April 1, 2012

Day 12

Travel day 1 of this two day journey home. I was woken at 6:30am by the group who have to take the early shuttle to the airport, but I honestly wasn't really asleep anyway. My legs are killing me and I've been tossing and turning all night. I had said goodbye to most of them last night so I lay there until there was daylight. It wasn't that relaxing though, because I knew I still had to pack. I also wasn't looking forward to another cold breakfast - I miss bacon and eggs.

At least I had time to have a shower and shave without sharing the washroom with Erika and Tim, not that they've been bad flatmates, they've actually been really great, but it's just different if I don't have to think about someone else waiting to use the washroom. It wasn't long that I was in the shower before I realized that I was at the end of the butane tank. Better hurry up or I would be having a very cold shower very shortly. I needed a shave too, that was full on cold, but at least I was starting to look presentable.

I raided the fridge for what was left of the carne and queso that we had bought in Rosario, so I wouldn't have just cereal for breakfast. Coffee and yogurt and I was starting to come alive. Gather my clothes off the line and get packing. 

Before I knew it I was done. Hit the cabana and get on the internet to send off my blog, get my luggage out by the van, and I was ready... 2 more hours before it was time to leave. Francine went for a run and got back, Colin and Gerrad went for a run and got back, haven't seen Heather yet. But at least the sun was coming out. It looked like it was going to be our warmest day in Spain. Last year almost every day was like this, that was probably my only disappointment of the trip, the weather did not cooperate. 

 

 View from the camp - Idle Breaks

 Gerrad and Colin finishing their run

After awhile Heather was up and packed and ready to go. A few of us took tours of the other cabins/rooms that we had not seen. They were all pretty well equipped. Then we filled the van and Andy took us to the airport. Francine was going to be dropped at a hotel since her flight leaves tomorrow, and Gerrad was heading to the railway station since his flight is out of Madrid tomorrow. We said our goodbyes and Colin, Heather and I headed for check-in. There we parted ways. I found the counter for Brussels Air, it didn't open for another hour. I sat on my suitcase, first in the Business class line, and read a magazine. Once I got checked in I had to go through the convoluted process of paying for my bike at a different counter, checking it through another counter, then coming back to the original counter to get my boarding pass. Nothing like making you run all around the airport and charging you 150 Euros for the privilege.

Finally got in through security and headed up the VIP lounge. It was a huge room that looked like it could accommodate 500 people, but only had snacks for about 30. Lucky there was only about 30 of us there. It was about 1:30 and I was starved. 

Munchies

The usual snacks were there plus coffee, beer, wine, spirits to mix drinks, a toaster, cookies, and olives. I worked my way through about half the list then settled down. No free wifi so I just worked on my blog. It was almost time to board so got myself uncomfortable and headed back out to where the rest of the folks wait.

I saw Colin on the way to the gate, he had to wait an hour before he could check in as well. And he still didn't have a gate number, 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Boarding was late because the arriving plane was late. We got out of there 30 minutes behind schedule. There is only one business class row on this flight, right at the bulkhead. I usually don't like those, but since there was no movie to watch it didn't matter. It was roomier. The seats were 3 and 3, but the middle in each row is kept empty. Lots of elbow room.

 

Departing Malaga

 Now that's a lunch!

They served a full meal on the flight, so I expect I will probably get more food on the next leg from Brussels to London as well. Arrival in Brussels was uneventful, had to take a bus to the terminal from the ramp, then transfer to the other terminal and go through border control and back in through security before finding the lounge where I could sit and munch on snacks, cheese and beer before the next flight, three hours before that one. I was in Belgium, so I had to have a Leffe beer, they had Stella but you can get that at every bar at home.

 

 Beer and cheese? Don't mind if I do.

Chocolate in Brussels

I took my time getting to my gate only to hear my name being called "Mr. Aspinall please proceed to gate 92 immediately..." And then I was running. The gate was to a bus, 15 minute commute to the plane! It was a quick one hour flight to London then ... wait. Lined up at customs about two rows back and watched the 2 customs agents check us through. 2 agents, about 100 travellers, before long some former resident Brit was complaining out loud and asking for a supervisor. Out comes the supervisor to give his "nightly speech" about how he can't change anything, everyone he's been given for the evening are working, if you want to complain there are cards here, or write you MP.

I wasn't supposed to get my luggage here as I had checked them through, but I went by the carousel anyway and there they were. I hauled my suitcase and bikebox over to the luggage counter who seemed a little surprised I wasn't looking for lost luggage, I wanted them to take my luggage! They took them to forward for tomorrow's flight, and I looked at my bags for what I hoped wasn't the last time...

Then the long walk began, "where can I get a bus to Travelodge Terminal 5?" "well first you have to get to Terminal 5" walking.... subway.... walking. Waiting for a bus, fast check in to the Travelodge, which is a very basic hotel. The room doesn't have a phone and the TV doesn't work. No bath, just a shower. What do you expect from a hotel crammed into the corner of an industrial park near the airport? Anyway, good enough for sleeping. 

 London at night, some exciting...

While waiting between flights I added up my total activity while riding in Spain: 861 kms, 36 hours and 20 minutes, 15,750 metres of climbing - almost 52000 feet of climbing!

Tomorrow is my last travel day, then home and back to reality. I hope the weather is decent, can't wait to ride again!