Our drive to San Francisco Airport was uneventful and then it was a BA 747-400 home.
Our cruise through the Panama Canal started in Fort Lauderdale and would take us to Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and finally San Francisco and then onto Monterey.
To SFO on Thursday 2nd November
Our SatNav suggested a different route to San Francisco Airport (SFO). Traffic jams permitting the 100 or so miles would take just over two hours.
I had a couple of bagels for breakfast. Everyone in the room was watching the latest news from Washington DC about the proposed tax cuts.
Here’s the Travelodge in Sausalito one last time.
Leaving the car park was interesting to say the least.
The journey back was not as interesting as the journey down especially after we left US 1 North and cut across to Highway 101. Passing through Gilroy brought some light relief as all we could smell was garlic.
The drop off of the car was easy as I’d opted to have Avis fill the car with petrol. I did report the warning light about no water and the car had a large cross and note written on the windscreen for it to be repaired.
It’s a shame that Avis in San Francisco hadn’t bothered to sort the car out before giving it to us.
Into SFO to wait
After paying $5 for a cart we went down the lift from Avis’ floor and crossed the pavement and then went back up to the airport train. Interesting that the the hire car drop off building and the train station were not connected to each other.
Once in the terminal we sat and waited for the BA desks to be set-up. While we waited we ate our sandwiches and had a wander land-side around the terminal.
The BA desks were empty for most of the time that we sat there from noon till after 2.30 pm, then the staff finally appeared to check us in.
Once the area had queueing lines organised we joined the queues.
One of the passengers in the queue pulled out and proceeded to unpack and pack her large suitcases to try and get the weight down.
For once getting through all the immigration and security checks was pretty easy. When we were at the gate it was clear that the plane was going to be full.
We were delayed as two passengers were missing and their luggage had to be unloaded.
Not a great flight as we were disturbed most of the flight by the passengers behind us kicking the backs of our seats or their children deciding to jump up and down.
Day 26 Heathrow, Friday 3rd November
Heathrow at last and home.
The queues through immigration were long even for UK passport holders and even once we were through our suitcases had not appeared on the carousel.
Once at the taxi we realised the downside of extra baggage as carry-ons and the 3rd suitcase had to travel on the front seat!