Arriving in South Dakota...
I’m here! In spite of the best efforts of US Airways, United and Frontier Airlines, I finally arrived at Re-Member at about 10 p.m. on Friday night.
The trip out was eventful, as always.
I left home at 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning, caught my first flight from Portland to New York, and had sixty minutes to make a connection at La Guardia. Shouldn’t have been a problem, but I had to change airlines and terminals, and go through security again. Despite my best efforts, I was two minutes late arriving at the ticket counter, and was told I would have to bump to another flight. Little did I know that the random henchmen at the Frontier counter were booking me a first-class ticket to Denver, to make up for the fact that I was going to have to sit in the terminal from 9 until 2 in the afternoon.
So yeah, seat 4A was a good time. I boarded with all the businessmen who were wearing sports coats in my shorts and flip flops. Lunch was a step up from economy class (a $6 “snack pack) as we were served a salad with shrimp, fresh baked bread, and wine. The hot chocolate chip cookies were much appreciated as well. Definitely had a buzz by the time we landed in Denver (a little creeped out that they hand out warm wash cloths to freshen up before you land…)
Proceeded to get on a puddle jumper after that, for the quick flight from Denver up to Rapid, but it was the best flight of the day. We flew over the Badlands as the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the amazing landforms. It is so much different looking than the last time I was in the area (March, 2008) when everything was still gray and dreary.
Arrived at the airport to find Phil and Abby waiting for me with Kate, the other SAC’er who is here for the month of July (her flights actually got her here on time, so they ended up waiting around Rapid for me to arrive for three hours.) We walked out of the airport and were greeted with 30-40 mile per hour wind gusts – apparently some things never change here. At least this time it’s not blowing snow across the plains, and making the wind-chill something ridiculous.
Arrived at Re-Member, met the other summer-staff, and did my best to stay awake for a while to talk. After not sleeping since Wednesday night though, I couldn’t really keep my eyes open by midnight (which felt like 2 a.m. with the time difference.)
Volunteers for the week arrive this afternoon; it’s a group of about 60. Looking forward to getting into the middle of everything so quickly, and can’t wait to get out and see the Rez again.
More soon.
The trip out was eventful, as always.
I left home at 3:30 a.m. on Friday morning, caught my first flight from Portland to New York, and had sixty minutes to make a connection at La Guardia. Shouldn’t have been a problem, but I had to change airlines and terminals, and go through security again. Despite my best efforts, I was two minutes late arriving at the ticket counter, and was told I would have to bump to another flight. Little did I know that the random henchmen at the Frontier counter were booking me a first-class ticket to Denver, to make up for the fact that I was going to have to sit in the terminal from 9 until 2 in the afternoon.
So yeah, seat 4A was a good time. I boarded with all the businessmen who were wearing sports coats in my shorts and flip flops. Lunch was a step up from economy class (a $6 “snack pack) as we were served a salad with shrimp, fresh baked bread, and wine. The hot chocolate chip cookies were much appreciated as well. Definitely had a buzz by the time we landed in Denver (a little creeped out that they hand out warm wash cloths to freshen up before you land…)
Proceeded to get on a puddle jumper after that, for the quick flight from Denver up to Rapid, but it was the best flight of the day. We flew over the Badlands as the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the amazing landforms. It is so much different looking than the last time I was in the area (March, 2008) when everything was still gray and dreary.
Arrived at the airport to find Phil and Abby waiting for me with Kate, the other SAC’er who is here for the month of July (her flights actually got her here on time, so they ended up waiting around Rapid for me to arrive for three hours.) We walked out of the airport and were greeted with 30-40 mile per hour wind gusts – apparently some things never change here. At least this time it’s not blowing snow across the plains, and making the wind-chill something ridiculous.
Arrived at Re-Member, met the other summer-staff, and did my best to stay awake for a while to talk. After not sleeping since Wednesday night though, I couldn’t really keep my eyes open by midnight (which felt like 2 a.m. with the time difference.)
Volunteers for the week arrive this afternoon; it’s a group of about 60. Looking forward to getting into the middle of everything so quickly, and can’t wait to get out and see the Rez again.
More soon.
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