Returning From Our Car Trip Without Our Car
Pacific Northwest Travelog 22
SEA Airport. Saturday, 8 July 2017. 7pm.
We'll be boarding our flight home from our Pacific Northwest trip in another hour or so. Note, it's a flight home from what started as a car trip. Our Nissan Xterra is staying near Seattle (Kirkland, to be exact) for the next several days, awaiting repair. While we are heading home because we have better things to do than wait here for it.
As much as dealing with the wreckage of this ruined vacation is disheartening- and expensive (the cost is thousands of dollars plus days of lost time) - the past 24 hours have felt more calm than the two previous days. It's because we've had a credible plan in place and we've been able to take meaningful action on it. Oh, and because we've made a point of relaxing because, frankly, there isn't much else we can do.
Last night we took a dip in the hot tub at our hotel after dinner. That was nice. We took another dip again this morning before packing our bags. That was nice, too. Then we ate lunch and went shopping. Hawk browsed three bead stores nearby. We walked along the Lake Washington waterfront and through downtown Kirkland. We stopped for ice cream.
Around 3pm we made our way back to the Nissan dealer. We swapped a few things between the luggage we're flying home with and the stuff we're leaving in the Xterra until I return for it next week. We'd packed loosely for this trip knowing we'd be living out of our own car for 9 days. Mostly we left behind our hiking boots, packs, poles, and small cooler. Then we hailed a Lyft ride to the airport.
The security shuffle at SEA airport was relatively easy thanks to Global Entry and TSA Pre-check. The line moved fast, as there was no disrobing or unpacking required. It feels very civilized, very... pre 9-11... this way.
So now we're cooling our heels in the boarding area. And discussing the best timing for me to return here to pick up the car next week.
SEA Airport. Saturday, 8 July 2017. 7pm.
We'll be boarding our flight home from our Pacific Northwest trip in another hour or so. Note, it's a flight home from what started as a car trip. Our Nissan Xterra is staying near Seattle (Kirkland, to be exact) for the next several days, awaiting repair. While we are heading home because we have better things to do than wait here for it.
As much as dealing with the wreckage of this ruined vacation is disheartening- and expensive (the cost is thousands of dollars plus days of lost time) - the past 24 hours have felt more calm than the two previous days. It's because we've had a credible plan in place and we've been able to take meaningful action on it. Oh, and because we've made a point of relaxing because, frankly, there isn't much else we can do.
Last night we took a dip in the hot tub at our hotel after dinner. That was nice. We took another dip again this morning before packing our bags. That was nice, too. Then we ate lunch and went shopping. Hawk browsed three bead stores nearby. We walked along the Lake Washington waterfront and through downtown Kirkland. We stopped for ice cream.
Around 3pm we made our way back to the Nissan dealer. We swapped a few things between the luggage we're flying home with and the stuff we're leaving in the Xterra until I return for it next week. We'd packed loosely for this trip knowing we'd be living out of our own car for 9 days. Mostly we left behind our hiking boots, packs, poles, and small cooler. Then we hailed a Lyft ride to the airport.
The security shuffle at SEA airport was relatively easy thanks to Global Entry and TSA Pre-check. The line moved fast, as there was no disrobing or unpacking required. It feels very civilized, very... pre 9-11... this way.
So now we're cooling our heels in the boarding area. And discussing the best timing for me to return here to pick up the car next week.