As you know, the route to the nursing home was complicated by the fact that the 35W bridge is the one that collapsed and that is the route from the nursing home to the airport and thus to the Mall of America. I talked with the facility staff about alternate routes to the Mall and the administrator printed me a map from MapQuest that had a route around the bridge site. It wasn't very clear and the map was too small to understand, but I had my Microsoft Map of the area and figured I could use the two in tandem to get where I wanted to go.
No such luck.
The biggest problem is that Minneapolis has very poor sinage. ( I think I said that before.) I took 35W south and exited at the right spot, but from there could not find the names of the streets that were on the map and list of directions from MapQuest. At that point, I was smack dab in the middle of the University of Minnesota campus with lots of traffic, both motorized and pedestrian. I just kept driving and trying to stay out of the way, thinking I would ultimately find a sign with the right name. I finally took a side street and pulled into a parking lot. I got my computer out and booted it up so I could get to my Microsoft Mapping software and figure out where I was and where I needed to go. Of course, I was much further away from 35W than I was supposed to be and needed to retrace my route. I then found my way across an alternate bridge, which ran alongside the collapsed 35W bridge. They have blocked off a walk way across this alternate bridge which was full of people walking and looking at the site. I would have liked to have had the time to park and walk across, but traffic and frustration kept me in the car and on task to find the Mall of America.
Once across the bridge the challenge was to find my way back and connect back with 35W. Again, I went too far, but this time had the map up on my laptop in the passenger street and was able to figure out where I went wrong while sitting at red stoplights. Once back to 35W it was pretty easy to navigate to the correct exits toward the Mall.
Now you would think that if your claim to fame was the Mall of America, you would have signs on the highway advertising the exit. Not in Minnesota. I was motoring along reading signs when I realized I had just passed Nordstroms. I took the next exit and again retraced the route.
The Mall of America is great!! I spent about three hours wandering around there and didn't get through 1/2 of it. Rascal Flats was performing live and there were thousands of people on every level and lining the stairs. (Another reason I really need that camera.) I ate at the Rainforest Cafe. I have never been to the one in Kansas City. I sat next to a great big aquarium and watched this really ugly fish that reminded me of a dill pickle spear magnified about 100 times.
My trip back to the hotel was uneventful. I made it around the bridge site with no problems at all. The best thing about the Mall trip is that I figured out all the turns and lane issues for my trip to the airport this afternoon.
So here I am, sitting at the gate, just hoping that this plane leaves on time and has enought fuel to fly straight to Kansas City.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Minneapolis
The plane was supposed to leave Kansas City at 4:30. Unfortunately, it was storming in Minneapolis and they wouldn't let us take off until 5:15. That't not too bad. People were unhappy, but no big crises were apparent from the conversation I eavesdropped on.
We are in the air, flying to Minneapolis when the pilot tells us the storms hit sooner than they expected and we have been instructed to take a different route and hold as the traffic is backed up. However, holding may be a problem, as we do not have enough fuel to hold very long, and may have to divert to Souix City for fuel. Okay, now people are getting irritated. We sat in Kansas City for almost an hour. Why didn't they fuel the plane then? It's only a 1 1/2 hour flight and I feel certain the tanks hold adequate fuel for a flight of that length with plenty to spare.
So we landed in Souix City and waited about 45 minutes on the tarmack for clearance to again try to reach Minneapolis. We finally arrived a little after 8, which was only two hours late and as I was only going to Minneapolis, I was not concerned. There were many others who had expected to connect for somewhere else who WERE concerned. I was remembering when that connecting flight issue complicated my life and was so glad this was not one of those times.
I picked up my car, checked my Micro-soft map to be sure I knew which highways to take and headed to the hotel. My route was to take 35W North to an area called Rosedale. Finding 35W was a little tricky as the sinage isn't as clear as I would have liked. I was surprised when the highway I was on hit 35W before I ever saw the highway I thought was supposed to take me there. So far, so good. Until I hit downtown Minneapolis and 35W was closed. The detour signs weren't clear and I just guessed, ending up on surface streets in downtown Minneapolis. Now I'm a little rattled, it's dark and I have no idea how to get back to 35W past the closure. I'm headed north on what looks like a through street when I realized I was on a bridge. Now I understood. 35W was the bridge that collapsed. (I'll check that out tomorrow when it's daylight.)
The traffic finally cleared out to the point that I felt safe pulling over and looking at my map for options. It looked like I could go North until I found a through street going West and end up at the hotel..which actually worked with no problems. But the hotel looked closed. When I pulled into the parking lot the entrance had no lights and was covered with scaffolding. There were cars in the parking lot and lights on in the windows, so I was pretty sure there had to be another entrance. I found a door proped open with a board and went in. I actually had a reservation and finally made it to a very nice room. Just about three hours later than I had hoped and I missed 'Dancing with the Stars'. Thank goodness for DVR!!
