Vagabond Jim

  Day 1 - 5/30/23 Destination: Quito (LAX-RDU-MIA-UIO*) Written: 35,000' above the Caribean & in Quito $0.60 per Alleve for dozen alleve in RDU was a good investment.  The headache is gone.  The backache from lugging a backpack around hasn't.  Oh well.  MIA was a mess.  Late arrival (WX.)  35 gates to cross (D17 - D52).  Boarding started before I deplaned from RDU.  People were being far too slow to disembarked even knowing others had tight connections.  Really annoying to watch endless cycles of "You," "No, you!" I hustled.  Group 8 (of 9) was boarding when I got to the gate.  And, the little lady in the wheelchair made the connection before I did.  Uggh. I'm using an old work backpack.  It's great for luigging a laptop and such.  But the bag itself weighs in at 5+ pounds.  And has too many dividers.  It was never going to be The Bag.  No it won't be a bag I use going forward.  Who needs ...

Day 0: - 5/29/23 En-route to: Quito Ecuador Travel: LAX-RDU (MIA-UIO*) Written: in RDU @ 0200 What a long day so far.  I'm writing from Raleigh-Durham at 0200.  The place is empty, I have a headache (but no aspirin).  I'm hungry. Yet, it's been a decent start to my dry run. I am happy. That was supposed to be a "secret dry run" but the secret is out.  Dad called while I was in the quiet area of the LAX Admirals Club (yes, all that flying on American still has some residual benefits - in this case I can use the clubs on international itineraries.)  When I asked to hang on until I was in a place I could chat he asked if I was in a library.  Nope, that was Saturday to print some stuff. I don't lie; I fessed up.  Of course I did.  No, I did not chop down the cherry tree. RDU is empty except for a dozen pax overnighting and 3 dozen security and cleaning folk.  But, I'm indoors.  I was hopeful but did not expect that.  Previous f...