Back in the UK

So now we're back in the UK. We arrived back at 1.15pm after an interesting pre-flight experience. However, let's go back to Friday.

We packed and repacked to get all the breakables cushioned and into four bags and two carry-ons. we did it with space and weight to spare. We had two options of the farce of BA's inability to let us check-in on-line. We had been persuaded to use BA after not using them for a few years, however, we will not be using them again as their pre-fight log-in seems pretty rubbish. Anyway we could either leave our bags at the hotel, collect them later and go out to airport taking pot-luck with seats or go out to the airport early, check-in and come back to the city. We choose to do the latter.

We went down to breakfast to see our favourite waitress, Tracy. The Westin St Francis has to be one of the best hotels that we stay in; excellent service and excellent staff.

We checked out and headed out on the BART to the airport. At the check-in desk I mentioned about the inability to check in on-line and was informed that at least half of the flight had done so! On the way back to the city I composed and have sent off an e-mail about the appalling service. We will not be using them again!

We ended up at The Embarcadero and went up the National Parks Historic Ships. It was a delightful walk. They've various ships(!) there that are worth looking over including an old sailing ship built in Glasgow and a paddle steamer built in Newcastle. There was a car ferry, Eureka, that served as the connection across the bay as part of Route 101. We explored it and the Balclutha, the sailing ship. The day had been very sunny and very warm. It was a lovely day. All too soon it was time to head off to the airport again. It was a good day to leave. We took the F-Line tram back to The Embarcadero and was it crowded! We got off early and walked to the BART. It took about 35 minutes to get to the airport.

Once at SFO we went through the usual security searches; shoes off, all things into the grey trays; through the metal detector and then repacking everything back into pockets and back-packs, not forgetting to put shows on.

We then had to wait to board. The BA flight was late in, late boarding and late leaving! Those are three more reasons why we won't be using them again. We had seen that the flight had been late for several days in a row!

Once on board the in-flight entertainment and stewards was good. It was all video/music/tv on demand. After a meal, some wine and then a little more wine, I must have slept for about five hours as the next thing I recall is the cabin lights going up, my shoulder aching and it was just on two hours to touch down.

We landed 15 minutes later than the scheduled time having had a strong head wind that cut the flight time down. What was irritating was that the plane's stand was still occupied and we had to wait an additional 15 - 20 minutes. Once off it was the long trek to immigration, which was quiet and deserted. A pleasant official saw us through; a long wait for our luggage; finally out for our bus to Woking and surprise, surprise just as we had left it was overcast and threatening to rain now it was raining. Welcome Home.

Back to Winchester on the train and time to reflect.
Taking out the flights we had travelled for nearly three weeks and, as I wrote earlier, driven close to 3000 miles. We've meet fantastic people and always been treated well. Staff have been great and drivers have been courteous. None of them would have known we were British driving in a foreign country.

There may be other blogs that I write and others write describing their adventures but this is the final entry for this one.

Farewell.