landing...wait

If I thought I had missed flying, my knees are reminding me that in fact I do not. Especially when final destinations are circled around for 30 minutes and then avoided all together. The monitors show the temperature and flight level which is cool until I realized that the 75 degrees was decreasing rapidly with altitude. It didn’t take a chemistry degree to realize we were headed up and out. The pilot took us south to Guayaquil to refuel and reassess our situation. The fog had prevented our landing and lack of fuel had kept us from circling a couple times. Four hours on a plane is no big deal in the grand scheme of things but when 4 turns to 6 or 7 (still up in the air ☺) the body turns cranky.

In order to content us on the ground during the refuel and wait since we couldn’t leave the plane, the flight attendants offered a movie. I thought I hope we’re not here long enough to finish this movie. Well their video system is so “sophisticated” it didn’t allow us to watch a film. I should say any show apart from the “Welcome to Flying…please fasten your seatbelt…”

And they had promised GI Joe. Bummer!

The day is still young, it’s only 9:34 PST but by time I finally hug the parents, it will be tomorrow and we’ll all be ready to fall over into bed. I picture them waiting like little puppies for the owners to come home, only to fall asleep on the rug until the garage door opens. We’re still on the ground in our “temporary” stop. I hope that’s the case though a recent phone call from the folks is a bit discouraging. They walked outside but couldn’t see through the fog in front of them.
Status update soon?

Yes- I write the final bit from a hotel in our “temporary” stop. It’s a night’s rest that will certainly be too short and not really restful with the knowledge we’re a mere 20-minute flight from our original destination. It’s like landing in Coeur d’Alene and not being able to get to Spokane. I might attempt to drive it but our bags are locked up in the airplane since we have yet to go through customs. And I hear the roads are crazy crooked. And really who wants to rent a car in Spanish at 2am.

It’s a good thing I have a toothbrush with me.