Our Very Last Adventure....I promise!

Well, it may have seemed while we were flying high above the clouds, that all was well. But, apparently, the universe had one more adventure in store for us. We descended over sunny Houston, only to make a bumpy landing at the windy airport. As we sat on the runway, rocking back and forth in high winds, sheets of water blurred the windows.

We sat stuck in the metal torpedo for 20 minutes. But, with the delay out of San Jose, and only 2 hours (originally) for our layover, panic started. When we were finally able to deboard, every slow person ever known to fly, happened to be sitting in front of us.

(I don't think the sign should say Welcome, maybe "Get Comfortable" would be more appropriate!)

We hurried past, when we were able, and made it painlessly through the passport control, thank you computers!

But, as we descended the escalator into the baggage claim and rounded to the corner into customs, all we saw was chaos. The lineups were snaked through the "pylons" and then back around each carousel.

(This doesn't even scratch the surface of the chaos)

Hundreds, or more, people were searching for luggage, for family, for the end of the line up. We asked several people about getting through faster, about making our connection (which was in 1 hour), but everyone said we had to wait, and it shouldn't take too long. Thankfully our bags had been waiting for us so we were able to line up quickly. We got ready to wait. I was told it would only take 35 minutes, but I doubted that was true. After 15 minutes, and only a short distance passed, I started to worry. All of a sudden, a woman in uniform, started yelling to move our lineup. The one we had painstakingly claimed and made it in front of many other travellers. Jan marched and pushed as close to the front as she could, muttering "No way!" under her breath.  It actually helped us save maybe 50 feet. I pushed through with the cart, finding her quickly. The clock was ticking by and at 15 minutes before boarding, I could see the officers checking passports and forms. We made it through, right at boarding, ran to drop off our bags. As we ran off, the guy yelled Terminal A....we were in E, the opposite end of the airport. We ran to the sky train, and the 60 seconds felt like years. As we whizzed past terminals, slowly, it seemed, we found out our gate was A9. We bolted to security where several people let us go ahead of them....it was still so slow. I had to take off my shoes at the last minute, which delayed us precious seconds. And, as we raced around the last corner I was hopeful we would make it. Take off was still minutes away. Gate A8 passed by and we stopped, searching, unable to find 9. A woman stood behind a desk, in front of an empty computer board. It was our gate, already closed. We huffed and puffed, pleading to be let in, but she shook her head. The gate was locked and there was no way for us to get on. Shit. 

Here it is....leaving without us!

She promised to help and booked us on the very next flight, at 7am the next morning. It was 7:30pm. The next hour or so was spent calling to book a hotel room, checking travel insurance and trying to locate our bags.

Air Canada claimed not to have them, so we had to change terminals, once again, to speak to United. We were told it would take hours to get them. When we finally spoke to a woman in the baggage office, she assured us we would not be getting our bags tonight. That it wasn't possible as we were in the United States and would have to go through customs with it.....which we already did of course. But, at this point, we were tired and hungry and wanting to leave the bleak landscape of the airport. She wasn't actually interested in helping us as she didn't even use the computer until I insisted she check for our luggage. She offered us an amenity kit: shamoo/conditioner, toothbrush/paste, a razor, 2 packages of shaving cream, and some deoderant (I think we may have gotten the men's version) and we set off to find the shuttle to our hotel.

Not able to find it, a sign, or anyone to ask, we chose instead, to take a taxi. Arriving $22 later (with a 20% tip minimum option) at the hotel, we dropped off our stuff and walked down the road to Subway, the other choice being a restaurant called The Hot Biscuit (need I say more). As we walked in the warm night air towards food, a frog jumped in front of me. It felt like a sign...and as I yelped, Jan turned, and I swear that creature jumped right towards me on that unlit cement. I am not embarrassed to admit that I screamed.

Finally, at about 9pm, we were eating some food, thankful for the clean room and the comfy looking beds. We showered, and sighing over the lack of pyjamas and spending 2 days in the same clothes, curled up into bed.

Our alarms sounded at 4:15, way too early considering the time change of one hour...putting us at 3:15 am. We got ready quickly and were at the airport by 5 am. We checked to see that our luggage was going to be on the flight. And assured that it was, we got through security, found some breakfast, and got to the gate a good half an hour before boarding.

The ordeal was over. Or was it? An announcement came on a few minutes before boarding, informing us of an oil spill on the ramp that needed to be cleaned before we could board. The flight would be delayed 15 minutes. OK, we can do this, no problem. Fifteen minutes later, another announcement, this time that there were maintenance issues and they would keep us informed. I went to the woman and asked about the next flight (I wanted to know my options in case this flight was cancelled!), she informed me it was at 4pm. No way, was I waiting for that! 

Finally, we were on board, 45 minutes late, but we were going to make it home today! We were excited to find that the woman, the night before, had booked us the bulkhead seats, right behind first class.

We had tons of leg room. So, this time as we cruise above the clouds, I am sure that I will be home soon. My bags WILL be waiting for me, and I will be able to change my clothes in the next hour. There will be NO MORE excitement!!! I hope. Please keep your fingers crossed!

We made it!