London to Narita

Days one to two

July 18th to the 19th 2010

This part of the journey began at Heathrow on a fine sunny day. Our departure was a day late because of a flare up of Julian's old back problem. A nasty bout of sciatica related to an old slipped disc injury made flying out on the 17th impossible. As it was we took the plunge on the 18th and a pleasant, if a little uncomfortable flight was spent in club world sleeper seats from London to Narita - a flight time of 11 1/2 hrs ended with a touchdown in a boiling hot Tokyo on a fine day at 9.00 a.m. the next morning as a result of the plus eight hours time change. As we stepped off the plane onto a boiling hot airbridge in strong morning sun it was disorientating to feel as though it was midnight on your body clock. We weren't designed to cross time zones!