Recently, I had to get out of bed at 3:30 in the morning to catch a flight out of Joplin at the crack of dawn. Headed to Chicago and ultimately Burlington, Vermont on American Airlines, I anticipated interesting experiences to come. My ultimate goal was to reach Fort Ticonderoga, in Upstate New York, where I would attend a week-long teacher institute focusing on the French and Indian War and World War I.
My first stop was O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, where I had a few hours to kill as I awaited the flight to Vermont. Thankfully, I knew the flight attendant, who happened to be a cousin. She set me up with some snacks for my layover. Those and a book kept me mostly-occupied as I watched to see if the airline would change the gate where I would board my next flight.
As luck would have it, this time there were no changes, and I was able to board on time in the original gate.
On my way to the eastern part of the United States, I had my first experience flying over the Great Lakes before reaching the Green Mountains of Vermont.
On my way to the eastern part of the United States, I had my first experience flying over the Great Lakes before reaching the Green Mountains of Vermont.
The next step on my journey was to pick up a reserved car at the rental counter and drive among the mountains and rural landscape of western Vermont. My destination was a hotel in Rutland, Vermont (birth place of John Deere) where where I could spend the night in anticipation of another few miles of driving to finally get to the historical fort the next day.
The journey is only beginning. Learn more about the teacher institute experience in the days to come.
