From here to there, funny things are everywhere!

Sleetmute, Alaska to Presque Isle, Maine

3 Days later, and I’m finally in the State of Maine!

It’s been a week since I left the bush country, I came in on the tail end of winter/beginning of spring and I left on the tail end of fall. I told Taylor that I’d been here for 4 seasons, he said, “No, mum, just three.” I was counting “mud season.”

It was a great time up there in the North, I didn’t anticipate the difficulties I had with internet and wifi service. I just took for granted that I would be able to log on and that there would be service, boy, did I have that wrong!

Goodbyes are always the hardest for me.

Every time I see my children I am amazed at how much they have grown, in maturity and in spirit, it truly is a blessing for a mother’s soul.

Hugs GOODBYE family photo up in the sky, first leg of the trip

Day 1, September 15

The first leg of my trip was from Sleetmute to Anchorage on Lake and Peninsula Air Lines. We stopped at two villages on the Kuskokwim River before we reached Anchorage.

Nothing remarkable about the flight, we stayed pretty low for the first part, then after we had made our second stop, the pilot was able to get above the clouds and the trip was a bit smoother. It took us about 5.5 hours to make the trip.

Lake and Peninsula Airlines

Second generation, family-owned business with three locations to choose from: Anchorage, Port Alsworth and Iliamna, Alaska

They have three kinds of aircraft: Piper Super Cub, Cessna 206 and Cessna Caravan, I rode the Caravan seen in the photo.

USO, Anchorage

What ever you want to call it, the military lounge will always be a USO to me.

Anchorage’s Atwood Military Lounge is operated by the YMCA and staffed by military personnel stationed at the nearby joint base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Located inside the Ted Stevens International Airport, South Terminal, Concourse A Outside Security. Level 1, inside the Main Lobby, behind the escalators.

I checked in about 6:30 pm and left at about 11:30 am the next day. It was a quiet restful place to park while making my connection to Delta Airlines and my flight to Seattle and then on the Boston.
The lounge had a good number of amenities, Snacks, Wi-Fi, Showers, Newspapers & Magazines, TVs, Movies, Children’s Area, Internet Terminals, and of course it was a Non-Smoking facility.
They didn’t have private rooms, but I napped quite well in a comfy recliner.

Day 2, September 16

The Delta customer service at Ted Stevens is pretty top notch. They were very helpful in pointing me in the direction of the Military Lounge, as well as securing me a coupon for a free bag on my flight!
Check in was a breeze, and as I made my way through security, I was having a great day!
I sat at my gate and prepared to take on the next leg of my flight, when about 40 minutes to board an announcement come on the overhead, “Would anyone be willing to give up their seat for a $500 cash visa card?” Well, that sounds terrific I thought, up I got and was first in line. Score! I got a two-hour delay and $500. I’m lovin’ this already!
Then the attendant whispers, “The next flight is overbooked as well, you are guaranteed a seat, but you could sell that one too, if you have the time to spare.”
Interesting…

I have an overnight flight from ANC to SEA to BOS in order to catch the only flight into Presque Isle, Maine. Jet Blue leaving daily from BOS to PQI at 8:55pm arriving at 10:22pm.
I figure I’ve got time to play with, I just need to be in Boston by 5:00pm, no later than 6:00pm to grab my bag at Delta baggage claim and hop on bus transportation from Gate A to Gate C to check in for Jet Blue.
I hunker down for the two-hour wait.

Overhead, “Is there anyone willing to give up their seat for a $500 cash VISA gift card?” Welp, you gotta’ know I was sprinting to the kiosk. Again, I was able to get the gift card with another two-hour delay. Sweet! I’ll make it into BOS with plenty of time to spare for the terminal change. Then the attendant again tells me, “Your seat is secure, but we are overbooked on that flight as well, you could sell your seat if you have the time to spare.” I nod my head in acknowledgement, and head back to one of those massage chairs, I’ve earned it, two two-hour wait cycles, I’m gonna’ get me one of those massages! Fifteen minutes of torture heaven, I feel a little more relaxed. Ok, Margo, I coach myself, you’ve got this, piece of cake. That was the easiest $1000 you’ve ever made!

Now Boarding…
It’s getting to be the middle of the night, we’ve changed days, its now the 17th of September, and I’m on the flight from ANC to SEA to DTW to BOS. Let’s get ‘er done! I’m ready to be home in Maine and sleep in a bed again.

Day 3, September 17, BOS to PQI

I must have been looking very tired because people were very gracious to help me with my bags and a place to sit on the ground transportation in Boston.

Last Leg of the Trip Home to Maine

I had about three hours to spare after checking into Jet Blue, the lady taking care of me checking in and tagging my bag must have been having a bad day, she had a terrible attitude and no patience, I even thought I saw her roll her eyes at the customer Infront of me.
That’s ok, I’m gonna’ bring my ray of sunshine self over there and brighten her day!
Well, that really didn’t take all that long, I’m off to the latrine and TSA.
I’m surprised, I’ve had no problems with TSA, when I left Dallas back in May, I thought I was going to miss my flight because TSA had to take everything, and I mean everything out of my carryon.

Jet Blue and a Window Seat

I’m just gonna’ sit here and enjoy the flight, about twenty minutes into the flight we hit a pocket of rockin’ turbulence, felt like a Six Flags Roller Coaster ride-awesome!
Some squeals were heard throughout the cabin, but the Pilot came on overhead and said it was because we hit the exhaust of another plane that had flown through the area recently, he apologized and took the plane up to a higher level and the ride was smooth going from then on.
I was thankful for the announcement that we were about to descend and thoughts of sleeping in a big bed filled my mind, it had been a 60-hour excursion.
Good night everyone, sleep tight.