Day Twenty Four

Up at 7am. No luck finding the crickets last night. Loaded the car at 9am and then off to San Francisco. 

Headed west for about an hour and the stopped for fuel and toilet break just outside Selma. We then headed first north west and then west for a couple of hours to Gilroy. Scenery was great as ever, fields of fruit, hills, reservoirs.

Ann's phone kept ringing. It was a mobile number. Eventually she answered when it rang for the fourth time. It was the Stowmarket Taxi driver saying he was running late. Ann pointed out that we were still in California and that he was picking us up on Wednesday at 6.50pm not Tuesday.

Arrived at the diner we planned to stop at for lunch but unfortunately we hadn't checked its opening hours, so we arrived just as it was shutting. Carried on north whilst Ann searched for something and then we stopped at a Denny's. The first and only one of the trip. Had lunch and headed north again.

Arrived to return the car. Guy said it didn't have the right amount of fuel in, I said it did. I won. Waved goodbye to the car.

Got an Uber to the airport. 

Arrived and went to drop the baggage off. We have done this lots of times before but this time was special, we got to drop it at the Club World desk with its own special lane. When we originally planned the trip the first thing we did was work out the flights. We tried lots of combinations as to which way around the trip would be, Alaska first, California first, Hawaii first, and the days to fly. Eventually we realised that if we did it the way we eventually did, that Business Class out of San Francisco on a Tuesday night was probably as cheap as we could ever hope to find it.

The lady on the desk obviously thought we didn't look that kind of class because the first thing she did was surreptitiously check that we were Club World before allowing us to use the desk. Once we checked the luggage, the lady told us that she had marked us as priority. Went to security, there was a priority lane so went up it. Got through security quickly. No one questioned us! No discrepancies in the groin or buttock area.

Went to the BA lounge and was allowed in. It was very busy and we were unsure about how to act. Found a seat. Then everyone left as a flight was called. Got a choice of every seat. Sat on a couple out of the way. Passed the time using the free Wi-Fi and reading my book. Ann spent it wandering seeing what treats she could get. All the food and drink was free, so more things kept arriving like cheesecake and warm cookies.

Eventually it was time to go to the gate. Chaos there as there were so many people waiting stood all over the shop. Eventually we got to board in the second group. Took our Club World seats. Ann offered me the window seat saying that she had the window on the flight over. I think she just didn't want to face backwards. Played with everything and looked at all the White Company goods we got for free. Were giving orange juice before we took off.

Eventually took off about half an hour late. Had a three course dinner including a caramel mousse.

Ann watched a film and I settled down to read a bit. Then closed my eyes. When I opened them Ann was asleep as was the entire plane. Put my seat all the way to a bed and cracked out the blanket and pillow. Didn't really get to sleep much more but it was just nice to have so much room.

Breakfast was served so had orange juice and warm croissants. And then it was time to land. Got off quickly, through passport control in seconds. Then had to wait for hours for our cases. Ann's arrived first as ever.

Got the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then the Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street. Sat in a coffee shop for about an hour before boarding the 5.30pm to Stowmarket. It was very busy as it was rush hour but nearly everybody got off at Colchester. Spent the journey discussing our favourite bits of the trip and the fact it has gone so quickly. Arrived at Stowmarket to find the taxi waiting. Don't know if he had been there for 24 hours.

Got home. Made mash for dinner as we have on our return from every trip. This time we used some of our own potatoes. Tesco delivery arrived. Tried to watch TV but Ann kept falling asleep, hence she has now gone to bed as I type which is only fitting.

States visited - 4

Total states visited - 50