Date: 2014-06-21
From: Salisbury, CT

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 101: Saturday, 21 June 2014 Mum Flies HomeThis is going to be another one of those ¢Tornado¢ journal entries ¢ a lot of hot air swirling around with an occasional touch down on the AT! (Read: Mum¢s thoughts!)Thru-hiking isn¢t the only type of transportation that can waylay a traveler. I was supposed to fly out of Rochester today. I even emailed FAHthur at home in Olympia that I was on the plane! But, NOOOO! There were thunderstorms in Chicago. We boarded the plane, even left the tarmac. The pilot told us that he¢s waiting for an update that things might change.But before I get into that, let me give a brief on the day leading up to my ¢change of plans¢. Since my flight was scheduled for 5pm (arrive at airport about 1 1/2 hours prior), Barb took me out to lunch at a little place down by the Canal, that¢s the Erie Barge Canal. (I always had a fascination with the canal, all its locks, the history, and I¢m not a history buff. I even swam in the canal many years ago, OK, some decades ago, with my brother. It¢s amazing I ¢lived¢ through the experience ¢ small channel of water passing many, MANY towns, lots of boats, flush it down, out of sight out of mind!) The canal was created to connect the Hudson River and New York City to Buffalo and Lake Erie without portage of goods. This was a perfect way to end my stay in Rochester, watching boats on the canal, and the bridge being raised for a couple of them. It was also a beautiful day, as we sat outside for lunch. Thanks, Barb!Back on the plane, we were in stand-by on the strip that other planes use to get to the runway for about 15 minutes when the pilot came on again to say that we needed to move out of the way so other planes can get by. We rolled down a bit, made a turn, and I guess the other plane went past. The pilot again came on to say that we need to get off the runway area entirely so as not to be in any plane¢s way! We ended up going what seemed like the entire length of the airport runway, turned around and came back to the tarmac.The pilot STILL felt that things would change, and we would be allowed to get off the plane, go into the terminal to stretch, and wait. I don¢t think so! We got in the terminal and lined up at the counter to change our flights. I think most of the passengers decided to fly out the next day ¢ rather be stuck in Rochester than in Chicago! Yo, Barb, guess what?I had gotten an email from Barb that she was out on a walk, but I sent her an update to please come and get me! Hope you didn¢t throw the towels in the laundry already! (She¢s very efficient! Together, we are someplace between the Odd Couple and the Bible¢s Mary and Martha.) It wasn¢t too long after that I heard back from her. She¢d be there soon.We had a good laugh because this happened LAST year. I like to think that my visit was so wonderful that I got to do an encore appearance!   Nah, I¢m not THAT special.What this little escapade did, however, was help me rethink my packing strategy. I came with a huge check-in suitcase, since I brought a doll closet for Barb¢s granddaughter and Buffalo¢s next resupply along with extra non-trail clothes. Also, the large suitcase would be left at Barb¢s for Buffalo to pack his backpack in on his trip back home. He¢s going to laugh when he sees the size of this thing! It was that doll closest. I was hoping to pack it in either FAHthur¢s or my military duffle bag. Anyway, I had a day pack and a zip cloth bag (almost looks like the old carpet baggers¢ bag), thinking I¢d put all my clothes in the bag to stow in the overhead bin, and keep my backpack for the stuff I¢d want and need on the plane.As it turned out, the backpack didn¢t fit very well under the seat of the small plane, and it could hold more. For the second try, I then reversed the strategy and it worked splendidly! I would also be carrying more weight on my back instead of holding onto it, which is much better.I had a little something for dinner back at Barb¢s while she made a cold ramen/veggie salad for her church choir gathering on Sunday. And we got to sit out on her front porch to watch fireworks from the town¢s weekend festival! Not bad for having to re-schedule my flight!Thanks to all who stay with this journal!The Mum and .....