Well, first let me apologize that there are no photos as proof of our first day adventure. Let me start with our morning off....Tracey and I decided to take the Robert Q from London to Detroit together to just save the hassles of driving. It was well worth it and quite a relaxing trip (thanks Tracey!) Tracey was actually booked on the 7:15 to SLC and I was to be on the 5:15......isn't she a great friend to travel together. We enjoyed a great lunch at the airport, wandered around and eventually more of our team joined us (plus new friends Jamilla, Denise and Natasha). We were chatting away and next thing you know....our flight was delayed. Ok, that's fine....little glitch. Ten minutes later the flight has been cancelled and there are no flights being rescheduled. So there were a plane full of grown men and women racing across the terminal to gate A43 to try and get the "best" flight to SLC. Once we got there, we were all assigned flights for TUESDAY to get to SLC....really, we wanted to enjoy a day....but safety first.....so here we are in Detroit.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) the eight of us that got "stuck" taking non direct flights to eventually land in SLC....I'm heading to Memphis with a 30 minute layover to connect to SLC...wish me luck!!!! Some are going through Chicago and others through Denver. Here's hoping we all end up in SLC by 4 so we can enjoy a night there!
In the meantime, our night has been an adventure. First we were told we can get our luggage and would take an hour. Then we went to get our luggage and we were told it would take up to three hours with no guarantees of getting the luggage to us, which could mean it won't arrive at our final destination. Plan B...no luggage! So, we headed to the hotel that we were given a voucher for. We went into our rooms and we all quietly said, maybe it wasn't the place for us (meaning UGH!!!!) We thought we'd try dinner at the hotel so as we are heading down, Renee and I said truly things could be worse and honestly just as I said that the power went out!!! REALLY!!! So it was out for about two minutes and we headed down to the restaurant (that had about 20 customers and one waitress). She seemed nice enough but WAY over worked and really not too keen or interested SO up we got.
Well, all of this was a sign to us and we packed up our luggage...I mean carry on bags....which by the way, mine has a camera, computer and a magazine....NO clean clothes or bathroom stuff....what was I thinking...and headed off to Springhill Marriott! (My downline Marja only had her Big Shot and swaps so I suppose I wasn't the worst off!) We were welcomed here with open arms, a free pizza and a clean comfy room! What fun!
Then we had the best dinner, actually the BEST waitress, at the Sportsbar Grill. We all ate amazing meals, had great conversation and truly wonderful staff that had us laughing all night! Now we were well fed, and on a mission....clean underwear! There's a Meijer not far from the hotel so we went and did a little shopping to at least feel sortof clean and kept for tomorrow! What fun! We truly did have a great night....we had fun together, laughed and it was a great (well, great might be a stretch....but fun!) way to start our Convention 2011 adventure! Here's hoping Tuesday is a little less eventful!!! I'll keep you posted!
Hugs,
Heather
The rest of the week will make up for this "planes, trains & automobiles" start. Thank goodness ms sunshine is the leader!
Posted by: Lyn Thompson | July 14, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Heather - Next time that happens(God forbid), go to the airlines customer service desk...they have convenience kits with a t-shirt, toothbrush, toothpaste and a few other essentials to make your overnight stay better. Wish Greg and I had found that out before our fiasco in Chicago O'Hare! Hope the rest of Convention is a blast!
Posted by: Michele B | July 13, 2011 at 05:21 PM
as they say...'everything happens for a reason' and that means you will all arrive in SLC safely! Missing it all...continue having fun and good memories!
Posted by: Lynda Fraser | July 12, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Thats not the way things are suppose to start... but you have an amazing personality and can smile and make the best of it!! Thats what an amazing person you are... thanks for sharing! I hope tomorrow is much brighter for all of you!
Posted by: Belinda Loewen | July 12, 2011 at 06:05 PM
HUGS Heather, I hope today was a much better day for you!! Can't wait to read more of your updates:)
Posted by: Mary Beth | July 12, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Oh my goodness! That is quite the start! See you soon at the Springhill and hope our drive down is FAR less eventful!
Posted by: Kristine Burns | July 12, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Oh my goodness! I hope you guys get to Salt Lake on time AND your luggage arrives. Will be thinking of you!
Posted by: Chastity Broeker | July 12, 2011 at 08:35 AM
That HAS to be the best travel nightmare story EVER!! Here's hoping you have nothing but good luck in the rest of your travels! Great you can laugh about it. Hope your luggage arrive in SLC same time you do!!
Posted by: Linda H | July 12, 2011 at 07:05 AM
Sounds like our trip home from convention last year - ended up waiting 3 hours for our luggage and then getting to a hotel that wouldn't take my voucher that the airlines had given me - got home the next day and all my family had left for holidays without me and there was construction on our street and couldn't park close to the house and didn'thave a house key because I left all my keys at home because in the perfect world, my husband would have picked me up the day before!!!! Quite the adventure!! I sympathize with you - good memories!! Didn't you have to wait for luggge in St. George?? LOL!! See you soon!!
Posted by: Karen Duke | July 12, 2011 at 02:39 AM
OMGOSH! This is some strange luck! I hope you guys get to your destination on time! And I hope you all get your luggage... Just think of it as a Stampin' Up Adventure! :o)
Posted by: Theresa McK | July 12, 2011 at 12:27 AM
good golly!!! and you still have a smile on your face (I can tell)...that's why I love you Heather! I know that tomorrow will be better (it has to be, right?) Safe journey!
Posted by: Birdie | July 12, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Seriously?! How do you keep getting this kind of luck?! Although, if I had been around, you can bet we would have been hitting Target together for a 'essentials' shopping trip! :) Can't wait to see you!!! xoxo
Posted by: Kari Metzger | July 12, 2011 at 12:21 AM