Type: Bombardier Dash 8-300
STD: 0840hrs / ATD: 0855hrs
STA: 0945hrs / ATA: 0945hrs
Me + early mornings = bad combination....repeat after me, I am NOT a morning person *sigh*
I'd previously attempted to book a taxi from Swindon, but that was coming back (120) at nearly the same rate as Swindon to LHR, which is about twice the distance [:0] So, I also tried our infamous public transport system (yeah, guess where this is going).....Trains - the one train I could've caught in the morning would've left me with about 30mins before the flight departed; returning, I would've had to have got from the airport to Bristol Temple Meads in around 15 mins. National Express was even worse on the timing front, could only get to BRS by lunchtime.....[ii]
Little option then, but to drive to the airport and pay for parking - though more importantly, this meant that I had to stay off the beer for the return on Sunday! Of course, my pre-flight research into the car park pre-booking website (which would've saved me a fiver) didn't take my debit card either, so I would have to pay the 'gate rate' of 20 for 2 days. Ok, that bit's not so bad, just annoying....
Given that the flight was due to depart at 0840hrs, I reckoned on checking-in at around 0730hrs. For those that know the M4 between Swindon & Bristol, trying to make an informed decision about the length of time to complete the journey (even at silly-o-clock on a Saturday) is nigh on impossible. Add on the major roadworks in the centre of Bristol, and you've got potential for a nightmare journey. So, trying to play it relatively safe but not ending up there at the crack of dawn, I planned on setting off somewhere between 0530 & 0600hrs.
I awoke at around 0520hrs, having had a little over 3hrs sleep, and managed to stumble around getting ready. Set off around 0600hrs and the drive up the M4 was quite nice, a beautiful day was dawning plus there was barely a car on the road. Got to BRS at 0715hrs, parking in the long stay car park (right next to the bus stop - w000t), and getting the swift courtesy shuttle around to the terminal.
Check-in was with BA as the handling agents, and was a quick & courteous experience - the extra 1.5kg in my cabin baggage was ignored [:D] - and I was assigned seat 11A, an exit row as requested [y] Safely on my way upstairs, through the normal & sensible security check, to the 'Bar des Voyageurs' and my first pint tickled my tonsils at 0730hrs - nice start to the day......I didn't fancy any of the offerings from the poseur-ish 'La Brioche Dor_e' next door to the bar, but I did have time for another pint before boarding was called at 0815hrs [:D]
Boarding was through Gate 4, which simply lead to a coach to take us to the remote stand where the plane was waiting. On boarding, I found that my carry-on was a little too wide for the overhead locker, but one of the CC managed to find a space for it in front of one of the few empty seats. The flight was quite full - I estimated 40 people on board the 50 seater turboprop. My seat was fairly comfortable, it was clad in faux-leather, and the legroom was excellent - lots of room for this 6ft 2' chap to stretch his legs [:)]
At around 0850hrs, the engines were started up and the props span into their throaty roar. There followed a relatively short taxi round to the active runway, and our take-off roll was pretty short too. Airborne at 0855hrs, taking off Westerly towards Portishead and the Bristol Channel. The sunshine was gorgeous by now, and the views were stunning. After 5 minutes of climb out, the seatbelt signs were turned off and the friendly CC came around with drinks & snacks for purchase. I didn't bother with any of that, just sat back, relaxed, turned the iPod on and fell asleep [:)]
Before I knew it, we were starting descent into LBA at 0935hrs - Yorkshire looking its fabulous self as always. The descent and landing were very smooth indeed - we landed from the West just before the runway crosses the A658. Quickly round to the terminal, and we were right by the entrance to Arrivals - short walk from there through to the Arrivals hall and outside to wait for my mate picking me up.
From then onwards, the day gets messy, dissolving into a 14hr alcohol-fuelled frenzy - top stuff [:D][:D]
Cheers
Michael
