Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

Wednesday 18 June
Day 16
LHR - DTW - YOW


LHR - DTW DL17 (B777-200LR)

DTW - YOW DL4027



Today I used the services of Uber for the first time to go from the lodge to LHR. The pick up was fast & there was hardly any traffic. Thanks to a £20 intro discount code, my fare was only £13.



Time to leave the country, Erk...





Check-in was s-l-ow.

One guy at the self service machine asking me questions & trying to charge me for bags. In the end, the machine would not let me check in. He also confused me by asking "When did you leave Canada?" and me saying "I haven't been yet!"

Turns out he meant "How long will you be in Canada?" or "When are you leaving Canada?"

Then the ladies at the entry point to the check-in line asking me the security questions.

Then more questions at the check-in desk...

The lady at the desk & the guy at the machine tells me that my plane is delayed for 20 minutes. The lady starts to talk about putting me on another flight DTW - YOW. With a 20 minute late departure & an expected on time arrival into DTW according to the screen & DL app, I can't see why my connection needs to be changed now. Original connection stands.

Once again, DL try to charge me for bags. According to their screen, I am
SG not WP (no surprise there after my last US trip).

She sees a supervisor & in the end, there's no bag charge. BP still shows SG despite showing WP card. Flight was booked as SG.

Reasonably quick through security considering it is LHR at 0700 on a day ending in Y & off to the SkyTeam lounge.

 

[erkpod]

Interesting tag I've never had to use before. My bags are checked through to YOW.



Totally unrelated to anything but since when does this stop me?

Speaking of totally unrelated, I shared a room with 2 Australian ladies last night. Of course, we picked out our accents immediately. They are starting to work in the UK soon & are traveling around before they start work & their accommodation is sorted.





I'm not sure how DL19 & DL39 have the same AF flight number.



Not much ramp action visible from the lounge.

 

[erkpod]

SkyTeam lounge T4, LHR

 

[bass_ke]

Are you thinking of coming on the cruise?

More along the lines of what sub genre do Turisas fit in? I'm a big fan of power and prog metal but haven't quite found anything like those guys before!

 

[erkpod]

More along the lines of what sub genre do Turisas fit in? I'm a big fan of power and prog metal but haven't quite found anything like those guys before!

I find sub-genres to be useless at times because they are often limited to whatever selection the site featuring of them allows.

On FB for instance, they list themselves as battle metal, whatever that is.

 

[bass_ke]

I find sub-genres to be useless at times because they are often limited to whatever selection the site featuring of them allows.

On FB for instance, they list themselves as battle metal, whatever that is.

This is true! Although it does make me want to battle more than old school Rhapsody!

As long as we don't head down the line of Pirate metal!

 

[Atleastonce]

Where is Erk?

 

[bass_ke]

Where is Erk?

I was wondering the same thing! Maybe lost somewhere between London, Detroit and the free state of Canadia?

 

[rioter]

This is true! Although it does make me want to battle more than old school Rhapsody!

As long as we don't head down the line of Pirate metal!

Here is my time to shine

They tend to fall under the bigger banner (which pirate metal usually sits under too) of folk metal. So such bands as skyclad, fintroll(although popularised would be a better term) and amorphis are usually viewed as the pioneers of this genre.

Most don't tend to have the clean vocals that turisas have, but they are around. Off the top of my head check out -

Sabaton -
Sabaton - To Hell & Back (Official Video) - YouTube

Imperial age - specifically this song.
IMPERIAL AGE - Anthem of Valour (Official music video) - YouTube


Plenty more recommendations depending on what you like there. Feel free to PM me if you want more

 

[erkpod]

Oh hai, everyone. I am in Canadia dealing with very limited interweb access & lost luggage.

Trip report to return ASAP.

 

[Flashback]

Just of note... I walked past one of my local pubs on the way home from the train station today and noticed a Trooper sticker on the door. I'm sure it wasn't there earlier this week.....

 

[Julesmac]

Absolutely awesome TR so far Erk. Have you ever seen -can't recall where but I am sure Doctor Google will find it. A collection of diagrams depicting various themes for maps of the Underground

 

[Bofter]

Once again, DL try to charge me for bags. According to their screen, I am
SG not WP (no surprise there after my last US trip).

She sees a supervisor & in the end, there's no bag charge. BP still shows SG despite showing WP card. .

Erk, I thought that there was no free luggage on DL for VA plats, only priority tags. Or are you simply successful in convincing them otherwise?

 

[erkpod]

Greetings from the American pen at YOW. Off to DTW soon before a 4 hr layover before heading off to LHR. I'll overnight near LHR before flying to AUH on Wednesday. Then I'll fly back to SYD on Friday, arriving Saturday.

I plan to extend my trip by doing SYD - MEL - SYD over the weekend for a couple of ice hockey games in MEL.

TR to resume shortly.

 

[erkpod]

Wednesday 18 June continued...





Probably a little late for me to worry about the weather.



Almost time to leave the lounge.



The lounge has a Playstation!



I thought it was Tang for a second!

 

[erkpod]

Retro KLM livery







My plane for LHR - DTW

 

[erkpod]

Plane spotting from the T4 Observation Deck

 

[bass_ke]

Welcome back Erk! Love the retro livery! I saw a TG one in BKK A couple of years ago, lovely!

 

[erkpod]

More plane spotting.

 

[erkpod]

Plane spotting from my plane at LHR





Looking out the window.