December 4th 2013
We are officially on our way. After a slightly delayed start when the taxi service was late picking us up, we arrived at the airport in good time.
Arriving at the airport we then encountered Air Canada services or lack thereof. We needed to shrink wrap the panniers together so that we were only charged for the bikes and not 2 extra bags. Nobody knew where to find the shrink wrapping service and then decided that they didn’t do it anymore. Ralf took a walk around the airport and found a place that would strap the bags together. I fortunately had bought two large plastic bags so we were able to put the panniers in them and then strap them together. Unfortunately, I decided to only strap my rear panniers and not the front, forgetting that all our kitchen camping equipment was in one of the front panniers. Yes security found our KFS and paring knife and my Swiss army knife, when they x-rayed the front pannier. All confiscated, Bugger. We could have chosen to check the extra bag for $45.00 and keep all of the items, I think we can replace the few items for less than that. Still I was pretty cross with myself.
When we checked in we discovered that Air Canada had not seated Ralf and I together, we asked a couple of people if they would swop seats, but no one wanted a middle seat. I sat with two very nice women. We chatted about the Grand Adventure and also where they were travelling and where they had travelled too. The flight seemed very long, but fairly uneventful.
Arrived at LA airport and am amazed at how expensive a pizza, salad, beer and a glass of wine was.
Ralf broke his glasses and now is emulating his Coronation Street hero – Jack Duckworth!. I somehow damaged my helmet.
So quite an expensive first day – we need to replace my helmet, Ralf’s reading glasses, eating utensils and my Swiss army knife. I got a prepaid visa card from my office for a going away gift.
Thanks MHBC for my new helmet.