** ALASKA - 2002**
** Return to UK !! **
This page updated on 15 February 05
28 May 2002 (Tuesday)
After a 7am 'wakeup' I went straight to breakfast in the 'Harbour Lounge', my case having already been
taken before midnight [just after I left it out].
I exitted my cabin, 10 minutes before the 8am deadline, and waited in the Lounge, where we would hear
disembarkation announcements for the BLUE cases etc. That came 15 minutes earlier than expected - at 8.45am..
Off the ship, into the Terminal, I collected my case after receiving a trolley for my bag and case from the nice man
there - and made my way to the AIRPORT coach in BayG. I showed my voucher and got in!
I sat next to one of my German friends and had quite a chat on the way to the airport,- which was a 40minute journey.
That 18miles went too quickly!!
I did some of my note-writing on a table in VANCOUVER airport, as it was too soon to check-in or get an AI
Fee Coupon! I decided to exchange $20US for $27.20(Canadian!) for my fees and food whilst here!
A cheeseburger from BURGERKING cost me $1.59 for starters! The AIR CANADA desk said that I don't
have to wait until four hours before the flight to check-in, - I could do it right now at 12.40hrs!! That's good,
as it saves me lugging the cases around!
Despite being SO early, there were NO WINDOW SEATS available - prebooking activities had seen to that!
It seems that we should have mentionned this to the NORWEGIANS at the time of booking (months ago!!)
Anyhow, the 'boarding pass' etc now allows me to pay the AIF (fee) - and I can do this in Canadian dollars (cash)
right now. Before that, I detected near Gate 53 an opportunity to buy an ice-cream - so $1.34 (Canadian!) got me
one before leaving the centre of the terminal. At the same time, I bought 591ml of Diet coke for $2.09 (CDN) and a
HAMBURGER ($1.38CDN) - as well as some further refreshments for just $1.09Cdn.
Apart from that - Vancouver needed $15 (AIF in cash) for their airport! I, then, caught the AC896 from Gate53, having
been the first to 'check-in' (but one of the LAST group to be called for BOARDING!)
Our 'take-off' was roughly 'on-time' and the flight was good with a chatty Englishman. I was in seat 40H, he in 40J and
his wife in 40K!
Our approach to HEATHROW was on a 'curved approach path' with plenty of airbraking, flaps etc to complete this
B747-400's 4833 mile leg.
29 May 2002 (Wednesday)
It was a long time before my luggage came through on the CAROUSEL. I had a meal of cheeseburger, fries
and diet coke in the Central Bus Station Cafe in HEATHROW (for just £3.95) and also got some
refreshments for the coming journey as well (another £3.90). I also got into an ice-cream!
Soon, I noticed some unattended baggage, and pointed this out to a yellow-coated 'official' - who inspected it
and took it away!
It was a long wait from my 10am arrival until my 18.20hrs departure at Heathrow. It seemed to be 'just me'
getting on the coach at Heathrow (for Malvern), but three more came along LATE. Our route was via Cirencester,
Cheltenham and Worcester - but the driver was slow along the M4. He had some uncertainty over the final 'leg'
to Malvern and our lateness caused me some concern. My final day of coach journey (a small 133miles) took me
right up to LINK TOP by my request and a short walk home got me there at 9pm.
Once there, I downloaded 176 EMails - and sorted the snail-mails into several different piles for each
category.
[A SUMMARY of the ALASKAN trip is:
Coach Miles = 393
Aircraft (B747) miles = 9666
Ships & Boats mileage = 3151
TOTAL = 13210 miles
.. and I had spent cash and travellers cheques in US and Canadian dollars - as well
as some cash in Sterling!]
EMail (?) to:
Roy's Location?
Return to 2002's Index-page
return to Malvern-Vancouver leg of journey
or return to Ketchikan
return to ALASKA Index Page
or return to Roy's home page for full
list of books/travelogues either finished or under preparation.