Convoys and the Long Way Home

[drron]

Only 48 hours to go until our next trip.Of course I am only going for a conference this weekend in New York.The problem was finding a way home.However putting together a combination of planes,automobiles,trains and ships the problem was solved.
So first flying to Sydney from BNE as the start of our DONE4.Overnight at Rydges and dinner with the family.Next morning off on QF11 which is still holding as an A380.It will be our first time on the 380.We have been booked on it twice before but last minute changes were made.Upgrade requests in so here's hoping.
Next on to DFW and LGA.Several people have asked why we aren't flying direct to DFW from SYD.Surely I don't have to tell anyone here just why.Staying in the Hilton Club on 6th Ave which is the conference hotel.Naturally a lunch at Le Bernadin has already been booked.

Now for finding a way home.First we have to fly to Atlanta and take a week driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway finally reaching Philly.That was so we could fly to Paris.Unfortunately we then have to waste 10 days driving to Amsterdam before we can catch a flight to Helsinki.Then off to Copenhagen where we again have to waste some time driving around southern Sweden.In Copenhagen we are booked at Geranium and FormelB.Noma just doesn't appeal to us.We then embark on the Silver Cloud and cruise to Murmansk and Archangel before returning to CPH for the flight to Bangkok via HEL.

Naturally 6 days of R&R before flying back to BNE via HKG.All on CX.
Unlike others this will definitely not all be in real time but hopefully not too great delays in posting.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Only 48 hours to go until our next trip.Of course I am only going for a conference this weekend in New York.The problem was finding a way home.However putting together a combination of planes,automobiles,trains and ships the problem was solved.
So first flying to Sydney from BNE as the start of our DONE4.Overnight at Rydges and dinner with the family.Next morning off on QF11 which is still holding as an A380.It will be our first time on the 380.We have been booked on it twice before but last minute changes were made.Upgrade requests in so here's hoping.
Next on to DFW and LGA.Several people have asked why we aren't flying direct to DFW from SYD.Surely I don't have to tell anyone here just why.Staying in the Hilton Club on 6th Ave which is the conference hotel.Naturally a lunch at Le Bernadin has already been booked.

Now for finding a way home.First we have to fly to Atlanta and take a week driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway finally reaching Philly.That was so we could fly to Paris.Unfortunately we then have to waste 10 days driving to Amsterdam before we can catch a flight to Helsinki.Then off to Copenhagen where we again have to waste some time driving around southern Sweden.In Copenhagen we are booked at Geranium and FormelB.Noma just doesn't appeal to us.We then embark on the Silver Cloud and cruise to Murmansk and Archangel before returning to CPH for the flight to Bangkok via HEL.

Naturally 6 days of R&R before flying back to BNE via HKG.All on CX.
Unlike others this will definitely not all be in real time but hopefully not too great delays in posting.

Good luck with the upgrades!

Pity you have to waste all that time getting home but sometimes it's difficult to achieve the correct balance I've been told.

Le Bernadine is excellent. No interest in 11 Madison Park?

 

[drron]

We always have lunch at Le Bernadin when in New York.I think this will be our 8th visit.
As to the upgrade just had the shortest F experience ever.Went to mrsdrron's QFF account to check that still the A380 which it is but see confirmed,First.
Yippee.Go to look at seats and still row 12.Go back to the bookings page and it has reverted to-confirmed,business.
Easy come,easy go.

2145 and the SMS has come through.Looks like they were a couple of hours early on the booking page.Now back to confirmed first,P bucket.

 

[JessicaTam]

I am settling in for another great TR. And jealousy set to maximum for the photos.

 

[Pushka]

I know. Sunsets?

 

[jojen]

Looking forward to another great trip report Drron. What a pity you have to waste so much time to get home after your conference !!! What dates are you in Paris ? We will be there from June 1st - 6th. Could meet up for a drink if it suits you and mrsdrron.
Enjoy your trip.

Jojen

 

[TheRealTMA]

I know. Sunsets?

Like a good sunset we do.

 

[Major]

The long way home is right Enjoy the whole experience

 

[drron]

Well apologies for keeping everyone waiting but I admit to a major stuff up.I confirmed my diagnosis of CRAFT disease-Cant Remember A .........Thing.Wednesday came and I was happy I was as organised as I could be.Turned off my home computer at 0900 as our transport was due at 0930.But the computer decided to update and it was slow.Finally shut down 5 minutes after our ride arrived.So off I shot out of the place completely forgetting to pick up my computer bag.Not only no computer but my small camera.My password reminders,notepad to write my trip thoughts down and even a self assessment book so I could do some study on sea days of the cruise.

Fortunately the camera was the least of my worries as I had decided to replace my larger Sony with the new model.Was $599 at Sony Australia but $A550 with a 32 Gb memory card at B&H.But having no camera I looked at the Duty FRee at SYD.Surprise.Was on special at $499 plus an extra 10% off.Amazing.So at least a few pics later of our SYD-LAX flight.

