Loose Cannon

I knew for some time about a conference at the Free Presbyterian Church in Toronto I wanted to attend if only to hear a speaker from "across the pond". The Free Presbyterian Church in Toronto was marking its 30th anniversary.

After the memorial service for my father it was time to get back to work. Yet I also wanted to attend the conference or at least that part where I could hear the speaker from overseas. Solution: Travel to Toronto and hire a car to get around and attend the conference and then go to the main headquarters of one of the companies I contract for in Burlington, Ontario and get a truck to move back to the States. I booked four nights at the Days Inn in Toronto using Trip Rewards points and that helped keep the cost down some. Next I looked into the feasibility of using miles to get a travel award and decided to cough up the almost $220 for what appeared to be a reasonably priced one way ticket on Delta from LAX to Toronto. The shuttle van arrived a little early to pick me up and off I went to LAX.

Upon arrival at LAX Terminal 5 I used the kiosk to check in and it seemed more hassle with the machine as opposed to using a live human. There was a line at security though I was not selected for secondary and did not undergo same. However my boarding pass was checked three times, once at the bottom of the escalator, then at the top of the escalator and finally after going through the metal detector.

Delta #44 LAX-CVG B-757-200 Seat 27F Exit Row Cruising altitude 35,000' Estimated flying time 3:30, actual 3:31 Scheduled departure 11h40, actual 11h45 Scheduled arrival 18h49, actual 18h34 Ticket cost: $217.43

Boarding was through door 2L. Small bottles of water were available just inside the door and I took one. Plane was completely full. Pushback 5 minutes late followed by taxi/hold of 13 minutes. Takeoff to west and into then through the clouds quickly. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:16. I did not see much due to overwing position and lots of clouds enroute. There was one drink run and I did not get the whole can. A snack pack was served and I did not eat the raisins as I am allergic but I enjoyed the crackers and cheese spread and ate the shortbread cookies. Also I ate a chicken caeser wrap I bought at the airport. A movie was shown but I did not pay attention. Later there was another drink run and a choice of snacks was offered (Sun Chips, Granola bar, peanuts, peanut butter crackers and biscoff cookies) but I declined as I was too full. Seatbelt sign back on at 2:08 due to light chop and remained on almost the rest of the flight (perhaps captain forgot to turn it off?). Descent started at 3:05. Turns for most part were gradual and we landed east to west and taxi was 5 minutes and we arrived 15 minutes early. I took the tram to "C" gates and found out the next flight had a gate change.

Comair/Delta Connection #5026 CVG-YYZ CRJ-700 Seat 13D Cruising altitude not given. Estimated flying time 1:30, actual 1:07 Scheduled departure 19h45, actual 19h57 Scheduled arrival 21h28, actual 21h26

Boarding was via stairs and plane was almost full but there were a few empty seats. Pushback 12 minutes late, taxi/hold 10 minutes followed by takeoff to west. I did ot see much due to darkness but I saw downtown Cincinnati on takeoff and later the lights of the Cleveland area. Seatbelt sign off at 0:20. One drink run, snack basket offerings and I chose biscoff cinnamon cookies. Descent started at 0:39 and seatbelt sign on at 0:53. We descended into clouds and landed east to west. Taxi/hold was 11 minutes and we arrived 2 minutes early. We deplaned through stairs and were bussed to Customs and Immigration. I was sent to Immigration and waited the best part of an hour before talking to an officer and explained my plans then was admitted and I retrieved my bags, got the rental car and went to hotel and "crashed" for the night.

To be continued

TrayflowInUK

Ah! Another trip report from the Joe Friday of trip reporters--"Just the facts, ma'am." [That was meant as a compliment, BTW!]

Condolences about your father.

Looking forward to the continuation!

Loose Cannon

Conference and Sightseeing

The room I was given for the four nights in Toronto was, in my subjective opinion, quite nice. However the hotel itself was a fair distance (over 25km) from where the conference was. I went to Scotiabank and changed some US currency into Canadian then drove to downtown to look around. I took a few pictures of downtown then because of time and traffic I headed to Kally's Dining Hall for the Friday Night Banquet and Messages. We were served a very good chicken dinner.

After the dinner came a slide show/presentation on the 30 years of the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church. There were some people in the Canadian government and media who did not want that church to get started back in 1976. John McKnight of Dublin, MD and president of the American Council of Christian Churches spoke on Second Peter 3:1-10. After the meeting every household was given a booklet entitled These Thirty Years A Short History of Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.

Following morning I attended a men's breakfast in the basement of the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church located at the northwest corner of Neilson and Finch. Ivan Foster of Northern Ireland spoke on Psalm 104:1-24. After that I had time to do a little sightseeing so I went downtown and went up the CN Tower. There were large crowds at the CN Tower so I only went up to the main observation deck. Unfortunately it was still quite cloudy but I had some nice views nonetheless.