We are in the air, flying to Minneapolis when the pilot tells us the storms hit sooner than they expected and we have been instructed to take a different route and hold as the traffic is backed up. However, holding may be a problem, as we do not have enough fuel to hold very long, and may have to divert to Souix City for fuel. Okay, now people are getting irritated. We sat in Kansas City for almost an hour. Why didn't they fuel the plane then? It's only a 1 1/2 hour flight and I feel certain the tanks hold adequate fuel for a flight of that length with plenty to spare.
So we landed in Souix City and waited about 45 minutes on the tarmack for clearance to again try to reach Minneapolis. We finally arrived a little after 8, which was only two hours late and as I was only going to Minneapolis, I was not concerned. There were many others who had expected to connect for somewhere else who WERE concerned. I was remembering when that connecting flight issue complicated my life and was so glad this was not one of those times.
I picked up my car, checked my Micro-soft map to be sure I knew which highways to take and headed to the hotel. My route was to take 35W North to an area called Rosedale. Finding 35W was a little tricky as the sinage isn't as clear as I would have liked. I was surprised when the highway I was on hit 35W before I ever saw the highway I thought was supposed to take me there. So far, so good. Until I hit downtown Minneapolis and 35W was closed. The detour signs weren't clear and I just guessed, ending up on surface streets in downtown Minneapolis. Now I'm a little rattled, it's dark and I have no idea how to get back to 35W past the closure. I'm headed north on what looks like a through street when I realized I was on a bridge. Now I understood. 35W was the bridge that collapsed. (I'll check that out tomorrow when it's daylight.)
The traffic finally cleared out to the point that I felt safe pulling over and looking at my map for options. It looked like I could go North until I found a through street going West and end up at the hotel..which actually worked with no problems. But the hotel looked closed. When I pulled into the parking lot the entrance had no lights and was covered with scaffolding. There were cars in the parking lot and lights on in the windows, so I was pretty sure there had to be another entrance. I found a door proped open with a board and went in. I actually had a reservation and finally made it to a very nice room. Just about three hours later than I had hoped and I missed 'Dancing with the Stars'. Thank goodness for DVR!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Garden City
I really needed that camera this week. The airplane upon which I flew to Garden City was an antique. I had noticed this small vintage white prop job as I sat at the gate and it crossed my mind that it could be my plane. I consoled myself with the observation that it was closer to gate 3 than gate 2 and my gate was 2. As we passed through the door, the attendant said, 'The plane on the left'.....the WHITE plane. It was the small eighteen seater type with one row of seats on each side of the aisle and no overhead storage. Seven brave souls boarded that plane. The co-pilot told us the cross winds were pretty strong and we might not be able to land in Dodge City, but just go straight to Garden City. (That was fine with me!! )
During the boarding process and the seat belt/safey notification, the gentleman in front and across the aisle from me continued to loudly talk on his cell phone in his native middle eastern language. The co-pilot kept telling him to turn off the cell phone and he just kept talking away. I must admit, listening to one side of a middle eastern conversation on a less than pristeen airplane is a big disconserting. The co-pilot finally asked him if he wanted to get off the airplane and he disconnected his conversation. Hillary said I should have reminded myself that who would want to sabotage an airplane with seven people in the middle of Kansas. She has a point.
We landed safely in Dodge City, much to my disappointment. Now I had to take off and land once more to reach my destination. The very windy day was tossing the plane around as if it were a leaf in the wind, but we had talented pilots and arrived safely.
The next adventure in Garden City was the storm that hit around 5 in the evening. I could hear the thunder and pounding rain around 5, but by the time I left a little after 6, it had calmed down to a steady downpour. This was my first time driving around Garden City and I didn't know the streets. The staff told me the route to the hotel and I headed out. The water was running across the street and at the first major intersection the water was so deep that with the wind, there were white caps in the middle of the intersection. I could hear it sloshing under the car and thought, "This is the stuff they tell you NEVER to drive in". I survived the plane only to be drowned in an intersection in Garden City. It is just so flat here that there is no place for the water to run off to. Ann said I should consider increasing my life insurance.
This evening I drove to Holcomb, KS. The place where the Clutter murders from 'In Cold Blood' took place. It's just a sleepy little country town. I don't know what I expected. I didn't think there would be any signs saying...'Clutter house this way>>>>'. Skidmore, MO certainly doesn't have any signs pointing out the spot where Ken Rex McElroy was done in. It did make me think about Conception, MO where a family was murdered in the early 70's, much like the Clutters, except I think the murderer was a neighbor boy who had a crush on one of the girls.
Now, if I can just survive the plane trip back to Kansas City tomorrow. At least it is non-stop.