So on arriving at BNE mrsdrron noticed I didn't have my computer bag.Well you know what happened for the next 24 hours and what will continually brought up during this trip.Fortunately a little more luck at checkin as we were offered an earlier flight and took it as we were meeting family in Sydney.So only a short stay in the J lounge.QF 521 was on time and at the gate a little early in SYD.Our bags were the first of the priority tagged bags out about midway through the total load.
Over to the T bus-remember if staying at Rydges but arriving domestically to print out the vouchers from the Rydges site for a free transfer.No problems checking in,put on the top floor but our usual view over the car park.
Had dinner that night with our extended family at Rydges-good food and certainly value with the 25% shareholder discount.Absolutely stuffed and needed to go straight to bed.
Next-off to LAX.

PS-jojen we are just flying in to CDG on 30/5 and driving out.Not going to be in Paris.Sorry.

 

[jojen]

I will make sure I turn the computer off the night before, as it is sure to update, and does seem to take ages. A few years ago I left a considerable amount of GBP & € at home and had to quickly transfer money when we got to Sydney. The following year I made sure I had the money in my bag days before.
Glad it is you and not us driving out of CDG. Sorry we will miss you.

jojen

 

[drron]

So the real start of the trip has come.It really is easy starting off from Rydges.Easy checkin,stop by Duty Free and get my camera then off to the Flounge.Brekkie here of course even though allowed brekkie at Rydges.Mrsdrron has the corn fritters and I the classic 2 egg brekkie.Washed down with OJ.Just didn't feel like champagne.QF11 wasn't up on the board due to a couple of flights having several codeshares.By the time QF11 comes up it is showing final call even though no announcement has been made.Only other thing during our Flounge time was seeing Geotge Gregan.
So we rush off to the gate.Only 2 other F pax behind us.Turns out we didn't have to rush.Apparently all the paper work is being done by hand.Departure time comes and goes.Fortunately as soon as seated I am offered something from this list-

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The Grande Dame is all that has been loaded.As I finish the glass it is removed even though we eventually sat at the gate for nearly an hour.
QF11. SYD-LAX. ETD-0950. Push back-1030. Take off-1048. Seats 5F,K.
ETA-0645. Landed-0639. At gate-0651.
A few in front of us before take off including this little fellow-

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Second time in a week having a medical flight before take off.Coming back from Broken Hill had to wait for the RFDS.But also some larger planes including a Chinese flight just before us-

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Took of over Botany Bay and some good views to the south-

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Soon of course it was time to think of food.That next.

 

[drron]

This was our first time on the A380.We had been booked on it 3 times in the past but always had a last minute substitution.With the extra A380 out of service I would not have been surprised if it had happened again.However no demonstration of features given so took me a while to find out everything.Unfortunately even the tail camera which I only found a little before arriving into LAX-but because my IFE wasn't perfect and kept skipping through the menu.Still no reason to complain having had the upgrade coming through.
So to the menus-

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.http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ELn-qJ4oJnc/VVaxx_MLmFI/AAAAAAAB5pU/x3dri49ppWk/s400/DSC00006.JPG.

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And the wine list-

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Is it a real F wine list?
Would be several different opinions but I felt it was pretty good with examples of most of the better wine districts in Australia.I was satisfied.
Next the food.

 

[drron]

So to the food.First the canapes-

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I thought the caviar tart was pointless.really cant taste the caviar.The lamb dumpling though was quite nice.I started with the Clare reisling.Next was the duck and noodle salad-

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I enjoyed this.Switched now to the Yarra valley pinot noir.Light and easy drinking.
Next the 2 fish dishes.True to character I continued drinking reds.By the time of the main I switched to the Leeuwin cab sav.

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The ceviche was fine though served way too cold.The trevalla was seriously overcooked and quite hard.Only took a couple of bites.Finished off with the pannacotta which was OK not brilliant.All in all not up to F standards.
Then it was time for watching movies.With the recent TRs and the Anzac stories I watched the Parer movie and Kokoda.Then tried to take a snooze.Staff had come around to make up beds but I was ignored.Didn't find the seat comfortable for sleeping so after a couple of hours went back to watching movies.First Mortdecai.I enjoy Johnny Depp's acting.It was funny but I am glad I didn't pay to watch it.Then American Sniper.
It was then time for brekkie-

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I had the Shakshuta eggs.I enjoyed it.Just the right amount of spice.Though felt a bit queasy afterwards so went to the loo.As I sat down we hit severe turbulence.Honestly wasn't my fault!Back to my seat and the sun was just coming up.And I found the camera shots-

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[zig]

Looking forward to another Drron adventure, and of course hearing about Silverseas again.

 

[Pushka]

Rydges really is a great way to start the journey! We will be doing the same in July.

Bummer about the computer though. Do you feel like you are missing a leg or similar?

I hate auto update - almost timed for maximum inconvenience.

Silverseas - nice.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
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I had the Shakshuta eggs.I enjoyed it.Just the right amount of spice.Though felt a bit queasy afterwards so went to the loo.As I sat down we hit severe turbulence.Honestly wasn't my fault!Back to my seat and the sun was just coming up.<snip>
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Just as well you weren't flying LAN. I recently got to know their inflight instructions via repetition. "If you are in the lavatory and the seat belt sign goes on, return to your seat IMMEDIATELY and fasten your seat belt."

