Wednesday, May 21, 2008

We are in Miami...

But we should be in Brazil by now. Heavy sigh.

Issue #1) We board the flight to Miami only to have our ears nearly blown out when they closed the doors. Cabin pressure issues. We must get off the plane and wait....and wait....and wait. Flight #1 cancelled.
Guess what? No more flights to Miami earlier enough to make our connection to Brazil. We all decided it's best to get to Miami anyway, and hope for a later flight.

Issue #2) Storm delays. We end up circling around Atlanta on our new flight for awhile. When we finally land, we learn (not surprisingly) that our (second) flight to Miami is delayed. Then, it's cancelled. Yup - more mechanical issues.
Meanwhile, we learn that we have been re-booked on a Wednesday evening flight from Miami to Brazil (with the exception of Derik and Lynn - no room left on the plane for them - can you believe it?)

Karen wisely books rooms for all of us in Miami.

Miracle #1) Upon arrival in Miami (at 1:30 a.m.), we find our luggage. It made it!! (Our bikes are on another flight bound for Brazil - at least we think they are).

Issue #3) As the shuttle drives us to our hotel, we learn that we do not have hotel rooms. They booked them for Wednesday night, not Tuesday. After much confusion (and driving around aimlessly in a van), we finally find another place to stay. Again - more confusion with the rooms. We do manage to get three rooms out of it, so everyone gets a bed.

At 4:00 a.m., we finally fall asleep.

Mind you, we've been traveling for 16 hours - and we are only in Miami.

Miracle #2) Lynn & Derik manage to get on an earlier flight to Brazil. Major sigh of relief as they were not on any flights as of bedtime last night.

As of 11:12 a.m. on Wednesday, we think Mark is in Brazil, our bikes are in Brazil, Lynn & Derik are flying to Brazil, while the rest of us (me, Rick, Jeff, Denise, CJ, Anita, Karen, Shawn, Shelley, & Lisa) are waiting for our 9:20 p.m. flight tonight. And Som is still in Richmond - but will probably get to Brazil before us.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

5 comments:

Scotia Girl said...

Susie Q - wow! Just checked to see if you arrived safely and was disappointed to hear about your travel issues. Unfortunately I am not surprised. Good luck and be safe.....

TriGirl 40 said...

Ugh - fingers and toes crossed for smooth travels the rest of the way. And bikes waiting patiently in Brazil.

Cyndi said...

Holy flippin' crap! Okay, I know I'm supposed to be the voice of perspective but, dangit, this is the flippin IRONMAN!!! Like the stress isn't bad enough? You guys are sooooo good. . . I know myself pretty well and I swear, the scene I would have caused would have been broadcast from Atlanta to freakin' China! Not that it would have helped -- but at least I would have de-stressed by throwing a tantrum! AND, what's worse? You can't even down a few drinks to take the edge off!! AH! Double bummer!

But at least it's almost over and soon you will all be basking in your thongs on the Brazilian coast!! And, I KNOW that now you will have a wonderfully, smooth race!! Because you ALL deserve it!!

xoxo to all of you!!!

C

Diane said...

SQ - hope you arrive in Brazil safely and soon and that your bikes make it too!!!! Thanks for taking your computer along and keeping us posted.

TriGirl Kate O said...

take a picture of our maramarc boys in a thong....