WINNING THE AIRPORT 5K

We got about four delicious hours of sleep (though I’m not sure any of us hit REM) at a Puerto Rican Holiday Inn then in a sort of hazy fog much like sleepwalking, we fumbled our bags back into a van and headed to the airport for the last leg of our flight schedule in Tortolla.  We checked in two of our heaviest and prized bags.  Precious heavy cargo that was exacting maximum pressure on the zippers—mostly food we won’t be able to easily find on the islands and 50 ziplock baggies in various sizes.  Ziplocks are the secret to the good life out at sea.

Once we got checked in and made the mad dash to our gate, the announcement was made that our flight was delayed.  Every flight thus far had been delayed.  Then twenty minutes later it was delayed even more.  Twenty after that it was delayed until early evening.  Then at last they pronounced it cancelled.

This was a major quandary because we had food and toy (sea kayak and paddle board) deliveries being made to the boat in just an hour.  So Mark made a mad dash to a competing airline to see if they had any flights available any earlier.  He returned rather quickly and informed us that there were exactly 5 seats left on the next flight out and that he booked them. 

We went to the airline we were already booked and newly cancelled on and asked to get our bags back.  I NEEDED MY ZIPLOCKS.  But, as usual on island time they were confused on how to do so and were in no particular hurry to figure it out.  So Mark made the mad dash to the other end of the airport (which was surprisingly large) to investigate how said lady (whose brain and body both moved at a turtles pace) behind the counter of our cancelled flight just might proceed to “release our bags.”

I joined him on the mad dash and got someone to get my ziplocks off the old plane and transfer them to our new plane, but not before running back to the turtle lady to get her to sign some bizarre document, running it back up the airport, then back to the new airline that was waiting to take off.

I feel like we should have gotten some sort of metal for finishing the 5K we raced there at the airport.  Of course maybe, the fact that we made it on an airplane is the prize itself, and with my Ziplocks in tow, all the better!

What we were not told, was that we got the last 5 seats on a 10 seat airplane and the plane was on the tarmac waiting for us!

Cape Air...our new favorite Airline!

Wonder if they reward frequent flier miles??

The word "RUSH" does not have the same meaning here...
Especially at SeaBorne Air...

The Crew and the Precious Cargo

Our Co-Pilot was more than happy to get the right seat

We made it just as the groceries and toys were delivered.  We were thankful to arrive before dark so that we didn't have to sleep on the dock.  We stowed our gear, loaded the fridge, and sailed off...