Day 1 of our next adventure to the USA. This trip was planned in 2020 but was delayed a little for some reason ! Kerry & I will be away for 7 weeks this time with the primary goal ticking off the final 6 states so we can achieve the target of visiting all 50 states in the USA.
Well we picked up the Kia Stonic (small SUV) rental car from Hertz and left home @ 5.20pm for the drive to Brisbane Airport and topped up with $10- gas (might as well start using the yankee language now I guess) and experienced the stupid parking entry at the Shell Petrol Station near the airport again ! The Stonic is a bit gutless to drive but did the job for 1.5 hour journey from home.
Easy drop off for the rental car and then off to aisle 9 to check in our suit cases where we treated like royalty as QFF Bronze Members and invited to join the Business Class queue of 3 instead of Economy line of 30. Saved about an hour.
played a tournament in Brisbane it seems. Pakistani were all wearing gold medals so presume they had a good time.
Through security pretty quickly and had dinner at Brisbane River Grill watching Wallabies playing the Allblacks and had an $11- Coopers pale ale with battered hoki which was a big size with fries and salad. Kerry had Mediterranean Chicken Salad which was fresh with water.
Didnt watch much as I was trying to get my updated International Vaccine Certificate (blue version which the Qantas staff told us our new PM Albo changed recently and did not tell anyone!). Apparently the green form is OK to leave but you now need blue version to return.
Trying to remembering my MyGov ID and passwords at the airport was not ideal but eventually got it done so I can return to Oz. How stressful.
Down to gate 86 and nobody around as no other flights leaving as its 9.30pm now. Boarding started on time and we got through really quickly and on board we go. Exit row seats with heaps of leg room and left the gate @ 10.33 on our 13.5 journey due to land in Los Angeles
All the crew were Kiwis as they are not allowed to mingle with Aussies since COVID19 (that is the last I will mention that in this blog). Spoke to steward about her experiences and then put on the magic Bose Noise cancelling headphones and fired up Netflix on the new iPad Air and watched the Adam Sandler flick called Hustle.
They gave us dinner at midnight which seemed odd. I had wagu steak with mashed potatoes and carrots and Kerry had a Pasta dish. Had a nap for a few hours and then watched the Shania Twain story.
Next up listened to Episode # 31 of the Podcast The Howie Games on Spotify starring Phil Liggett. Later had some cheese crackers for a snack. Breakfast was a fruit platter and super fresh.
Arrived in Los Angeles about 20 minutes early at 6.40pm but had to wait ages in line with Customs area as usual and eventually got through around 8.30pm and luggage was ready so out we went to find the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Shuttle and we were in the hotel by 9pm and ventured down to the lobby bar for
some Quesadillas and Kettle type chips (called pub chips) and we had a Dos Equis Beer and Angry Orchard Apple Cider.
Met a guy from Fargo North Dakota and he was surprised to know we had been there. In his words did you go by mistake?.
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