We had an exciting time getting to South Africa as we were on standby flights and Northwest Airline pilots went on (unofficial) strike a few hours before we were to catch our first flight. All the passengers from Northwest’s 100 canceled flights were routed to other airlines, effectively filling up all standby opportunities. It was a mess. As it happened, I made the initial leg of our journey from Portland, Oregon to Atlanta, Georgia, being offered the one and only open seat because I was the only standby traveler willing to go solo. All the other standby passengers were couples and families unwilling to split up. It was a bit frightening with a last-minute call to be the last one on the plane. We only had a few moments to decide to separate. I didn’t have enough time to consider the consequences of going to Africa alone, though I knew other women had done it. Bob thrust my passport and airline ticket into my hands, gave me quick kiss and made me promise to enjoy Africa, guessing it might take him several days or even a week to get out of the States.
Email to family and friends:
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Something happened! We went from having plenty of open seats on the Saturday night red-eye from Portland to Atlanta, to it being overbooked by half a dozen people. Miraculously, I made the flight and am now in Atlanta. Bob is still stuck in Portland. He spent the night sleeping on the airport floor…well laying on it since he didn’t get much sleep. I managed to get about 2-hours sleep on the flight, then another hour on the floor in the airport in Atlanta.
The 6:10 AM flight had shown a number of openings when Bob went to bed last night. By this morning it was overbooked and he didn’t get on. Our unscripted trip is certainly starting out living up to its title.
I’ll know in about 10 minutes if Bob makes the 7:30 flight. If he does then he has less than an hour once he lands in Atlanta to get from the domestic terminal to the gate in the international terminal. If he runs, he can make it. However, the 7:30 flight is overbooked so Bob doesn’t expect to get on. As it is, the flight from Atlanta to Africa tonight is still very open, which is the reason we moved our departure up by 3-days. This Sunday flight at 4 PM (East Coast Time) is the only flight to Johannesburg from Atlanta. Apprehensive as I am about taking off for Africa alone, Bob feels certain I need to catch this flight by myself, leaving him able to travel solo, providing better chances of getting a standby seat.
So, it looks like “unscripted” is going to define our journey from the get-go. I’ll get to J-burg then try to catch the first train to Cape Town where it is a safer and more pleasant place to await Bob’s arrival. We’re being smart, safe, and having a good adventure just in the getting there.