travel

Jetsetting #3

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I was the lucky one that was selected for the “additional security check”.
It was probably my bangles, which don’t come off easily, setting off the metal detectors that did it, but it’s the first time this whole trip that I’ve had the full frisk search.
The female security officer explained exactly what she was going to do.
I smiled and said, “You know, there are people who would love the opportunity to do what you are about to do.”
She failed to be amused.

She proceeded to frisk me and didn’t smile the entire time.
I did, though.

Roadtripping #16

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It is a mind-blowingly beautiful day in Southern Kentucky. Sunshine, blue sky, vivid greens of grass and trees, spring blossoms atop graceful trunks and branches, horses and cows in the fields, and the gentlest breeze bringing the scenery to life.

KOA Horse Cave was a gorgeous spot to camp. It’s well laid out and thoughtfully provisioned with a fire pit and picnic table for each camping site. There are lots of trees and some very pretty walking paths. Squirrels, chipmunks and ducks visited nearby while we were staying there. I still think squirrels are some of the cutest critters on the planet, despite regular assurances from my American friends that they are “pure, unadulterated evil”.

Kentucky is a really pretty state. There’s no end of “heartland” scenery here. The patchwork of farms on the landscape is lovely. There are some interesting barn designs here too, as well as the standard “American barn” style.

It is also very clean, from what I have seen. People here obviously take pride in how things look. It’s so nice to drive down the interstate and not see rubbish on the side of the road. It’s obviously something the state encourages too, with signs along the highway that read “Warren County: a certified clean county”. As a roadtripping, photo-taking tourist, it’s very much appreciated.

More than once I’ve seen three crosses set by the roadside – not the kind used to mark where someone has died in a crash,although I have seen those, too – but the kind used to remind people driving by that it’s almost Easter. It’s simple but poignant, and reminds me of Randy Travis’ song about “three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway”, so that has been playing on the brainPod today as we drive, along with George Strait’s “Heartland”.

I guess it’s not going to come as a surprise to anyone now that I’m heading to Nashville today.

Just when it was all going so well, too.

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OK.
Things so far have been pretty darned good on this trip. The flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles with Virgin was fantastic. I am definitely going to fly with them again.
When we landed in LA we cleared immigration and customs quite easily. Nobody asked me about my large stash of medications. Thank God for that. (Who has that much time when you have to make a connecting flight?) Nobody frisked me or made me take my boots off.
Then I turned on my phone and iPad to contact the people who were waiting for us at this end. No go. The deep sinking feeling in my stomach grew stronger as I realised that the free wi-fi at LAX would not connect for me, either.
I cried. Not because I was being petulant, but because I knew people were waiting and anxious to hear from me and would be worried.
I felt so cut off. Isolated. First time in a new place and no way to contact anyone.
On top of that was the sense of injustice. I had prepared everything I could for this trip, including buying those SIM cards and getting the assurance from AT&T that everything was done and all I had to do was put them in and they would work.
My pain levels shot through the roof and I stood in the middle of LA International airport and cried like a baby.
All the glamorous and good looking people around us pretended it wasn’t happening, which was rather sporting of them, really.

We made our connecting flight easily. Now waiting to board Delta flight 1706 to Detroit.
A lovely lady loaned me her phone so I could send a message to the people waiting to hear from me. I felt so much better when I was able to let them know I was safe. Another lady with impeccable makeup and a Disney princess pink bow in her Snow White styled hair saw that I was upset and offered me her iPad to do the same thing.
How nice that in a huge airport on my first day in the US, one can still be met with kindness in strangers.