Thursday, June 15th 2006
On Our Way Down Under06/15/2006 Location : UA 863 Seat 41H
I'm sure the time stamp on this entry says it's something like 10:00 am on Thursday, June 15, 2006. In reality we have long since crossed the International Date Line and it's the wee hours of the morning somewhere out over the Pacific. In Sydney, our next stop, it's about 1:00 am. My world clock on my telephone helps me a lot to keep it all straight. As I usually do though I will likely keep my computer clock on Chicago time. For me it's just easier that way.
Glad to report that everyone made it to O'Hare in plenty of time and after checking in most of us grabbed something to eat since the leg from Chicago to San Francisco did not include a meal other than the $5 snack box you can buy. The flight to San Francisco was very full and we were basically on time. We didn't have a lot of time in the airport there though. We had to walk to the International Terminal which meant leaving the security area and going through security all over again. The walk wasn't long... maybe 10 minutes. Then we were only at the gate waiting about 30 minutes before we started to board this 747 that has been our transportation, cafe and bed for the last nine hours or so. And just think.... we only have about five hours to go before we land in Sydney! The plane is not full by any stretch of the imagination... but full enough to keep people from stretching out too much.
So far the ride over the Pacific has been uneventful. Just a few bumps where they turned on the seat belt sign but I personally slept through most of that. I've gotten what I would estimate to be about five hours of sleep. Most of us stayed awake until dinner was served (meat loaf or pasta) early in the flight. Then most lights went out and from what I can tell most of the plane has caught some sleep. Of course, it's "airplane sleep" but better than nothing.
About an hour ago we had a snack while the movie "King Kong" finished. I'm sure there were other things playing on the video but I was sound asleep and couldn't tell you what was on. (Wimbledon with Kirsten Dunst is currently playing...) My eye shade, ear plugs, Bucky pillow and slippers did the trick to help me sleep. Didn't even have to touch the Tylenol PM. I should probably still be sleeping but my body clock says it's time to be awake.
We did have one bandsman relocate on the plane for some reason. I woke up and saw the oxygen masks dangling over his seat and the flight attendants were working on relocating the people in that row. Don't really know what that was all about but will find out and write about it later. Don't worry... everyone is OK... but I'm sure there is a story behind it.
I guess that's about it for now... will write more soon.
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