GPS? Check!
Portable translator? Check!
Cell phones? Check!
Netbook laptop? Check!
How did we used to get around without all these technical travel tools??
Bob and I headed from Rome, NY, about 7 a.m. this morning, Tuesday, May 31, for Dover Air Force Base, Del. As we often do, he headed out early on his bike for about a 20-mile ride, and I picked him up along the way in Bridgeport. This gives him his daily bicycle ride "fix." I get my daily walk "fix" later, after we arrive in Dover just before 2 p.m.
We had called the terminal this morning, and were told they had several flights. There was a flight to Rota, Spain, at 2 p.m., one to Germany at 4 p.m., they said. When we arrived at the terminal, we found more flights listed on the overhead TV screens. Bob checked in at the desk, and we went out to get the luggage, hoping to get on the 2 p.m. flight to Spain.
On our way back in, someone asked us, “Were you waiting for the Spain flight?” Yes, we said. “It has just been delayed until 7 p.m.,” he said. Welcome to the world of Space-A flights, where the flights seem to materialize out of apparently nowhere, and disappear just as fast!
So we walked back into the terminal and checked the updated schedule: The 2 p.m. flight to Spain had been delayed until 7:35 p.m., and still had 19 seats tentatively. A second flight to Spain was scheduled for 7:55 p.m. and still had 73 seats tentatively. There was also a flight to Germany, and a flight to Belgium. Bob wanted to try to go to Germany, then to Normandy, France, for the D-Day ceremonies. I just wanted to go to a nice sunny beach in Spain or Italy or Greece.
There were about 20 other people waiting in the terminal. Most of them are active duty military, so they will have priority over us retired military for whatever seats are available.
While we waited for the new flights, I went shopping over at the BX, a short walk away. I bought an adaptor plug for my netbook.
Then Bob and I went out to eat. When we retured to the terminal at about 6:30, to our surprise, we were told they were calling "roll call" right then. So we rushed the luggage in again, Bob took the car over to long-term parking, and we got checked aboard the plane. Again, Space-A is always an adventure and you have to be prepared for the unexpected!
They ushered us through the metal detectors and into a waiting area. Then they announced that, because of a "dignified transfer," (read "fallen soldier is coming home,") we would be going out another door. They sent us back through the metal detectors quickly. (The detector beeped away as everyone paraded through with their metal -- watches, glasses and change, etc. -- still on!) We went out the front door, boarded two buses, and were taken around the terminal and to the waiting C-5 on the runway. I was relieved as they trucked in the exterior stairs, because I dread the very steep inside steps we sometimes have to use. Even with the exterior stairs, the climb to the top of the plane is scary, like up a 3-story ladder!
We got our seats, inserted the foam earplugs they give us due to the noise of the engines, and were off at about 9:30 p.m. The seats in the plane face the back, so the takeoff is always different from commercial planes!
Right now, we are in Spain, waiting for a possible flight to Naples, Italy. More on the flight here, and where we go next, in the next blog.
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