Day 7 Travelling and airports.

Woke at 6:30 after a good night’s sleep (used drugs ). Only issue is that I felt tired for the next few hours. Hopefully that has broken the jet lag. After breakfast I began the process of packing. Good news is that am down to one bag, bad news is that it is still 20lbs heavy. By the time I get back from Quebec I could be down to a plastic bag?

Susan drove me to the Burbank Airport just after 11. Only took 20 minutes. I had already done my check-in online, so it was very easy to get through. After showing my passport, apparently I must be on the “special” list at this airport. Everyone else had to take off their shoes and go through the big x-ray machine, not me. Just the old metal detector gate? Then I had to do “the find the gate and wait”. I did buy a drink before I began to sit and type.

Plane has just arrived, so that is a good sign……….I’d take a photo of the lounge, but it is a very dated and boring one.

We went up a ramp to the E185 plane- it did have WIFI on board for the desperate. Two seats either side. Of course I was in the last group to board and of course there was no overhead locker space available, until the man sitting next to me allowed me to take down one of his bags! Actually the seats had more than enough space to store a soft bag underneath.

Took off within time. On the way I had a great view, through the man beside me, to the fire currently burning in LA. Lots of smoke to add to the pollution. Then he pulled down the shade and went to sleep. Oh well. I was busy reading my book. Ate my lunch on board- no food on this flight, as if there would ever be something GF anyway?

The last part of the flight was very bumpy, due to thunderstorm activity in the area. Luckily I had been to the toilet 5 minutes before the turbulence and they had already served the drinks. Landed on time.

the sky was ominous.

Changed my watch to new time (+ 1 hour), found my next gate, fortunately found a man behind the desk to give me a seat. This flight is overbooked according to my check-in last night. So at least I have a seat. Then off to find a cup of tea (Really??? In America? ), but found one. Well found the people who had their kind of tea. Just asked for the hot water and used my own tea bag. Much better.

Sat and waited for next flight and at the last 15 minutes they changed gates, so a quick dash up the corridor. The sky was getting darker and darker and thunder was crashing all around, but when we boarded the pilot assured us that we were ahead of the storm. Uneventful flight in a small plane two seats either side. Landed on time in Lincoln. Waited for the usual baggage hold up. Once I had my bags it was "call a taxi" - one only outside. But it only cost $15 to the hotel. Sign in (11:00 pm) by now and as soon as I had done that my phone rang- Australia. I gave the lady from Centrelink a very quick message to say that it was an international call- possibly thought I was their rudest customer, but we ended on good terms (me paying for the call!)
Shower and bed...... but a VERY noisy air conditioner which kept me awake for an hour!