Dirk and I left Salina around 12:30 on Sunday with the threat of rain farther South. Doris had agreed to go with us in order to drive Dirk’s truck back to Salina. (Over a month in any type of parking would be expensive). After passing McPherson we were in heavy rain off and on till almost Wichita, luckily Dirk had covered the suit cases with trash bags.
We both had packed 3 suit cases and they were all right at 70 lbs. which is the max the airlines will take. We knew this was going to be expensive but we needed to get a lot of equipment to Hope House and this was about the same as freight charges. But we got a nice surprise while checking in. After hearing where we were going and what we were doing, North West Airlines waived the extra charges for the extra weight and bags, this saved us almost $500!
Taking off out in the small feeder jet, the kind that holds about 40 folks, was very bumpy. It was the kind of turbulence that makes it impossible to read, drink, or talk, we just held on until we were on top of the clouds. We were just beating the thunderstorms that were to hit Wichita shortly after we left.
We got into Memphis on time then boarded an Airbus 330 for the all night flight with no further problems. After a typical in flight meal, movie, and some contorted sleeping, we were in Amsterdam on time. I lucked out on this flight as my seat mate was a blond Norwegian teenager on her way home. Stop, it is not what you are thinking. Her traveling companion, also young and blond, was setting behind her and she wanted to trade seats with me. You guessed it, I said no. But not for what you think! This plane seats 2 rows on a side with 4 seats in the middle. I like the isle seat and her friend had the window seat. I said if the person, who had not shown up yet for the isle seat, would take her window seat I would trade. It turned out that person was a no show so during taxing, we traded and I had 2 seats to my self which was a rarity on this full flight.
The flight to Abuja was uneventful. Landed on time, got into a long line for customs and the only exchange between me and the agent was that he was from Zaria, where I was headed. It probably helped that my passport had visas from past trips to Nigeria.
We got some help to load all the bags which made the trip in ok shape and headed to the customs check out area. This is the part of any trip I dread, going through customs. I have nothing to hide but the time it takes them to go through the bags and ask some questions and maybe want to impose some kind of duty, is nerve racking. So the customs agent asked if these were my bags and where was I going. I said Zaria and the Hope for the Blind, he smiled and said go. No need to show any more paper work or explain anything, Hope for the Blind is getting well known, cool!
Waiting for us outside customs was Andee, Dr. Obaka, and Emma, so great to see our friends after a long trip. The current time in Salina would be 2 pm Monday, we had traveled for 26 hours and covered over 15,000 miles. Off to the Crystal Place Hotel and a real bed.
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