6 / 30 / 2009

3 AM, enough said.  I look forward to this trip now with vigorous anticipation.  Two months of menial labor have taken their toll on my middle-aged form.  Africa now represents a chance to rest.

Gina is a wonder and meets me in front of her house at 4:20 and we drive to the airport. I will sorely miss Chuck and Gina and their incredible hospitality.  As I leave for Africa, they are leaving for San Diego and more service to the USMC.

Although I miss the first flight to Chicago, it’s first class on the next one and I’m lucky enough to get the last business class seat available for the 5PM flight to London.  Joe is on my left, a seasoned traveler from England who visits his daughter in LA.  Kimberly is next to me on my right; she’s a fellow United furloughee.  She’s also a bit flirtatious but good company for the nine hour flight.  Michal, an Israeli banker for Barclay’s in NY, is across the aisle.  I give her my card.  It is a good group of travelers, better than almost any other I’ve experienced as we chat and laugh across the two aisles for a good portion of the journey.

All competence and smoothness leave me once we arrive in London.  I leave my largest bag inside the security area while trying to help Kimberly purchase tickets for the underground.  A 45 minute wait to get back inside, wondering who is doing what to my bag.  Kimberly is kind and waits at the curb with the bags I did remember.  Finally I get inside and my bag is right where I left it, now I wonder what the English security folks are actually doing...  Another wait for the bus and I finally make it to the hotel to discover my reservation was for June, not July, 1^st.  Hey!  More starpoints.