Turning the Page – home time edition

I’m writing this in the tiny secure waiting area of Page Municipal airport, having just had my bags screened by two very cheerful and friendly TSA peeps who seemed frankly relieved by having something to do.  Its just before 7am and its a glorious sunrise, as I look out of the terminal windows at the sun rising over the desert landscape.  Its also now directly in my line of sight and I can’t see, so I am going to have to move.  One moment, please.

OK.  Am back.  So getting to the airport this morning was a little more exciting than it should have been.  As I mentioned before, Page is a super tiny town and I was lucky to get an Uber on my way in, after Buggy Taxi (*shakes fist*) failed to pick me up as arranged or return my call.  As my flight was early (7.20am boarding for a 7.45am flight), I figured it would probably be safer to pre-reserve an Uber so I could feel certain of having transportation to the airport.  I had already called Buggy last night and they don’t start answering their phone (allegedly) until 7am and “could probably have a car to you in 15 mins or so” – so that wasn’t gonna work for my super-anal Need to Be At The Airport Stupidly Early.  So my Uber reservation was confirmed for a pick up at 6.45am (I think you can probably tell how this story is going to end) EVEN THOUGH mile for mile, it was going to be the most expensive Uber I’d ever taken.  On the way here, it cost me $7 to go 1.7 miles.  This time, my pre-arranged cost was going to be $42!!!!.  That’s fooking pricey, anyway you slice it!  But I gotta get to the…….

OOOOOHHH – EXCITEMENT AT THE AIRPORT!!!  Someone’s bag has just tripped the powder alarm so the TSA agent is now having to do additional screening and just reeled off at superhigh speed the process for additional patdown screening.  VERY EXCITING!!!!   Apparently according to this lady passenger this happens all the time with the specific protein powder she uses – ummm….so maybe use a different powder or check it in your luggage??  There is now a line of people waiting looking grumpy, so now it feels like a real TSA experience!   And they now have to swab every item in her carry-on, so they are gonna be there a while.  THIS is why I get to the airport early, peeps.  Although I think the TSA people were thrilled to have Something To Do for a change.

…..airport and  really didn’t want to have to wake Amanda up to cadge a lift.  I was up at 6am for a quick coffee before setting off.  My room still had that same funky smell as the night before, so I think it’s probably me and my boots and that smell is gonna follow me until I get those suckers power-washed back home.  My Uber ride was still showing as reserved but, worryingly, now had the “we are finding a driver for you” tag on it.  Hmmm.  That’s a little concerning – at 6.20am.  Shouldn’t you already have FOUND a driver who should be on their way to the airport right now?  My fears were realized when at 6.25am my app suddenly decided that honesty was the best policy and informed me that “No Drivers Are Available”.   Fucccccccc.  I was down in the hotel lobby by this point, waiting, and I did think about getting up and announcing loudly that I needed a ride to the airport and could anyone take me for $20? But my inherent Britishness kicked in and concerns about Causing A Scene instead led me to Plan D – which was to wake up Amanda, tell her I loved her and beg for a ride to the airport.  Which I did and she very kindly agreed to.  Amanda – you are The Best.

So that all happened before 7am – and then it was time to get on our little puddle jumper for the 1hr flight to Phoenix (apparently America’s Friendliest Airport).  The flight from Page to Phoenix was absolutely spectacular – such amazing views out of the window – including Horseshoe Bend!  Its seemed a fitting tribute to our trip to be able to recognize this famous landmark from the air and think back on our visit there last Sunday.

Final thoughts on the trip.  Despite my Achilles tendon this morning being so tight I can hardly walk, plus an abrasion on my left leg from my Patent Pending “Snake Move” slide down a boulder a couple days before, this wasn’t one of the most physically strenuous trips I’ve been on (with the exception of the last day which did have its physical moments).  Unlike other trips, I think I may have actually gained weight this time (likely due to excess jam) as the challenges were more mental than physical, with lots of new experiences to wrap your brain around.  Walking in the river, through the water, became very routine and automatic – however, navigating the ever-present mud was not!  You had to keep focused on your feet, your balance, the position of your poles the entire time – if you let your concentration down for just a moment on those slick slick surfaces, the mud would get you!  You had to make sure your shoes were tied juussst right so that the sucky sucky mud (yes, there were different types) would not slurp the shoes off your feet, like some sort of tribute to the Canyon Mud Gods – while maintaining circulation to your cold, numb feet.  In places, the water went all the way up there and the stakes for keeping your balance also got higher – falling when its above waist high would be no joke.  The endless hike through Buckskin Gulch plus the challenging climbs over the boulder and again out of the canyon were a final test of mental resolve – but when there is no other choice, you just have to grit your teeth and go for it.  And – in the end – I did it.  So now I can add water hiking, bouldering, canyoneering, pooping in a bag and a fresh appreciation for the weight of jam to my list of New Experiences Gained.   Not bad work for 5 days, I think.

So…. what’s next I hear you cry?  Well….. my next adventure (with ManpanionTM this time) is going to be truly epic as we are heading off to Antarctica in 3 weeks!!!   So, stay tuned, blogwatchers…..