Adventures in Travel

The windstorm woke me up about 11:30 PM. It was easy since I was so excited about getting going on our trip, but it was also quite a blow outside. Turning on the porch light , I looked outside. Small branches were scattered about the yard but there was not other damage. I turned out the light and sat in the dark to meditate.
A few minutes later, I looked out again but the light didn’t turn on. I checked the clock and it was off also. I lit an oil lamp and waited for the power to come back on.
We didn’t have to be at the airport until five in the evening, so there wasn’t any concern except for possible damage from the wind, I stayed up the rest of the night and Linda came down about three. Since electricity runs our well, we didn’t want to use too much water, so no showers, but a little for coffee was safe.
As the sun arose, we assumed the power would be up soon, but did talk about contingencies. We called around and the Spokane airport was open as was SeaTac. However we learned that the storm was causing devastation around the Northwest. We finished getting ready and made sure everything was as done as it could be under the circumstances.
By early afternoon, still no power so we figured out we needed to find someplace to shower. We were planning to leave our car with Linda’s sister Carol so called her to take showers at her place. Her power had only blinked out for a few seconds, getting clean there became the plan.
Linda had organized the flights so there would be plenty of time to get from one to the other. For the first leg, we would get to Seattle about 9 PM and get a good nights sleep, shower and get ready before nheeding to be back at the airport to check in by six am for the next flight.
After showering at Carol’s, she took us to meet Tome, our ride to the Spokane airport. The storm had knocked out power in much of Coeur d’Alene and Spokane. At check in, the board said our flight was still scheduled to leave on time at 7:55 PM, however, the ticket agent said that they expected it to be delayed. As it came closer to check in and the delays were continuing, we started to wonder about renting a car to get us there on time. When they did say it would not fly for an hour, we started to weigh the options. The passes were in terrible shape yet we didn’t know if or when our plane would leave. An agent said she thought we would fly but that SeaTac was losing power off and on so we couldn’t leave Spokane until we knew we had clearance to land in SeaTac. After fourteen dollars worth of wine, one glass apiece, it was announced that we would leave at nine. AT nine they said, ten. At ten they had us board and then shortly deplane. By now it was too late to rent a car so this flight was our only chance. At 11 we were back on the plane and heading west. So much for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
As we flew into Seattle, there were several very dark spots in the city.
We checked and our plane to New York was still scheduled to fly at 8 AM the next morning. It was now after midnight and we needed to be back to check in by 6 AM. We had a reservation about a mile away so caught a cab hoping to get a little sleep and a shower. The cab driver wondered if our motel had power.
As we pulled up to the dark motel, it sank in that Seattle was unplugged. There was a camp light on at the desk, we went in. An employee with a flashlight took us to our room where there was no light, heat or hot water, but a bed.
We caught a nap and headed back to the airport without a shower, shave or breakfast. Or dinner for that matter. A line had already begun for check-in even though it was only 5:30 AM. With several barricades, they created a queue line and we became part of a temporary community of stranded travelers.
It was announced that our flight would leave about 9. Our line did not move and we just stood or sat on the floor and got to know the folks around us. At 9 we were allowed to check in but that process was slow because the computers were down most of the time. Power was still out in parts of the airport causing a great deal of chaos in the place. To add to it all, most of the people who had flights the day before that had been cancelled were there to try again adding to the bedlam.
Security was another bottleneck. Once past there we headed for the gate. Linda stopped to get a couple of breakfast sandwiches, yum, yum and I went to the concourse to get to get in line.
Our plan had included a five hour layover in New York City but we were already two hours late. After boarding we waited on the tarmac for two more hours waiting for more passengers to get through the mazes and clearance to leave. We watched our original plans for a meal , walking to loosen up stiff legs and perhaps a chance to freshen up a bit at JFK wither away. A little after 11 we were in the air and getting away from eh devastation of the worst storm in over fifty years to hit the northwest.
As we flew into New York, it was obvious is was not unplugged as the lights were on all around us for miles and miles. We did have plenty of time to catch our flight for Italy, but not quite as planned. We had about an hour to get from one terminal to another and go through security once again and find our gate. It was fine though we didn’t feel at all ready for another long stretch ion a plane but we didn’t have any option .
We arrived in Rome right on time as if nothing else had happened. The only catch was that one of our bags still isn’t here. After the last couple of days that seemed inconsequential. Someone is looking for it.
One quick flight of about an hour and we were on the island of Sardinia with the kids. A short ferry ride to their place in LaMaddalena and this part of the trip was over. Two days with only airplane food, stiff from no movement, no showers but we were still welcomed here.
The kids are great and have a lovely home. We are still very excited that we made the trip and hope that the worst weather and travel experiences are behind us.
Boy, this post is getting long. I’ll write about these wonderful islands and life here next time.
Right now I need to buy some new clothes so I have another outfit until our lost bag shows up.