Sunday morning I heard Alan Cairns of Greenville, SC preach on Psalm 68:1-19 and that evening I heard Ivan Foster speak on Galatians 5:1. I visited afterward before heading back to the hotel for the final night.

Back to Work

I contacted the company and thought I might be flying to Montreal to get a truck going to Miami. Instead I took Airport Express to Burlington but truck was not yet ready so I spent the night in Burlington. Following day I ended up being taken to Cambridge, ON where I got a truck bound for the States.

Trip: Cambridge, ON to Knoxville, TN 687 miles Routes: Ontario 401 to Ontario 402 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 75

The right turn indicator on the dashboard was not working so I was directed to a shop in London, ON to get the problem fixed. However the shop said it would be five days before the necessary part would come in as the entire dashboard would need to be replaced in order to fix the problem. Since the actual turn signal on the outside was working I proceeded. I crossed the Bluewater Bridge into Port Huron, MI and had no problem entering the USA. One morning in Ohio it got down to 45 degrees F. I felt like I was coming down with something and felt lousy the day I delivered the truck to Knoxville and got a cab to the bus depot.

Greyhound: Knoxville, TN to Nashville, TN Cost: $31.50 Scheduled departure 18h05, actual 18h27 Scheduled arrival 20h30, actual 21h02

I took the bus to Nashville because it was much cheaper to fly out of Nashville to Minnesota (for next truck) as opposed to Knoxville. Company booked me on an American flight leaving at 07h25 changing at ORD going to MSP. The bus was full leaving Knoxville and I overheard conversations from other passengers who had bad experiences. Upon leaving Crossville, TN all seats were full and there were passengers standing in the aisle to Cookeville. I saw lightning to the south between Cookeville and Lebanon, TN. We arrived and I took a cab to lodging with free airport shuttle to BNA.

I rang American Airlines to see about seat assignment and was informed that the 07h25 flight was cancelled due to weather in ORD and I was rebooked on an 09h20 flight. I got seat assignments settled and was thankful for a couple extra hours of sleep.

It was raining heavily when I was taken to BNA and I checked in. There was a longish line for security that kept moving and I was not selected for secondary. Upon arrival to the gate I found out the flight was delayed (plane late arriving). I thought I'd miss my connection.

American Eagle #4026 BNA-ORD CRJ-700 Seat 9A Cruising altitude 30,000' Estimated flying time 1:06, actual 1:07 Scheduled departure 09h20, actual 10h30 Scheduled arrival 10h50, actual 11h46 Ticket cost: unknown

Pushback 1h10min late, taxi 3 minutes takeoff to south southwest. There were clouds the whole way. Seatbelt sign was on the whole flight. There was one drink run and I got the whole can of rootbeer. ^ Descent started at 0:30 and it got quite rough during the middle of the descent (plane dropped some). Fortunately that did not last long. We flew out over Lake Michigan and I saw tops of some of the Chicago skyscrapers poking through the clouds. After landing taxi was 5 minutes and we arrived 56 minutes late.

I checked the TV monitor and saw my connecting flight was slightly delayed and was still at the gate so I raced over and barely made it on board

American #1041 ORD-MSP MD-80 Seat 6F First Class Cruising altitude 28,000' Estimated flying time 1:04, actual 1:00 Scheduled departure 11h40, actual 11h58 Scheduled arrival 13h05, actual 13h23

Pushback was 18 minutes late. Taxi/hold was 16 minutes. After takeoff one drink run (I got whole can of soda) plus small pack of Premium Snacks. Descent started 0:35, seatbelt sign back on 0:38. It was cloudy when we landed east to west. Taxi was 8 minutes and we arrived 18 minutes late.

I found out my bags did not make the connection with me. I almost did not make the connection so I can't really hold that against American. So I waited for the next flight which was delayed close to two hours. My bags finally came and by that time it was raining in the Twin Cities. I then took the Rochester Direct down to Dodge Center, MN after stops in Rochester. I got the truck and started the next trip.

Trip: Dodge Center, MN to Las Vegas, NV 1,610 miles Routes: US14 to Interstate 35 to Interstate 80 to Interstate 15

This was a more or less routine trip as far as the truck was concerned. I attended Sunday morning church at Bethel Baptist in Owatonna, MN and Sunday evening church at Norwoodville Baptist in Des Moines, IA. I stopped in Sidney, NE for lunch at Cabela's and had an elk sandwich and visited with a Bootwearer Preacher. In western Nebraska to about Cheyenne, Wyoming it got windy and my fuel economy dropped from 5 to about 3.5mpg. I made delivery on the north side of Las Vegas and was told I was booked on a morning flight to the Twin Cities and I was to get a truck from Minnesota going to Saskatoon.

