Savannah Bound-- Part 9: Hiding Terminals On Me

APRIL 3, 2024

Well, I'm finally in Atlanta.  Just 40 minutes by air away from my final destination, Savannah.  Lots of fun and games in Milwaukee.  Now I just have to find my next gate.  How hard can that be?  Even so, I expected it to be at the opposite end of the terminal where we landed.  My gates are always as far as you can get away from each other.

Buy, wait, they don't call Atlanta's airport the busiest people-wise in the U.S..  Atlanta is the exact reason I chose not to fly out of O'Hare serving Chicago. That would have made my choices much larger in flights and times.

But, Atlanta is exactly what I hate about O'Hare.  Way too many people.  If you stopped to try to figure out something, you took your life in your own hands.  I got bumped into and had many close calls walking those corridors.

And, even better, my next gate wasn't even in the same corridor.  It was in a Concourse A.  So, I started walking and signs were confusing, but eventually I got to a place where I saw an arrow pointing to Concourse A.  I followed it and saw that evidently there was also a Concourse T located somewhere near A.

I went down a really long escalator and there was a sign down there saying to take the train to A and T.  I got onboard and had to hold on for dear life as there were no seats.  I got off when an announcement said we were at Concourse A.  Finally, getting somewhere.

I started walking and kept a-walking until I see a sign saying I was at Terminal T.  What happened to Terminal A?  Shouldn't I have seen A at some point in my walk?  I finally found someone to ask and was told I had to get back on the train and go back to Terminal A.  How did I miss Terminal A?

Plus, about now I was feeling the need to go to the bathroom and I sure wasn't seeing any of them wherever it was that I was now.  I got off at Terminal A and this time saw escalators going way up. Was this how I missed Terminal A?  Did they hide it upstairs?

Tune In Tomorrow for More of My Atlanta Adventure.  --RoadLost

Savannah Bound-- Part 8: Finally Get to Atlanta

With a smile on my face at having recovered my lost book (well, forgotten book, must have been a senior thing) I got ready to leave the airport, but stopped at the Delta check-in counter to see what was going on with the flight.  They were very helpful and said the plane would be leaving at 5 and got me rebooked on it.

So, I returned to the gate and grinned and bared it at the TSA security point again.  Just loads of fun, but again at least there wasn't a wait.  Nothing like having to go through that not once, but twice.

And, out to the gate and this time got on the plane and we became airborne.  Sadly, before we left, they had a computer glitch and had to shut it down and reboot.  Once rebooted, however, we couldn't get the screens in front of us at the sea to work.

Well, at least I had a good book to read now.

Lots of clouds on the way and at times rough flying.  The atmosphere was sure in a mood today.  Sadly, with all the clouds I couldn't look at the ground, something I enjoy doing when flying.

The clouds finally broke when we neared Atlanta.  And, we landed.

Finally.  Almost There.  --RoadFlyer

Savannah Bound-- Part 7: No Flight, Found Lost Book

Still April 3, Wednesday

It rained the whole time I was in Milwaukee.  Lots of puddles at the airport.  The pilot said they were readying to leave, but a minute later said a gauge was not checking out, but they were working on it.  Several minutes later, he came back on and said that everyone would have to deplane while they went further with there investigating.

But, he was certain they'd have it righted shortly.  

After we were all off, an announcement was made that the flight was cancelled.  

Oh boy.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any information on my cell phone and there was a huge line at the gate with people making other plans.

I decided to go home and made that long walk down the terminal, past the TSA check point and out to the front area.  I figured that as long as I was there and that Renaissance Books was open, I'd go there and see if I had left the book I had bought what seemed like many years ago, might be there.

The owner came over to the checkout counter and I told him what had happened, but before I could name the book I'd lost, he held it up.  I had forgotten the book at the counter after I had paid for it and the gal there hadn't noticed until I was gone.

I told him I thought he had one of the nicest old book stores anywhere and who would ever expect to find one in an airport?

Mystery solved and the mess at the gate had at least allowed me to get my book back.

Reading Material.  --RoadBook

Savannah Bound-- Part 6: Boarding a Plane and On My Way

At 1:45 a plane drew up to our gate and a lot of people got off.  Most were pulling carry-ons or toting back packs.  

After awhile, we started boarding.  Boarding goes by group.  Guess which of these nine groups I was in?

Listed in order of when called to board:

Free Board (persons with children or needing help

Active/retired military

First Class

Diamond Medallion

Travelers Class

Sky Priority

Main 1

Main 2

Main 3

Being somewhat of a peon, I got on with the last group.  Most people got on in the last three groups.

But, at least I'm on the plane and waiting to leave.  I found that I had a screen in front of me with lots of movies offered and started watching it.

Last On, But On My Way (Or So I Thought).  --RoadFlying

Savannah Bound-- Part 5: Where's My Gate, Cell Phones

April 3

I am on Concourse D and had seen at Gate 49.  It was at the end of a long hallway which then split and went in two directions.  I looked at a sign which told which gates were where.  But, no Gate 49.  One direction said Gates 36 to 48 and the other sign said Gates 51 to 58.  Walked around a bit, but didn't find any Gate 49.  Looked at my ticket again.

Oh, Gate 47.  I now knew where my gate was.

I had worked up a hunger and since there is very little food on the planes anymore, I went to a place and bought a $7 giant bagel with cream cheese.  Very filling.

I found out that my flight had been delayed 44 minutes.  No problem with my connection however.  Still had plenty of time in Atlanta to get tom my next gate.  Pretty much all Delta flights go through Atlanta.

So, I missed reading my book that I had somehow misplaced and sat at the gate watching people.  Everyone was on their cell phones.  But one guy was on a smart phone, but put it away and pulled out a book to read.  Whoa!!  What's this?  Then I saw he was charging his cell phone but evidently had a backup plan.

