Discovering Another Mad Dash (Oct 14): Heading Home and Finally finishing this TR #1523 (05/03)

[shushh]

Princess, sorry I didn't get a chance to bid you a safe trip and also sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up. We did end up going to Santa Monica but there was so many of us I decided to keep it simple. We'll just to make our meet ups locally...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Safely home again today....not much sleep on the plane, 3 loads of washing later and dried (thanks to a 105 F day in Melbourne) I'm just about ready for bed!

I'll try and get this TR started before too long.

Princess, sorry I didn't get a chance to bid you a safe trip and also sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up. We did end up going to Santa Monica but there was so many of us I decided to keep it simple. We'll just to make our meet ups locally...

That's okay. We kept it simple too...I sent a text message on the Friday morning (not sure if you got it) saying that we were pushing out of LA earlier than planned to avoid the Santa Barbara traffic. Hope your cruise was a good one; which I will no doubt find out about in your TR.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Welcome home!

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

Welcome home! Looking forward to hearing about your trip, especially lunch at Club 33 and all other "food porn"!

I think we all got our washing done today!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Well 105 degrees that will drain you. But I cant wait for all the pics. I was so glad to meet you and your lovely family. Yeah you will get your TR done before you know who.

 

[Princess.Rachel]

Loved the PTR. Can't wait to hear how it went!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Seeing as I have no idea what time (or day) it actually is there - in case you haven't left yet...have a great trip!

Welcome home!

Welcome home! Looking forward to hearing about your trip, especially lunch at Club 33 and all other "food porn"!

I think we all got our washing done today!

Well 105 degrees that will drain you. But I cant wait for all the pics. I was so glad to meet you and your lovely family. Yeah you will get your TR done before you know who.

Loved the PTR. Can't wait to hear how it went!

Thank you! TR starting soon...

 

[PrincessInOz]

OK. If you’ve stuck it out this long, chances are you’ll stick around a bit more to find out how the Mad Dash turned out in reality….or you’re just sticking around for the food porn, which you think I might be providing you.

Let’s find out, shall we?

The ground rules for this TR:

1. I’ll write the TR if you promise to comment in return, at best..within DisBoard guidelines. That includes no religious nor political overtones. Sadly, I think I’ll be breaking at least one of those overtones….in the name of Winter Scavenger Hunt item of Presidential Related.
   
2. There will only be ONE day at a Disney Park in this TR; out of TEN. The other NINE days will cover a road trip and NorCal. Anyone who isn’t aware of this, please return to the start and re-read my PTR. You will NOT be passing Go and collecting $200 in the process of returning to the starting block.
   
3. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the relative disproportionateness of Disney Park related in this TR. I will say that I somehow managed to take a fair few photographs during my one day at DLR.
   
4. In response to a PTR comment about scavenger hunt items NOT being a destination. Anyone who is participating in this year’s Photo Sub-Forum Winter Scavenger Hunt will recognize that I might (okay…WILL) be playing Scavenger Hunt word (and photo) Bingo. Feel free to play along. This may mean that photo-babble may feature in this TR, depending on whether anyone from that thread decides to mosey along here.
   
5. Food Porn? Quite simply.....YES! YES! YES! Anyone who has a food related addiction should probably stay clear of this TR. But I figure this warning is probably is too late…if you’ve made it this far.
   
6. Linearity is guaranteed. There will be no tripping back and forward in posts (unlike some other Trippies that will NOT be named or have yet to be named….).
   
7. Any mention of Canned Cream Corn will be kept to a minimum. That old fogie dietary staple will remain the providence of the Old Fogies thread.
   
8. And as it was with the PTR, no seat belts required, feel free to keep your hands, feet and head or any other part of you outside the car – and remember….no liability will be assumed by the writer at any time!

Ready?

Too bad! We’re starting this TR….soon.

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

Princess, you do make me laugh so much! I am looking forward to hearing about the whole crazy trip!

 

[tiggrbaby]

I'm in!

 

[skier_pete]

You had me at "Food Porn"

 

[franandaj]

Wasn't I already in?

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Well, you know I'm in

 

[usnuzuloose]

Yes I am in. So ready to read a TR.

 

[Imzadi]

Ok since Imzadi is in on it too, I'll launch a full on attack, but I think even with you leaving, it's between you and me, unless Kimmar joins in, then we're history! I have all my DVC groups who I can quiz on if they've seen it in the store?

How did I get into this thread before I even got to this thread?

Well, I'm here. I'm in! Let's see some of those long awaited pictures!

