We are off on the longest trip we’ve planned in a long time.   We’ll be away from home for almost six weeks. The first flight to Houston left and arrived a few minutes early.  It was not too bumpy even though it was cloudy or rainy most of the way.  The Balloon Fiesta started on Saturday, and they’ve had several rain cancellations already.  

It feels so good to be traveling.  The ABQ Sunport was so very busy with the Fiesta this week.  I saw lots of people wearing new Balloon T-shirt’s in the terminal.

Before leaving home, we attached our new AirTags to our checked and carryon luggage. Using the AirTag app, I can see that both bags we checked made it to Houston with us.  United has a Track My Bag feature on their app which also shows where the checked bags are.  That’s reassuring information to have since we’ve read so much about recent baggage delays caused by staff shortages and computer glitches.  

I watched the movie The Barefoot Contessa with Humphrey Bogart that I checked out yesterday from the Albuquerque Public Library. It’s very slow. I also watched a video walking tour of London Parks. It had no narration but a few subtitles labeling key locations.  I’m ready to download different movies between flights.   They have a three-day checkout period.  

We had lunch at a mostly empty Tanglewood Grill in Terminal E at IAH. The wraps were good and served quickly.  With a five hour layover, we spent the rest of the time waiting in the United Club lounge.  It was not too busy.  There are very few people in this part of the airport.  

We get frequent text updates from United about our next flights, when boarding starts, and how to get to the next gate. 

I have checked us into the Hilton Ageas Bowl for Wednesday night, but can’t pick a room yet.  I wouldn’t know which room is best to pick anyway.  I reserved a room with a view of the cricket pitch so the room will be somewhere along the length of it.  I had to enter our passport information to be able to check in online as is asked sometimes for European hotels, but not always. 

There were only a few people wearing masks in Albuquerque and even fewer in Houston.  Some are wearing masks (including me).  I have heard no one coughing or sneezing on the plane.

United used facial recognition at the gate in Houston to allow people on the plane.  They did not ask for our passports or boarding passes.  A few of the passengers in line in front of us had to show one or the other or both.  I don’t know why some still had to show paperwork.  

We are in the first bulkhead seats in Premium Economy on the flight from Houston Intercontinental to London Heathrow.  The seats are fairly comfortable.  Hope we can sleep some tonight.

Dinner on the overnight flight consisted of baked avocado (did not taste anything like avocado) for me and beef brisket for Philip.  I’ve never had baked avocado before.  My usual plan for plane food is a first choice of the pasta dish and second choice of the chicken.  Neither was available tonight.  

On this flight, I watched the new movie about Elvis with Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker then tried to sleep.