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skyringHere's my first update. I'm at the internet cafe near the hostel- all the hostel booths were occupied, but this one is quiet and convenient.
I boarded my plane in Canberra at a civilised hour- an hour that grew increasingly civilised as I wondered about the delay and pondered just how much this was eating into the 15 minutes I had to transfer to my Brisbane flight in Sydney.
Eventually we boarded, and to the accompaniment of me checking my watch every 30 seconds, we eventually took off. Only a short flight to Sydney on a 737, and the attendants hadn't finished serving our snack when the captain began his descent.
It looked like we'd made up a bit of time, but I fumed as the plane unloaded - I was right down near the tail, and it wasn't a clear run down the aisle. It never is.
Calculated I still had five minutes to make my flight. Let's see, I'm at Gate 7, please, please let my flight NOT be at gate 58 at the far end of the terminal.
I skidded to a stop at a flight board, looked up my flight to Brisbane and saw that it left from Gate (gulp) 7.
Hmmm.
I slowly walked back and sat down. I was going to fly to Brisbane on the very same aircraft I'd come to Sydney in. I could have staid in my seat if they'd let me.
A pleasant flight. Actually read a bit of my latest bookring before the clouds cleared and we flew right past Surfers Paradise, then low over Moreton Bay and thumped onto Queensland.
Train station just outside baggage claim, next stop Central Station in the heart of Brisbane, just across the street from the Palace BackBackers, the "official" convention accomodation.
On the train, I got a text message - Futurecat and Servalan had checked in, and their room was party central.
As it turned out, my room was only a few doors away from theirs, and after we marvelled at the impressive piles of books that already dominated their room, we arranged to meet later.
(As I write these words I hear a flurry of Bookcrossing voices behind me- Futurecat and Servalan joining me for the forums.)
They spent the afternoon cruising the Brisbane River, while I cruised the bookshops and checked out the small but delightful collection of the Queensland Art Gallery.
Dinner was Chinese with Neesy on the top floor of one of these mega malls that now dominate the heart of Brisbane, and over "Four Treasure with Rice", we talked books and BookCrossing until the manager began looking at his watch.
And that's the "pre-day" of the convention. It starts for real tomorrow.
Pete, reporting in from the heart of the action
I boarded my plane in Canberra at a civilised hour- an hour that grew increasingly civilised as I wondered about the delay and pondered just how much this was eating into the 15 minutes I had to transfer to my Brisbane flight in Sydney.
Eventually we boarded, and to the accompaniment of me checking my watch every 30 seconds, we eventually took off. Only a short flight to Sydney on a 737, and the attendants hadn't finished serving our snack when the captain began his descent.
It looked like we'd made up a bit of time, but I fumed as the plane unloaded - I was right down near the tail, and it wasn't a clear run down the aisle. It never is.
Calculated I still had five minutes to make my flight. Let's see, I'm at Gate 7, please, please let my flight NOT be at gate 58 at the far end of the terminal.
I skidded to a stop at a flight board, looked up my flight to Brisbane and saw that it left from Gate (gulp) 7.
Hmmm.
I slowly walked back and sat down. I was going to fly to Brisbane on the very same aircraft I'd come to Sydney in. I could have staid in my seat if they'd let me.
A pleasant flight. Actually read a bit of my latest bookring before the clouds cleared and we flew right past Surfers Paradise, then low over Moreton Bay and thumped onto Queensland.
Train station just outside baggage claim, next stop Central Station in the heart of Brisbane, just across the street from the Palace BackBackers, the "official" convention accomodation.
On the train, I got a text message - Futurecat and Servalan had checked in, and their room was party central.
As it turned out, my room was only a few doors away from theirs, and after we marvelled at the impressive piles of books that already dominated their room, we arranged to meet later.
(As I write these words I hear a flurry of Bookcrossing voices behind me- Futurecat and Servalan joining me for the forums.)
They spent the afternoon cruising the Brisbane River, while I cruised the bookshops and checked out the small but delightful collection of the Queensland Art Gallery.
Dinner was Chinese with Neesy on the top floor of one of these mega malls that now dominate the heart of Brisbane, and over "Four Treasure with Rice", we talked books and BookCrossing until the manager began looking at his watch.
And that's the "pre-day" of the convention. It starts for real tomorrow.
Pete, reporting in from the heart of the action
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-23 01:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-23 04:22 pm (UTC)Have a great time, and lots of promiscuous hugs-by-proxy with all the BCers I'd hug if I were there!