Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

And home again...

How simple to type those words and yet how difficult it was to accomplish.

I left Hawaii on the 10 April accompanied by wheelchair, crutches and stress, the ankle fault having been reassessed as an Achilles tendon tear, leaving me pretty immobile.

Two flights were booked, one from Kauai to Honolulu and then on to San Jose.
Hawaiian Airlines were great, upgrading me on both flights and generally looking after me, whilst onboard.

I soon learned however that when you're on the ground the service becomes a little more ragged.

After a long wait for a 'special' bus, I spent two hours sitting by a rubbish bin outside Gate 32 in Honolulu airport.

And then there was San Jose. I got there about 9pm and had to get from the gate to the Avis place via baggage claim. Seems simple. Wasn't.

Off we, eventually, went, my (female) pusher and I , trailing my bags behind us.
She had to push me with one hand and pull the bags (heavy) with the other because there were no trolleys. Up and down slopes, in and out of elevators and then on to a little road train thing which went about 100 yards.

"Can you walk about 50ft," I was asked. "OK I replied and then had to struggle about 150 yards to a bus stop where the girl put my bags onboard and disappeared with her tip.

Off goes the bus and we eventually get to the Avis lot but only after I realize my precious Raybans had disappeared. Aargh!

'Help' I cry to the driver 'I cannot move these bags, I am on crutches'.

Did I mention he was Indian? (Sikh not Native American) and couldn't speak a word of English. He just stared straight ahead and ignored me and if some fellow passengers had not helped I would still be on that bus.

Anyway got the car and proceeded to hotel, (Automatic car, right foot OK) after driving several times round the inexplicable airport searching for the exit.

Collapse exhausted at midnight and sleep till 5.00am when the room alarm makes an unrequested entry into my life. Three hours jetlag strikes, and so can't sleep.

There now follows a week off in California to recover and prepare for the twice as long trip back to Blighty.

Read John's earlier diaries: