Day 1: Wed 18 Jun - Home to Brisbane to Dubai, drive: 275km 3h20, flight:14h25

12(HF) - 20(BNE) - 32(DXB) deg C

Walk: 6km

After breakfast we set about getting ready to go - packing the two panniers each into a striped bag and then applying liberal amounts of packing tape to hopefully keep it together. Closing and locking windows and doors, making sure the CCTV was on and working, turning off stuff and turning on other stuff, etc, etc. After lunch we both had a little rest before setting off for Brisbane at 1:10pm. It was a good run down the highway, a couple of roadworks but didn’t require stopping. Was about to drive on or near the speed limit most of the way. We arrived at Andrews Airport Parking at 4:20pm and were at the airport at 4:45pm. Emirates check-in doesn’t open until 5pm so we had a short wait. We were first in the queue so was checked in, security cleared and through immigration in no time at all. We then made the long trek to the Emirate lounge at gate 75 and were in and having a small dinner by 5:37pm, washed down with a glass or two of Veuve Cliquot for Wendy and a tonic water for Greg. Not sure what other lounges provide, but Emirates have a Carlton Zero beer, so Greg didn’t miss out this time.  

Bags are packed

Front yard on departure 

Leaving  HF

CCTV footage

Food and drinks in the Emirates Lounge 

We boarded exactly on time, settled in nicely with a glass of Moët et Chandon champers.  On this aircraft the seats had been upgraded with a couple of small improvements. Anything that will improve the 14 hours in the aluminum cylinder is welcome. This one of a few very special occasions that any alcoholic drink touches Greg’s lips. He doesn’t believe that one small glass of bubbles is going to hurt. Pulled back from the gate at 9:03pm (scheduled for 9pm).  

As usual Greg found it difficult to find a decent program on the onboard entertainment system, settled for some live news from the BBC, while Wendy watched a thriller movie. Wendy also found it hard to find anything decent hence only watched the one movie, ate dinner and slept, on and off for six hours, first time that’s happened. Greg had tingling prawns with shredded cabbage for entree, while Wendy enjoyed the potato and leek soup. Main was lamb biryani for Greg and seared beef tenderloin for Wendy. Finished off with a cheese board and chocolates. After that it was time to get some shuteye.  

Not that we needed it, breakfast was served a few hours before landing in Dubai.

Mood lighting on the A380