Thank you for the very good info StillDarkandHungry. That does indeed help and I appreciate your answer.
I was all primed to take notes yesterday so I could refine my original question. Had the relief pilot ready to copy all the changes...So off we went from 27R at around 1640z on the CPT2F and what would you know? No more than one or two heading changes until we were finally cleared direct somewhere well west over Blighty. A few step-up altitude changes (8,9,100, etc) but other than that a major dissapointment
Nary a radio call all the way out. Maybe it pays to be late out of the gate and miss the rush! I will give it another try next week.
btw, I have always wondered if I hold the record for the furthest "cleared direct?" During the first sandbox exercise in 1990/1991 I took off from Goose Bay and was cleared going through 7000' all the way to the Palmdale VOR which is east (over the mountains) of Los Angeles. In fact, did not make a turn until I entered downwind at Norton AFB. Anyone heard of a longer direct?