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ashetlandpony27-28 September 1989
I had my last English breakfast with the Brownsetts. Smithy joined us for the drive to Manchester Airport. I was sad saying good-bye, and wished I could have stayed longer. As I said, I had a feeling this would be the last time I'd see Smithy, despite the obligatory final promise that I'd visit again soon. I may not have a photo from my visit with her and the Brownsetts, but I'll never forget them waving farewell to me in the shuttle terminal at MAN.
My flight departed late, but arrived on time at Heathrow. It was there that I encountered what is to this day the longest and largest queue of people I'd ever seen, waiting to pass though airport security. When my turn came, the guard chuckled when I told him that the plastic bag he was questioning me about contained otter shit. He let me keep it, and so did U.S. Customs! I was quite surprised. I fully expected anything biological to be confiscated. Even my soil from Camusfeàrna was let through without restriction.
Anyway, my last memory of the UK in 1989 was lifting off from the runway at LHR at 1402. My notes say I arrived at SFO at 0107 on the 28th (1707 PDT on the 27th local time). Even by then, I was dead-on-my-feet tired, but due to weather delays, I had to wait almost 12 more hours at San Francisco before my flight departed for ACV. Agonizing.
That final landing was hairy. My local airport is notorious for fog. The pilot warned us that the runway might be closed due to visibility by the time we got there. As we circled, he actually asked for a voice vote if we were to attempt to land or not! I was too tired to care even if we crashed at this point. We landed hard, but I've never heard so much cheering for a rough landing before. I think everyone on board was just desperate to get it over with after such a long wait. I know I was. We touched down at exactly 0700 on the 28th, and I stepped out of the taxi at my doorstep at 0738.
My Otter Quest had come full circle to completion, at last.
I had my last English breakfast with the Brownsetts. Smithy joined us for the drive to Manchester Airport. I was sad saying good-bye, and wished I could have stayed longer. As I said, I had a feeling this would be the last time I'd see Smithy, despite the obligatory final promise that I'd visit again soon. I may not have a photo from my visit with her and the Brownsetts, but I'll never forget them waving farewell to me in the shuttle terminal at MAN.
My flight departed late, but arrived on time at Heathrow. It was there that I encountered what is to this day the longest and largest queue of people I'd ever seen, waiting to pass though airport security. When my turn came, the guard chuckled when I told him that the plastic bag he was questioning me about contained otter shit. He let me keep it, and so did U.S. Customs! I was quite surprised. I fully expected anything biological to be confiscated. Even my soil from Camusfeàrna was let through without restriction.
Anyway, my last memory of the UK in 1989 was lifting off from the runway at LHR at 1402. My notes say I arrived at SFO at 0107 on the 28th (1707 PDT on the 27th local time). Even by then, I was dead-on-my-feet tired, but due to weather delays, I had to wait almost 12 more hours at San Francisco before my flight departed for ACV. Agonizing.
That final landing was hairy. My local airport is notorious for fog. The pilot warned us that the runway might be closed due to visibility by the time we got there. As we circled, he actually asked for a voice vote if we were to attempt to land or not! I was too tired to care even if we crashed at this point. We landed hard, but I've never heard so much cheering for a rough landing before. I think everyone on board was just desperate to get it over with after such a long wait. I know I was. We touched down at exactly 0700 on the 28th, and I stepped out of the taxi at my doorstep at 0738.
My Otter Quest had come full circle to completion, at last.
