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Monday, May 20, 2002

Left Spokane at 11:30 AM Pacific Daylight time. My dau-in-law, Magi, took me to the airport. I believe she received a parking ticket, waiting for my plane to leave. I found all the new airline rules, not to be as difficult as I had heard.

My plane arrived in LA on time, however the layover was much too long for me. Ate lunch at an oriental restaurant in the airport, where you get a glass of water with your meal. Later I was again thirsty and was shocked to find out I must pay at least $1.75 for a bottle of water or go without. I finally decided to buy a glass of wine, which would let me have a drink of water.

I come from an area where there is a water faucet most everywhere you go. I needed to relax after the long 5 hr wait. It cost me $6.00 for the wine. My mistake, could have just had a drink of water for $2.35, but the wine settled me down, until I got the bill. Later I took a walk outside.

I slept most of the way, so therefore could do very litle reading, arriving in Auckland NZ ontime. We had a short layover in Auckland, to change planes and take the three hour flight to Brisbane.