A pocket full of air

Charlie Brown in Bronze
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Ok so I landed... safely.

Now, let me be the first to admit I am a disasterous travellor. Between Brisbane and Santa Rosa I managed to drop my passport, lose my tickets, have my tweezers confiscated, my face cream thrown out and pay $8.20AU for a chicken and baby spinach baguette... sorry what I ment to say was a PROCESSED chicken and baby spinach baguette! (I am caught wondering... is that even how you spell baguette??) So yes, I am a disasterous travellor.

I am going to be kind to myself today and put it down to the 5 minutes in the bathroom.

Snoopy playing at being a rainbow child
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That and a surprisingly patient one. I forgot that air travel is all about waiting... that and appropriate que ettiquette (hmmm another spelling moment). The que to check in (bypassed thankfully by the electronic sysem (go QANTAS)), the que to check luggage (my pack weighed 10.2kg by the way, and the pack itelf weighs 3 kg so who says women can' travel light??), the que to buy food, the que to get on the plane... and then there is the 13 hours (plus one hour of sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off) seated on a plane with no entertainment system. Yes, thats right, no entertainment system! (NOTE: do not fly United Airlines if you cannot amuse yourself for 13 hours without going nuts).

Surf Life Saver Snoopy
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Highlights of the flights??

* I did finally get to see the Sydney Oprah House and the Sydney Habour bridge, yes it was from a plane but darn it, Sydney just doesn't say "visit me up close"... well not to me anyway.

* I was witness to the QANTAS Pilot attempt to use the planes left wing as a wabba board whilst simultaneously hitting an air pocket just before final approach. Needless to say "sweaty palms moment"

* The Sydney trains have two levels for seating! (Is that one of those small things that amuse small minds??)

Hello from Railroad Square
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* [This one is for Jas] Ordering orange juice on an USA owned airline and being given TANG!

* Pretzels instead of peanuts.

* Being told that our destination was 7600km away, that we were flying at 1,000kms per hour (average) and that it would take 13 hours to make the trip...

Ohhh and finally the number one highlight of the flight *drum roll* reconstituted apple crumble for dessert! Is there anything the USA'ians won't dehydrate?

Yes... they really are everywhere
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But I landed and I am alive and well, if not somewhat disorientated. I was greeted at the airport by my friends husband, whom I have never met, and whose English is far better then she let on. Despite all fears he looked exactly like his photo so he didn't need the hand painted sign or the flashing red light (yes he did atually bring a flashing red light along...) for me to find him :). The best part was him recognising me! The five minutes in the bathroom re-civilising myself must have worked wonders, that or every picture he has ever seen me in makes me look like I haven't slept in 24 hours. I am going to be kind to myself today and put it down to the 5 minutes in the bathroom.

Am I being paronoid???
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Highlights of the drive to Santa Rosa??

* Crossing the Golden Gate bridge and seeing Alcatraz

* [This one is for Meggan] Finding out my best friends husband loves bats!

* Finally getting to meet my friends husband (he does exist... there was some doubt)

Or are fictional characters following me??
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* The welcome hug when I finally arrived "home"

An interesting fact about Santa Rosa - it is the birth place of the guy who wrote Charlie Brown comics, yes indeedy - and in true United States style there are little shrines to him everywhere... in the shape of charlie Brown statues. Steeped in Amricana history this sizeable little town is a curious mix of heritage and modern USA. On its doorstep are Redwood forests and being this close to the great city of San Fran you just know Santa Rosa is bursting with Artistic Talent. I will be in this delightful little hamlet for 11 days so stay tuned.

Hugs