We got the airport shuttle at 6:30am and by 7:15, we had checked in, cleared border services (a totally automated process now in Australia), and cleared security. We found an American Express lounge we qualified to access, and in we went for a hot breakfast - a nice way to start our 24th wedding anniversary. And yes, I did remember. ;-)
An hour later, well fed and caffeinated, we went to the gate of our United Airlines flight to Los Angeles. Today's flight is on one of United's new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. A few maintence items delayed departure by an hour. It's amazing how flights depart Sydney for the 13-hour flight to LA like it's a mere hop across town. The route is well-plied by so many airlines these days.
The routing home takes us from Sydney to LA to Toronto to Halifax. The connections to Air Canada are excellent and will get us home by bedtime. In my first blog entry I complained about missing out on Thursday, July 14th due to the International Date Line. Well the good thing about that is that science gives back the lost time on the way home.
The other good thing about the Internaionl Date Line on the way home is that we got to enjoy our 24th wedding anniversary for an extra day, basically! Ok ok, so it was hardly a romantic thing, being squished into economy seats for 26 hours, but still, nice to be together to celebrate.
We have had quite a tour. Somehow we survived a lost wallet (Los Angeles), getting locked out on a hotel balcony (New Caledonia), a wrecked tire by running over an echidna (Tasmania), and no advance visa into Australia. But all four matters were solved easily due to the kindness of people and a willingness to help. The variety of cultural experiences, the amazing weather (despite it being winter), the unbelievable sights... it all made for the most memorable of vacations.
Thank you for your interest in the blog. I truly appreciate you following it! Until next time.
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