Day Twenty Nine/Thirty

As said in the previous blog, we had to check out by midday, but then had to wait until 4pm to drop the car off. The airport was less than five miles away so we didn't need to travel anywhere. Also we had to drop the car back with no fuel, so we had run it right down.

This meant we had to kill four hours but couldn't really drive anywhere. To make matters worse, although it wasn't too hot, it was very sticky weather which meant standing outside was an issue. We obviously didn't want to get hot and sweaty before boarding the aeroplane.

So what to do?

Well, first of all we stayed in the room right up to the 12pm check out. Then we loaded the car and checked out. We strolled across the road to take some pictures of downtown San Diego's skyline.

Classy

Unfortunately this made us hot, which was not good. Our plan just to find somewhere to sit about for some time took a dent, so we had to rethink.

Plan was changed to find somewhere with air con to sit around, but not too far away.

Used the sat nav to find a Starbucks. Drove there, went in, bought drinks, realised it was the smallest Starbucks ever and that every seat was taken. Had to sit outside. Bugger. Got hot again. This wasn't going well.

Next we needed to get a couple of things from a supermarket, so found the nearest, drove there. Good news was it had plenty of space and air con. Even better was there was an even smaller Starbucks within it and no customers. Bought more drinks and sat down. Stayed there for a while. Went and looked in another shop, before deciding to leave.

Next we went to a Subway and had lunch, managed to make it last about an hour. By this time it was 3.30pm, so we then headed to the car rental drop off near the airport which took about ten minutes.

Had to leave the car. Final mileage was 4335. Said goodbye and caught the bus to the airport.

Baggage drop was opened at 4.45pm, we arrived at 4pm. More time to kill so we sat and drank everything we had left knowing we wouldn't be able to take it airside. Turns out we had a lot of fluid. I had to drink most of it. We also chatted to a couple from Hastings who were also waiting.

There is only one BA flight out of San Diego each day, so only two desks. It didn't take us long to get through and then through security.

Then we had another three and a half hours to kill. Managed to do so.

Got on plane, it was busy. Took off just a smidgeon late. Watched lots of films and TV. Didn't sleep, didn't feel like sleeping.

Soon enough, nine hours or so, we touched down at Heathrow. We used our new e-passports to breeze through passport control. Our bags came out early and then as we got to the Reading Rail Air Link stop, a coach pulled up. Got on, went straight to Reading.

More time to kill, an hour and a half. Went to Costa.

Then went to platform, got on train. It was the exact opposite of our train journey four weeks ago. Barely anyone in first class. Pretty much had the free refreshment cart to myself. Got back to Totnes a couple of minutes early. Mum and Dad picked us up and dropped us home.

Ate mash potato as usual.

Now writing this at 11.45pm. Have been up for 32 hours. Remarkably Ann is still awake. Not sure what she's been on this trip. Normally she is always asleep, this trip she's always been awake.

States visited this trip - 18

Total states visited - Ann 44, Richard 43

Total miles driven over three trips - 12,400