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

Luis Menchu — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:15:22 +0000

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!!!

Vibrant Journey » automobiles

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