Broken aircraft! Waiting at Dallas-Fort Worth. Nearly 2 hours delay. Unfortunately that eats into our San Francisco time, so we will have to party late to get the most out of our quick stay.

Come back to this blog to find out how it ends and to learn more about our 4am rise this morning, our American Airlines flight from Nashville to Dallas-Fort Worth.

Our flight from Nashvile was to depart at 6.05am, so this required a 4am wake up, a 4.15am taxi to the airport meaning little sleep following our night on the town in Nashville. Still we made it to the airport and joined the crowds checking in early. The American Airlines flight left on time for the 1 and a Hals hour journey to Dallas Fort Worth - the hub of American Airlines.

Only one hour on the cground and an easy connection and we board our American Airlines Boeing 757 aircraft for the longer - 3 and a half hour journey and one time zone, to San Francisco. When we got on we noticed that the cabin was hot. Shortly the captain announced that there was a fault with the air conditioning and there would be a delay. Then he further advised that the aircraft would need a part replacement to take 45 minutes. So we were shuffled off the aircraft back in to the terminal. Well they fixed it and we left about 2 hours late. It felt good to be on the way and to know that we would be in San Francisco around lunch time.

The captain explained the route and I was intrigued to hear the states of the US and other features that we were passing over:

Texas, New Mexico, Rio Grand, the 4 corners - Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the Sierra Nevada - the continental divide where the rivers run to the east on one side and down to the west on the other, in to California. 1 and a half hours from Nashville to Dallas and three and 1/2 hours from Dallas - 5 hours crossing the continent and we didn't start on the Far East gives you an idea of the width of the USA.

The aircraft rolled violently as we were hit by a "mountain wave" crossing the Sierra Navada's and a heavy landing in San Francisco finally got us here.

San Francisco airport is modern and we were soon on our way to the city and our hotel. The airport is a long way out and cost $60 by taxi - including tip and incidentals.

Well, what a change once again. But more about that in the next entry.