Réds Long Day

A coin to memorialize my travelling to six airports in one day on August 11, 2011.

I was in Dallas (DAL) and scheduled to fly to El Paso (ELP) the afternoon of the 10^th. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed five hours due to mechanical issues. I was scheduled to fly through Houston (IAH), but that wasn’t going to happen as the last flight had already left for ELP. So I grab a hotel voucher, get four hours of sleep and show up at Love Field at 4 am where I was told they would try to get me out standby on the 6 am flight. I show up at 4:10 a.m. (ONE) And it was 93 degrees in Dallas. And the terminal was closed. So there I am sitting on a bench sweating like a pig wondering why I just don't get in the car and drive more often, or just stay at home. Finally the doors open and I get in line to plead my case.

They can’t get me out until 12:30 pm, which would make me miss my noon gig in El Paso.

But, they say if I can get to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) they can put me on a 7 am flight to IAH. A 30 minute cab ride later I’m at DFW (TWO) and catch the flight to IAH (THREE).

Grab a 9 am flight to ELP and with the time change I arrive a little after 10 am, (FOUR) in plenty of time for my gig.

Now, I have a 4 pm flight direct to Los Angeles (LAX). The plane leaves on time. Now, if you’ve been paying attention you’re saying, “Hey, that’s only five airports, not six.”

That would have been correct, except about 20 minutes out the pilot announces we have an “in flight mechanical issue” that requires him to land immediately.

Several people moaned and groaned, but I’ve always thought if the pilot wants to land sooner than expected my vote is with him or her.
Anyway, we land safely at Tucson (TUS) (FIVE) and take off one hour later with a new backup power unit and arrive at LAX (SIX) around 8 pm.

Don’t know if it’s a record, but it was a very, very long day.

Move the coin along to see if it can keep up with Réd’s day!