Tour of Duty 17th March 2021 to 22nd March 2021
Part II: 17th March

I have been home more than usual due in part to medical issues. I got approval for a biopsy and I phoned up for an appointment and I got the earliest available appointment which is Tuesday 30th March. There was a window of time before the biopsy for me to work so once a suitable trip became available I requested it and was dispatched. I booked a flight LGB-DAL (new service) and DEN-LGB in case no other suitable trip was available once the trip was complete.

The time came to leave and I consulted the Uber app and to my horror found they wanted 46$ for the short trip to LGB. I backed out of that app and consulted Lyft and after a wait which ended up cutting things closer than I would have liked, I got a ride for 16$ and some change. That is quite a difference. I arrived at LGB and checked in and though I arrived at T-45min my bags were tagged "late" as the actual checking of the bags took place after T-45min. I did not see the weight of the bags but no one made an issue of weight. Then I cleared security using TSA Precheck. My Boot Beg got more scrutiny but not a full search. Total time from beginning of check in to clear of security was all of 8 minutes.

Southwest #4458 LGB-DAL B-737-700 Boarding Pass A17
Seat 23F Cruising altitude 39,000 feet Estimated flying time 2:20, actual 2:26
Depart: Gate 2 Scheduled 13h25, actual 13h31 Taxi: 7 minutes
Arrive: Gate 18 Scheduled 18h10, actual 18h08
Reclaim checked bags 23-25 minutes

We boarded by walking outside and going up ramp and only the front door was open. The plane was not totally full with load of 90/143. We used Gate 2 but the plane was parked at Gate 3. It was announced there was a nice tailwind but it was windy at DAL with winds out of the north at 30-40mph and we may arrive early. I had an entire row to myself. Pushback was 6 minutes late and takeoff was to the northwest. It was a bit hazy but I saw snowcapped mountains to the distance. We turned left at 0:01 and I saw the South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula. I saw San Pedro and Port of Los Angeles at 0:02 and we went overwater at 0:03 and I saw Catalina Island.

We made landfall at 0:06 over Newport Beach. At 0:08 I saw San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point ans south Orange County and north San Diego County coast. Clouds blocked view at 0:09 as we headed east. Clouds broke and I saw the Salton Sea at 0:18. I saw Interstate 10 and Chiriaco Summit at 0:19. I saw Desert Center, CA at 0:21. We crossed the Colorado River into Arizona airspace at 0:28 and drink orders were taken at the same time. Southwest changed its service and instead of just water the options were expanded to include Coke, Diet Coke, 7 Up and Water. I chose 7 Up. I got Snack Mix at 0:30. I got cup of soda at 0:35 and I saw what looked like Prescott, AZ at 0:40.

Seatbelt sign went off at 0:43 as we passed by Flagstaff and I saw Interstate 17 at 0:44. At 0:52 we went over the Painted Desert. At 0:55 I saw the snowcapped White Mountains to the distance. We crossed the Rio Grande and Interstate 25 south of Albuquerque at 1:12. I felt bumps and seatbelt sign went on at 1:25 over the eastern plains of New Mexico. At 1:32 I saw Clovis, NM. At 1:34 I saw Texico, NM/Farwell, TX and the US60/US70 split as we entered Texas airspace. At 1:35 I saw what may have been Muleshoe, TX to the south. We crossed Interstate 27 and I saw Plainview, TX at 1:35.

I felt descent at 1:50. Descent was announced at 1:52 and we were told to expect bumps at lower altitudes closer to the Dallas as winds were out of the north at 30mph with gusts to 45mph and it was 59F at DAL. An on time ETA was expected into DAL. Clouds blocked view below but started to break at 2:11 over North Texas. We appeared to see Denton, TX at 2:14 and we circled around and saw part of the Metroplex and various highways on approach and it got bumpy but we made a surprisingly good landing to the north and arrived at gate 2 minutes early. We deplaned via jetway.

I got bags at baggage reclaim and made hotel reservation and went out to pickup point and contacted hotel for airport shuttle which came and took me to hotel where I checked in. After I put my gear into the room I got the shuttle to Dunston's Steakhouse where I had evening rations which consisted of Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon, French Fries, Black Eye Peas and Salad. Afterward I got shuttle back to hotel after a wait and got settled in and I spent the night in Dallas, TX.


Evening Rations Dunston's Steakhouse Dallas, Texas 17th March 2021 Salad

Evening Rations Dunston's Steakhouse Dallas, Texas 17th March 2021 Filet Mignon, French Fries, Black Eye Peas