23/6/2013: Karen where are you. I’ve left your dinner on the table and I’ve fed the dog. I’ll leave the front light on. 24/6/2013: Karen I waited up all night. I’ll wait here another couple of hours but then I’ll have to go to work. 28/6/2013: You’re where, LONDON!!! How long for??? Can I come? Don’t worry I’ll sort it out somehow – I’ll catch up with you shortly… Now I don’t feel so bad that Nathan ate the dinner I’d left you. 29/6/2013: Flights are nearly impossible to get but I picked up a ticket on a massive Russian cargo plane called the Antonov An-225 Mriya. I Got a good deal on luggage - have got a shipping container that I can fill up. Thinking of taking the Corolla. Might also take the Kayak, bike and tennis racquets. I’m departing from Avalon airport in 5 hours but zigzagging around the world with stop-offs at Nepal, Gibraltar, Saba Island and the French Alps might take a long time. These planes go through fuel like a cheap Pakistani curry on a Saturday night. 30/6/2013: Boarded the plane after a long delay while containers of wheat and cotton were being loaded up. They really take great care in protecting their cargo with each container being reinforced with 12mm lead sheeting and failsafe electromagnetic locks. Very impressive. I realise that I’m the only English speaking person on-board amongst the Russian crew and passengers. The inflight entertainment was black and white footage of the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet. Could be a long trip. Just Landed at Tensing Hillary Airport, Nepal. I’m thinking of not getting back into the plane. We overshot the runway on the first approach and went over the side of the mountain. Luckily a warn updraft allowed the pilot to bring the plane out of a spiral and bank the plane upward for another shot at the landing. We approached the runway from the opposite direction and landed the plane – finishing some 100 meters past the end of the runway. Some containers were unloaded and replaced with robotic machinery. I took a picture and they immediately confiscated my camera. The planed was re-fuelled but I wasn’t keen to get back on the plane for the take-off. Just landed at Gibraltar Airport. What a disaster. The pilot was unaware how close the airport was to the city. The main road actually cuts through the middle of the runway and the massive Antonov wiped out 4 cars and a bus. I haven’t heard what the injury toll was but keep an eye on the SBS news. A giant rock was bought on-board but, again, photos were banned. The Russians were very protective and proud of the rock. I explained that it was nothing special. I tried to explain the size of Uluru but they couldn’t understand me. Gibraltar Airport An American boarded the plane just before take-off. He seemed a likeable chap but couldn’t stop talking. It was good to finally sit next to someone that I could communicate with although the Russian military that accompanied him on-board never let him out of their sight. The guy introduced himself as Edward Snowdon and tried to give the impression that he was a secret agent with the CIA. I later found out that he slipped an envelope and DVD into my coat pocket. Strange!!!
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 14:04:13 +0000
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