Spokane, WA for Science Olympiad
 

This is my first trip report, and due to the circumstances (as you'll read) its probably not as thorough as it could be (with times/plane markings, etc.) It's kind of a different trip than I'm sure most of you take. Also, I don't fly much (read: at all), so I can't tell a 727 from a 727-200 or anything like that. But, I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.

(To clarify, when referring to times, E=Eastern Daylight Time, M=Mountain Daylight Time, P=Pacific Daylight Time)

Intended Routing:
5/18/00 UA 1507 757 BWI-->DEN 1715E-->1853M 24E
5/18/00 UA Exp 5535 BA 146 DEN-->GEG 2040M-->2205P 4E
5/21/00 UA 742 727-200 GEG-->DEN 1445P-->1748M 18F
5/21/00 UA 1738 757 DEN-->BWI 1850M-->1201E 24A

Background/Purpose:
Trip from Delaware to Spokane, Washington to participate in the 16th annual National Science Olympiad at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. A group of 24 people will be going on this trip, 15 participants, 2 alternates, 2 observers, and 5 adult coaches. We will be staying at the dorm rooms at Gonzaga University in downtown Spokane. Anyway...here goes.

Thursday, May 18
Before the trip, I had the AP Economics tests (Macro AND Micro), which I rushed through to be able to leave with the group. Left Wilmington, DE via school bus at 1340E. Arrived BWI Term A check in, long wait (45-60 minutes) The lady in front of us works at a museum in Chicago (which was host to last year's Olympiad) and helped run an event so she was familiar with the Science Olympiad. Checked in clear to Spokane, checked luggage, got tags for laptop case and backpack, and confirmed MP number (since my card has yet to arrive). Proceeded to gate A1 to learn that flight was delayed 45 minutes due to "late arrival", but the plane was already in the gate. I just kept my mouth shut. Went around the airport, got Mr. Potato Head candy dispenser (I collect Potato Head stuff), on return to gate, got paged that flight was delayed until 1830E. (UA Flight aging is great, when it works). Plane finally boarded at 1840E (UA was correct, it was a late arrival- of the flight crew). Doors closed at 1850, taxi at 1855, and takeoff a few minutes past 1900E. Traded a freshman for aisle seat (25C-only middle seat free on the plane-yes!-i convinced him middle was better, you get to talk to two people http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ). Movie was s'possed to be RKO 281, which i was looking forward to, but ended up to be Hanging Up, which i did not watch. F/A distributed free headset cords to all pax, but I had to own 'phones, which are more comfortable. Listened to Ch 9 most of the way though the flight. (One q: ATC kept referring to a "Key Lime" flight, is that KLM?) Dinner/drinks were served almost immediately after climb. Y class Dinner was teriyaki chicken (decent) rice (awful) and salad (all right). Washed down with generous amounts of Coke (we "borrowed" a few cans from the cart while the FA was busy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif), it was an okay meal. Read an few back issues of Wired before we landed. Due to the late departure, and the bad weather in the mid west, we would be landing at DEN B26 at 2030M. By the time we taxied, we'd have just 5 minutes to get to b52 for the next flight. Gate Agent said she'd call ahead to hold flight. We ran down the beltways (be careful when running off them) and made it just as they announced final boarding call. Took a long time to get seated (sort of on purpose, to ensure bags would be loaded) and finally took off about 2050M. Once again finagled to get better seat (5A) to get some sleep. The 146 is weird, it has a 2/3 config with no F. Dozed off for a few, and woke up in time for a terrific landing at GEG, about 5 minutes early. Deplaned, grabbed bags, and piled into 4 National vans, which were outstanding. Got to Gonzaga, checked in, and fiddled with laptop for 30 minutes to try to get campus ethernet. Finally gave up and used modem to check email/weather.

Friday, May 19 Woke up, had breakfast at "Ultimate Bagel." Several members of the group went to Arny's Diner, recommended it highly. Went back to room to get my camera, and couldn't find it (Those of you who read the United board know what's coming). I figured someone had borrowed it from my backpack and make a note to ask Jake, my roommate. He said he hadn't touched it and neither had anyone else, so I called United Spokane who hadn't seen it. Got number for United Denver, but voicemail was full(!). Nothing exciting happened the rest of the day, so I'll spare you the details.

Saturday, May 20 The Big Day! Got up early, had breakfast at EWU Student Center. Participated in 4 events: Mission Possible, Experimental Design, Practical Data Gathering and WWW.Netsearch (Event details are on http://www.nso2000.org, as are winners, and ictures). Tryed calling United Denver many times, and finally got though to leave message about 1200P. Gave them cell phone number so I'd know immediately. Awards dinner was lousy, chicken parm(rock hard) with pasta(mushy), salad(is that REALLY lettuce), and apple pie(rather crust, with apple sauce). Awards ceremony was long and boring. Events were announced in alphabetical order. We didn't win anything in any of my first three events, and only 2 4th place medals overall, so when they called out WWW.netsearch, I was half asleep (It was 0100E). I figured I had done poorly, I took almost an hour, but got every question. They called third, didn't win. Figured I had no shot. Then they called 2nd. "The Charter School of Wilmington...Wilmington, Delaware" I bolted out of my seat, down the bleachers and up to get my medal. Everyone was applauding and I was ecstatic. We ended up 24th place overall (they give points down to 15th place). Went back to dorms and celebrated with double chocolate brownie ice cream.

Sunday/Monday, May 20/21 Ate breakfast at The Chef, a restaurant/casino. The gambling age is 18 (i guess, I'm not quite sure this was a legal operation) so I put a quarter in the slot machine. No luck http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Packed up and stopped at Riverfront park on way to airport. Very nice, but only had half hour. Got to GEG, checked in, checked baggage. Airport was mobbed with olympians leaving on every possible flight. Went to lost baggage, checked again for camera, no dice. I was told to check at DEN, and file a claim at BWI. Wandered around airport for a few minutes, then boarded plane to DEN. Old 727, with the acoustic headphones. Ch 9 was sounds from cockpit, but I couldn't hear anything. I took my assigned window seat (for a short day flight through the rockies). Beautiful day, clear, excellent scenery. Got into DEN on time, connector was delayed 10 minutes. That was good, as it gave me 70 minutes to find baggage claim, which it turned out I needed most of (for those of you who have never been to DEN, the round-trip from B-->Terminal/Bag Claim is about 35 minutes. (Includes a train ride!) DEN didn't have my camera either. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Got back to gate in time for boarding. Stole aisle seat again http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. Movie was Snow Day (pretty lame from previews) and same TV as outbound. Dinner was same chicken, this time, italian, not teriyaki (still just okay), with salad(hot) and oreos(mmmmmmmmm, chocolate). Flight was pleasant, though some of the freshmen were yelling and being in general obnoxious. Got hooked on Starbucks Frapaccino in WA, so had a couple on the plane. The flight was understaffed, but the F attendants helped out, so service was good. Landed at BWI at 1230E, and got bags off belt. Filed claim with lost bags, but the lady was very rude (she appeared to be contractor, not UA), so i doubt my camera will be seen again (can I hold UA liable, even though it was my fault). Got on bus and got home about 0300E. Slept to 1400E this afternoon.


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-mark