End of the 48, Day 0-1
SPOKANE -- The Longest Day may refer to D-Day, but any day Chad and I travel out west, it is a longest day.
While Chad pulled an old college trick and stayed awake until I came to pick him up, I went to bed at 10 and set the alarm for 3:51. My problem -- which I should have anticipated -- was that people in my neighborhood like to set off rogue fireworks. I probably would have accepted a full 10-minute barrage, but instead, they came in spits and spurts.
We did arrive at the airport on time... for a cancelled flight. Apparently, our USAirways flight to Charlotte was called on account of mechanical issues. So instead, the gate agent (who of course knew Chad) re-booked us. So instead of a Charleston-Charlotte-Phoenix-Spokane route, we took the northwest passage of Charleston-Chicago-Seattle-Spokane. And the cool part was, Chad's buddy booked us into Alaska Air's first class seats on the Chicago-Seattle leg.
Nanook of the Air was very, very good to us. We were treated to free breakfast (salty quiche and a fruit platter) and free use of the digEplayer. I took in episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Glee, and then played some mah jongg and solitaire. (Yes, I know I could've watched Young Frankenstein, but eh.) The difference in landing times between our old and new routes was negligible, although our flight to Seattle literally passed over Spokane. (Chad was not keen on the idea of the pilot stopping to drop us off.)
Despite having noshed on each leg of the flight, Chad wanted to stop and eat somehwere. It was just as well, as hotel wasn't taking check-ins until 3, and it was only 1:30. It was my intention to go to Noodle Express, but being the 4th of July it was closed. So instead, we went across the parking lot to The Onion.
No, it's not what you think -- The Onion has opened a theme restaurant -- instead, the Onion (restaurant) is an upscale-type bar-and-burger joint. Being the 4th of July, we opted for milkshakes (Chad: Oreo; me: peanut butter), but I turned away from the hot dogs to try the jalapeño bacon burger. Despite being 20 miles from the border, I could still detect an Idaho influence when the waitress told me that there were free refills on the fries. I passed.
At press time (5:05pt/8:05et), Chad is buzzsawing away over on the bed at our hotel, resting up for tonight's hometown match-up between the Indians (an actual tribe, never affiliated with Cleveland) and the Tri-City Dust Devils, with fireworks after.
Happy 4th, everyone.
While Chad pulled an old college trick and stayed awake until I came to pick him up, I went to bed at 10 and set the alarm for 3:51. My problem -- which I should have anticipated -- was that people in my neighborhood like to set off rogue fireworks. I probably would have accepted a full 10-minute barrage, but instead, they came in spits and spurts.
We did arrive at the airport on time... for a cancelled flight. Apparently, our USAirways flight to Charlotte was called on account of mechanical issues. So instead, the gate agent (who of course knew Chad) re-booked us. So instead of a Charleston-Charlotte-Phoenix-Spokane route, we took the northwest passage of Charleston-Chicago-Seattle-Spokane. And the cool part was, Chad's buddy booked us into Alaska Air's first class seats on the Chicago-Seattle leg.
Nanook of the Air was very, very good to us. We were treated to free breakfast (salty quiche and a fruit platter) and free use of the digEplayer. I took in episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Glee, and then played some mah jongg and solitaire. (Yes, I know I could've watched Young Frankenstein, but eh.) The difference in landing times between our old and new routes was negligible, although our flight to Seattle literally passed over Spokane. (Chad was not keen on the idea of the pilot stopping to drop us off.)
Despite having noshed on each leg of the flight, Chad wanted to stop and eat somehwere. It was just as well, as hotel wasn't taking check-ins until 3, and it was only 1:30. It was my intention to go to Noodle Express, but being the 4th of July it was closed. So instead, we went across the parking lot to The Onion.
No, it's not what you think -- The Onion has opened a theme restaurant -- instead, the Onion (restaurant) is an upscale-type bar-and-burger joint. Being the 4th of July, we opted for milkshakes (Chad: Oreo; me: peanut butter), but I turned away from the hot dogs to try the jalapeño bacon burger. Despite being 20 miles from the border, I could still detect an Idaho influence when the waitress told me that there were free refills on the fries. I passed.
At press time (5:05pt/8:05et), Chad is buzzsawing away over on the bed at our hotel, resting up for tonight's hometown match-up between the Indians (an actual tribe, never affiliated with Cleveland) and the Tri-City Dust Devils, with fireworks after.
Happy 4th, everyone.