Made it to LA

So, we've been gong now for 3  hours, having taken off and hour later than scheduled because of a change of runway. Apparently, a fire a few miles from Heathrow was restricting visibility and causing chaos in the process. A bit of a queue ensued but we got away in the end, heading out over Ireland, Iceland, Canada an then the USA.

Its a pretty full flight, with some annoying seat banging French men sitting behind our row. Whilst a bit of jostling is to be expected -  this is economy after all  - full on pulling of the seat head and kneeing in the back is not great on a long distance flight. Polite looks followed by a few glares between the seats failed to provoke any response but a bit of strategic seat reclining did the trick.

We're just going over the coast of Greenland now, at 35000 feet or 10668m, with seven hours and 3858 miles/ 6209 km to go. Can't see anything out of the window though apart from blinding sunshine and cloud. Having been fed and watered ( four cheese totalling washed down with red wine) a snooze is next on the agenda. Lets hope the pilots don't follow suite.

90 mins later…..just woke up and peered out of the left window and through a gap in the clouds to see icebergs along a coastline, and snow covered miles of nothing. I think it must have been the western coast of Greenland and it was spectacular - all golden light and silhouettes.

That's one of the things about air travel - although its far from my favourite thing - being transported across vast distances and having a great view of things that you'd never be able to see from ground level, or even get to. It's a bit of a non involved way to travel, but it has its place all the same, especially when riding is not an option. Travel has become such a common place thing that we take it so for granted, whether it just be for a package holiday or 'do it yourself wandering'. To even have the opportunity to go places is one thing, but to be able to use the worlds global infrastructure  is incredible , especially as just ordinary people. with ordinary means I suppose it comes down to choice and how you spend your money. Some people like to stay put and focus on their home, others like to wander and see what there is to see. Its just a different viewpoint.

Just gone over Baffin Island. Couldn't see much of it though due to more blinding sun and cloud obscuring the ground, now across northern Canada and heading onto the NW USA.

Later…..not that long from landing now. Came across the Rockies near Calgary and then down via Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and over the Grand Canyon area. Clear skies too, so plenty of topography spotting.

Finally got here, having made up the time we lost in London. Getting into the USA took ages - a huge modern airport as you would expect but not very good organisation in customs. Had an altercation with the bloke who dealt with us, a stroppy little bloke called 'Phung'  according to his name badge. He wanted to see my boarding pass which is on my phone as is all electronic check in in London. But he got very upset when I got it out.

' No, no phones'

' But its an electronic boarding pass and that's the only way you can see it'

' No phones - they're not allowed in here. Cant you read?'

' A little, but what I can't do is show you my boarding pass any other way than  on my 

  phone because its an electronic boarding pass.'

' Well I want to see it'

' You you do it then. Here you are - turn the phone on and read it.'

' I told you, no phones.'

' Well what do you want me to do then?. You've asked me for my boarding pass, I've 

  tried to show it to you, but you want let me. You tell me what to do. '

  Silence, then 

 'Ummm…..well….uummm.'

I just looked at him and waited for him to come up with a suggestion, but after glaring at me for about 10 seconds, he said:

' Forget it. You carrying any meat or fish products? No? Have a nice day' and then let me through without any further questions. WTF?

Its very strange when people do that sort of thing, issue an impossible ultimatum. Of course they have a job to do and that's not a problem, and of course I'm going to comply. But I cant if he won't let me, and it did cross my mind that he might send me back. He clearly had no perception of modern travelling, despite working in border control in a major city. Its not as though electronic boarding passes are unusual anyway; that's how it all over Europe and I suspect the US because otherwise why would airlines issue passes in such a format if they weren't accepted that way upon arrival in the USA? No, this was down to one man not keeping up to date.

We're in Venice Beach now, an interestingly daggy suburb, seemingly populated by ageing hippy skateboarders and weed smokers, all doing their thing along the beach front. Its 1930 and pitch black now, 0345 back in London. Time difference has always fascinated me, pockets of people in different places across the world all doing similar things, but at different times. This time yesterday, we would have been fast asleep in our own beds, our day having finished, while these people were probably doing exactly as they're doing now, as there are still a good few hours to go before things wind down for another night. But we've been up since 0630 and are starting to flag, so exploring will have to start proper tomorrow.