Plane, Train, Bus, Minivan, Minivan, Springfield, MO

A delayed posting of our long trip from Portland to Springfield, Missouri. The short version:

  • Morning of the lost dog; unrecognized forewarning of the day to come.
  • 9:45am, Portland Airport.
  • United Airlines check-in process is now completely dependent upon self check-in screens even at the ticket counter, a confusing and unorganized experience.
  • Everyone frustrated, even the ticket agents. Are they still called that? Agents are left simply herding customers rather than providing a complete service like I’m sure they would prefer.
  • $15 for a checked bag. Not an extra checked bag, $15 for your firsted checked bag.
  • Three PCC staff gather at the gate.
  • 11:00am, load the 737. We’re all in the same row.
  • Uneventful flight from Portland to Denver.
  • Layover for two hours.
  • Curious, why aren’t we loading?
  • Delayed appears at the boarding gate.
  • Two hours later we finally make our way down to the runway-level boarding gate.
  • Shooed back into the main terminal
  • 5:45pm, informed our flight was cancelled.
  • A line to learn our destiny.
  • “Denver International Airport closes at 6pm on Saturday evenings.”
  • All faces show disbelief.
  • No more flights to our destination or even anywhere closer.
  • Local man takes pictures of terminal, he’s never seen it so quiet. He thinks something is wrong.
  • Flight to London is only plane leaving after 6pm.
  • Our choice at this point was to take a hotel room for the night and get flights the next day.
  • Arrival time would be late afternoon, after our workshops and setup time.
  • Group of six contemplates renting a minivan.
  • A 12 hour drive.
  • Train ride to pick up luggage.
  • Visit the rental car counters.
  • Most car rental agencies also mostly closed after 6pm on Saturday.
  • Only company represented on our first stop had no minivans available.
  • Calls start to all rental agencies in the phonebook.
  • Avis representative shows up.
  • Avis has a vehicle available for drop-off in Springfield, MO.
  • The six head to Avis shuttle bus to get minivan.
  • Load up the minivan.
  • GPS set. Pretty much a straight shot but none of us have been here.
  • On the road with Karen at the wheel.
  • A little trouble getting out of the parking lot.
  • On the tollway.
  • Miss exit, so much for GPS navigation system.
  • Pay toll on exit.
  • Turn around.
  • Pay toll on entrance.
  • 800 miles to go.
  • One hour later.
  • RPMs on minivan start jumping.
  • Call Avis emergency number.
  • After 6pm Saturday, must wait for tow truck to deliver new vehicle from Denver Airport.
  • Limon, Colorado, is our stop.
  • Denny’s for next two hours.
  • Tow truck shows up.
  • New van gets off tow truck.
  • Unload Toyota van.
  • Load Chevy van.
  • Smaller van means luggage up front with us.
  • On the road, Gabriel driving.
  • Kansas!
  • Rest area at mile 98.
  • On the road, Luis driving.
  • Salina!
  • On the road, Tracy driving.
  • Kansas City!
  • Breakfast at McDonalds. When was the last time I ate at a McDonalds. Hunger wins.
  • On the road, Luis driving.
  • Fantastic Caverns? We can drive through it?
  • Springfield!
  • Hotel!
  • Noon, workshops start in an hour.
  • HighEdWeb 2008!!!