During the boarding process and the seat belt/safey notification, the gentleman in front and across the aisle from me continued to loudly talk on his cell phone in his native middle eastern language. The co-pilot kept telling him to turn off the cell phone and he just kept talking away. I must admit, listening to one side of a middle eastern conversation on a less than pristeen airplane is a big disconserting. The co-pilot finally asked him if he wanted to get off the airplane and he disconnected his conversation. Hillary said I should have reminded myself that who would want to sabotage an airplane with seven people in the middle of Kansas. She has a point.
We landed safely in Dodge City, much to my disappointment. Now I had to take off and land once more to reach my destination. The very windy day was tossing the plane around as if it were a leaf in the wind, but we had talented pilots and arrived safely.
The next adventure in Garden City was the storm that hit around 5 in the evening. I could hear the thunder and pounding rain around 5, but by the time I left a little after 6, it had calmed down to a steady downpour. This was my first time driving around Garden City and I didn't know the streets. The staff told me the route to the hotel and I headed out. The water was running across the street and at the first major intersection the water was so deep that with the wind, there were white caps in the middle of the intersection. I could hear it sloshing under the car and thought, "This is the stuff they tell you NEVER to drive in". I survived the plane only to be drowned in an intersection in Garden City. It is just so flat here that there is no place for the water to run off to. Ann said I should consider increasing my life insurance.
This evening I drove to Holcomb, KS. The place where the Clutter murders from 'In Cold Blood' took place. It's just a sleepy little country town. I don't know what I expected. I didn't think there would be any signs saying...'Clutter house this way>>>>'. Skidmore, MO certainly doesn't have any signs pointing out the spot where Ken Rex McElroy was done in. It did make me think about Conception, MO where a family was murdered in the early 70's, much like the Clutters, except I think the murderer was a neighbor boy who had a crush on one of the girls.
Now, if I can just survive the plane trip back to Kansas City tomorrow. At least it is non-stop.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The Beginning
Starting is the hard part. You start at the beginning, but how do you decide the point at which the beginning began.
The beginning of this story started about three months ago, when I started the job that has me on the road (or in the air) at least three days a week. I have had several adventures already including three canceled flights, several delayed flights and a week with no luggage. The 'no luggage' ended up being a great learning experience. I survived with very little STUFF that week, so why drag it around the rest of the time. I take only essentials that I will actually use now. Shoes are always the hardest part. They take up the most space and are the heaviest, so I wear my athletic shoes and choose one pair of shoes around which to select the clothing for that week. Traveling by car is better. Then I can load up the trunk with what ever I want.
I decided that I would try to take in a little of the interesting sites at the places I visit. Traveling for work is not sight seeing, it is work...the commute is just a little longer. By the end of the day I usually just want to eat and watch TV in a mindless fog. Reruns of Friends and Law and Order are the best, as I have seen them all and don't have to think. But that approach wastes the oppportunity to see things, so I have made a vow to check things out whenever I have an evening that I am not on the road to the next place. I visited Mount Rushmore (and want to go back in the evening to see the light show). In Columbus, OH I went to the exhibit of The Bodies--actual cadavers discected to show the inner workings of the body. (Quite fasciniating, but every now and then it would hit me that these were PEOPLE) In Canton, Ohio I checked out the Football Hall of Fame (Of course). And my last trip to South Dakota found me driving into Wyoming to see Devil's Tower.
So now I have started this blog to keep track of my adventures and to enable you the share them with me. As soon as I get a digital camera, I will add pictures. Aren't you all excited?
The beginning of this story started about three months ago, when I started the job that has me on the road (or in the air) at least three days a week. I have had several adventures already including three canceled flights, several delayed flights and a week with no luggage. The 'no luggage' ended up being a great learning experience. I survived with very little STUFF that week, so why drag it around the rest of the time. I take only essentials that I will actually use now. Shoes are always the hardest part. They take up the most space and are the heaviest, so I wear my athletic shoes and choose one pair of shoes around which to select the clothing for that week. Traveling by car is better. Then I can load up the trunk with what ever I want.
I decided that I would try to take in a little of the interesting sites at the places I visit. Traveling for work is not sight seeing, it is work...the commute is just a little longer. By the end of the day I usually just want to eat and watch TV in a mindless fog. Reruns of Friends and Law and Order are the best, as I have seen them all and don't have to think. But that approach wastes the oppportunity to see things, so I have made a vow to check things out whenever I have an evening that I am not on the road to the next place. I visited Mount Rushmore (and want to go back in the evening to see the light show). In Columbus, OH I went to the exhibit of The Bodies--actual cadavers discected to show the inner workings of the body. (Quite fasciniating, but every now and then it would hit me that these were PEOPLE) In Canton, Ohio I checked out the Football Hall of Fame (Of course). And my last trip to South Dakota found me driving into Wyoming to see Devil's Tower.
So now I have started this blog to keep track of my adventures and to enable you the share them with me. As soon as I get a digital camera, I will add pictures. Aren't you all excited?
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