I had a really early night and when I woke up, I thought it must be at last midnight. But no- just 10:30pm.
It was a night of tossing and turning if I’m honest, until about 1.
My 4 am alarm found me bleary eyed and not bushy tailed.
I boarded a shuttle in the darkness , a shuttle with a much calmer driver at its helm- well until he got to the airport and bully- honked anyone in his way on three occasions.
Air Canada wanted me there by 5:20 and I was- but the check in team did briefing meeting that went for half an hour. And we were not put through until 6.
My plan today was to get upgraded to business class at least. I hear these things happen. Being a solo traveller must make being upgraded easier, so from the moment I arrived at the airport, I wore my best ‘I am worth the upgrade’ smile.
Customs took no time and then there was 2 1/2 hours to kill.
One drawback with solo flying is that it is harder to explore, as you have to haul your luggage around with you.
I grabbed a snack and an iced coffee and settled into a nice introvert corner of the comfy lounge area closest to my departure gate.
I must have still been wearing my ‘pick me’ smile because out of all the empty lounge seats, a woman came over close and kept making conversation with me.
I tried to give short answers with polite, smiley ‘not interested’ in talking vibes but she was not dissuaded. After my coffee though, I perked up and relaxed into an easy rapport with her. She is German and we took turns looking after each other’s bags while we explored, photographed the sunrise and use the rest room.
Boarding time arrived -was super easy and non-eventful.
My gorgeous ‘pick me ‘smile landed me smack dab in my economy aisle seat.
I was thankful that a sweet young couple took the seats next to me. Engrossed in each other, they left me alone.
I shared my lollies with them at takeoff so they shared their Timtams with me
There is a flight trend at present called ‘rawdogging’ where people forgo food and entertainment for the entirety of a long haul flight.
Not something I embraced at all.
Headphones arrived early, which was great but my charger port was broken.
Our meal arrived promptly, a mixed bag. The Mediterranean vegetable salad tasted delicious, a shame it was so tiny.
I love a bun with butter. The bun was not very soft, so I only ate the bits that were slathered in butter
The chicken noodle stir fry tasted only of pepper- I managed just the chicken.
And I didn’t try the Madeira cake.
It was difficult to become engrossed in any of the tv series and movies on offer. I never just sit to watch something (unless it is taskmaster with Flynn) . Usually, I am only half listening and working or doing a word or number puzzle.
But with my phone only half charged and my charger port on keyboard seat still not working, I had to just sit there.
The very cute baby in front just wanted to wave at us for quite a big portion of the trip.
Our 10 am main meal, that I assumed was breakfast/, turned out up be dinner. The lights slowly dimmed and a fake night time atmosphere created.
I pulled out my cheap knock-off a f the Fly Hugz neck pillow. It is memory foam and offers great support. With the accompanying eye mask ond the accompanying earplugs trying to insert themselves into my very small ears, i slept for at least an hour and a half.
A fake morning unfolded,way too early 5 pm Australia time and 10:30 pm Vancouver time
Weird right?
The halfway snack: a miniature chicken wrap and lotus biscoff biccies was delightful.
Then the lights dimmed for sleep once more.
I trawled every sleep sound and meditation playlist available, sitting with eyes closed for probably an hour and a half.- to no avail. Sleep eluded me and my back began to ache.
In the end, I embraced my wakefulness.
In a huddle near the toilet, I got chatting with some other passengers with no sleep either and i gleaned two key pieces of information.
1. Melatonin helps with sleep on planes and jet lag regulation.
2. While you cannot get it over the counter in Oz unless you are over 55, you can in Canada!!
Little savoury cubes of roasted potatoes made up for the dinner with their deliciousness
The sausage was so very tender and flavoursome like it had been poached
The scrambled egg was gray and tasteless. I should have contented myself with scraping it through the potato and sausage juices, but no- I had to empty my entire salt and pepper sachets into the mess, rendering it nearly inedible . I still ate it, though.
Arrived in Vancouver- two legs to go until my first destination!
Dory the Explorer 