Our flight was due to
depart at 19:00 hrs from Terminal 2, London - Heathrow Airport, but
I'm always restless on the day of take off, so had asked my partner
and one of last year's Copiapoathoners, Angie Money to pick me up at 1
p.m. Around noon, I had a phone call from one of the 2004 crew -
Benjy Oliver (also a 2001 and 2003 Copiapoathoner) to say that a
medical problem prevented him from coming along - quite a blow for
both of us at this late moment, as I know how much he had looked
forward to this trip and had contributed much to the planning. We've
spoken since my return and he is fine - just sorry to have missed out.
So it was just Anne and I that flew from
Heathrow to Frankfurt - yes, seemingly in the 'wrong' direction - to
meet up with Alain who had also managed to arrive on time, despite
industrial disputes at Brussels Airport. The only thing to report on
the flight from Frankfurt to Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino
Benitez at Pudahuel - with refuelling at Buenos Aires, is that it
takes a long time (some 16 hours) to fly the 7,545 km and that the
views out of the window during the last 30 minutes, as we
crossed the Andes, were again breath-taking.
After the long flight, we looked forward to
taking control of our own transport, but alas, on arrival at Santiago
Airport, our rented Toyota Hilux 4x4 (or the rep from the rental
company) was nowhere to be seen. We were soon surrounded by a couple
of dozen reps from alternative rental companies, all promising us the
best deal ever on what ever car we wanted. Tired from such long
flights, one is rather vulnerable - a fact realised by the airport
police who soon intervened and dispersed all but the most persistent
reps. That final problem was soon resolved by a sergeant from the
security police, well armed, but with a personality that made it
unnecessary to even suggest that he needed to use them.
A phone call revealed an oversight on the part
of the rental company that was however quickly resolved by a rep
picking us up and taking us to the garage where our car was ready and
waiting. So, some three hours later than planned, we finally started
our journey north.
Technically, it
is now 2 October, so I have
strayed into tomorrow's report, but it seems logical to keep the
'getting there' section as one.
