Home  The All New Blog California: The Journey to Los Angeles
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California: The Journey to Los Angeles |
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Written by Stephen Baines
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Friday, 11 June 1999 |
Well, I'm finally here.... Just.
The plane was a little late setting off from Birmingham, but we made up plenty of time on the way across, and got there in plenty of time for the connecting flight.
The transatlantic flight was fantastic - it really was! I hated the setting off, and I really hated the landing, but in between it was great. Within an hour of setting off I'd had my first G&T, and within an hour and a half I was having lunch, followed by tea, afternoon tea, a quick drink before landing, and then the landing... The little fib I told at check in saying it was my first flight obviously helped, as they came to check I was alright and not too freaked out.
I was really surprised, it was actually a pleasant flight, so I arrived at Chicago O'Hare at 13:30 in the afternoon (about 18:30 UK time), got through immigration no problem, and even found the separate terminal (a tram ride away!) for the connecting flight. It was due to set of at 14:30 (19:30UK)... The plane had been changed, and there was no business class - I was not a happy bunny, so I was in cargo class (or whatever it's called).
We were on the plane at 14:30, but there was a massive thunderstorm, and it knocked out the control tower, and then they were scared of releasing planes. This is one of the busiest airports in the country... There was now a stack of 70(!) planes waiting to set off... So we sat on the plane, and waited, and waited, and waited... 2 hours passed, still not sure when we'd take off... 3 hours passed - still no wiser. The stewardesses decided to come around with a glass of water each. Hmph.
The natives were getting restless, and I'd had about as much as I could take of talking to someone about baseball (still no wiser... I know it's like rounders, but...). They decided to put on the "delay tape". The delay tape was older than the plane, and consisted of The Honeymooners(?), I Love Lucy, The Beverley Hillbillies, more I Love Lucy, and more I Love Lucy... Great.
Still no sign of a take off slot, so they decided to put on the main feature... It was now 00:30UK and still no sign of a take off... They then announced that we were number 14 in the queue and they'd be letting us go 3 minutes apart. Then we were bumped to 17... And then 21... We finally set of from Chicago O'Hare (bored out of our skulls) at 02:00UK (20:00 US - 5 and a half hours late!), and landed here at about 22:00 Pacific (06:00 Saturday).
I got into my hotel (thanks to the hotel shuttle bus) at 22:30, and now am completely exhausted. The view of LA is fantastic, and the hotel (yipee) has air conditioning. I'm knackered, and am now hoping that the modem does work in the US, like it says it does - but the computer adapter certainly does, so that's a bonus!
Tomorrow, it's shuttle bus back to the airport to pick up the car, then mosey on down to Long Beach. |
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