Secure in the knowledge that Neal was safely on his way,
I spent the day packing, lunching, napping . . .
then I began receiving emails:
Milwaukee: Starting out
Good timing on arriving at airport. One counter person
for two plane-loads of passengers & luggage.
David J., John K., Mike H. & Mike Sabby
Fortunately they took us all as a group.
But not as we stood in line, but off some list on their terminal.
Brian T., Mike S., & Christopher
John K., Corey & Mike
Head to gate. Check my carry-on; will pick up on the jetway
As you probably saw we left about 30 minutes late.
Wrote this in the air, expect it to be sent after we get to Houston.
Sunrise at 38,000 feet
Houston: Now on board
Started boarding 30 minutes late -
if time is not made up in the air we may miss the connection to Gaum!
Pulling back from gate.
Onward
THEN:
I'm ok the plane is not!
Blew a compressor on the starboard engine.
Plane is returning to the terminal.
Stay tuned for more information as it's available.
CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE A VIDEO OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT
Should know more by 11:30
Flight cancellation : UA253 departing Houston
Still working out alternative flights.
Looks like we will lose at least one day of diving - possibly more.
New itinerary
San Francisco. 9:15 p.m.; overnight stay
L. A. on 1/25
Honolulu; overnight stay
Chuuk/Truk on 1/26
On stand-by for an earlier flight
to Frisco. Would be much better if I can get approved for a seat.
Where we ate; had shrimp & scallops
Had $21 worth of food vouchers
[which doesn't look to buy much]
I was also promised hotel voucher,
but if I get in on the late flight, it will hardly pay
The goup is split up into different flights,
all arriving at Honolulu to fly on to Chuuk WEDNESDAY a.m.
It will be a short week of diving. I'm glad I booked the extension trip.
Some of the others are not happy campers,
giving up that vacation time for such few dive days . . .
but the location makes up for it, somewhat.
Got on the 5 p.m. flight -
puts me into Frisco at 8 p.m. instead of midnight
Tomorrow: SFO to LAX, 5:39 a.m. (arrives 7:36 a.m.);
LAX to HNL, 9:55 a.m (arrives 2:37 p.m.).
Then a flight to Chuuk (too early to get confirmed -
don't have a lot of details, other than it is an "island hopper".
Should be on Chuuk late afternoon WEDNESDAY;
maybe have a WEDNESDAY night dive.
Onboard waiting to back from the gate
LATER THAT NIGHT:
At Hotel - VERY NICE one
Since we got a $7 voucher for a meal
and the cheapest sandwich at IAH (Houston) was $12,
I wasn't expecting much. Hope it is as nice in Honolulu.
We are at the Homewood Inn Suites, a Hilton franchise.
It is now 11:34 p.m. by my clock (only 9:34 San Francisco time).
I have to be up and in the lobby by 4 a.m. To catch the shuttle to the airport.
Then we have three hours in LAX to change planes (if all goes as planned).
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