Sunday, February 10, 2013

PROJECT RUNWAY



Bye, Doug! Thanks for driving us to the airport. We can see the window of the airport where we were all just sitting from our new spot; window seat 15A. This airplane is so small that the carry-on rolling suitcase had to be checked because the overhead is so tiny! The flight attendant said, “Oh, sure there will be plenty of room on the next flight,” when I expressed my concern about stowage on next plane that will carry us to Hong Kong. Room for the carry-on, fingers crossed. Wow! I’m going to Hong Kong!

It was a very easy check-in procedure – just put your passport up to the glass at the airline counter and Voila! It had the flight info and all. Used the screen to weigh both bags (The second costs $70) and they both made it! We had weighed them at home and then at the head of the check-in line. Of course, no one was ahead of us, as we arrived 3 hours early for the 10AM plane. On their scale one bag weighed the perfect 50 pounds and the other 49 – Yippee!

Ping is now paying special attention to the Flight Attendant, as this is his first flight, on an airplane, that is. Oh! It is rolling – backing away from gate D14. The Embrier 145 Flight 4498 probably has 19 rows to carry 60 passengers and is ¾ full. Ping is getting emotional. He’s tearing up and is scared and excited all at the same time. He already misses home. We're glad we are in seats by ourselves.

Is this what we wanted so many DAYS? ago? Ping just wanted to escape, but he had worked on himself, first to be ready to grow to believe it truly was the right step in any good direction, and now to fly in a new way into a very old culture.

As we are rolling down the runway in this small plane to Newark, NJ. Bump! Now we have a 12 minute delay. They have rain in NY/NJ. Hope we make good time because we only have a one hour lay-over to catch the next flight. We’re flying to China!! Too many missed flights on “The Amazing Race” TV show has spooked us about making connecting flights…

The cabin is getting a canned air smell, engines rev and quite down again. We are behind a SouthWest plane. Ah! Found the fresh air button just as a United Airlines flight touched down. Now taking a U-turn to the left that takes about 20 seconds to complete. Stop and see another UA plane behind us where we just were moments ago. Hold, rev, finally moving, running, running, running past gate – nose up, Klunk! We are up and circling to the left. We see Baltimore smoke stacks, water, and more trees than expected thru the window that is three aisles away from the emergency exit… Clouds now–just cotton candy puffs like I have pulled from the Home Depot Christmas Tree displays on Bell Nursery’s short cart of mini-poinsettias. Banking left and making the turn slowly opens a view of an inlet of water. So cool. Is that the Patapsco River? We see piers and streets and…

“Welcome Aboard,” the Captain says and asks us to keep our seat belts on during the entire length of our short trip. He hopes to make up the short delay of time but, please enjoy the complimentary magazine and beverages. “Once again, welcome aboard.” Whoosh, and we are above the whitish fluffy clouds on a not so bright day. Remember rain = Newark. I think we’ve packed our rain hats and Flo’s rain poncho in the carry-on that is in baggage claim. Wait! No, the poncho is actually in the Traveler’s Vest! Yay!

We can use our portable electronic devices now. Oprah’s book club selection and a bunch of freebies were downloaded to the Kindle this morning figuring the second leg (16 hours) might get boring. We hope Valerie finishes Believing In Horses, Too so we can read that – Too! :)

I’m going to live it up now and have a Cola. Oh darn, my glasses are in the overhead and I was going to read the free magazine. I’ll just look at the pictures while sipping my complimentary beverage.

Stay Tuned,

Posted by EddyTour-In-Chief: Doug

2 comments:

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  2. talk about flying off the handle...but all the way to China...that's radical!
    That doesn't look like a 747 to me. How long did that flight take I wonder (-;
    143

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