Aborted Launch

It was a bit of a disaster trying to get myself launched off the island. But I'm finally on my way, and I'm trying to remind myself that I have a lot to be thankful for.

I had initially been a bit leery about the price tags for the flights over to Oregon this year, and I was actually thinking of skipping this year's Rat Race because of that, but then Don generously offered to share one of Yolie's inexpensive United buddy passes to help me get over here. He was able to get me listed on the last flight of the day yesterday, which looked really empty and perfect for standby travel, probably even good for first class. Woohoo! The plan was for me to get there on the early side this morning to do some practice flying before tomorrow's first task.

I remember when I had told Paul earlier that I would be flying standby, I was surprised that he seemed kind of taken aback that I'd risk a late arrival at the comp. Somehow it just seemed like a sure thing to me. But it turns out Paul's apprehensions were well founded. While I was sitting in the waiting area dreaming about a sweet first class overnighter, they announced that another flight had just been cancelled and they were going to put all those stranded passengers on my flight. So much for the standby plan! I was stuck in Honolulu for the night. And the passenger loads for the next day were looking very grim for standby travel.

So not only was I going to miss my practice flying, and also the first pilot meeting and party the night before the comp, now I wasn't sure I'd even make it in time for the first task. At this point I wasn't even sure I wanted to go through with any of it. But to make matters even more complicated, I found out my luggage and wing were on their way to Medford without me.

After some agonized soul searching as I sat there in the now empty airport lounge, I finally decided to double down, and after a quick search of available flights on my phone, I booked and paid for a last-minute Alaska Air flight through Seattle, leaving just after noon the next day, that would put me in Medford by midnight. Paying full price for the ticket was a bitter pill, but at least it was a confirmed flight and I would be there just in time to fly the first task. Thanks to Don for the buddy pass offer - I appreciate it even if it didn't quite work out for me this time. I didn't realize that standby travel can be its own adventure. This is how Don travels all the time - I give him credit for being a flexible traveler.

The Honolulu airport is a lonely and surreal place after the last flights have departed. By this time it was almost midnight, and rather than ask Dorothy to drive four hours shuttling me home and then back to the airport, I hit the sack at one of the airport motels. Another surreal place - like a classic midwestern motel squirreled away under the H1. And of course it was another unexpected expense, but it seemed worth saving Dorothy the trouble - she's already doing a lot just to make it possible for me do the Rat Race for the fourth year in a row.

This morning, before getting on the flight, I confirmed that my suitcase and wing had gone to Medford without me on the standby flight the night before. I also found out that the luggage counter in Medford closes well before my midnight arrival time, which would mean I'd probably have to try to run out to the airport at the crack of dawn tomorrow, hoping to make it back in time for a late check-in before the first task meeting. But thankfully, meet director Mike Haley happened to be at the airport when I called, and he was able to grab my stuff! Actually he was on his way out but he turned around before he got too far. That was some lucky timing. Thanks, Mike!

I still have a couple hours before I land in Seattle. I don't know when I'll get a minute to post this - probably not til tomorrow night. I'll date it for today in any case.