More and more people showed up and soon they announced that there was going to be a problem with carry on storage and they would check your carryon through to your destination with no charge.  I volunteered my piece.  However, my glasses were in it and I found that to be a problem when I got to Atlanta.  Everyone had carryon luggage.

--Still in the Airport.  --RoadDog

Savannah Bound-- Part 4: Now the Fun Starts

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3rd

Left the bookstore and quickly encountered the TSA security check in line.  Again, no line and had to produce my driver's license and begin disrobing.  Off came the belt, shoes, wallet, everything in my pockets, my sweatshirt, cell phone and then came the full body scan.

I tell you, it is enough to discombobulate you.  And it sure did.  I was able to sit down and redress and get everything together, but wait a minute.  Something is missing.  Where is that book I just bought?  Checked all over.  No book.  Went back to the TSA check in line and after awhile got someone's attention as to my plight and was told they would ask the other agents.  Waited a while and no response, so asked another one who said they had not found it.

Little did I know at the time, but this was the very beginning of happy times in the airport.  Just as I had feared.  

With a sad heart at my loss, I started down the hallway to my gate.

--RoadDog

Savannah Bound-- Part 3: So Far, So Good and a Good Book

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3rd

At first everything went well at the Milwaukee Airport, even though I had to do some looking to find the Saver Parking Lot, but eventually did and got my ticket and there was a bus waiting right where I parked and took me and a couple other people to our check-in areas on the lower level.  I got off at Delta and approached the check-in, worried that I would have a line or have to mess with those kiosks.  I am not very good at kiosks.

There was no line at the counters and walked right up, gave them my name and they gave me both boarding tickets I would be needing today.

So far, no problem.  Even my suitcase was proper carry-on size.  

I went up the escalator and there was a place I was hoping would be there, the Renaissance Book Store that I remembered from previous flights out of Milwaukee.  This is an old-time bookstore selling all sorts of used books, especially two whole sets of shelves on Civil War books.  And, I had plenty of time to look for a book.  I bought a $12.50 book and the life and times of Charles Read, CSN, who had quite a distinguished career in the Confederate Navy.  It was titled "Sea Wolf of the Confederacy."

Now, You just Don't Expect to Find an Old Bookstore at an Airport.  --Old B-R'er

Savannah Bound-- Part 2: Snow and a Good Deal

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024

So here I am getting ready to drive to the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.  It is named for Army General Billy Mitchell who was raised in Milwaukee and was an air power advocate for the military.

And, what a day to be heading up into the skies.  It started snowing heavily around 3 am and continued all morning, eventually amassing around 3 inches on the deck railings by the time I left.  It then proceeded to snow the whole way until I got to about 15 miles from the airport.  Sloppy driving, but at least no road accumulation.

I did some last minute packing and found that I could get all my clothes into what I hoped could be considered a carry-on piece of luggage to avoid the $35 extra to check in a larger piece. Even then, I felt I had a good flying deal at a $317 round trip price.  At first I had considered driving, but after I paid for gas, eating, as well as a motel room both ways that would about equal the plane flight.  Not to mention the wear and tear on the car for the 3000 miles.

--RoadBird

Savannah Bound: Back on the Plane

From April 3 to April 9 I visited my sister and her boyfriend in Pooler, Georgia, outside Savannah not too far from the Savannah International Airport.

This was the first time I had been on a plane since at least 2011, nor had I been on them much before that.  However, in the 70s, 80s and 90s Liz and I often flew to destinations.  Liz became uncomfortable flying and stopped and I later joined her when it seemed to me that the airlines had stopped being nice to their customers and, of course, the obstacle course you had to go through to get out to the gate going through the TSA checkpoints. 

Kind of made me feel like the folks going through the Nazi checkpoints in the WW II movies.  Plus, you had that full body scan and almost had to disrobe.  No shoes, no belts, no keys, no wallets.  A regular no shirt, no shoes, no service thing.

Plus there was the the extra charge for luggage enacted as well as all the food you get in regular seats.

I hate lines and crowds.  I avoid them as much as I can.  And then there is the question of what you can have in your luggage, especially in the pills and toiletries department.  Also, a whole lot of it is done via smart phones, something I am learning but not good at.

Scared at the Airport.  --RoadDog

Quite the Story Behind the Gemini Giant-- Part 3: In Case You're Wondering Why They Are Sometimes Called 'Muffler Men'

Businesses along Route 66 and other roads needed a way to stand out among the competition so many bought large fiberglass statues for advertising.  The statues, including lumberjacks and cowboys, eventually became roadside attractions in their own right.

They later earned the nickname "Muffler Men" from the founders of the travel website Roadside America.com, who had seen some of the roadside giants holding car mufflers.

A former owner of the Wilmington, Illinois restaurant, The Dairy Delight, later renamed The Launching Pad during America's Race to Space, bought the Gemini Giant in 1965 where it remained, said Joel Baker, founder of American Giants, a company dedicated to finding the statues and sharing their stories.

--RoadDog

Quite the Story Behind the Gemini Giant-- Part 2

Ryan Jandura huddled with Gregory Peerbolte, CEO of the Joliet Area Historical Museum in Peebolte's office during the March 20, auction of the Gemini Giant.  Jandura had already raised $60,000 through a GoFundMe page and preparing to chip that money in if the cost of the statue went above the museum's budget from a state grant.

The museum found itself outbid when the price went over a quarter of a million dollars.  It got down to just about 20 seconds to submit a higher bid.  With just 4 seconds remaining, they were able to have their final bid of $275,000 accepted.

That's how close Route 66 came to losing the Gemini Giant.

I'm sure glad some private collector didn't get him.

Very Thankful He Remains in Wilmington.  --RoadDog