Airports, Airports

A major part of holidaying is, of course, getting there.
For us this time it started out with a few airports.

Our Virgin awaits

Too much?

First an 8am Sunday taxi to Brisbane International where we checked in, bought too much duty free grog, and flew out at 11am
We had paid the little extra for Premium Economy and so were looked after quite well.  The whole Welcoming Bubbly and hot towel thing.  No sleeper beds though, just slightly larger seats so not nearly as cramped.

That's our place down there

Bright eyed and with bushy tails

Plenty of movies to watch to pass the time on the 13 hour flight to LAX and I developed a congested nose which gave me trouble for the rest of the day.  Probably the air-con.

Sunset over the mid-Pacific

Arrived LAX at 7am Sunday.  All that way and no lost time.
Our flight on Southwest to Albuquerque was not for 5 hours.  We like to allow for delays.  It worked.  There were none.
With our three large suitcases, mostly motorcycle gear, we walked the half mile or so (gotta get used to miles for a while) to the SWA terminal.  A bit of exercise after such a long sit down was good, but our arms lengthened considerably - or so it seemed.
Adam was in town and had been for a week, with Angus arriving just yesterday.  They were to pick up their car at LAX for a drive up the west coast and we hoped to meet up.  However with lost taxi drivers, long wait lines, and parking problems at this airport, it was never realistically going to happen.
But we had a local phone chat and I was wished a Happy Fathers Day as it was such in USA today.  My first ever June Fathers Day wish.
Also this left them free to make their way out of LA and get on with their own adventure, driving a Red Mustang convertible.  What fun.

Meanwhile we endured the LAX security and a few hours waiting in the terminal.  Keeping ourselves awake with Starbuck's excuse for coffee.

Flashy colours of our Southwest Airlines plane

1pm and we lined up for Southwest's rather strange boarding procedure.  No seats are allocated but passengers are given a number according to whether they paid a small premium or checkin in online early.  We had done both so were assigned A22 and A23 and so were in the first block of 30 to board and sit wherever we wanted.  More groups of 30 were allowed on until we were full with the unfortunate late-comers left to pick centre seats and search in vain for overhead locker space.
A fast hour and a half flight - those Southwest pilots do not muck about - saw us 15 minutes early in ABQ where we played a short game of hide and seek with Jack and Linda who had come to pick us up.

I40 through Albuquerque but the city is partly obscured from a huge dust storm that had  followed us in.

But the day - 4pm locally and 23 hours from home - was not over.  Early bed is not a good idea for jetlag so our hosts had organised to take us to a late lunch with the Lunch With Dave riding group.  They are a very interesting group of local Long Distance riding enthusiasts so we had plenty in common.  Also caught up again with Jeff who was proudly sporting his FarRider cap.
After a couple of hours of great storytelling, Charleen and I were visibly wilting so Jack and Linda took us home to where they have installed us in a huge room with a wonderful big BED.

Good Night.

To make us all jealous, Adam has posted a pic with his red Mustang