Traveling

For a few years now, my uncle Johnnie has been after me to hike with him in Crested Butte, CO.  The first summer he asked, I was hiking the remaining sections of the Appalachian Trail.  The second summer he asked, I moved to Gainesville, changed jobs, and timing and money just didn't work out.  This year, my friend Charlotte and I decided to make it happen.  We talked to Johnnie and Carole about dates, booked our tickets, and packed our bags.  Excitement and anticipation has ruled our thoughts for the past week.

Then the travels began.  Mom drove me down to the Atlanta airport and we had traffic that seemed to have no cause.  I made it there on time only to be told that there was some miscommunication between AirTran and Expedia regarding the payment of my ticket change fee. (I've now double-paid it, so I will be dealing with Expedia when I return).  I rushed to my gate and found out that due to weather in Jacksonville, two flight attendants for my flight were delayed 2 hours.  The waiting begins.  

The flight, once in air, was uneventful and I made it to Denver safely at about 2 am.  I arranged for a hotel room and shuttle and proceeded to fall asleep fairly quickly.

Charlotte called around 6 and said that she was on her way.  Oh what little we knew so early in the morning. She made it to Dallas and was told that her connecting flight would be first an hour and a half late and then told it would be canceled altogether.  She found another flight to bring her to Denver but would mean waiting 4 hours.  4 hours later, she boards the plane only to be told that the plane needs to be serviced.  More waiting for another flight that will take her to Omaha, Nebraska.  Turns out someone had flushed a diaper down the plane toilet which exploded and blew out the electrical system of the plane.  $500,000 and hours more of waiting. Finally, she makes it to Omaha only to have to wait longer.  

In the meantime, I have arranged a ride to Hertz to pick up our rental car.  Good fortune happens here when I am told that I am getting an up-grade of an up-grade of an up-grade.  Don't rightly know what all that means, but I have a brand new Kia Forte equip with Sirius satellite radio.  I drive up to Boulder and spend the day with my Appalachian Trail hiking buddy, BP.  He have lunch and hang around his house as he has three new roommates moving into the house that he needs to be able to assist if needed. 

BP sitting outside on the patio having lunch.

View from BP's house

We finally get a call from Charlotte that she is on her way and we head out to the airport.  At last, we are all connected and headed back to BP's to spend the night. We swing by a local pub and pick up a couple of pints of Raspberry Wheat beer to celebrate the official beginning of our trip.  It's not long though before we are all wiped out and turn in.

Wow!  What a day!