Tag: springfield

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!!!