An early morning flight means I had to wake up early in the morning for a car ride to Springfield. The first flight would take me to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first time. After watching the sunrise out of the right window, I was soon dropped off at the front door of the airport.
I knew I had some time, so I looked around at some of the displays before proceeding through security. There were some wonderful biplanes above my head and a red fire jeep that has been decommissioned.
I knew I had some time, so I looked around at some of the displays before proceeding through security. There were some wonderful biplanes above my head and a red fire jeep that has been decommissioned.
I am always interested in what I am flying over, so seeing the Mississippi River (below left) was particularly interesting. Having been on and around this river in at least four areas of the United States (in Missouri/Illinois, in Tennessee/Arkansas, and in Louisiana, I really do consider it to be lackluster. It has been so manipulated by man in the two centuries that it's hard to imagine what it must have looked like to early explorers. The second river below looks to be a little bit wilder and more natural than the Mississippi, so there might be more aesthetic appeal there.
Those last two photos (above) display the Appalachian Mountains, a true treasure of the United States. It was interesting to fly over this extremely large parcel of land that, to the human eye, sports no evidence of humanity - no buildings, no automobiles, no pedestrian traffic visible from the air. What a testimony as to the vastness and beauty of God's creation!
Once in Charlotte, I was able to find some of my fellow attendees for the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. We were able to stick together when the gate was changed for our next flight, a short one destined for Richmond, Virginia.
Unfortunately, there was not enough room in the first airplane for my carry-on luggage, and the attendants made me check it to my final destination. I don't have good luck with checked luggage, so I'm always apprehensive when I have to check it. Sure enough, once at the luggage carousel in Richmond, mine was not on the belt. A visit to the office finally revealed good news and bad news. The bad news: my suitcase had been loaded onto a different flight. The good news: the other flight landed before mine, and the suitcase was being held ten feet away from where I stood. One of the other participants was not as lucky and had to have her bag delivered to Williamsburg later that evening. Thankfully, the shuttle driver (Steve) held the bus for us, along with about 17 other participants.
Once in Charlotte, I was able to find some of my fellow attendees for the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. We were able to stick together when the gate was changed for our next flight, a short one destined for Richmond, Virginia.
Unfortunately, there was not enough room in the first airplane for my carry-on luggage, and the attendants made me check it to my final destination. I don't have good luck with checked luggage, so I'm always apprehensive when I have to check it. Sure enough, once at the luggage carousel in Richmond, mine was not on the belt. A visit to the office finally revealed good news and bad news. The bad news: my suitcase had been loaded onto a different flight. The good news: the other flight landed before mine, and the suitcase was being held ten feet away from where I stood. One of the other participants was not as lucky and had to have her bag delivered to Williamsburg later that evening. Thankfully, the shuttle driver (Steve) held the bus for us, along with about 17 other participants.
 | Since talking to Bob Hope in the Will Rogers airport in Oklahoma City decades ago, I always try to stay alert in airports, so as a side note, this journey brought me into contact with some strangers altogether unrelated to CWTI. The first was an encounter with Jeff Hubbard (left), who recently set the record and was recognized for shooting the largest caribou on record since 1966. The second was Madisson Higgins (right - don't get them mixed up), the current Miss Maine Teen USA. |  |
There's more to report: go to my Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute page for pictures and reports.