First time ever on Northwest Airlines

I got a room and did not sleep well due to noise and got up at the unsocial hour of 04h00 and got cab to McCarran Airport and checked in for the flight. I was assigned an aisle seat and was unable to get it changed to window since the flight was full. I was not selected for secondary nor did I undergo same but the line for security was very long and it took a good 45 minutes to get through. The flight was boarding by the time I got to the gate.

Northwest #778 LAS-MSP B-757-200 Seat 26C Cruising altitude 37,000' Estimated flying time 2:43, actual 2:43 Scheduled departure 06h55, actual 06h56 Scheduled arrival 11h59, actual 12h05 Ticket cost: unknown

This aircraft was configured 22F/162Y and every seat was taken. Pushback 1 minute late followed by taxi/hold 17 minutes then takeoff to west. Made turns. Pilot announced path would take us over St. George, UT, Cheyenne, WY and Sioux Falls, SD en route to the Twin Cities. I noticed a distinct European accent when the announcements were made. Seatbelt sign went off at 0:21, on again at 0:55 due to bumps and remained on for the rest of the flight. There was a drink run and I got the whole can of Pepsi. Snack boxes were offered for $5 and other snacks for $2 (I declined). F/A's came through a couple more times to offer water. Descent started at 2:18 and I saw downtown Minneapolis on final. We landed west to east and taxi was 8 minutes and we arrived 6 minutes late. I waited just over 10 minutes at baggage claim and out came my bags.

I would rate Northwest "satisfactory" for this experience. This was my first time ever flying Northwest. Nothing outstanding but nothing really to complain about either. I was a bit skeptical about Northwest as I've heard bad things about this airline with the nickel and diming of passengers and the problems between labour and management. So I might say I was pleasantly surprised Northwest did a satisfactory job this time.

I got word I would not be going to Saskatoon but Ontario instead. I took the shuttle to Dodge Center via Rochester and saw a few more fall colours. I got the truck and got as far as Rochester for the evening and had a little light rain approaching Rochester.

Trip: Dodge Center, MN to Burlington, ON 854 miles Routes: US14 to US52 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 290 to Interstate 294 to Interstate 94 to Interstate 69 back to Interstate 94 to Bluewater Bridge to Ontario 402 to Ontario 401 to Ontario 403

I saw some nice fall colours particularly from Tomah, WI to Portage, WI. I attended Sunday morning service at Berean Baptist in Beloit, WI. Some of the Tri-State Tollway was ripped up for construction in the Chicago area. I got through and attended Sunday evening service at Fairhaven Baptist in Chesterton, IN. Overnight I heard thunder. Following day I travelled between storms staying behind some storms and ahead of other storms and saw lightining at a little distance as I shut down in Imlay City, MI. Next day as I approached the border I saw more fall colours.

Border Problems

Earlier I faxed paperwork with a bar code to the company. The idea was this truck would be precleared somehow and I would pull up to the booth, present the paperwork which would be scanned and I would be on my way. I faxed the paperwork over 24 hours before crossing. Unfortunately it did not work out that way.

I crossed the Bluewater Bridge into Sarnia, ON and presented the paperwork at the booth. The lady at the booth scanned the paperwork and told me it was not in the system. I was asked how long I plan to be in Canada and how I plan to get out and don't recall exactly what I said but I was not sure what the plan was whether I would get a truck at the yard, go to another location to get a truck back to the States or take other transportation back to the states. I was told where to park, report to Customs then Immigration. I reported to Customs and my personal items were searched except for my briefcase. Then two officers escorted me to Immigration where I was asked if I had ever been refused entry into Canada so I explained the situation where I got bounced at the border trying to get into BC in January. The guy in Immigration did not like that I was not sure what the plan was. I said I did not know for sure because things can change, sometimes at the last minute. The officer said he could accept change but he could not accept that I don't have a plan. I offered to give the phone number so he could call the company but he ended up admitting me into the country though for a few minutes I thought I might be refused entry. The Immigration Officer did say that if I did get caught transporting a truck from point A to point B wholly within Canada I could be arrested and removed from the country and my future ability to transport trucks into Canada would be greatly hampered.

After Immigration I went to the broker I was assigned to and after a little while I was sent to another broker. I spent a total of 2h30min at the border before finally getting cleared and I finally dropped the truck off in Burlington, ON later that evening and took a cab to motel.

Early the next morning I experienced a rude awakening as powerful thunderstorms came through with heavy rain. It rained all morning into the afternoon. I went to the yard in Burlington and the rain quit just before I was taken to Richmond Hill to get the next truck. En route to Richmond Hill there were more heavy showers. When I got to the shipper I found the truck was not yet ready so I had to wait almost two hours.