 

[usnuzuloose]

How did I get into this thread before I even got to this thread?

Well, I'm here. I'm in! Let's see some of those long awaited pictures!

So glad you could join us. Well were eating alot of popcorn over at someone elses TR. Well we are getting alot of fiber.

 

[franandaj]

How did I get into this thread before I even got to this thread?

Well, I'm here. I'm in! Let's see some of those long awaited pictures!

I think your reputation precedes you! However, you are not on anyones ignore list over here!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Princess, you do make me laugh so much! I am looking forward to hearing about the whole crazy trip!

Great! I so hate laughing by myself!

I'm in!

Welcome!

You had me at "Food Porn"

I had me at Food Porn too....hope I don't disappoint!

Wasn't I already in?

I don't know...were you?

Well, you know I'm in

Yes I am in. So ready to read a TR.

Especially when you will feature...

How did I get into this thread before I even got to this thread?

Well, I'm here. I'm in! Let's see some of those long awaited pictures!

Thanks for joining!

So glad you could join us. Well were eating alot of popcorn over at someone elses TR. Well we are getting alot of fiber.

I think your reputation precedes you! However, you are not on anyones ignore list over here!

Popcorn? What happened to the Cream Corn???

 

[PrincessInOz]

It was a dark and gloomy night…err…day in Melbourne but I didn’t care!

Today, we were starting our Mad Dash across the Pacific Pond and heading towards Los Angeles. The Dash across the Pacific is always mad…It takes 14 hours but it is a dash that us Aussies do particularly if we want to see a particular mouse.

But it was even more so a mad dash for me because we were flying Qantas for this trip. The Aussies among you will know that Qantas is my airline of choice and I always try and fly with them whenever I can. Thing is – they have been having a string of maintenance issues with their fleet lately…that sort of press can make the bravest of souls nervous.

We got up early and finished the last of our packing – the toiletries – and put the bags in the car. In the end, we ended up with 2 check-in suitcases (and a spare bag inside one of the cases) and 4 carry-ons.

These are my traveling companions – DH and DS. Love is…. Cuddly Warm with father and son.

We had made it to Melbourne airport with plenty of time to spare. We were traveling Qantas this time – which meant that we could make use of the Airline Lounge, courtesy of DH being a member.

We made ourselves comfortable…

And checked out our plane…um….your guess is as good as mine…it could be anyone one or none of these planes.

I checked out the goodies available. But as it was only mid-morning, these were the only items that interested me.

This is probably the last time I’m seeing pale yellow tasty cheese in the next 10 days!


Our flight left on time. Once we cleared the cloud layer, I was pleased to see blue sky and took a picture through the window, a very pleasant window scene indeed.

DS had been scared to fly all week and had wanted us to leave him behind. No signs of scaredy cat now…(that would have been me, taking the picture).

We landed on time at Sydney airport and had to transit from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. This had originally been our tightest connection with only 2 hours in between. Turns out that Qantas had another one of those ‘maintenance’ issues and the flight out of Sydney was delayed by an hour. There had been a plane that had to land in Fiji the day before and Qantas sent a plane over to pick up those passengers…our original plane…and we had to wait for another plane to come out of maintenance…our new vessel. I guess this probably tips the scales definitely into the Mad Dash category!

DS was not happy with the delay and wanted some food. We knew that the Qantas Club Lounge would have food; but DS wanted sushi. So, we found this in one of the shops….sadly, it didn’t have a sushi bar, so I guess I’m still on the hunt for one of them.

..and DS scoffed the lot for lunch.

What can I say? He is half Asian and really should know how to use chopsticks by this stage!

I just sat there and admired the view of Sydney (also dark and gloomy) and the people at work…doing something important (I’m sure!)…

….well, they would be… after they stopped milling for a chat.


We then made our way to the Club Lounge…found a quiet spot to sit…for a bit of solitude

..and found…more food. BLIMEY! English scones and cream! YUM!

I was also pleasantly surprised to find one of my Favourite Foods on offer…

Yes…this is fresh lychees.

I guess no one else knew how to eat this fruit as there was a whole big fruit bowl of them. I helped myself to a plate or two; and DH and I enjoyed the unexpected treat.


Before too long, we were called for boarding and thankfully, we had a pretty uneventful flight over…all 14 hours of it…we all even managed to get a little bit of sleep with DS grabbing 4 hours, DH got 3 and I managed a paltry 2 hours.


Up Next - Day 1 in California

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Looks like the first day was good!