Home sweet home! What an adventure I had. One of my better international trips. Worth the long flight to get there and to get home but I am exhausted. I have a busy week ahead so will work in spurts and rest in spurts.
We had about an hours delay leaving Melbourne so sat at the Melbourne airport for several hours. When we arrived in Auckland, New Zealand we had only 45 minutes to make our connection. We ran through the airport for 35 minutes stopping only to wait in line through immigrations and customs. Made it to the gate with 3 minutes to spare. Nicole and I were seated in row 58 of 60 rows so it took a long time to get off the airplane.
We were in row 58 or 60 again for the 12 hour flight from Auckland to LA. Sitting next to me was a man who must have weighed 500 pounds. He overlapped into the aisle and they couldn’t get the carts past him. The flight supervisor came over to us before we took off and told us she was going to move us after we reached cruising attitude. We got moved to a Sky Coach row. The middle seat was empty so Nicole and I got to sit in reclining seats that had foot rests. We could even lay down together. Neither one of us slept much on the 12 hour flight but it was more comfortable than the crowded back row.
We had four hours in LA to get through customs and immigrations, claim our luggage and recheck it with a different airline. We hit the airport at the right time and didn’t have lines for either customs or immigrations. Sat for over three hours waiting for our last flight. The airport was crazy busy with people starting their Thanksgiving travel. We arrived back in KC around 7:30. Went to Nicole’s house and I picked up my car and headed home. I was home by 9:45.
I took a hot bath and went to bed. Managed to sleep until almost 3:30 this morning. Stayed in bed until 5:30 but couldn’t go back to sleep. Got up and unpacked my suitcase and started laundry. I wanted to see the sun rise this morning. Oh how I have missed that view.
I’m going into Emporia in a bit and get my Thanksgiving dinner groceries bought before the store gets busy later today. I will spend the day cleaning and napping and doing laundry. Oh so good to be home doing normal things.
My Marine was asleep by the time I got home last night but I saw him this morning. I am so sad that he is leaving this week and won’t be back. I will miss him!
Grateful for the safe trip home, grateful my luggage made it home with me, and grateful for the beautiful sunrise on the prairie this morning.