Breakfast was another late start affair we cooked ourselves - boiled eggs on toast. It was also refreshingly late, and we were ready to go about midday. Drop our bags at the hotel for safe keeping, check out and go wander around Vancouver. Our first port of call was a Starbucks for morning coffee (Or frappuccino, or smoothie) in the sunshine.
Other enjoyment in the morning involved us walking down to the seawall, sitting in the park by the water play area (A load of fountains) and watching the seaplanes take off for a while, before wandering back to pick up our cases stopping only to go “oooooh” at the expensive yachts in the marina. We got a taxi to the airport, and marvelled at the fact the Prius was spending most of its time consuming 0 litres per 100km (Nope, not a typo).
Vancouver Airport was pretty slick and efficent, with the departure lounges being comfortable and spacious. No shop selling electronics though, which disappointed me. In its defence, it did have a stream running down the middle and a fish tank.
Our plane was a Boeing 767, not the 777 we were promised, but it did still have a revamped interior with power sockets, personal in-flight entertainment, LED lighting to match the time of day and acceptable legroom (not as good as the Airbus or Embrair though, which surprised me). Takeoff was without hitch, and coming over the Rockies we had what I can only describe as a View, with a capital V. Nine hour flight and 8 hour time jump, here I come.
The in-flight meal was less than excellent, as expected. The chicken was possibly not chicken, the vegetables were soggy and the pudding was best described as a “chocolate splodge”. A while after the food, and after I had finished watching Batman Begins, the lighting in the cabin changed it’s colour to a cool blue to take us through the night. Very slick. The sunset is pretty good as well. A quick bit of maths and the on-board flight information display tells me that we are travelling a mile every 6.44 seconds (559mph), as well as enjoying an altitude of 33,000 ft.
Later still in this lengthy flight, about halfway in (2,300 miles or thereabouts) we pass some trippy scenery comprising of snow-capped mountains peeking over the clouds.
Arrival at Heathrow was interesting, with one missed approach due to an emergency helicopter in our path (Complete with the pilot fully opening up the engines to get us out of the way) and then a turbulent landing due to the weather. We then had to wander around Heathrow, transfer across terminals, clear security, have our faces scanned, get our boarding passes and reach our gate. Off to Manchester.
The Heathrow to Manchester flight was slightly delayed due to air traffic, but was otherwise uneventful and we were clear of baggage claim by 15.15, or 7.15 Vancouver time. On to the station now, where the nice people at TransPennine Express will whisk us to Leeds.
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- Coffee at Starbucks
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- Seaplanes!
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- The fish tank at Vancouver
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- My seatback console