Glad you got the A380 at last. I generally prefer it over the 747, but still like the old girls, having grown up with them What about you and mrs.drron?

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

I'm looking forward to the updates on this TR.

 

[drron]

So the final part of our A380 adventure.I really enjoyed the tail cam.So here we are approaching LAX until we arrive at the gate after a long taxi-

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In the last pic you may notice it had started to rain.TBIT has certainly changed and was quite pleasant to arrive at.Virtually no one at Immigration and we were through quickly.The officer even smiled!Of course that meant we had a bit of a wait for the bags.It seemed all the F tagged bags were out first though ours were last.Fair enough as we were probably last into the cabin.Dropped the bags at the AA drop and a short walk to T4.

So thoughts on the A380.Enjoyed the layout though seat not really comfortable.Disliked the fact that it is not couple friendly.Crew were friendly and generally efficient with the occasional lapse.Enjoyed the wines.Food was reasonable for a J cabin.Didn't really come up to F standards.I did enjoy the wine selection though.

No TSA precheck as we had QF BPs for our AA flight.Not a long line so through reasonably quickly.Very soon in the flagship lounge.A long wait as we did allow 4 hours before our onward flight to DFW.Many asked us why we didn't continue on QF to JFK or fly direct to DFW.Easy-360 SCs v 270.Now we didn't need to eat but we both had a bowl of raspberries and blueberries along with numerous cappuccinos to stay awake.Only other thing of note was Eric Bana being there for some time.
Finally time to board.
AA2419. LAX-DFW. ETD-1140. PB-0943. TO-1151. Seats 2A,C.
ETA-1645. Land-1627. At gate-1635.
A new 738 with individual seat screens.A lunch service with a quite forgettable pasta dish.After lunch tried to start the Sudoku but that put me to sleep awakening when on final approach.A fair wait for our bags.Called for the Sheraton DFW shuttle.Great driver-kept us awake until we checked in.Booked cheapest rate-$US60.Upgraded to club floor but not an airport view.Although the exec lounge was now open and it is one of the few to offer free wine and beer we went straight to bed and slept.

Next-New York here we come.

 

[drron]

So we awoke about 0400.Had brekkie at 0600 and got the 0700 shuttle back to DFW.For the price you pay the Sheraton is very reasonable.They also now have an hourly shuttle to Grapevine Mills.
So to Terminal C.This was a shambles.There are no checkin agents just kiosks meaning no priority queue.Unfortunately a very large group of young women rowers from the Presbyterian university arrived just before us.Managed to sneak up behind a fellow who was having some issues checking in but still finished well before the queue of rowers.No issues getting our BP but at no time did we get asked if we had bags.Over to the bag drop.Where are your bag tags?well the kiosk didn't issue any.Go back to that kiosk the agent yelled.So we did and ended up with but still no bag tags.A lot of grimaces and strange noises but she eventually printed off tags.
So off to the security lines.Just before we got there the TSA agent told half the rowers to switch to the priority line.One from each line processed alternately so quite a time to finally get through security and retreat to the AC.As usual not much but we did get coupons for premium beverages.Didn't really need them so just left them behind.

AA1114. DFW-LGA. ETD-0945. PB-0943. TO-0953. Seats 6A,C.
ETA-1410. Land-1350. At gate-1355.
Had been allocated 2A,C but a change to an old 738 with first row 3.So at the back of the F cabin in seats with no recline.Fortunately boarded early as many on their way down the back put their bags above the F seats.Noted at the next gate which left just before ours that boarding is now called-F pax,EXP,OWE,plat,OWS,gold,OWR then anything goes.
This was a brekkie flight and the choices were oatmeal or a quiche.We both had the uninspiring quiche.However the others in row 6 had the oatmeal which looked like a grey piece of cake.Yuck.I then went to sleep.Mrsdrron said I was snoring loudly.Didn't hear a thing.Came to as we were passing Philly.On the wrong side for views of Manhattan.

I actually like arriving at LGA.Very quick to get out of the place with taxi rank close to the AA carousels.No one in the line and a whole lot of cabs.Had a Jamaican taxi driver who had lived in NYC for 30 years.He picked the accent so we had a good conversation about cricket.A fair bit of traffic but soon at the Hilton on 6th and up to floor 37 for check in.
Hilton next.

 

[drron]

So we have a 1 bedroom suite for 6 nights-

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Now it may not look like a great view-

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BUt through those buildings you can see Central Park-

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Otherwise typical New York-

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And out over New Jersey-

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After unpacking it was over to 5th Ave to Best buy and get a computer.Then mrsdrron insisted we go to Macys as she had seen a pink jacket for me that was on special.Macys is just a zoo.All those tourists.Not a pleasant shopping experience.And no pink jackets to be found.

So we started the walk back to the Hilton.Stopped at 39th street and City Lobster.Each of us had a 2.5lb lobster.GReat.Even better I found out later that Aadvantage dining was giving us 8 miles per dollar spent there.Double pleasure.

NYC to be continued.