Gallivanting the globe 2019 - RTW and then some

[JohnM]

Hauling out of DFW, 1A (natch) on an AA B787, someone forgot to load enough nut trays so a wine glass improvised, not a NP salad, agriculture in Kansas or thereabouts, coming in to ANC.

 

[RooFlyer]

Danged secondary checking yet again at immigration despite having a B1/B2 visa.

What does secondary checking involve?

 

[JohnM]

My shorthand for having to be manually checked after going through the whole kiosk process.

 

[JohnM]

Dang! Flying AS F for the first time ANC-OME this morning because I managed to snare P-bucket at a reasonable price, but their lounge is closed for refurbishing until Saturday. At least it is very quiet in the terminal so I’ve found a quiet corner.

 

[JohnM]

Hauling out of ANC and en route to OME.

 

[JohnM]

Coming into OME.

 

[JohnM]

Nome is a slight contrast from Cuba last week .

It’s only 2 deg S of the Arctic Circle and completely isolated. Sunset and sunrise are presently only 4h apart but the ‘night’ is really only a civil twilight.

Getting a vehicle today to get out of town. There are only three decent roads that each go no more than about 150 km NW, N and NE before becoming tracks.







The island at top left of the third screenshot is where I’m heading to next week.

 

[JohnM]

Memo to self: never complain about an airline lounge again.

Nome airport (OME) is TINY. Checkin and security is a zoo. Once through security, a B737 load of pax won’t fit. Solution? Herd them into the warehouse next door.

Edit: I just realised that I should have made it clearer that this Is not a general terminal, but is Alaska Airlines’ premises. It is the only scheduled airline to fly to OME, but there is extensive GA at the field operating from their own premises. Nevertheless, it is completely inadequate.

 

[JohnM]

A favourite seat on a favourite airline on a favourite flight, right now.

QR740 (B772LR) departs LAX around 1600h, so on the cusp of a natural dinner time. 16h to DOH, arrival around 1800h, so nicely timed to get a hotel before continuing the next morning (to HEL on this occasion - in a QSuite A350).

WiFi for the duration of the flight is only USD10 - chump change. But, strangely, VPN needs activating to access AFF. Are you lot even dodgier than I thought?



Hauling out of LAX, kissing the Sierra Nevada goodbye, and hello SLC.














Happy days...

 

[JohnM]

OK, moving nicely along, despite some internet access pauses. It goes from blazingly fast to lengthy pauses. But, hey, I’m not going anywhere for a little while.



The amuse bouche of excellent salmon and an accompaniment kissed with horseradish was divine. The soup was great (and I love the crockery. Missed getting a pic with the lid on.) The prawns were sensational. OMG, QF needs to dispense with that faded NP...

I tried the Chardonnay and the Gruner. Both excellent, but I gave it to the GV by a short head. Great texture, subtle flavour; a cracker.

Happy days cont.

 

[RooFlyer]

Happily, I'm booking that very flight next February ...

 

[JohnM]

Happily, I'm booking that very flight next February ...

Are you REALLY sure you want this purgatory...?

 

[RooFlyer]

Are you REALLY sure you want this purgatory...?

Yes, in spite of the QR propaganda, it was hell a couple of weeks ago ...

 

[JohnM]

OK, moving riiight along.

The beef was pretty good, but the excellent Dijon mustard made it great. I just love that quality isothiocyanate rush up the sinuses.

I left the polenta on the plate .

I tried all three reds. All good. I never thought I would say this because usually, for me, Shiraz doesn’t work very well at altitude. But I gave the elephant stamp to the d’Arenburg by a short head over the Carmenere, with the Bordeaux a half neck behind.

The Bordeaux, not atypically for French reds IMO, I thought was drab. The Carmenere was somewhat unusually light and sleek, and a touch fruity/smoky - not the usual tannic monster.

Now, I may be losing my marbles (entirely possible at my age - and that is not an inducement to raucous or gratuitous comments from the Millennial in our midst (aka @Daver6 ), but I can remember buying Stump Jump for $10/bottle - I thought not so long ago.

 

[JohnM]

Yes, in spite of the QR propaganda, it was hell a couple of weeks ago ...

View attachment 180876

I did, of course, see that. But note, since then, the change in the cushion cover above. I like the new one.

 

[RooFlyer]

Either the reds at play or some turbulence, there (mustard). What are you doing in Helsinki before Ashgabat? (And no, still no eVisa )

Thanks for the tip re VPN & AFF. I went with NordVPN.

 

[JohnM]

Haha. I think the mustard shot was too close-up to focus properly. I’m still focussing on the reds to see if my preference order changes with the cheese...

 

[Daver6]

Now, I may be losing my marbles (entirely possible at my age - and that is not an inducement to raucous or gratuitous comments from the Millennial in our midst (aka @Daver6 ), but I can remember buying Stump Jump for $10/bottle - I thought not so long ago.

Geez...you must be old if you think I'm a Millenial. I'm a Gen-Xer thank you very much

 

[JohnM]

Geez...you must be old if you think I'm a Millenial. I'm a Gen-Xer thank you very much

Hey peeps, I knew that would get him out of bed.

A Gen-X (by a few days) - aren’t they the lost people?

Oops...

 

[JohnM]

Either the reds at play or some turbulence, there (mustard). What are you doing in Helsinki before Ashgabat? (And no, still no eVisa )

Thanks for the tip re VPN & AFF. I went with NordVPN.

Finland is just a bit of time-filling before Ashgabat. Renting a car and doing a loop around the SW of the country before heading to DEL - via SIN and NRT (why fly direct etc... ). Still on track for the direct flight DEL- ASB, God willing....