Sunday 21st October
Up at 06:00 as expected, sore back from carrying heavy bags yesterday - that is not a good sign being that for the next 5 days I'm riding a Harley and hauling on sheets and winches and other bits of boat whilst sailing. It has settled and I hope that it stays that way for the next 3 weeks. A bit of vid here of me travelling over the last day up to the point of arriving on the aircraft. See: http://youtu.be/SCkdHMR5zGc
The urge for me to look at work emails this morning was palpable - physically has to stop myself. This is what in the trade is called a conditioned response. Like Pavlov's dogs. Unlike the dogs I do not salivate nor get a food reward when I look at emails. Mmmm ideas - maybe I can convince BT to pay me per mail read in bacon sarnies a la Man vs Food!
Anyway the phone is now off and away for 3 weeks. Unlike last night the walk to the bus stop was easy as it was just outside the hotel. Last night I could have shot the bus driver because even though 3 people said please stop at the Aurora hotel he did not. So a blubbering sweaty fat wreck of a man turned up in the hotel foyer 10 minutes later with a young american woman who took pity and was courteous enough to walk with me (note to self: pull belly in again and try not to gasp Wayne!). Oh how I think now of my 20's when I was not quite so large.
Absolutely no problems at the airport this morning - straight though the express check in and into the upper class lounge. Tried to eat £4000 of sausages and bacon (I'm damn sure I'll get my money's worth on this trip) and sat in a reclining chair feeling as tightly wrapped as ever. For sure I need to loosen up over the next few days as the adrenaline settles and I "chillax" (I think that's what I heard Brucie say last night on Strictly...).
Sat comfortably on the 11hr flight. Lunch was about 1pm UK time so 5am San Fran time. Watched the movie Battleship with any number of people wandering around the aircraft. Watched Prometheus too - crap film - like a watered down version of Alien. Wonder if the Wright Brothers ever envisaged this? No not Aliens! Being at 35,000 feet somewhere over the North Atlantic watching movies, drinking beers, eating good food (small potions though) travelling 1/3 of the way around the planet.
Its the Mile High Club for me Baby! Really? Need more than one 'member' for that club do I? (fnar fnar eh Brian :-P).
Arrived at San Fran airport into the longest queue ever for passport / immigration. Reminded me of the 80's and the problems with the Greek airports! Taxi to downtown and jeez!, yer man driving didn't know where 8th street was so was trying to navigate using hand held sat nav and almost went up the chuff of a stationary car (queueing traffic on the freeway). Thank God for a space in the lane to the right - very very close to a prang for sure. Seatbelt was now firmly on with apology from driver who was dressed like Michael Jackson (red leather jacket and perm - you know - Thriller stuff!)
So different were the boys at the Harley rentals, could not do enough for me. AND they did fit a power supply to the bike - I'm now on a Fat Boy! See: http://youtu.be/xObOOO0Lf-c
Just coming up to 6pm (2am UK time and I'm good - bit stingy in the eyeballs but hopefully a good night's sleep tonight.. Sailing tomorrow
Shiver my timbers Baby! Note to self: shouldn't that have happened in the mile high club?
Speak soon
No comments:
Post a Comment