Day 1. The official start.

 We made it to the USA! The girls were absolute stars and unlike previous journeys no one threw up, threw anything down themselves or threw tantrums! An early start to catch the airport shuttle taking us door to door, very efficient operation, ticket machine in lobby, children under 15 free, £4 each for the grown ups. 

 Always a worrying moment as you watch your bag disappear... perhaps to be seen again... perhaps not!

 On the way down to board the plane - priority boarding as we have the girls.

 Goodbye grey and overcast skies of London. Hello brave new world of cloud free sun.

 The first onto the plane and time to load up the overhead baggage lockers and explore the seat back TV menus. Nicole managed a few sudoku puzzles and one film. The girls watched a bit of TV, played a bit of DS, wrote journals and followed the route on the interactive maps on screen and all the stats to go with it.

 Airline food has definitely improved! Tiegan and Rowan had pre ordered children's meal: chicken goujons, mash and peas,

 

Nicole a veggie choice of cous cous, roasted vegetables 

and David a choice of chicken paella or roast beef. Slightly weird sandwiches before we landed though - but the lovely service on BA more than made up for this.

We flew over Hudson Bay and the girls spotted floating ice and then on over the Grand Canyon. Fantastic views and can completely understand why people helicopter over at closer range. The photos taken hardly do justice to the reality, but you can get an idea!