We have been packing for several weeks, beginning when Connie began making piles for Mexico and Africa. It got going in earnest this week after we returned from Baja and was nearly completed yesterday. I say “nearly” because there was a last minute scramble at check-in when one of the huge duffles exceeded the 32 kg limit. We moved the culprits – the year’s supply of vitamins – to a lighter bag and moved on.
Friends Mike and Phyllis once again chauffeured us to the airport and seemed to enjoy vicariously even this part of our trip. They may make it to Africa with some of our friends later in the year, if only to visit Victoria Falls. We’re invited, too, but it really doesn’t fit into our plans.
After a light snack we queued up at the TSA security check and learned we had been selected for special security treatment. It was no big deal for me, I need to be hand checked anyhow. We finally figured out the cause; we were right at the maximum baggage weight and had only one way tickets ending in an Arab country. The government may not have gotten all of the security issues right, but they honed in on us right away.
The flight to London left on time but was a full one. We chatted up two couples from Fort Collins on their way to Rome, a prize in some kind of real estate contest. As you might imagine they listened with bewilderment when we said, “No not Rome or London, but Entebbe and for six months!” Even a young minister who had spent time there said “God Bless You” sympathetically when we explained the expected living conditions.
Somewhere over the North Atlantic Monday became Tuesday and we found ourselves in London around 11:00 GMT.
