omega2
Well-Known Member
This is part one, stop me if you like at any point.
Islamorada January 2009
We left a cold wet London Heathrow at about 2-30 pm on 22nd January 2009, bound for Miami USA, and eventually Islamorada Florida, to have a ten day stay and fish with John Rawle, Skipper of “Daphne Carol” that he operates out of Bradwell Marina here at home. He had been on at us to come and try it in “The States” for years and this year we decided to do it. Eventually Virgin Atlantic flight VS 005, a near new Airbus 340-600 got off the ground, but not before we had already had two or three “happenings” like Mick who lost his hand luggage on the journey from the car to the terminal not only had he left it on the transfer bus that could be excused nor in the car that again maybe we could have forgiven him for but no!! when we phoned the bus company to enquire we were told that it had been found in bus stop 4 by security and would be returned to us shortly. Then at check in we had “clocked” in electronically to save time, so had every one else so another wait, also we had completed an electronic form that would waiver the visa, but again this was not acceptable and we were given the old green form to complete, now for most of us that is not a problem but for Mick?? Any how after about 5 attempts and 2 for me we managed to present the forms in a decipherable state, even for the American Immigration services, at least that’s what we were told by the Virgin staff.
The aircraft had some how missed it’s slot and we were “held” for about 40 minutes, and eventually got off the ground about 2-30pm, and were told that we would be in the air for about 10 hours due to bad weather causing us to take a more Northerly route. “GREAT” We were flying economy of course but our bit at the back was economy/ economy, and Mick and Mark are not what you would call tiny, so Steve and self took the inside pair of the four seat centre group on row 53, to allow our big mates to stretch one leg at least for a limited time before the Trolley dolly’s got weaving, when as you know any extruberances are removed by the food wagon. Normally I am not too worried about flying long haul been to Australia a few times, so have a good idea of what to expect but this one was “murder” I am sure that Virgin had configured this one to pack in more bodies than normal and the result for us in the cattle truck was not good. Enough of that and for myself I watched a film “ How to lose friends and Alienate People” (very funny) and then do my exercises to beat of Elton John through my earphones.
After what seemed an eternity we landed on American soil and then we were subjected to the security conscious American Immigration network, we as foreigners had to line up and wait to be “admitted” and along with most of the three hundred and ten passengers had our Waivers inspected and then amended or appended as the case may be, “got to be perfect” or no entry, then Mug shot and finger printed, and at last allowed to proceed into the USA, not one “have a nice day” uttered.
We then went to the Dollar car rental desk but due to the late hour we were re directed to a shuttle bus stand and driven to the parking lot were after what seemed a life time we were pointed at a Chrysler 300 sedan in Black, all we need now is a trilby hat and dark glasses and we a definite pull for the state troopers
. Mark had brought his TOM-TOM over with him as he was nominated to be driver he did not want to get us lost, but the card he had bought off “That Site” was duff, so he had lost £40, and all of were lost. However the lady in the kiosk at the gate was really good to us, “ turn left, then left over the railway tracks, onto 836, then left onto the turnpike, and keep going. Rush hour in Miami is not a place to be as a stranger, and the road signs are planted right at the turn off, but some how we managed to keep on the straight and wide road, without wiping out any of the natives and finally found the Interstate 1, sign post KEY WEST, we knew we were on our way, because I had seen it in a film with Humphrey Bogart, and Sydney Greenstreet (you young ones ask your Dad).
The drive was uneventful as Mark had done it before, you know drive on the wrong side of the road, and after about an hour we pulled off at a road house to get something to eat, I perused the menu card and found something that appeared to be English, a sub filled with chicken and salad, the assistant who was taking my order then started the inquisition “you want rye? Cheese? Dill pickle? Tomato? Cream? Milk? Half and Half? And so it went on, until I had to ask her to “do you do a standard?” Oh sure, why did you not say so, only over here it’s a “regular”
It was really good what ever I had and we were soon back on the road to Islamorada and John’s place, arriving about 10pm
.
John and Carol made us very welcome and showed us to our rooms, after we had a beer, and were informed that we would be fishing with Jeff in the morning at about 9am, all four of us gratefully crashed out for the night.
