Our Neighbor, Trish, drove us to the airport and it seems that we left the house in good order. We
did have some concerns about coming in to Great Falls at 11:45 in the evening, but our host,
Terri, assured us it was OK. The flight to Denver was on a small, very small, jet that sat three
across and the flight was somewhat uneventful until we approached Denver. The pilot announced
that there were thunderstorms ahead and then banked swiftly to the right, then to the left. We
descended quickly and you got the feeling this was a small jet. Then the shakes and rumbling
began, then more shakes and bounces. OK, now we approaching the airport and the plane is all over the place. There is lots of lightning to the right - less than two miles away. Another plane is
descending next to us and I assume it for a parallel runway. All of the sudden the jet engines kick in and we are heading up fast, banking to the left. I guess the pilot felt the wind sheers and decided rather than crash he would go around the thunderhead and try for another pass. There was lightning everywhere now. My hand permanently attached to the window and Zosia leg to stabilize me. I have never been good with heights or roller coasters and here I was getting both with a passion.
Ah, but all is well and the plane is on the ground. Now we are sitting on the tarmac with about fifty there small jets - waiting. Come to find out the ground crews are all inside until the lightning, and I guess the threat of tornadoes pass. I would want to working with buckets of rain pouring on me either. Finally we approach the gate, but with these small crafts, of which this whole wing of terminal B is devoted to, deplane in the old fashion way - down the stairs down to the tarmac. There one waits for the carry ons that could not possibly fit in the overhead compartments. This is why I still carry my backpack that will fit there, and always under my feet if necessary. Standing in the rain waiting for Zosia's carry on was a sight. The workers totally soaked, laughing at the hopeless situation. It is going to be a long night for them.
On entering the terminal it was the scene of a riot in the works. Everyone running to and from, with what appears to be three times as many people as the terminal should be allowed. It was pure chaos with people lying on the floor, lining the pathways, sleeping on the chairs. We had to hustle to get to our plane in Terminal A. So off we go as fast as we could. This was one of the longest terminals I have encountered in a long time. There were three sets of moving walkways, thank goodness, but keep moving even when on them unless one wants to be run over. Just before were were to jump on the rail system to get us to Terminal A, we double check to board to make sure we are going to the right gate. Oh, no, we misread the sign and we were heading to the wrong airlines going to Great Falls. Our gate was all the way back where we came from and then some. So now we are rushing back as fast as our little feet can carry us. Zosia is about to give up. But we persist and finally get to our gate. We settle in for the 45 minute delay. We call our host and left a message that we are running late. She calls back and assures us that all is OK. What - everyone is getting up and heading out - we have a gate change, back to the other way. So we pick and and we're on the run again. As we settle down in B54, we see the times flipping - now it is 90 minutes late and the rain is still pouring and the lightning is flashing. We see some action at the gate - and an announcement that the San Diego plane is going out of our gate before us. Shortly after we are told we have another gate change and it is back the other direction. We keep passing these poor people, at least 100 in line, waiting to rebook flights that they have missed. I see the hopelessness in their faces. I am not feeling so bad about our circumstances at this point. Se we wait down at Gate B60 for a long while, lightening flashing - no plane appears. Where the heck is this plane coming from that would make it two and half hours late?
Alas, three hours after the takeoff time the plane appears and those poor people who landed now have to stand in that long line of despair to make a connection that surely would be tomorrow. OK, boarding time finally, except the computers are down. But at this point, TSA who cares, we all pile on the plane and tear a corner off of our boarding pass so they can log us in later. And off we go at 1:00 am. It only took five minutes in our mind to get here as we fell asleep right away.
Now here was a small airport, perhaps four gates and a short way to our bags. We walked past the vestiges of Great Falls past - a giant stuffed Grizzly bear and massive horns from the elk and caribou that once roamed the plains of the Missouri river. As sweet as she was, there was Terri was at 3:00 am to greet her visitors. A quick drive to her house and to bed. We slept until 10:30 the next day.
descending next to us and I assume it for a parallel runway. All of the sudden the jet engines kick in and we are heading up fast, banking to the left. I guess the pilot felt the wind sheers and decided rather than crash he would go around the thunderhead and try for another pass. There was lightning everywhere now. My hand permanently attached to the window and Zosia leg to stabilize me. I have never been good with heights or roller coasters and here I was getting both with a passion.
Ah, but all is well and the plane is on the ground. Now we are sitting on the tarmac with about fifty there small jets - waiting. Come to find out the ground crews are all inside until the lightning, and I guess the threat of tornadoes pass. I would want to working with buckets of rain pouring on me either. Finally we approach the gate, but with these small crafts, of which this whole wing of terminal B is devoted to, deplane in the old fashion way - down the stairs down to the tarmac. There one waits for the carry ons that could not possibly fit in the overhead compartments. This is why I still carry my backpack that will fit there, and always under my feet if necessary. Standing in the rain waiting for Zosia's carry on was a sight. The workers totally soaked, laughing at the hopeless situation. It is going to be a long night for them.
On entering the terminal it was the scene of a riot in the works. Everyone running to and from, with what appears to be three times as many people as the terminal should be allowed. It was pure chaos with people lying on the floor, lining the pathways, sleeping on the chairs. We had to hustle to get to our plane in Terminal A. So off we go as fast as we could. This was one of the longest terminals I have encountered in a long time. There were three sets of moving walkways, thank goodness, but keep moving even when on them unless one wants to be run over. Just before were were to jump on the rail system to get us to Terminal A, we double check to board to make sure we are going to the right gate. Oh, no, we misread the sign and we were heading to the wrong airlines going to Great Falls. Our gate was all the way back where we came from and then some. So now we are rushing back as fast as our little feet can carry us. Zosia is about to give up. But we persist and finally get to our gate. We settle in for the 45 minute delay. We call our host and left a message that we are running late. She calls back and assures us that all is OK. What - everyone is getting up and heading out - we have a gate change, back to the other way. So we pick and and we're on the run again. As we settle down in B54, we see the times flipping - now it is 90 minutes late and the rain is still pouring and the lightning is flashing. We see some action at the gate - and an announcement that the San Diego plane is going out of our gate before us. Shortly after we are told we have another gate change and it is back the other direction. We keep passing these poor people, at least 100 in line, waiting to rebook flights that they have missed. I see the hopelessness in their faces. I am not feeling so bad about our circumstances at this point. Se we wait down at Gate B60 for a long while, lightening flashing - no plane appears. Where the heck is this plane coming from that would make it two and half hours late?
Alas, three hours after the takeoff time the plane appears and those poor people who landed now have to stand in that long line of despair to make a connection that surely would be tomorrow. OK, boarding time finally, except the computers are down. But at this point, TSA who cares, we all pile on the plane and tear a corner off of our boarding pass so they can log us in later. And off we go at 1:00 am. It only took five minutes in our mind to get here as we fell asleep right away.
Now here was a small airport, perhaps four gates and a short way to our bags. We walked past the vestiges of Great Falls past - a giant stuffed Grizzly bear and massive horns from the elk and caribou that once roamed the plains of the Missouri river. As sweet as she was, there was Terri was at 3:00 am to greet her visitors. A quick drive to her house and to bed. We slept until 10:30 the next day.
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