I have no clue what is in store for me. All I know is that I am volunteering my services, be they brute strength as in hauling stuff around, running as in fetching and carrying etc, etc. I think the term Gopher would more accurately describe my position in waiting and I am ok with that. I am here to watch, learn and help and see how a World Championships is staged from the word go.
I hope to bring you some behind the scenes footage, interviews with organisers, age groupers and chat with a couple of pro’s and generally try to paint the picture as real and colourful as I expect it to be so you too can experience it all the way from wherever you are reading this.
Anyway before I slip back into Aloha life let me tell you about my day thus far. Because it very nearly didn’t happen; if I am going to be doing more of this travelling malarkey I really need to sort out my timing otherwise I am going to miss one of these flights!!
OK. So my flight out of SFO this morning was 9:05am. I had to get a taxi to the airport shuttle that left at 6am. So I booked my ‘cab’ (sorry I am in the USA after all) for 5:30am. I went to bed and set my alarm for 4:30am.
Things to do in the morning were:
Get up and move straight to kitchen and make strong black coffee.
While this is brewing have a shower.
The next sequence of events however was NOT planned…
I am in shower just washing soap out of my hair and I hear Rocky the RockSTAR dog barking.
Hmmmn? Weird – I say weird because that big ol’ dog was still snoring his head off when I got up!
He carried on barking and then I felt a rising panic starting to build beneath the suds.
For a split second I stood in the bathtub frozen in panic. I then jumped out wrapped a towel around me and opened the front door.
There was my cab – YIKES!
Is it 5:30am? I ask in REAL surprise.
Yes replies my large and very tall female cabbie, that’s what time you booked.
SHIT SHIT SHIT (Actually I think I was probably a little more colourful than this), I thought it was 4:30. You guys have daylight saving??
ME again: Wait, please can you wait…I will be 5minutes?
Oh, yes of course, she says. (Yeah, the more she waits the more money trickles out of my pocket at a scary rate – For every 15secounds an extra 25sen (American!).
I dash back in. Into the bathroom and get dressed. Soap still in hair, it is staying, pack up wash stuff rush into bedroom, throw everything in the case. Zip everything up. Feed Rocky The RockSTAR dog as he looks on in bemusement.
Sadly look over at the coffee pot of freshly brewed coffee. Switch it off and sigh. Have a look round make sure I have everything. And then I am out that door.
Okay, so I took 7minutes!
Put the case in the cab, my driver could not lift it! She was twice the size of me.
Made it in time to the Shuttle place and was on the bus with 5mins to spare.
But boys and girls the adventure doesn’t end there! When I changed my Hawaiian flight they told me to be there 3hours ahead – I guess it’s all the rigmarole of going through security, thank god for lock laces and my current need of late to NOT need a belt (my stomach and butt is doing a perfectly good job without, thank You very much). Well of course I was not going to be there 3hours ahead since the earliest bus from Napa was 6am and due to get to the airport at 8am – it was gonna be tight!
So we are on the freeway and the bus slows down. I was half asleep but I open my eyes a little and see a lot of flashing lights and highway patrol cars. CRAP. An accident. Luckily not too many rubbernecks and just a slight detour and we are on our way.
I arrive at the airport at 7:35am (It’s Sunday and traffic is light)! RESULT :)
Now what should have happened is a nice proper shower where I could wash and dry my hair and make myself presentable to the public. Wash my face. Have a nice cup of coffee or two, perhaps some fruit. Feed the dog, let him outside and clean up all the dirty dishes.
Very VERY sorry I was unable to do this! Bad, BAD HOUSE GUEST!
But the car is still in one piece, as is the house, as is the dog, although I expect he is still wondering what hurricane came through the Valley this morning and disturbed his beauty sleep!
Ok, now I can say it…
- Sunset in Maui
ALOHA!
1 comment:
Wow, what a T1 & T2 transition. Must be a PB there.;) Despite it, glad you are enjoying yourself.
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