Here I am sitting in the United Polaris Lounge at Dulles International outside of DC. I had a car and driver pick me up this morning and we went very uneventfully up I 95. I checked in quickly and then got assistance to get me out to my concourse and the lounge. I confess I’m not hesitant at all to ask for wheelchair assistance in these airports because they are so big and on occasion in the past I have felt like I was walking to my destination. Today I’ve already walked more than 3000 steps and I had a ride to get here.
Anyway, my bags are checked and one suitcase was picked up yesterday and is being shipped to Sydney to meet me there on February 6th (fingers and toes crossed). I can’t possibly have forgotten something I should have packed because I have so much stuff with me. If I have, I probably don’t need it anyway.
As we drove out to Dulles I was remembering the first time Al and I flew out of here; I’m really dating myself, but it was 49 years ago. At the time I remember as we drove out we puzzled over why anyone would build an airport in the middle of no place. Boy, has it changed! Gone are the farms and forests. The terminal has been added onto and there are extra concourses to get to by train. This lounge that I’m in is brand new and huge. I just had lunch in the sit-down dining room where I had a very good burger. The spoiling has started already.
Washington and Northern Virginia had a pretty big snowstorm a couple of days ago and I was worried that my flight might be delayed or canceled since more snow is supposed to come tonight. Fortunately it looks like there are no delays. I was also a little worried that my flight might not go because it was scheduled to be on a 737 Max 900, the ones that have been grounded and as far as I know not yet cleared to fly. Thankfully a different aircraft is being used so all should be well.
Well, that’s it for the moment. I board in an hour and will be on my way to LAX. I have a pretty short layover there and then it’s off to New Zealand. There should be a car to pick me up when I get there Saturday morning Auckland time and I think I’ll probably crash in my hotel room. Oh, by the way, the time difference between EST and Auckland is 18 hours (!!!). They are 18 hours ahead of us. (How long will it take me to get my body clock right?) I booked a tour of Auckland for Sunday so that I will have to be up bright and early.
Here are a couple of photos of this place just to put something more than my words on the page.
2 comments:
Ann, so glad all seems to be on schedule. I’m sitting here 25 minutes from Dulles and it is still snowing at 8:23 am—- much more snow than they predicted today so it’s a good thing you got out when you did. 18 hours—- maybe your body will be on schedule by the time you get home in May just to do it again. I can’t wait to see your photos and travel on this trip as I have never been to the places you are going. Have fun!
So glad all is going well. That is sure an upgrade from the last time. Ed and I were up in Dulles to leave on a flight and we were in the lounge. And the hamburger looks really good almost as good as the ones we have had second Street.
Take care and God bless.
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