England Trip Report - Part 3 - Landing at Heathrow

[Passenger Mark]

Ok now... where was I??? Oh yea! TURBULENCE east of Greenland.

Really it was no big deal. We were in and out of it till we reached Ireland, which soon enough came into view...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los%20Angeles%20to%20London/2aeb8c52.jpg

It amazed me that we were not over the ocean very long. The entire flight from Los Angeles we were over land except between Canada and Greenland (about 30 minutes) and between Greenland and Ireland (about 2 hours).

Soon enough the coast of England came into view! What a fantastic sight!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/EEEngland.jpg

Then over the heart of England as we made our way toward London...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/FFEngland.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/GGEngland.jpg

Then came those magic words... "we are beginning our decent into London Heathrow". The seat belt sign came on, tray tables up, seats up, electronic devices off. I had just about made it! The typical announcements came on about the current time, temp, etc. Thanked us for flying Virgin Atlantic. All those good things to hear knowing you are about to land!

But then... we circled! ughhhh! One of the pilots came on and said we were holding due to high traffic at Heathrow! UGHHHH

All this way to circle around and look at England, but not get to touch it! I had been on this bird for over 10 hours, and was ready to get off!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/HHEngland.jpg

It looked to me that we descended and circled at the same time. Sort of a spiral down in one direction, flew straight, then a spiral down in the opposite direction. Even saw some other aircraft in the same patterns! That made me a bit nervous. Sure hope they see us!

Finally they came on and said we had been cleared to land! Hurray! The ground came closer...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/IIEngland.jpg

Closer...

http://photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/th_JJLanding.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/KKLanding.jpg

And closer...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/LLLanding.jpg

And then... TOUCHDOWN!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/MMTouchdown.jpg

What a smooth landing! Hardly felt it, but sure did feel the slow down! ha ha

We left the runway, and taxied to the gate, and taxied some more to the gate, and taxied even some more to the gate! Took forever. We finally pulled up to the gate, and after a few moments... DING... EVERYONE JUMP UP!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/Los Angeles to London/NNAtthegate.jpg

I grabbed my stuff, and made my way off the plane. It was not that I had been scared or anxious, just tired of being on the plane. By the time I came off, I had been on that thing for more than 11 hours!

Off to get my passport stamped, retrieve the luggage, and find my family, which all happened without a problem.

This was my 18th flight since December. Why I got off the day before I am not sure, but I am sure glad I did it. Even the long plane ride was not that bad. Getting to see Greenland was great, and getting to ride on such a fantastic machine is to be remembered!

And of course without that plane ride I would not have gotten to do the things I wanted to...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/England - Stonehenge/DSCF0060.jpg

Made it all worth it!