The travel getting there is always a drag. Caught a cab at 06:30am to the train station of Helmond, spent 2 hours in the train and checked in the bags at the United counter around 09:00am. I changed my pre-assigned seat to a window seat so I could put my hoodie on, lean to the wall and try to get some well needed sleep. This didn't really work out.
Seat 33J was occupied by a Big Mamma. Here love handles already covered the arm rest and I was in trouble. I saw some empty seats in the back and was hoping they would be free after boarding was completed and luckily they were. Not that I slept well, but at least I had some leg room for the first nine and a half hour flight to Chicago.
On arrival I had 25 minutes before boarding started for flight UA121 to
LAX. That means running to customs passing as many people as possible, then clear US Immigration (can be a hassle), pick up the bags, drop them off at the belt again and go for Terminal number 1 by train. Over there it's back through security (passing the line) and another run to gate G20.
I got there all sweaty 10 minutes before the plane took off. Close call. At least I had a little work out.
On arrival at LAX the bags did not make it. I normally pack my toilet stuff and an extra short/shirt in my hand luggage but did not this time. "We can deliver it to your address Sir, maybe tonight otherwise tomorrow" was the answer at baggage claim. That didn't sound too good to me. The next flight coming in from Chicago was in 2 and a half hours.
I opted to get the rental car, grab a double whopper menu and come back later.
I hate rental companies. They're all shady. The scheduled $168,= USD for 10 days on internet turned into $ 490,= USD with minimum coverage and lots of taxes here and there. I skipped the 12 bucks a day for car damage to bring the price down to $370,=. I'm hoping I'm not going to hit anything. In case you're wondering, it's a brand new Chrysler Neon with 4000 miles on the counter. It was already set for Power 106!!! (105.9 FM) and the bass in these things is actually pumping. After picking up my bags
I was cruising on the 405 San Diego freeway going South and passed the Long Beach exit while listening to Snoop Dawg Yo! Shit's got me exiting Yo. Hizzle the frizzle.
I arrived at Robert de Wilde's around 21:00pm. That's 6am Europe time so basically I had been up for 24 hours reaching my destiny. The short swim in the pool and some chilling in the jacuzzi made me feel a lot better.
Robert hooked up my computer to the internet. It's 5am now and I'm dealing with jet-lag (can't sleep) and thought I'd bring you an update. We're going to the Bellflower BMX track this morning. I think I'm grabbing Robert's spare bike to do a couple of laps myself. I'll keep you posted from here.
BdJ
P.S. You should see Bob's Affro, it's huge.
On arrival at LAX the bags did not make it. I normally pack my toilet stuff and an extra short/shirt in my hand luggage but did not this time. "We can deliver it to your address Sir, maybe tonight otherwise tomorrow" was the answer at baggage claim. That didn't sound too good to me. The next flight coming in from Chicago was in 2 and a half hours. I opted to get the rental car, grab a double whopper menu and come back later.
I hate rental companies. They're all shady. The scheduled $168,= USD for 10 days on internet turned into $ 490,= USD with minimum coverage and lots of taxes here and there. I skipped the 12 bucks a day for car damage to bring the price down to $370,=. I'm hoping I'm not going to hit anything. In case you're wondering, it's a brand new Chrysler Neon with 4000 miles on the counter. It was already set for Power 106!!! (105.9 FM) and the bass in these things is actually pumping. After picking up my bags I was cruising on the 405 San Diego freeway going South and passed the Long Beach exit while listening to Snoop Dawg Yo! Shit's got me exiting Yo. Hizzle the frizzle.
I arrived at Robert de Wilde's around 21:00pm. That's 6am Europe time so basically I had been up for 24 hours reaching my destiny. The short swim in the pool and some chilling in the jacuzzi made me feel a lot better.
Robert hooked up my computer to the internet. It's 5am now and I'm dealing with jet-lag (can't sleep) and thought I'd bring you an update. We're going to the Bellflower BMX track this morning. I think I'm grabbing Robert's spare bike to do a couple of laps myself. I'll keep you posted from here.
BdJ
P.S. You should see Bob's Affro, it's huge.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.