Canberra - Adelaide - Dubai - Barcelona

Monday, August 31st - Tuesday, September 1st

Team Tony dispatched an advance party to Bordeaux via Barcelona, but unfortunately, nobody called Tony was in the group. A champagne in the Qantas Club is compulsory before all international flights.

As usual, not everything went according to plan - Bill's total weight was 30kg, all OK with Qantas; Robin's was 31kg, almost "not alright" with Qantas, but he got away with it; but Rob's total weights was 33kg, not alright with Qantas, and all because of a new bike bag weight 8kg rather than a cardboard box weighing 5kg!

Qantas "decided" that 33kg was 3kg to much, and because rules were rules (especially when they're apparently someone else's rules - ie. Emirates' rules) there would be a price to pay. $240 to be precise (3 x $80/kg) - ouch!

Rob had been told earlier that he could have 40kg with a Frequent Flyer card, and Robin agreed. So, while drinking Qantas champagne, we complained, with web site documentation on a tablet as proof. By the time we got to Adelaide, the refund cheque was in the mail - they called me in the Qantas Club there to confirm the stuff-up, and to (kind of) apologise. Apparently they didn't want to delay the flight while they deposited $240 onto my card (thoughtful).

The flight to Dubai was long (13.5 hours), but uneventful. After a shower and a coffee in the Dubai Club, Qantas must have still been feeling guilty - they upgraded us to Business on check-in for the Dubai to Barcelona flight...or perhaps this was just a coincidence. We accepted.

The in-flight entertainment (even in cattle class) included some of my favourite albums, and with "superior" Business Class headphones, they even sounded acceptable.

The food and French wine wasn't bad either...

7 hours later we were landing in Barcelona, just as impressive as ever. Bon dia!
 

And the icing on the cake was three bikes, two in boxes going to a hotel...
 

And one in a (shiny new) bike bag going into storage for three days at the airport.

We agreed to meet at a recognisable, and conveniently located, landmark) - Gaudi's Casa Batllo fits the criteria:

Before having a beer (Bill) or shandy (Robin and me) in the Plaza Real to cool off.
 

Followed by another drink and some tapas at the port.
 

We were all tired, and tomorrow is another day - Bill and Robin are going to Bordeaux where I will join the rest of the team on Friday. I can't wait...

Bona nit.