Tempting fate

[RooFlyer]

Yes, tempting fate to show this intended ininerary:



... and what happened to 'why fly direct when you connect'? If all this comes off, I'll buy a lottery ticket.

On a small bird today to Adelaide to catch up with friends and a lunch. Given snow is forecast on Mt Wellington over the weekend, it seems a good choice!

 

[Pushka]

Yes, tempting fate to show this intended ininerary:

View attachment 264580

... and what happened to 'why fly direct when you connect'? If all this comes off, I'll buy a lottery ticket.

On a small bird today to Adelaide to catch up with a number of good AFF friends and a Rockford lunch. Given snow is forecast on Mt Wellington over the weekend, it seems a good choice!

Ooops. Awful winds in Adelaide today and heavy rain up north. Kind of where Rockfords is.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ooops. Awful winds in Adelaide today and heavy rain up north. Kind of where Rockfords is.

I'm traveling ... I'll take it! I'm sure the lunch is indoors.

Meanwhile, arriving at one of Australia's worst airports, HBA, I find that the Management have been using the past 18 months to progress the terminal carpark works with the same aclarity as before:


Walking from the car park, I was surprised that no one was wearing a mask. Good grief - had common sense actually prevailed? Only in part. No masks outside, but still required inside.

Still self service at the QP (in spite of some claims re self service elsewhere ). Mask off.



And the view hasn't changed



Another surprise. The ride, in Alliance livery.




Note the 'sophisticated' boarding ramp

 

[RooFlyer]

General view of HBA departures area. Note the wooden seating before they turf you outside.



Looking outside to the cattle guidance things, leading to the long outside walk to the arrival 'processing area'.

 

[RooFlyer]

HBA seems to be a bit of a VA wasteland ( even a SQ flight there!)





Board on time - Embraer 190 in J - seat and adjacent ones




Only 2 of us in J and rest lightly loaded. Lunch with a SA Pinot noir



Landfall near Warrnambool



Some rough weather on approach and this on the tarmac. RAAF but the markings are 'greyed out'. Anyone know why?

 

[RooFlyer]

Staying at the Hilton then to L2 and a sign of the new me







And upgrade to J HBA-PER has just come though

 

[docjames]

HBA seems to be a bit of a VA wasteland

Fixed for you

Board on time - Embraer 190 in J - seat and adjacent ones

View attachment 264603
View attachment 264604

J Seats look approximately 1000 years old

Some rough weather on approach and this on the tarmac. RAAF but the markings are 'greyed out'. Anyone know why?

View attachment 264608

They're hiding (camouflaged) ;-0

 

[RooFlyer]

J Seats look approximately 1000 years old

Yes, but comfy and ... J !

 

[RooFlyer]

Dinner last night with AFFers and a couple of Peking ducks





Walked off this morning amongst Adelaide 's parks



Off today this 'secret' location, for reasons to be revealed shortly!

 

[RooFlyer]

We are off to Rockford winery for the annual AFF lunch!







First to the Stonewaller room for some Black Shiraz





Who should also turn up but @Daver6 and party!

Next- lunch!!

 

[RooFlyer]

New lunch room layout. The big table has gone, max 12 now over smaller tables



Menu



This fella isn't on the menu

 

[RooFlyer]

Lunch -start with Asparagus soup with 2015 Eden Valley Reisling



Then chicken and spec terrine with 2021 White Fronti



Then Pennsylvania crooked neck pumpkin tart with 2011 Moppa Springs GMS

 

[RooFlyer]

Braised beef brisket and stuff, 2008 Basket Press





Strawberry and almond verachin, 2015 Cane Cut Semion



Hot chocolate



The collection



Post lunch tasting, and orders!!

 

[RooFlyer]

Overall, the day was

 

[Daver6]

I felt a bit like I turned up to a surprise party that was arranged for me!

 

[RooFlyer]

As usual, an excellent lunch at Rockford and I think a record 9 AFFers, from 4 states there: Buzzard, Matt_01, VPS, GPH, ALH, Boomy, Steady, myself and Daver6. We repaired to the Stonewaller Room where any unusued Basket Press allocations were quickly and skillfully extracted for the benefit of the non-Stonewallers.

Back on the bus and into town; a 'quiet' dinner and now in the mostly empty QP this morning for the flight back to Hobart. To Perth tomorrow and more AFF meet-ups.

After being asked for umbrellas at the security check-point, I rummaged around in my carry-on, but not finding one, concluded that I hadn't brought it after all. Got through, only to discover said umbrella, undetected, in the carryon. Go figure.

 

[Pushka]

As usual, an excellent lunch at Rockford and I think a record 9 AFFers, from 4 states there: Buzzard, Matt_01, VPS, GPH, ALH, Boomy, Steady, myself and Daver6. We repaired to the Stonewaller Room where any unusued Basket Press allocations were quickly and skillfully extracted for the benefit of the non-Stonewallers.

Back on the bus and into town; a 'quiet' dinner and now in the mostly empty QP this morning for the flight back to Hobart. To Perth tomorrow and more AFF meet-ups.

After being asked for umbrellas at the security check-point, I rummaged around in y carry-on, but not finding one, concluded that I hadn't brought it after all. Got through, only to discover said umbrella, undetected, in the carryon. Go figure.

Even in Covid times the obsession in SA security with umbrellas beggars belief.

Wow, what a gathering. Nice stuff.

 

[Daver6]

As usual, an excellent lunch at Rockford and I think a record 9 AFFers, from 4 states there: Buzzard, Matt_01, VPS, GPH, ALH, Boomy, Steady, myself and Daver6. We repaired to the Stonewaller Room where any unusued Basket Press allocations were quickly and skillfully extracted for the benefit of the non-Stonewallers.

Back on the bus and into town; a 'quiet' dinner and now in the mostly empty QP this morning for the flight back to Hobart. To Perth tomorrow and more AFF meet-ups.

After being asked for umbrellas at the security check-point, I rummaged around in y carry-on, but not finding one, concluded that I hadn't brought it after all. Got through, only to discover said umbrella, undetected, in the carryon. Go figure.

Three states and a republic thank you

 

[RooFlyer]

Same plane and seat on the way home. Nice brekkie - 2 hot choices: this was the snags, relish and frittata. Greek yoghurt and a small muffin.



Same excrable arrival formalities at HBA. Through the cattle gates to a long queue on the tarmac apron. Welcome to Hobart



At least now under basic cover. Except they had the gates wrong so we were directed back onto the open apron. Found our way back to join the back of the queue from the plane that arrived before us



Not the front of the queue, but just where you enter the terminal proper. Then it's temp check and screening by biosecurity people. About 15 mins extra all up for me, at the front of our planeload.

 

[Daver6]