Day 1

What a trip we’ve had so far. Well, I’ll start from the beginning and try to blog from there.

On Thursday morning we left really early because there is lots of road construction going on between home and the airport and I had a 2 hour trip to work on Monday. So we got to the airport very early.  Got everything checked in and through security just fine. One thing Brynlee had been nervous about on our trip was that she might not get to sit by me on the plane. With how close to travel we have to book flights of course the very first flight she ended up not by me. When I got to the gate I asked and the nice lady said, “Oh, I’ve been watching for you. I can get you 2 seats together.” That was nice. By then we were hungry so had a bite of breakfast and waited and people watched til we could board. 

Waiting to board.

 Our first plane.

Our first flight was to Seattle.  It’s been many years since I’ve been out that way.  It was beautiful flying in there seeing the mountains.  We did not have a lot of time between these flights but luckily there was another traveler that I just happened to bump into that was flying the exact same flight as we were and travels back and forth to China and back alot. So we ran along with him to the train and then to the next gate.  Didn’t have to really wait there.  Got to board almost right away. 

So that starts the longest flight.  When you get on and you see that you have over 12 hours of travel on one plane, it can get overwhelming.  But it goes.  I did a lot of thinking about relaxing and enjoying this flight because the one on the way home just may not be quite as relaxing. J Brynlee chattered to me and we played games and tried to sleep.  We did sleep some.  We didn’t have anyone in the seat next to us so Brynlee got to lay down and try sleep that way.  All in all it was a good flight.

Our touch down point in China was Shanghai. So we had to go through customs there and then pull our luggage and rescan that for the last flight.  We had a long layover so I knew we didn’t have to hurry. It seems like I should remember all these steps as I have done this before, but it gets fuzzy.  But it did come back and was very familiar feeling as I was going through customs and then to baggage claim.  So we got through security and found our gate and had a long time to spare. As we were sitting there in the gate area that was just crammed with people I told Brynlee that we had just gone through hardest part of the trip to China.  The rest will be much easier. Little did I know! While we were there waiting Brynlee found a lucky yuan and I’m so glad she did, because I don’t think I could have taken much more than we went through in the hours after that. 

Another thought that comes is – a week before I traveled a wonderful woman traveled to get her precious girl and a flight of hers was cancelled in the US.  By the time she made it to China I was just in awe of her and what she went through to get there.  I thought, ‘What a strong woman she is. I could not have done that!’ Well, I was about to be shown that I could and I can. J I did.

Well, I’m off to bed now and will post about the next part soon.