USA Road Trip 2016 - The Prologue

California here we come - plus a little bit of Nevada, Arizona and Utah

On a little cable car heading  the stars

Day one – on the Siven, Siven, Siven – NZ1 to LA.

We chose Air New Zealand flights for our trip.

Two good reasons - The price was keen and we like them

Bit odd getting on the plane knowing we were getting off half-way. NZ1 was on its way to Auckland. We were, of course, down in steerage but we were able to look at Premium Economy so that was a consolation. Not sure what we would do with all that space if we had it, would only lose stuff. Our little seats were still a giant step from Southall. The drive from Poole towards Heathrow was fine but we had a bit of a conflict with the Sat Nav lady. TW nearly threw her out of the window.

For some reason she did not want to take us to our destination, she refused to navigate us to a disused gas works in Southall, does she know something we don’t?

Will our little car be OK at Purple Parking? We managed to trick her into taking us there eventually and then took an immediate transfer to Terminal 2.

The first time at the new Terminal and it was very smart. Check-in was as complicated as ever, a lot of people standing around showing you how to self-check in. Never seems straight-forward despite the fact that we have already done it on-line and we still had to check in bags at the counter. Best thing is to play dumb and they do it all for you anyway.

We still had time to buy lunch before the flight, but not to eat it and my fruit salad went in the bin.

Anyway, Air New Zealand looked after us very well. I sat next to a chap from SF who was thoroughly engrossed in films on his lap top. He only moved to go to the loo but, rather oddly, stepped on my seat to get there.  I was not sitting in it fortunately. I think he said he was a dancer so at least he was light on his feet. TW sat next to an English adopted kiwi lady who lived near Nelson and had a vineyard. Did not invite us to come and stay unfortunately. I did not have a lot of luck with the Entertainment System, getting to an age when I can’t really see it or hear it very well and don’t really like what I could hardly view or listen to anyway. There was some violent rubbish on with a bearded Leonardo de Caprio shouting and everyone get stuck with arrows or garrotted. Pity he did not go down with the Titanic.

No problems with entering the USA at LAX. TW had thrown away or eaten all her food and the visa’s worked. There were actually quite welcoming in their nice new Terminal. Next stop the Hilton on a transfer bus.