Day 24 Charleston to LA

Day 24 Charleston to LA

As per typically before a flight, I woke a few times during the night, but was eventually wide awake at 4:30. (old time) I was lucky enough to pretend to snooze for a while before getting up at 5 so  I could send birthday wishes to Amelia- obviously via Sarah.

Out of bed at 5:30 and out the door of the hotel at 6:15, complete with my lunch makings and some snacks for the long haul back to LA. The taxi drove through the dark streets just as the dawn sky was beginning. At the entrance to the airport there was a huge Boeing factory where they are making the Dreamliner’s. At the airport by 6:45. The AA staff was very helpful in checking in my bag (all the way to LAX) for which you have to pay $25 US. The airport was fresh and clean and very modern. I had a cup of tea and they even had GF biscuits for sale on the counter! The armed forced must share the facilities at Charleston, which you could see in the distance.

Boarding began at 7:30. A full flight on what appeared to be as new plane. Luckily I had seat 7A so I boarded in group 5 and had a space for my bag. By the time they got to group 6 all lockers were full. We didn’t take off until 8:10, but amazingly landed 15 minutes early in Dallas. It was an excellent flight, with no turbulence. No TV’s on this one, so I sewed. From clear skies over Charleston we flew into more clouds as we got closer to Dallas.

When we landed, I lost one hour in time.  I took the sky rail to Terminal A, which was an easy process with no additional security points. I made an attempt at buying a cup of tea, which resulted in a cup of hot water and my tea bag (at no cost). I ate my lunch and then they announced a change in gate for the flight. It was right back at the start of the concourse. This time my seat was 31 D and in group 7. Needless to say by the time I was boarding, the lockers were again. Luckily my back pack fits under the seats or it would have had to be checked in. This was a bigger plane and another full load. Nice staff. A bonus of free movies to watch. However this flight was far more turbulent. Eventually we landed at LAX on time and by the time I got to the carousel there was my bag- always a bonus. 

Oscar was caught in traffic, but that gave me the opportunity to rest in a comfortable seat, have another cup of tea and some biscuits. I’d lost another two hours. In the sky for 7 hours, lost 3 hours and most of my thinking brain in the process?

I met Oscar outside the terminal and we drove back to their house in heavy traffic. It wasn’t too bad because we could use the car pool lane. My first task after greeting the kids and Churro, was to have a shower, a few rice cakes and then to sit. It had been a really tiring day. There were a few, very few, spots of rain and it got dark early. Oscar drove Troy to his grading in light sabres and came home with some grocery supplies. I was typing my diary. I was too tired to even think about downloading the few photos I had taken during the day. Troy returned and I managed to “stay awake” until 9 loosing game after game of solitaire. Finally it was bed time and sleep came instantaneously. Oscar went out to meet with friends.