Tuesday, Wednesday Home

The flight was a few minutes late leaving because they couldnt start the right engine! I don't understand the technicalities but we were without cooling in the cabins for a few minutes while they were able to get the right engine operating, then starting the left engine normally! Maybe there is an auxiliary power source they can tap into? I thought we were all going to have to get out and push! Anyway, we were up, up and away and staying the 14 plus hours flight to Brisbane. A snack of nuts and a drink were offered. I just had water as I'd already had a couple of glasses of wine in the lounge club. Moderation in all things. Then dinner was served, about 1am. we had been in the air about an hour and a half by then. I opted for the vegetable biriyani and it was excellent. The French Chardy was good too!

I watched the movie Conclave and thought it was well done, but the ending was a bit wishy washy. It was now well and truly past my bed time so hoped I'd get some sleep as it was now 1.50am and I was definitely tired. Couldn't believe it, but although I knew I had woken up a few times, when I looked at the clock again it was 10am Still being on Canadian time, I had almost 8 hours sleep. I don't get that much sleep at home in my own bed. Clearly I had been having such a great time away that I actually needed to rest! Who would have thought? So, I took myself to the bathroom and on return to my seat asked for a cup of tea. Lovely view out of the window of the sunrise.

The flight attendant told me we had just over 3 hours flying time remaining. About an hour and a half later our breakfasts were served. I opted for the parsley omelette. Way too much food!

Once breakfast was cleared away we were given the Immigration forms plus an express ticket which would presumably get us through Customs quicker.

We are certainly getting closer to Brisbane and I get my first glimpse of land.

Touch down was smooth but we then had to sit on the tarmac a short while as they powered down the right engine! Being amongst the first off the plane is a bonus as we are fairly quickly through immigration, my bag arrives (without being opened by Canadian border security like last time. Thanks for that Vicki) and I find the express queue and get through Customs with barely a cursory glance. I head to the Qantas transfer line and check in for my flight to Adelaide. Somehow my case only weighs a bit over 25 k this time so that makes me doubt the accuracy of one of the scales as it was 27 k in Vancouver. Plus now they put a 'heavy' sticker on it which they didn't do in Vancouver. Clearly Aussie baggage handlers aren't as tough and strong as Canadian ones! On the transfer bus to the domestic terminal and find my way to the Qantas business class lounge where it is nice to have a coffee and the blog catch up. About an hour and a half before my flight. Just want to get home now. Will bring this travel blog to a close now, unless anything out of the ordinary happens getting back to Adelaide. Touring through the Rockies and the Alaska cruise with Jo was great. Loved revisiting places I'd previously been to and also the new experiences. Disappointed that although the tour companies claim that May is the start of the travel season, this is misleading. If something is advertised as starting then I expect it to be open and operating at full strength. This was not the case in the Rockies where none of the ski lifts were operating. Many sites and shops were not open and staff was minimal and often poorly performing in a number of the big name hotels we stayed at. I expect better when I'm paying a premium amount. So, would I recommend the Rockies tour, yes, but not in May. Wait until at least June. The Alaska cruise was okay because the weather was kind to us for the week of the tour and I got to do things that the bad weather precluded last visit. Still not a big fan of Holland America though. At least they didn't have the endless art auction's that Princess line insists on. And if ever you want to see more of British Columbia than Vancouver and the Rockies, head to the Similkameen Valley and surrounds.The wineries are endless. It is the Orchard of BC so has the best fresh fruit anywhere. The mountains and lakes provide great scenery everywhere you look. Lots of wildlife to be on the look out for too. Then if you really want to experience the life of a local, head to Hedley. Look for the multi coloured fence and all the giraffes and fairy lights at a corner house on Scott Street. Pop in and say hi to my sister and brother in law. Give the fur babies a cuddle for me and let Vicki and Joe know how much I have loved spending time with them in their little bit of paradise and how welcomed I felt in sharing their lives and activities with their friends.Miss them already!