Although I should technically class this as Day 2 I will not, the reason is that I actually set off
yesterday afternoon. The plan was to wait until the early hours and then make my way straight
to Heathrow but as Sunday quickly started to disappear and I thought of the journey ahead I
decided it would be sensible to get down to London have some sleep and then be refreshed for
the long flight. So that is what I did and to be honest it was a good decision as I awoke at 04.30
had a nice cup of tea and prepared for the journey. this was my first mistake or shall. E known
as
Mistake 1. I have been looking at the weather and it is due to be 38 degrees C when I get
there so I dressed accordingly. In reality coming out of the hotel it was 3 degrees C and darn
freezing. It took a while for the car to warm up.
The journey to the car park was good due to the Bank Holiday and lack if traffic on the road. It
wasn't clear but it was not busy. I was parked and on the bus to terminal 4 by 06.10 and then
at check in not much later. However I was not though check in for quite some time, almost 45
minutes as the queue was quite bad and I was asked security questions by a guy who was
obviously English but did not know America despite working for United Airlines. Part of the
conversation went like this
Him where we you flying to?
Me. Hobbs
Him. Where is Hobbs (I understand that as it is quite a small place)
Me. New Mexico
Him so your not staying in America then
Me. Yes New Mexico is a state in America
Him. Is it. My geography is rubbish
Me. Said to myself, just smile and keep walking malcolm
The trip through security check was quick as I think most people were still back at check in
teaching the Brit guy new areas of America to him.
By the time I was through and passed the shops which I have to look in even if just to say to
myself over and over again, How Much? How much? How much? A I look at the prices of the
so called duty free.
Once onboard the plane there was a nice surprise, there we're so few people on board we had
a full row to ourselves and I mean all the way across to the other window.
another nice surprise was the in flight entertainment. I started of with a couple of episodes of
The Big Bang Theory, before a few games of backgammon against the computer, which I won
but I am quite sure the computer was more interested in flying the plane than beating me and to
be honest I was happy with that outcome also. No point beating me at board games if we are
only to hit a iceberg though not concentrating on the job in hand.
Lunch was served 2 hours into the flight to to be more precise 621 miles from London. Although
I had already relieved them of a diet coke prior to lunch.
Mistake Number 2. Lunch consisted of a chicken thing which was not bad, chicken cooked well,
carrots almost raw and a roast potato thing which did leave a lot to be desired, there was also a
salad which I had in the bread roll and that was nice. There were two cream crackers and some
butter and cheese spread. I fancied that bit most but as I opened the wrapper the crackers left
for freedom, one falling to the floor and the other flicking between the gap in the seat in front
and hitting a lady on the shoulder. I was about to apologies but she didn't notice and the cracker
lodged between her side and the seat so I turned away and kept quiet.
Finally I had another diet coke before settling down for a bit of a sleep.
I awoke to find that there was still 5 hours until touchdown so it was a bit more film watching
in the shape of the classic young Frankenstein and the the first episode of series three of
Sherlock which took me to Houston airport. Also I took the chance to do some videoing of the
Hudson River which I must admit at the time i couldn't remember the name. I will put it on you
tube for anyone to See who are interested.
The transfer was very simple to get to a different terminal and I was soon sat waiting for my next
plane in only three hours time.
It is strange but as I sat there in the airport apart from a few shop names, you could be sat in any airport in Europe. I did have a view in the very distance of the Houston skyline but in all honesty it could have been anywhere
My journey to Hobbs was quite interesting as the desert is riddled with white squares, they look small from 38,000 feet but apparently and I was told this when I arrived at the hotel they are the oil wells, there are thousands of them. Also another strange site are hundreds of circles, each about a quarter of a mile across. These are fields and they are round because they have a contraption that circles the centre spot dispensing water continuously to the crops, again these circles look amazing from the air.
Upon arriving at Hobbs I can only describe it as similar to Humberside Airport, half a dozen flights per day and I think I hired the only hire car in the town and it is a wreck. The seats are stained the car bodywork is filthy but hey its like being in my own, except I have car covers and it has now had a wash, so nothing like my car.
The town is amazing, there is nothing here and when I say nothing I mean nothing. I found a very small Wallmart and there is a taco bell but no high street to talk of. I will explore later but it does look very sparse, but to be honest that is how I like my towns. I picked up a few leaflets of what to do here and when I can get my head into gear I will read them and digest what I can do. The lady on the reception desk suggested Carlsberg Caves, I am sure it is not as appealing as it sounds, but she rated it very highly. Again though, she said something that most other people here say, "Oh I've not been to England" and then when you dig deeper they have hardly been to the States, hardly travelled more than a hundred miles or so from where they live. It seems strange to me as most people I know holiday in Europe or even further afield but here they just don't seem to.
The hotel is nice and very modern from the outside but I will link a video to my tour of my room which looks like a room from the 1970's, not sure but I think they have planned it that way. As for the service, well that is second to none, the lady on the desk could not have done more, friendly, offering water and soda's to my hearts content, just help myself. My room has been upgraded and does have a separate lounge and bedroom and is quite big.
I hope to see more of the town tomorrow after work but i think tonight it is just going to be a quick meeting with my US colleagues and then to bed as I have to be up tomorrow at 06:00 for my first meeting which is still on UK time.
http://youtu.be/6fV48l385m4
This is a link to a tour of my hotel room before I messed it up by chucking my clothes about.
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