SYDNEY to SAN FRANCISCO to PORTLAND – no time to leave my heart – –

Saturday – get ready for lots of interesting facts and photos about the places you would have already pondered over in the earlier entries that gave details on where we are to trek.  So let’s not waste time – it is time to mush on and upwards!

It is a hot and humid day as I rise early to make sure everything is under control.

It starts with the usual routine of checking passport and tickets and then it’s on to checking the luggage especially the camera bag.  Just as well I fly out this afternoon as I am a lather of sweat just doing the checking.  My chaffeur Stuart is taking me to the airport as I have 2 suitcases, 1 camera bag and 1 personal bag because it would be rather adventurous of me to try and get that on the train!  Mitchell has decided to stay at home and get the boat ready for the men’s fishing day tomorrow – obviously he has his priorities and seeing me safely on my way is not one of them!  Finally, everything is stowed in the car including me, final check on passport and tickets and away we go.  It is 10am and I have a 3pm flight – yes, I know I will be early, but I love airports and Stuart has things to do for tomorrow so no big deal.

Get to the airport and as usual we head to the 5 minute drop off section so that we do not have to pay the exorbitant parking fees.  Unfortunately I have to pay $4 to get a trolley – they get you every way they can – Sydney Airport – what a money spinner.  Once everything is organised and goodbyes are said I wonder if I can check in early.  Head off to Section C and a lovely Qantas lady leads me to the Business Class check in. How exciting! Am I to be upgraded? Alas no I am still in Cattle Class but I will cope.  My bags are checked through and as I walk away I feel something is missing. Yep I have left my 8kg carry on camera bag back at the counter.  So, it’s going to be one of THOSE holidays is it?  Hopefully I will see my checked bags in San Francisco.

I don’t linger long and head through Customs and Security.  I do not get pulled up – this is a first let me tell you.  I am either swabbed or something beeps at me but no – obviously they know they can trust me.  Repacking my camera bag with everything in my handbag I think it has now gone up to 11kg.

Heading to Duty Free I purchase some Lancome Le Vie est Belle and decide it is now time for a cold drink and maybe a spot of lunch.  OK – where has the Golden Arches gone?  I am too tired to look around so get a bottle of icy cold lemon juice and a ham & cheese prepacked sandwich.

I am departing from Gate 9 which is about a 5 minute walk – just around the corner.  Makes a nice change from last year when I was flying out of Gate 56 with Emirates which was at the other end of the airport.  I find a seat – that is not too hard as I am the only one here – put on my ipod and as they tell me above – relax.  It is now around 12 noon and the lounge will open around 1pm.

Ever patient, it is time to board.  I love watching all the ‘upper crust’ passengers. When they are allowed to board before all us commoners, they push and shove as if their seat is going to be taken off the plane and thrown out the window before they get to sit down – or maybe they worry that they will not get enough of the pre flight food and drink service – definitely FAKER material.  All I worry about is there going to be room in the overhead locker for my camera bag and is the flight screen going to work properly!

Finding my seat 52A (I must remember that this is not a good seat – right on the edge of the wing with not much of a view below).  I stow my camera gear and get organised and then you guessed it – the flight path screen is put into action.  It didn’t take long.  I have a spare seat in front and a spare beside me – what good luck.  The point and shoot is already doing its job.

We are 15 minutes late taking off due to the catering truck being still attached to the plane (?) but I have lots to do – Distance to San Francisco – 11962km / Time to San Francisco 12.35 hours / Outside Air Temperature 33 degrees celsius – – – – and here we go.  Great take off which is nice and smooth, through some haze and a bit of mist – Qantas pilots always do a good job.  Bruce Fulton is Oh Captain My Captain and soon I am snapping away with my usual gusto.  I am sure that people must think I am an idiot – well that’s OK with me.

My last views of Sydney – Altitude of 3458 metres – Ground Speed of 837 kph and an Outside Air Temp of 11 degrees celsius.

Flying for about 30 minutes and we are given a Welcome Drink of Bickford’s signature range since 1874.  It did not have much taste and was not worthy of a photo.  We are then presented with a bottle of water as there is no more Snack on Q. Being such a captive audience more details –

Distance travelled – 412km – Altitude 9448 metres and the Outside Air Temp is minus 31 degrees celsius.  Maybe I should try to open the window so that I can acclimatise for the upcoming snow escapade.  Unfortunately the sun is on my side so I cannot photograph the screen, even with the shutters down.

I smell lunch!  I pre-ordered my meal on-line so am really looking forward to it.  Mushroom Tortellini with Tomato Ragout and Olives.  It is typical plane food but I enjoyed it – I thought it was delicious and under all that pasta there were lots of kalamatta olives.  Served with Garlic Bread and Apple Crumble (what happened to the Rhubarb and Apple Trifle listed on the menu?)

Nevermind, I am now satisfied. but here they come with Hot Chocolate and Marshmallows.  Of course I cannot say no – but that’s it – no more food or drink – I am exhausted.

I love flying in my favourite plane – a 747-400 – and I am soon cuddled up under the blanket and fast asleep.  It is not a sound sleep – more like choreographed nap but I survive and when I gather my senses there is only 2.10 hours to the Bay City.  Best part of the flight over is that I arrive on the same day I left – time for breakfast – seasonal fruit platter.  Was delicious but I still prefer the cereal, croissant and jam that was once on the menu.

There is a little bit of turbulence – nothing dramatic and I arrive at SFO around 9.15am.  Raining wouldn’t you know it?  Unfortunately no views of the famous bridge or anything else.  Once on the ground we keep on taxi-ing until I am sure we are heading back to Sydney. What the hell is going on?

Right around the terminal to the very last gate and once the seat belt sign comes off there is the usual FAKER panic to get off. I am sure that some people think the plane is going to change its mind and taxi back out again.

I have plenty of time even though I do have to go through customs and collect my bags to clear quarantine and recheck through to Portland.

Lovely customs officer leads me to the automatic machines and then I stand in line waiting to answer all the usual questions of how, who, why, what and where.

Everything must be OK as I am let through to get my bags – everything going smoothly.

Of course this little jaunt has me walking from one end of the terminal to the other and back again.

Time to head for Alaska Airlines – through the security check again and now to find Gate 12.  Yep it is back down the other end of the terminal and downstairs near where my 747 came in.  Hell this camera bag is getting heavy.  This is turning out to be a long day.

Weather in Portland is maximum 37 degrees fahrenheit with a minimum of minus 2F.  Looks like the heavy rain here is clearing so let’s hope it is a good flight.  On board in seat 18A there are lots of spare seats and the rain has returned.  I am now told that snow showers and rain is expected for Portland so I hope K&T do not have any driving problems coming to pick me up or it could be a long taxi ride.

Our Fight Stewards are April, Tori and Tracey and this is a 737-800 – just a little bit of info for you as there are no flight status screens.

Pushing back and heading for the runway we go past my 747 standing all alone in the rain – how sad she looks.  Soon up in the air and once we are settled we get coffee and biscuits, you can buy snacks but Qantas has fed me well enough.  What a shame the weather is lousy below the clouds. Above the clouds there are endless blue skies.

I should imagine the outside temperature is cold, there were pretty ice crystals forming on my Qantas window, but then again we were higher and the outside temp was minus 60 celsius.  Coming into Portland, the clouds and rain are hovering.

Cannot see much of the countryside but on the plus side the flight is landing early.   This turns out to be a bummer as K&T have not arrived.  I decide to go and claim my baggage and hope they will be able to find me.  PDX does not charge for trolleys – and as I load everything Kylie arrives.  We note that one of the suitcases has been opened – it is the one with Kylie’s goodies. The idiots have cut the TSA lock – so let’s hope everything inside is intact.

We wait out the front for Tyler and then we are on our way to St Helens and the refuge of home and some proper coffee.

Opening the violated case – there is sand everywhere.  I promised to bring over a bag of sand from Cronulla for Kylie’s little fung shui Aussie garden.  The idiots have cut through and then taped it up.  Well, they didn’t do a good job.  Couldn’t they see it was in zip lock bags?  Obviously Deliverance is alive and well.  Best thing nothing is missing even though it is a bit worse for wear.

Dinner tonight will be at the Town & Country which is a nice little restaurant not far from home.  I have skewered shrimp, coleslaw and fries.  Not too much and very delicious.  It was nice to eat off a plate after the plane trays.

Time to go home and sleep in a proper bed.  I don’t realise how tired I am until I hit the pillow.

Highlight of the day – seeing my Kylie!