Saturday, 2/26/05
Arthur and I and Jean and Earline all had a very leisurely wake-up since we didn't have to leave for the airport until 11:30am, but most of the others had to leave for the airport at 5 and 6am Several threatened to call us at 4am just so we could share the pain, but luckily they didn't. Alejandro went home last night to his bride (they've been married a little over a year), but he probably didn't get there until 11pm last night, and she had to drive him back to the hotel at 4am this morning. Ouch! I wish he had brought his wife to our farewell dinner last night. We could've picked her up on the way. Ah well. We had to be at th airport 3 hours early and it turns out that was close to true. We could've made it in 2 hours but only just. There was a long line to pay the exit tax, another long line for inspection of our baggage, and a third long line for security. I'm happy to report that the machete passed the baggage inspection without incident.

Our flight was delayed getting into Dallas, and most of us missed our connecting flights, but American was great in getting everything organized so we were given meal tickets, hotel rooms, and new flights in the morning the minute we got off the plane in Dallas.

still Sun, 2/27/05
The next morning was pretty clear, so we got some good views of Mono Lake, the Sierras, and the Bay Area from the air.

still Sun, 2/27/05
When we landed we waited a bit to see a neat sight: A United pilot was making his last landing before retirement, and was given a water salute and bath by a pair of fire trucks on either side of the tarmac.