Life at Willis Creek Ranch: The road home

Friday, June 24, 2016 - Saturday, June 25, 2016

We had a short night of sleep, waking at 4:00 a.m. in order to be ready for our cab to the airport at 5:15 a.m. I took one last photo of 'our view' before we left the apartment. :)

We got our luggage and ourselves out front a little before 5:15 a.m. and discovered it was raining lightly. Seemed fitting to arrive in Edinburgh in the rain and to leave in the rain. By 5:25 a.m. we were getting worried about the cabbie, who had not yet shown up. The problem was that we had to be at the airport by about 6:20 a.m. and all had warned us that if we weren't well on the way by 5:30 a.m. we probably wouldn't make it in time - because of all the traffic issues that we encountered yesterday.

Jennifer and I began walking up the street to see if somehow the cabbie had stopped at the wrong location, although I couldn't really believe that he would forget from yesterday afternoon. About that time a black van cab, just like our cabbie, came speeding up the road. I ran back to our luggage, so happy to see him. Out popped the cabbie apologizing profusely for not getting to us on time. Only trouble was, he wasn't 'our' cabbie! We had never seen this fellow before! I assumed he must have been sent by 'our guy' and we definitely needed him so we climbed in. But, just one block away he called back to us, asking us our names as he looked at a couple standing on the street. I then realized that we weren't his fare and were about to be tossed out of the cab! He stopped the cab in the middle of the street and got out to speak to the couple. They apparently had given up on him and called someone else to pick them up, who was arriving at that very moment. Whew! We got to stay in the cab! The cabbie climbed in and said, 'It is resolved.' Yes, Hallelujah! This was just one more miracle for us in Scotland. I still don't know what happened to our pre-hired cabbie; I honestly felt like he would come. But, we were surely thankful for our ride to the airport and we made it in time with this fellow. Although he was a more 'adventurous' driver than our other guy! :D

SO HARD to leave Jennifer!

one last view of Edinburgh Castle from our speeding cab :D

When we walked into Edinburgh airport we immediately saw one huge difference from our other visits... there were armed policemen everywhere! Not just at entrances, but standing in the middle of crowds of people. We could only assume it was fallout from the BREXIT vote yesterday. It did make us feel that it was time to 'get out of dodge'. We then encountered a lady on the elevator who was still visibly crying and told us her flight had been canceled yesterday and she was back again today hoping to find a way home. The air traffic controller strikes, plus the BREXIT fallout, were certainly making air travel more interesting on this day. I hope she was able to find a flight home.

For our travel home we had encouraged/coerced Mama to agree to having a wheelchair at each airport. She can walk well, just slowly; but we knew we were looking at a real issue with time in the Dublin airport. We only had a 2 hour layover scheduled for Dublin, which we would have thought would be fine. However, we discovered that the Dublin airport is one of the few airports outside the U.S. that has a U.S. customs and immigration center. So, if you are flying through Dublin to the U.S. you will go through U.S. customs and immigration in Dublin and land in the U.S. as a domestic flight! That is lovely, but takes a lot of time and traversing the Dublin airport. We were pretty concerned about our ability to get it all done in time, so scheduled the wheelchair for Mama to help.

When we arrived at Dublin and got off the plane there was no wheelchair. We were also down to just under 2 hours of time until our next flight was scheduled to leave. We started walking, looking for a wheelchair as we walked. Nothing. Finally, we saw a lady who worked for the airport and asked her about the wheelchair. She got on her walkie talkie but got nowhere so started walking with us. Each time we passed an employee with an empty wheelchair she asked them if they were assigned to Mama. Nope. Time was ticking and we really wondered how this was all going to work out. Eventually we rounded a corner and saw two airport employees sitting in wheelchairs chatting in front of a window. She called out to them and neither looked too excited to get up, but one fella did come over. She asked him if he would take us the rest of the way and he said he 'would take us a little bit of the way.' Well, that is better than nothing, we thought! We were going along and he asked us where we were flying. When we answered, 'Chicago', he straightened up and turned to us saying, 'that is a lot further than you think it is.' (yes, we were sort of afraid of that!) BUT, from that point on he was 'our guy'. He was a man on a mission! That wonderful man got us all through customs, immigration, and even security and got us to our gate with 15 minutes to spare! We KNOW that we would NEVER have made it through all of that in time without his gracious help. Again, we were blessed with a miracle. I was able to text home and let them know that we really were getting on our plane at Dublin. We had made it! Thank you God, for all your helpers! (whether they knew it or not!)

The funny thing was that when we landed in Chicago, 'Big Sue' came out. She refused to let me or Julie carry her bag and she straightened up to her full height (of almost 5 feet!) then walked right off the airplane past the line of employees with wheelchairs. She totally ditched them! (and us!) :D ha!! We had a lot of time in Chicago and she felt if she spent any more time sitting, especially in a wheelchair, she might not get back up! So, her two daughters hurried to catch up to her. :) We later saw one of those employees pushing an empty wheelchair back through the airport. :D

We landed in St. Louis about 10:00 p.m. and were thrilled when our luggage arrived with us. :) I am not going to go into the whole story here (too much complaining!), but I have to adamantly state that I would NOT recommend anyone stay at the Airport Drury Inn in St. Louis. It was a pretty terrible experience. If you want to know the details, ask me.

Saturday morning dear Daddy arrived to pick us up and take us home. What a beautiful sight to see him!!! We enjoyed looking out the window all the way home and I was especially glad we took the Hwy. 36 route through our Missouri family history area. We dubbed it our Missouri Glen Artney, and I have to say that it was just as beautiful to us.

We dropped off Julie first and were able to see that her flowers survived her absence and the lack of rain while we were gone. Dear Rojina kept them watered and flourishing. :) While we were standing there my boy, Jackson, drove up the driveway. He had been at my house and was heading back to town when he saw Grandpa's car in Julie's driveway. What a sight for sore eyes! :D He loaded up my luggage and took me up to the house. It was SO wonderful to see and hug Marvin & Jonathan and to be home sweet home.

Laura, Mama, and Julie

my wonderful Mama and Daddy

good to see this guy!

Jackson and Grandma Sue

Home sweet home!!

Boy, I missed this man!

And I missed this young man, too!!

We had the most incredible trip - making memories for a lifetime. There were hard things, and joyful things, and emotional things, and miraculous things. Life. A beautiful tapestry. I wouldn't change it for the world. But, I am glad to be home. :)

Links of Interest -
Flickr photo album of these days - https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157669880777531

Dublin airport - https://www.dublinairport.com

U.S. Pre-clearance at Dublin airport - https://www.dublinairport.com/flight-information/travelling-to-usa/usa-preclearance

Airport Drury Inn - we do NOT recommend that you stay here -

Scotland Accommodations -
http://lifeatwilliscreekranch.blogspot.com/2016/07/scotland-accommodations.html

The many faces of Arthurs Seat -
http://lifeatwilliscreekranch.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-many-faces-of-arthurs-seat.html

Life at Willis Creek Ranch

Pages

Saturday, July 2, 2016

The road home

No comments:

Post a Comment