8 or 9 flights, everything like clockwork, until the last segment (plus road warrior’s essentials)

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Chillin’ at the LAX United Club

It seemed like a really good idea at the time. I arrived at LAX at 5am, and my flight out to San Jose wasn’t until 8:30am. And that flight would mean having to be picked up at the airport, and I’d rather be as self-sufficient as possible, taking public transportation to get as close to home (Redwood City) as possible. So I check to see if I can get onto the 6am flight that goes to SFO instead, which would eliminate the three-hour layover at LAX and allow me to take BART and CalTrain from the airport. Really did seem like a good idea, until, once everyone boarded the plane, they announce that it’s gone mechanical and won’t be leaving until, maybe, 8:30. There’s another flight to SFO in 40 minutes, but it’s already full-up, so I’m back on the phone to United, getting onto my original flight.

Could be worse; at least on an international itinerary I can hang out at the United Club with comfy chairs and electrical outlets, drinks and snacks. Not that I’m not drinked & snacked-out already! Was going to say “drunk & snacked out” but while grammatically-correct, that doesn’t quite sound right, especially since I resisted a mixed drink on the overnight flight from Honolulu to LAX.  I thought about it… if maybe a Gin & Tonic (about the only mixed drink I like) might help me to sleep, but thought better of it. Not quite sure why though. Since I have, at most, 3 or 4 “drinks” (anything alcoholic) per year, I feel funny about asking for one, as if somehow, whomever I’m asking knows. As if I’m going to screw-up ordering something as simple as a Gin & Tonic and betray my lack of something-or-other. Go figure.

This is what makes it possible to be on the road without a shower and not feel like you're rolled around in kitty litter. Bathing wipes, rinse-free shampoo and a travel towel. Where has this been all my life???
This is what makes it possible to be on the road without a shower and not feel like you’re rolled around in kitty litter. Bathing wipes, rinse-free shampoo and a travel towel. Where has this been all my life???

Worst thing about traveling like this, besides the lack of anything over two hours of sleep at a time, is not feeling clean, a natural consequence of not taking a shower. Especially on a trip like this, which has been entirely through tropical/high-humidity areas (Honolulu, Guam, Manila). Thankfully I’ve learned a bit over the years and picked up a pack of No-Rinse Bathing Wipes (think diaper wipes designed for King Kong), No Rinse Shampoo, two extra sets of clothes, and a travel towel, all picked up from our good friends just down the street at Redwood Trading Post. It all works surprisingly well; after two days on the road I don’t feel any worse off than halfway through a workday. Actually, not quite so sure about the shampoo. It does get ride of any greasy feeling, but your hair feels a bit crisp, like some hair-care product that tries to keep it in place. But definitely better than feeling greasy.






2 thoughts on “8 or 9 flights, everything like clockwork, until the last segment (plus road warrior’s essentials)

  1. These travel posts are so mind boggling stupid that I just have to laugh reading them. My dad was a commercial pilot and he ended up hated flying and airports so much that he had less than six commercial flights in 20 years of retirement.

    1. If you laughed while reading, I’m good. This whole notion of “having a laugh at someone else’s expense”, when the “expense” was mine… it’s never bothered me. What did it actually cost me (the “expense”)? What’s the worst that can be said… that the purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others? I’m good with that too!

      Sorry that you dad didn’t enjoy his work. That is, sadly, not uncommon. My wife doesn’t quite get why I work my butt off 80+ hours/week and then, whenever I have time, want to ride a bike. She thinks I’d want to get away from cycling. But this is what I am, this is what I love doing.

      The flying thing, that’s a bit harder to explain. 🙂 –Mike–

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