The crew on the ground tied the zeppelin down even though it was really far too heavy to lift off by itself. A door near the bow opened and other crew climbed wearily down a ramp to a waiting crew bus. Standing beside the bus were their double-dozen replacements, who would accompany the craft on the next leg to Japan. Dead amidships, another stepped ramp was wheeled up to the zeppelin and passengers began to disembark for the walk to the terminal.