That was a horrible trip home.
I got up at a reasonable time for someone with a day job. A completely unreasonable time for the unemployed. I packed up and got into the car. I had time, so I decided I would go to a grocery store and find some Vanilla Coke to take home (not available in Canada. I’m not even sure if it is available in the States either.)
And because I don’t know the area that well, it was not easy. It was also not successful. In the end, I got to a pharmacy and just grabbed a 12-pack of regular Coke. At least I’ll be able to do a controlled test of America Coke versus Canada Coke. I believe they use different sugars.
I then drove to the airport, although by this time it was two hours until my flight left. I promptly got lost in the airport streets. I had to pick up gas, and drop off the car. Both were harder as I kept having to make left turns. Did you know that gas stations demand a valid zip code when you try and pay at the pump? Did you ales know that there are two Fox Rental places? One for renting cars, and the other for dealers.
I got to the WestJet counter an hour and fifteen minutes before flight departure. Things went fairly well from this point. There were few lines and I got through them all quickly and efficiently. Stress was relieved and I enjoyed the flight.
Aside: While flying over Nevada, I noticed an interesting lake to the left. What got me was that I could see a river clearly going into it, but I could not see any way for the water to exit. No outlet? I drew a picture so I could look it up later (I like flying over land with topography so I can learn about what I saw during the flight. Heaven help me if I ever get internet access while flying.) I found out that it was Pyramid Lake and it IS an Endorheic basin, which means I was right. No outflow.
I got to Calgary, and passed customs with no trouble. The luggage carousel was reporting my luggage wouldn’t show up for 25 minutes, but it lied. Two minutes later and I was out of there.
I had a five and a half hour layover. (A drive to Edmonton would have taken two and a half hours.) Fortunately, my parents are in the area, so they picked me up and we spent the afternoon together. Then the spring storm happened. Snow was going sideways. They got me to the airport on time, but it wasn’t a good sign that all the lights were out. (Power was out over all of northeastern Calgary.) Security was continued, but with them going through every piece of luggage and doing a body search. Then I got to the terminal and proceeded to wait. Along with a lot of other people.
There was an older couple with a dog that needed to go outside. Eventually security let her outside with the dog so it could relieve itself. They still searched her and the dog when they came back in.
Facebook was nice as a way to keep people up to date. Eventually the power came back on, and I got information. My flight boarded at 9:20 in the evening. Two hours later than expected.
The 40 minute flight didn’t take off until an hour later. I think there was a line-up for de-icing.
Edmonton airport, shuttle bus, walk in the cold to my building. Enter the building and find the elevator is out-of-order. Stairways up to the top floor. (Remember, there is a 12-pack of Coke in my luggage.) And I’m home.