Backtrack - Travel on da Plane

This is titled backtrack because that is exactly what I am going to do. Arriving to the airport was as normal as usual, but I guess different in the sense that I was about to leave the United States for longer than I have ever in my entire life. We took the bags out of the car, stashed some last minute items into the board bag, and dragged the lot to the check-in desk. Of course, the usual, I was the last to arrive of my 5 colleagues, but in enough time to quickly check in with them and get everything sorted away. After a security check, bathroom stop, and the purchase of a bottle of water it was time to wait for boarding. Once aboard things seemed like they’d be alright, and we were excited to hear that our flight was going to be 12 hours instead of a previously perceived 14 or so. However, it didn’t matter because we got a flat tire just before take-off and spent and extra 2 ½ hours sitting on the plane while it was fixed. Once in flight the majority of us passed out after a few Tylenol PM’s and it was smooth sailing (I say few because one of us decided to have some fun with the free drinks). We landed in Brisbane, became super sweaty because of the sudden change in heat and humidity, and with bags in hand waited through another security check. Super fun! Despues (after) we hit up the domestic check in where I found out my surfboard bag was too heavy and had to relieve it of some weight or else . . . So I did, it was a hassle, and then we split for the trolley to the terminal. Here we ate Hungry Jacks (Burger King Corp.) and then my name was called over the loudspeaker. Because of the accent I didn’t really know where to go and did a wonderful run around which lead to more sweating – soon to become somewhat of a new hobby. After running back and forth between a few flights of stairs and security check I found the loudspeaker lady and she told me my surfboard bag, the one I had already taken jib out of, was .2 kilos too heavy and she needed to take some stuff out of it. I said fine, take out one of the towels, and all was good. At some point we got to Cairns. A bus picked us up, along with about 50 other Australearn participants and some leader people. This is when our trip started – Gilligans.