The L&T and I knew we were facing a long travel day home, but we didn’t figure it would end halfway.
Rather than snuggled warm in our own bed, the L&T and I are sitting in a hot, stuffy hotel room in Salt Lake City, sans luggage, food, and any sense of time or place.
The Underground Travel Curse strikes again.
Veteran Undergrounders will remember last year’s Maine return trip; we found ourselves stuck in Boston, holed up in a hotel room (a $400+ hotel room) for more than a day.
Given the current airline climate, I guess stranding us in Salt Lake City - which is, after all, farther west than Boston - constitutes real progress on the part of Delta Airlines. Yay, Delta!
My lower back is painfully aware of the fact that our 4.75 hour flight west found us rooted in our seats for better than eight hours, and I’m also pretty clear on the fact there are damned few trout at the Salt Lake City Airport Inn.
Thus, a New Underground Constitutional Amendment is born:
If I Can’t Drive To It, It Doesn’t Exist
More when my butt hurts less, and my eyes are open more.
See you where vertebrae go to die at the airport, Tom Chandler.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
oatka 07.28.08 at 3:52 am
The Provo River is a short drive south of SLC. If you are still there, hop in a car and catch some nice fish! Good luck!
Tom Chandler 07.28.08 at 6:15 am
Oatka: Alas, I’m all geared up with the following fly fishing stuff:
Nothing
With any luck, we fly to Medford at noon today. And yes, even if all we’ve got is the clothes on our back, a night’s sleep is reviving; I’m halting work on my wholly unbiased investigative article “Airline Travel: Is The Road to Hell Paved With Airline Tickets?”
A. Wannabe Travelwriter 07.28.08 at 7:22 am
I fly into to SLC a couple of times a year…yes, on purpose: my sister and family live there—that and maybe the best snow in the world for those winter pursuits that go downhill.
But, I too, have been yanked around by the new era of airline atrophy.
The other thing that SLC has is some great microbreweries (even with a “branch office” out at the airport): so if you are tired that six-hour layover and of shun new Euro-Budweiser, try some Polygamy Porter.
wayne eng 07.28.08 at 8:52 am
Hey Tom……If you see Donnie and Marie tell them I said hello and lets do lunch..Hi to Nancy too!…….E.T,
Don 07.28.08 at 9:08 am
Tom,
Didn’t you learn anything from Tyra Banks?
It helps if you act like a supermodel in situations like this, sheesh.
harry 07.28.08 at 12:58 pm
Been stuck there myself on the way to Montana. Same motel as a matter of fact. And you guessed it-same airline!
Welcome home!
cutthroat stalker 07.28.08 at 1:31 pm
Tom,
Too late now, but a quick call to me and I could have put you up for the night (90 minutes away), loaned you gear, guide you to some local fishing and let you paw through the 100+ fly fishing titles in my library. Sorry for your troubles. Even more sorry I couldn’t help.
Next time you plan on having troubles, and they’re in Utah, let me know. (Based on your excellent traveling record, don’t you always plan on trouble.)
In fact, you should build up a network of fishing pals along all major flight routes you typically take. Let them know a week or two in advance what your flight plans are, then they could all be prepared for that midnight call from Tom.
shastacc 07.28.08 at 4:20 pm
Too bad this didn’t happen next week…you could have joined in on a pint or two of Squatter’s Organic Amber at Ecowood’s booth at OR.
Timing is everything…
CC
Tom Chandler 07.28.08 at 7:30 pm
Amazingly, we’re back. And I’m in a world of hurt on the work front.
Still lots to say about Maine, and damnit, a few other things too.
More to come.
David Roberts 07.28.08 at 8:43 pm
And you alway say I’m nuts when I say I would rather drive than fly. Welcome home brother.
Call me in the AM when you get up and moving. Linda and I head for Ohio on Sat. taking I80 back I 90 home.
David