US/Canada July - September 2015

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 51 - (cont)

Finished the day with some more time at the beach







Headed to the Cheesecake Factory for my last supper, couldn't resist taking one for the road

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day - 52
Woke up early, some shots of the sunrise over Ala Wai canal






Went for a final walk along the beach

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day - 52

Milked the last of my time to take as many photos as possible at the beach, and back at the hotel.
Soon enough was on the shuttle and at the airport, just ahead of the 3 hour check in time. People started appearing and lining up, so joined them and ended up having a chat to a couple from Tennessee traveling for a couple of weeks around Sydney.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 52

The line moved quite quickly and was at the check in counter within 5 minutes of it opening. 2 ladies were operating the counter I was at, and I noticed different coloured tags going on my bags by the lady at the back. Then came the magic words from the first lady - 'Do you know how to get to the lounge Mr Mugavin?'
Overjoyed, but needing to confirm I asked -I take it my upgrade request came through?
'Yes, you'll be traveling Business Class today'
I had put my request in months earlier, hadn't heard anything so thought I wasn't successful, so a nice surprise when I got to the airport. 48 000 points well spent.

Wander around the airport before I went to the lounge. I had $2.60 in coins left, I had for the last few weeks been working hard to rid myself of all my coins, including all the ones. A lot of 99c waters paid with handfuls of coins. Anyway, couple of chocolate bars were $1.25 each, asked the server how much 2 were, she looked at me as if I was very simple - $2.50. I was accustomed to the tax being added on, happy to return to Oz with 1 10c piece.





Made my way to the lounge, wasn't too special, some sandwiches, cheese and crackers and free wifi.
Read a couple of papers, surfed the net, then on to the bus to be taken to the gate.

Enjoyable flight, watched some TV, couldn't quite get the seat to go completely flat, until putting the seat up to land, and hit the right buttons.
Dinner was a capsicum soup - very nice, a type of taco, tasted good, but inconsistent temperature, then a strawberry cream cake. Honolulu Cookie Company biscuits and Maui chips at the snack bar, then a Rueben sandwich, which was way too big as another snack/meal before landing.







Very quick to get landside, then struck a problem. The Honolulu flight had been rescheduled since I booked the flight, and Qantas were putting me up at the Holiday Inn before my 7 o'clock flight the next day. I hadn't paid too much attention to the shuttle details, and spent 20 minutes or so trying to find where I was supposed to be. A call to the Holiday Inn, told me where to go, another 15 minute wait. Showed my paperwork to the shuttle driver, who didn't take much interest, just said get on. Joined by about 10 other passengers being put up at the Holiday Inn by Hawaiin Airlines who had a bit of a delay themselves.
Quick check in, before a shower a and sleep before tomorrow's flight back home.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 53 - Sydney

As mentioned previously, the Honolulu flight schedule changed after I booked my flights, and Qantas put me up for the night at the Holiday Inn. When Qantas phoned me and gave me my options, which were an earlier Jetstar flight from Honolulu, or a night in the Holiday Inn, I obviously chose the later. From there my stupidity worked in my favour. The lady asked if I wanted to depart earlier than my original 7.30 Sydney - Perth flight. Thinking 7.30 in the morning was early enough, said no, 7.30's fine. To my delight, when the paperwork came through, realized Qantas had been talking 7.30pm, so got a bonus day in Sydney, and to Qantas' credit they also included the transfers, $80 food credits at the hotel, and also booked the room for 2 nights, so able to have a shower before my flight home.
Early morning, was at the restaurant at 6.30 opening for the breakfast buffet. Had some bacon and eggs and coffee, then on to the train and down to the warterfront, where I was soon watching as the Manly Ferry cut it's way to Circular Quay.



Jumped on the aforementioned ferry for an early morning stroll around Manly.

 

[kermatu]

Very fair deal by QF giving the extra night's accommodation.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 53 - (cont)








Back at Circular Quay, ans was on the phone to a friend of mine that had moved to Sydney for work a couple if years earlier. He had seen a post on facebook showing that I'd be in Sydney and that we should catch up for a coffee.
So gave him a bell, got him out of bed and in his car to pick me up.
What followed was a bit of a Dumber and Dumber routine, as I didn't know where I was, and he didn't know the lay out of the CBD. Took a few phone calls and me moving around, but eventually found an intersection and a land mark that he knew how to get to. From the receiver I heard a 'No worries I'll just turn right', and thought you beauty, he's got his directions.
Few minuted passed and no mate, looked up the road couple of hundred metres away and saw the flashing lights. Was thinking surely not, when the phone rang, I straight away said is that you with the cops? Yep. Told him i'd be there in a minute.
Up the hill, mate had a smile on the face, he's a bit of a such is life kind of bloke, and I was not going to be backward in taking the piss out of him. Took a couple of photos of him and the cop, just in case.
'I thought you got directions of someone through the window'
'Yeah I did - the cop'
Anyway, mate told me the policeman would be a while, as he had a few tickets and that we should go for a coffee. Went up the street, came back about 30 minutes later, policeman still beavering away.
Mate had another discussion with the cop and 15 minutes later where on our way. Mate told me, lost the licence, be going to court in a couple of months.

Anyway, headed to Balmain to a Greek place for lunch, was superb. Tried to give the mate some money for lunch, wouldn't take it. No worries, i'm buying drinks at the pub over the road.
Now my friend is a hard worker, and he's had a lot of success because of his hard work. However he is also the luckiest cough I've ever met. Decided to throw the change from the drinks onto the pokies, 30 minutes later, had $1200 in the kit. My turn, got it down to about 500. Mate had to get to work, so couple of hundred each, said I may as well come to work and have a look.
To Redfern we went, met a couple of his workmates, then he had to prepare for work, so I hung around his room waiting. Cavalcade of behind the scenes people came in, asking where he was, telling me stories, basically and for me happily, telling me he's a good and genuine bloke.
Hung around with mate and production manager for a while, just having a good laugh. Was a really enjoyable way to spend my last afternoon.

Time for the mate to get to work said he only had to do about an hour then he'd take me back to the hotel. Said I could come and watch. Was the most boring hour and a half of my life.
Anyway, after the hour and a half, mate informed me day was taking longer than expected and wouldn't be able to get away, so no ride to the hotel.
No worries, bid my farewell, back on the train, back to hotel, shower, shuttle, then a last flight back to Perth and back to reality.