Trip: Richmond Hill, ON to Northville, MI 261 miles Routes: Ontario 11 (Yonge Street) to Ontario 401 to Ontario 3 to Ambassador Bridge to local streets to Interstate 75 to Interstate 96 to Interstate 275

I finally got the truck it had quit raining except for a few sprinkles. I was told where to go to get diesel but the place I was told did not have diesel so I had to find a place and then it seemed to take forever to go through all the traffic lights on Yonge Street down to the 401. I got as far as Cambridge, ON and next morning it was 1 degree C when I woke up. I crossed the Ambassador Bridge into Detroit and cleared the border without incident then filled up the tank with diesel then listened to the radio as the Tigers beat the Yankees then made delivery in Northville. I rang Southwest and booked the remaining half of the Rapid Rewards credit I had left to fly from DTW to SNA with a connection at MDW.

I got cab to DTW then rented a car and next day before flight I saw some of Detroit and Belle Island State Park and took pictures of Detroit. Then back to the airport to turn the car in and catch the flight.

I checked in, checked bags and got "C" and "B" boarding passes for the respective flights. Then I cleared security and did not undergo secondary screening. After that I got in the "C" line and later got word the plane was a little late arriving.

Southwest #749 DTW-MDW B-737-700 Seat 18F Cruising altitude 22,000' Estimated flying time 0:37, actual 0:40 Scheduled departure 16h00, actual 16h26 Scheduled arrival 16h05, actual 16h22 Ticket cost: $5 security fee (Rapid Rewards)

There was only one empty seat. Pushback was 26 minutes late followed by takeoff to north. I saw downtown Detroit and Lake St. Clair. There was turn to southwest. Seatbelt sign off at 0:09. There was one drink run (cup) and peanuts were offered but declined. Descent started at 0:20 around South Bend, IN. Seatbelt sign went on at 0:22. I saw the Indiana Toll Road and later Interstate 94 and had a look at the Michigan City/Chesterton/Gary areas and saw some traffic jams on some of the Chicago area tollways. We swung around and landed southwest to northeast. Taxi was 3 minutes and we arrived 17 minutes late.

I went to Potbelly's and got a Roast Beef and an Italian Sandwich along with bottled water for the next flight. Then I got in the "B" line for...

Southwest #1464 MDW-SNA B-737-700 Seat 21A Cruising altitude 37,000' Estimated flying time 3:00, actual 3:54 Scheduled departure 17h30, actual 17h33 Scheduled arrival 19h55, actual 19h44

Plane arrived 5 minutes late and there were at least 113 passengers on board. Pushback was 3 minutes late followed by taxi/hold of 9 minutes and takeoff to the west. I saw some of the Chicago suburbs then the Illinois River and the Mississippi River. After that I was not sure where we were but heard the pilot mention Goodland, KS and Grand Canyon Airport.

There was one drink run and shortly later I was handed an unopened can of ginger ale. A snack pack with small breadsticks and cheese, Graham cracker cinnamon bites and some sort of fruit mix was handed out along with peanuts. I had the sandwiches I bought at Potbelly's and made it a hearty meal. Later on water and coffee were offered (I just had water). Seatbelt sign went off at 0:33, on again at 1:34 due to bumps, off at 2:08, on at 2:18 and off again just before descent. Descent started at 3:26 and shortly thereafter the seatbelt sign went on for the final time. There was a hard landing followed by taxi/hold of 7 minutes and we arrived 11 minutes early. We deplaned through the forward door onto an outside ramp and walked into the terminal then to baggage claim where I had a considerable wait for my bags and the wrong carosuel showed my flight number for the bags. I took a shuttle home and was greeted by the news there was a live rat in the house.

aisleorwindow

Thanks for another interesting report. ^

A couple of questions:

1) On the ORD-MSP flight on AA, did you get a complimentary upgrade to F, due to almost missing the flight?

2) What exactly is a "Bootwearer Preacher"?

Thanks

Loose Cannon

A Bootwearer Preacher is a preacher who wears boots. The preacher I have in mind is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Sidney, NE. He does not own a pair of shoes for decades. He is an interesting person in that he used to drive truck, he runs a chuckwagon, he has a saddle shop and a farm or ranch and many years ago when he was working a construction job near Colorado Springs he was hit by lightning and lived.

Next up for me: I'll be flying on America West Express CRJ-900 LGB-PHX then after a scheduled 55-minute layover I'll be on a Beech 1900 prop job PHX-FNM then move a truck from Farmington, NM to Shady Grove, PA a run just under 2,000 miles.