Islamorada January 2009
We left a cold wet London Heathrow at about 2-30 pm on 22nd January 2009, bound for Miami USA, and eventually Islamorada Florida, to have a ten day stay and fish with John Rawle, Skipper of “Daphne Carol” that he operates out of Bradwell Marina here at home. He had been on at us to come and try it in “The States” for years and this year we decided to do it. Eventually Virgin Atlantic flight VS 005, a near new Airbus 340-600 got off the ground, but not before we had already had two or three “happenings” like Mick who lost his hand luggage on the journey from the car to the terminal not only had he left it on the transfer bus that could be excused nor in the car that again maybe we could have forgiven him for but no!! when we phoned the bus company to enquire we were told that it had been found in bus stop 4 by security and would be returned to us shortly. Then at check in we had “clocked” in electronically to save time, so had every one else so another wait, also we had completed an electronic form that would waiver the visa, but again this was not acceptable and we were given the old green form to complete, now for most of us that is not a problem but for Mick?? Any how after about 5 attempts and 2 for me we managed to present the forms in a decipherable state, even for the American Immigration services, at least that’s what we were told by the Virgin staff.
The aircraft had some how missed it’s slot and we were “held” for about 40 minutes, and eventually got off the ground about 2-30pm, and were told that we would be in the air for about 10 hours due to bad weather causing us to take a more Northerly route. “GREAT” We were flying economy of course but our bit at the back was economy/ economy, and Mick and Mark are not what you would call tiny, so Steve and self took the inside pair of the four seat centre group on row 53, to allow our big mates to stretch one leg at least for a limited time before the Trolley dolly’s got weaving, when as you know any extruberances are removed by the food wagon. Normally I am not too worried about flying long haul been to Australia a few times, so have a good idea of what to expect but this one was “murder” I am sure that Virgin had configured this one to pack in more bodies than normal and the result for us in the cattle truck was not good. Enough of that and for myself I watched a film “ How to lose friends and Alienate People” (very funny) and then do my exercises to beat of Elton John through my earphones.
After what seemed an eternity we landed on American soil and then we were subjected to the security conscious American Immigration network, we as foreigners had to line up and wait to be “admitted” and along with most of the three hundred and ten passengers had our Waivers inspected and then amended or appended as the case may be, “got to be perfect” or no entry, then Mug shot and finger printed, and at last allowed to proceed into the USA, not one “have a nice day” uttered.
We then went to the Dollar car rental desk but due to the late hour we were re directed to a shuttle bus stand and driven to the parking lot were after what seemed a life time we were pointed at a Chrysler 300 sedan in Black, all we need now is a trilby hat and dark glasses and we a definite pull for the state troopers
. Mark had brought his TOM-TOM over with him as he was nominated to be driver he did not want to get us lost, but the card he had bought off “That Site” was duff, so he had lost £40, and all of were lost. However the lady in the kiosk at the gate was really good to us, “ turn left, then left over the railway tracks, onto 836, then left onto the turnpike, and keep going. Rush hour in Miami is not a place to be as a stranger, and the road signs are planted right at the turn off, but some how we managed to keep on the straight and wide road, without wiping out any of the natives and finally found the Interstate 1, sign post KEY WEST, we knew we were on our way, because I had seen it in a film with Humphrey Bogart, and Sydney Greenstreet (you young ones ask your Dad).
The drive was uneventful as Mark had done it before, you know drive on the wrong side of the road, and after about an hour we pulled off at a road house to get something to eat, I perused the menu card and found something that appeared to be English, a sub filled with chicken and salad, the assistant who was taking my order then started the inquisition “you want rye? Cheese? Dill pickle? Tomato? Cream? Milk? Half and Half? And so it went on, until I had to ask her to “do you do a standard?” Oh sure, why did you not say so, only over here it’s a “regular”
It was really good what ever I had and we were soon back on the road to Islamorada and John’s place, arriving about 10pm
.
John and Carol made us very welcome and showed us to our rooms, after we had a beer, and were informed that we would be fishing with Jeff in the morning at about 9am, all four of us gratefully crashed out for the night.
