And we're off

Well the day finally came to head off on my new adventure. Got up around 7:30 had a lite breakfast, tried to get my thoughts together, look at my list and scratch off anything I had completed already. Of course the last day you always forget something so we added that to the list as well. Josh and Cassie came down Saturday night and we had a nice quiet evening, well other than me stressing that I was running out of time and I couldn't find everything.

We decided to get all the things we needed at Walmart and would meet them for dinner at Lupe Tortilla's close to Intercontinental Airport. Diane and I took off for Walmart and Radio Shack around 2:30 and we were going to try to be back in time to leave by 3:00 ;) ya I was pretty sure we wouldn't make that one, but hey we tried anyway. Of course it took way too much time at Walmart and then the stop at Radio Shack, well you guessed we weren't even close to being home, and we still had to pick Kimber up at her apartment. Long story short, we got home and I repacked all my suitcases, each weighed less than what they were supposed to and off we went, at 3:55. Ya I was pretty sure that we wouldn't have enough time to get there and eat and be at the Airport an hour and a half before the flight.

We tooled out on 45 North and called Josh to find out where they were. It was too late to eat so we told them to just meet us at the Airport. We arrived about the same time and found a parking place. As we loaded a cart with my ton of luggage, we trugged through the cars towards the elevator. After waiting about 10 minutes, we were on and headed down to check-in. I decided we had enough time for a quick Starbucks, probably would be my last for awhile. We got our drinks and went back upstairs to sit and watch the security line. That is one thing that will get you in trouble if it is too long, it can keep you from your flight. We just sat and talked for a few minutes and then I decided we couldn't drag it out any longer so I said my good-byes and got in line. Good thing I did too because all of a sudden behind me were about 15 people. Went through with no issues, got my stuff and put it all back in its proper place and waived bye.

Well I will spare you with the other details but the incoming flight was late so we were late. When I finally got on the plane, the Continental Flight specialist came on the plane and said well you are our only issue. I said really why is that? He said that if we didn't get to Amsterdam in time for my flight to Saudi I would be in Amsterdam for 3 days before the next flight. Nice, really nice and me with nothing to do but sit back and wait and see.......

The first leg of the flight was really quick we had a nice tail wind and got there about 10 minutes after we were supposed to be there before the flight was late. We landed on the farthest runway from the terminal so it took like 15 minutes to get there. At least I slept about 5-1/2 hours and felt pretty good. As we pulled up to the Jetway, it took them forever to get it pulled up to the plane and finally they opened the door. They were all saying Good Luck hope you make your flight...... nice don't help me get there or anything, oh well I was off to find the monitors. I ran down the Terminal hall, which is another crazy thing, you have to park at the last gate in the last Terminal so if you wanted to make a quick flight, no way, nearly impossible. Doing this mind you with a new pair of steel toed boots which I am breaking in for the first time.... ya you guessed it, very uncomfortable. Found the checkin desk for KLM and she pointed me in the right direction. I made it to the gate and they had just started checking people through security so I was good. A matter of standing in the cattle line for about 15 minutes and I was on the plane. Had to call Diane and tell her I made it so we were chatting while I was getting on the plane and finding my seat. I got all set in my seat and we talked for a few minutes until they shut the door and then we were off again.

The flight was estimated at 5 hours and 36 minutes and the plane wasn't as full as it looked when I got on. As I looked around there were a lot of seats vacant. Oh well not to worry we were in the air and that was all that mattered. I skipped lunch because I was feeling pretty hot still, for some reason I couldn't seem to cool off. Anyway I watched a couple of movies on the way which made the time go by relatively quick. Before we knew it we were heading down and making ready to land. It was interesting watching the Tracker as we got closer to ground, the temperature of course is colder in the upper atmosphere but we went from -41 degrees F to +98 really quick. After about 10 minutes the pilot came on and said we were landing. We touched down at 7:59 PM 24 hours from when I had left.

Once in the terminal you have a very long walk to customs, every country does that including the US no clue why because you are already dead tired from the long flight so it really takes a lot to endure. After about 10 minutes of walking we finally arrived in Customs, the wait wasn't bad and I was through and retrieving my bags. They came off pretty quick too so I loaded them on the cart and headed to the Xray machines. I made it through with no check and headed out into the lobby where my driver was to be waiting. I found him and he said he was waiting on another passenger so we waited about 5 minutes for him to show up. Once he arrived we headed for the garage and waited for the driver to bring the car around. After finally getting all of my luggage in the car, well I am going to be here for awhile, we headed off for Al Jubail Industrial City.

The drive wasn't bad, you couldn't see anything with it being night and of course the dust storm. We arrived at the Al Razvat Residential commpound about 9:30 ish. They had my room all ready so I gave them my Passport and signed the papers and they showed me to my room. Not much to it a bed, desk, a couple of chairs, a coffee table, tv, bathroom and a bureau to put my clothes in. It was all good, I was just ready to get unpacked and go to sleep. I was pretty excited about that because normally my trips West end up with me being up for a couple of days while my body tries to adjust. I unpacked got ready for bed, popped an Advil PM and fell fast asleep.