Brave new world

Seat belt fastened and ready to go Captain!

Secret island

Mojave Desert

Colorado River

Nearly there

It’s a grey and dismal Saturday morning, and with some anticipation I am waiting for QF107 to get up in the air and go. After months of planning its time to head to a new destination, America. Land of the free, land of the brave, land of the endless shopping mall – who knows all will be revealed over the next few weeks.

Up, up and away we go and soon we are waving goodbye to Sydney and flying over the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. Time to pick a movie to watch. Ben Stiller as Walter Mitty, set in New York looks perfect.

Its 5 hours in, can someone please tell the Captain to turn around and go home, I have had enough of this endless blue sea. What am I doing here? Wait, there is a speck in the ocean, its an island, tiny from our height but its something. Maybe it’s undiscovered and has rare plants and exotic birds. Time for a nap.

Out of my slumber I glance down and get lucky, there is the coast of America a new land, now I am excited! A whole new place to explore.

We are getting close to LA, there are lots of houses, nestled along the coast and going up to the mountains, fire trails that run right along the tip of the mountains. There is a lot to see now, the suburbs are more laid out and symmetrical. A freeway with cars zooming along, a yellow school bus parked on the side of the road. More buildings and freeways. Whats that, OMG, it’s the Hollywood sign. I really am in LA.

Captain Holloway lands us down and it’s the 500 person shuffle through customs, then terminal. Every 300 metres or so there is a QANTAS person waving a sign onto the next flight, makes the transition really easy.

Soon we are on our way again ready to cross America there are so many mountains, lots of rocks and canyons, must be an adventurers paradise here. Lots to keep me occupied, I am using the flight path navigation system to check off the places as I see them, Mojave desert, Rocky Mountains with snow on top even the Colorado River, all look amazing from 10,000 metres.

Then after 1,000 kms the land settles out and gets flat, we are going through Kansas time for another movie, The Monuments Men, George Clooney entertains me and thankfully finishes in time for the Hudson River and our approach to JFK airport.

I am straining at the window trying to see big buildings we circle around and around. Then along the coast and finally we land.

Hello, New York.