 143 seats were filled. I sighed a breath of relief.
When it was time to line up, I was fourth from the very end. Of course. But I still managed to get a nice window seat not over a wing. The sun was setting quickly, but at least I'd have a view of the takeoff.
The sun sets, literally, on another adventure.
Ouch, that looks like it's going to hurt!
Jeff, one of the flight attendants, clearly felt that flying should be fun. And instead of the usual safety announcements, he said things like:
"Children under age of 2 should be stuffed and stored under your seat but not blocking your feet."
"If you don't like our service, note the closest exit doors to you."
"The cabin crew will be coming through to check that your seat belt is fastened, your trays are up, if your socks and shoes match..."
"If you have a child, imaginary friend or stuffed animal, put your oxygen mask on first."
It was around a two hour flight. There was just enough light left to see snow covering the dusky Sierra Nevadas. Soon it was dark, but the nearly-full moon snaked its way along the mountain rivers like an electric eel, flashing and pulsing each time it reflected in the water.
The moon
Leaving San Francisco
It was a rather bumpy ride into Denver. We were of course an hour late, putting it at 11:30 pm. My friend Ron was super generous to come get me in spite of the time. I got my bag (again it was listed on the wrong carousel) and met him outside on the curb. It was cold out! Snow was still on the ground! I hadn't planned on that, wearing only my thin jacket.
But... I was home.
