Flying out to St. Louis last week, I managed to arrange a stopover in Denver Wednesday night to rendezvous with samsarra for dinner.

Early the next morning, walking towards security at the airport - I saw a TV crew setting up. Huh?

Turning the corner - uh oh...

The line for security literally went around the block, coiling back all the way through baggage claim and then (somehow) continuing around the balcony area upstairs. It was hours long, and at first hardly anyone seemed to even know what was going on. Soon word spread, and overflowing trashcans started appearing, and extra TSA agents showed up to speed things along. Most people stayed in good spirits - despite the numerous missed and delayed flights.

I got lucky - I managed to get a confirmed on a later flight to St. Louis, and only arrived a few hours late.

I expect things will be smoother when I fly back to the Bay Area tomorrow...

*fingers crossed*


Denver Airport - Early AM Chaos, August 10th, 2006. Notice that the line for security continues UPSTAIRS!

The last two weeks have been a wild ride.

Sunday Jan 29th my mom arrived for a visit, stopping in on her way back home to St. Louis from a wedding in Hawaii.

It was a quick visit, but we did manage to at last make it to Alcatraz before she flew home on Wednesday.
On Friday, I caught a one-way flight to St. Louis as well.

Saturday was my cousin Eric's wedding and reception. It was great to see so many relatives gathered together. I had much fun and took many photos.

Sunday I spent the day cooking chili for a Super Bowl gathering at my parent's house, and a small gathering of us had fun watching the game.

Late Sunday night Leah / klrmn arrived, having driven cross-country from Atlanta on her way moving out to the Bay Area.

Monday morning we set off together road-tripping west - California bound!

Some highlights from the road: touring Tulsa (ugh!), Texas windmills and rest areas, Garduno's food in Albequerque, driving through the remote deserts of Arizona chasing our own shadow, and finally on Wednesday night - arriving at the Grand Canyon under the light of a nearly full moon!

We spent Thursday marveling at the Grand Canyon by daylight - but words and pictures can not really do it justice.

Friday around noon we reached the Salton Sea in SE California, and Leah dropped me off with my paramotor friends from Sacramento before she continued on her way to San Diego and then up to the Bay Area.

My gear was all there waiting for me - but I had no place to sleep. Fortunately the nights were warm enough to sleep out under the full moon. :-)

Friday and Saturday were full of paramotor fun - I'll post more about that separately.

Sunday I packed up, and got a ride home as far as Stockton from one of the other pilots I was camped with.

Rebekah was wonderful enough to meet me in Stockton, and she brought me and my gear home at last Sunday night.

Monday (yesterday) I went to the doctor because this ENTIRE time I have been fighting being sick. I've had a sore throat and swollen tonsils ever since a few hours after my mom landed two weeks ago, and over the past two weeks they would at times have me in complete misery, only later to ease to a dull ache.

The doctor called this afternoon to tell me I do indeed have strep throat, and to put me on antibiotics.

*gargh*

My tonsils are evil. They KNOW when I will be away from easy medical care, and they plan their attacks carefully. (I almost removed them myself in Costa Rica!) If they try ONE MORE TIME to ruin one of my adventures, I swear that they will find themselves OUT!

*grumble*

But despite the evil tonsils of doom, it was a great adventure. Leah was a fun travel companion, and we had a great time traversing America together.

I only hope NOT to be sick the next time I hit the road!

I am freshly back from a week on the road with my dad, roadtripping to Yellowstone and back. I have been essentially without Internet (or LJ) access the entire time.

States: California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah
Miles: 2744.1
Details: Later!

It was an awesome trip, but I am glad to be back in a real bed, and on real broadband - even if only for a day or two before I head off again to Burning Man. Ah, the simple pleasures of life. :-)