Day 2618 Long and winding.

15th October 2024

My decision to return via Charlotte instead of Chicago was based on the belief that no one ever flew into Charlotte, and thus the plane would be empty.

The first leg was from Heathrow was marred by a horrendous queue around the passport control area. This was due to extensive work refitting the new facial scanning equipment. There was nearly an hours wait to get to the scanners, great, when all I wanted was to get breakfast. There is still the rule for removing the belt and shoes, if these body scanners are any good they would detect anything dodgy.

Thank goodness for the claim of breakfast would be served within seven minutes of ordering, I certainly needed that.

The gate for my departure was number twenty two, “that shouldn’t take long to walk” I thought, forgetting that it’s a long walk to anywhere at Heathrow.

The lounge was packed, hardly any breathing space at all. My thought that the plane would be empty, evaporated.

The crowd moved as one, like a blob of jelly, first group 1, the posh ones, then group 2 the company paid for the lot. Group 3 &4  are those people that like to boast of their wealth and value the better quality seats and food.

Group 5 are the slightly mean ones who should have paid the up charge, and immediately regret it. The rest from 6 to 9 get to sit of fresh straw.

The plane was packed, the film selection was crap; Hollywood is in dire trouble with productions this bad.

Once we got airborne there was the lunch to look forward to. My choice was chicken in a creamy sauce. It all looked nice, but the bamboo knives and forks were not effective. I was trying to saw through the meat, but I generated so much heat that I expected the fire alarm to go off.

In trying to accomplish this, I spilt my small bottle of water into the shoes of the young girl sitting next to me, she wasn’t wearing them at the time. For most of the journey she had a blanket over her head. So as not to disturb her, I said nothing, and rescued what was left of my water.

I made sure that I got out of the plane before the girl put her shoes on. I think I heard  “ewe!” as I quickly exited the aircraft.

The arrival at Charlotte was almost on the nail, it was a light modern terminal, the walk to the passport control was not long, although there is the wait to get processed. 

In my head I was imagining what problem could occur with my paperwork, as it’s happened a couple of times in Chicago, I was shocked when is said “Welcome home Peter” and let me pass.

Amazing what facial recognition can do.

To catch my plane to Grand Rapids meant walking to another part of the terminal. Through the first checkpoint, the queue was massive.

I was aware that I had to board the next flight in twenty minutes, progress was slow, the clock was ticking down, I was growing anxious, and I still had the scanning section to do.

I placed my leather hold-all in the plastic tray along with my small bag, coat, belt and shoes.

I waited for my hand luggage to roll down the conveyor. Suddenly, it was diverted, there was a question about something. Typical, more delay.

I was bringing back a hard drive, and that was the culprit, or so I thought. Now the hard drive was placed in a separate tray and sent back through.

It was diverted again, this time it was a box of mini discs. Finally I could make the long trek to the departure gate.

By now I was feeling a little sick, my throat was a bit dry and scratchy. I guess all this hassle was making it worse. 

I remembered my Grandson has a bit of a stuffy nose, and he must have infected me.

I didn’t get much sleep at the cottage, or the coach, of the flight, which contributed to my symptoms.

There was an announcement from the captain that he had contracted the maintenance team with a small technical hitch. 

Now, as this aircraft was a Boeing 737 ( not the max)  I had concerns of my own.

However this problem was solved with a strip of black tape, (sick joke) we headed off the Grand Rapids.

As with my first flight and this one, I noticed how uncomfortable they were. I was constantly shifting from one buttock to another, please let this trip be over soon?

At least there was a light at the end of this long tunnel, Kelli was waiting for me, her smile made all of the discomfort barely. Well it made up for a lot of it, my arse was still numb though.