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After two days of intense packing that resulted in our two bikes and our trailer being stuffed into two very duct-taped boxes, we made it to Port Columbus and are waiting to a flight to.....Minneapolis? Yeah, that's right. Despite the fact the airline delayed our flight for a day and despite the fact that after 6 or 7 emails informing us of a change in our itinerary which last showed a departure at 5:00 to JFK, our tickets informed us that we would be going to London by way of Minneapolis. Although we were confused, our confusion did not progress to anger since we had just given both boxes and both of our bags to a very cheerful and very nice man who quite possibly did not charge us for the fact that our one box was over sized - an act of kindness that saved us $175. Not only that he never even mentioned the fact that we both had an extra checked bag... We admittedly may be jumping to conclusions but it might just be the case that the kind checkout man allowed us to take our bikes to Europe for free! I will check my credit card statement soon but cross your fingers for us!
The wait, however, was not entirely cast into a joyous mood due to our hopes of avoiding excess baggage charges. We did arrive at 3:00 and waited for four hours, and we hadn't really eaten much all day due to the intense packing, and we are now going to Minneapolis, my least favorite city in the mid-west, and we did start to think about the fact that if NWA had just told us about the change in itinerary we could have drank the champagne that we thought that we didn't have time to cheers with, BUT it did save us(Alyssa) from a panic attack at the prospect of trying to pack everything we'd need for two months in only two days.
Other events that transpired during our wait to fly to Minneapolis were the sharing of passport photos - both of ours were pretty terrible but mine, which shows me five years ago with a lip ring and recently corrected hair-color that had been dyed black until a few weeks prior to the photo being taken, was worse - and a small photo shoot. Although our layover is still, thankfully, short, I am not excited at all about returning to Minneapolis, but I will be sure to protect Alyssa from any pumas which run rampant and not afraid of man in the hinterlands of Minnesota. Dan, despite his unwillingness to recall the event correctly due to the mental stress of the attack, can surely appreciate the experience I bring to the this unforeseen change in our plans.
To Rhubarb: If you are reading this I'm sorry that I did not say goodbye, but I miss you and will see you soon. Please remember me, and be good. Stop attacking Kitty; you are a guest in her house.
Written By: David Frankhouser
Edited By: Alyssa Petrosky
P.S. - To the Reader: I have made a mistake and bought a netbook with no card reader. I will correct this by getting one as soon as we get to London, but in the mean time there will be no photos of our trip. Please forgive me; I think Alyssa has already.
