Snow In Iowa and First Day On The Road

Des Moines, Iowa started snowing while some movers were loading up Jessica's U-Haul truck for a move to California.

It ended up snowing overnight and left about 3-4 inches of snow on the ground. We had to wait a day before departing after hooking up a car carrier trailer to the truck on Sunday. Once it was loaded, we departed Iowa.

We ended up at a Motel 6 in Overland Park, Kansas the first night. It had to have been the worst Motel 6 I've ever been in. But I was too tired to try looking for another place to stay. 

Some photos of the snow in Des Moines/Ankeny, Iowa:

Probably Done With Air Travel

For the past several years, whenever I have taken a trip by plane I can get to my destination from home without any problem. But getting back home has been a whole different story.

Flight delays and flight cancellations due to weather or other causes have been the norm. 

That was the case again last week when I was trying to get home from Des Moines, Iowa. I was set to fly home last Thursday evening via American Airlines with an arrival at the Albuquerque Sunport around 11:00 PM. But the flight got delayed due to mechanical issues in the plane's cockpit. 

Well, it is better to discover a problem on the ground than at 35,000 feet in the air.

Above, at the bar at Des Moines Airport waiting for my flight to be rescheduled. It was later canceled.

First, it was to be delayed and hour. Then, as time passed, departure time was updated several times to 5:00 am. Then, the delay time was reversed backwards. Finally, the flight was canceled. We were given vouchers for a hotel room (mine was for the Quality Inn near the airport) and a meal. 

I also had my flights rescheduled for the next day. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn't. 

My morning flight from Des Moines International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was delayed an hour of some oil issue with the plane. This delay caused me to reach the airport just after boarding for my flight to Albuquerque ended.

Well, I went over to American Airlines' customer service desk and got flight to Albuquerque scheduled to depart hour and a half later. This was fine, except my luggage was aboard the flight that I missed. It was waiting for me at the baggage area at the Albuquerque Sunport. 

Above, waiting at the Des Moines Airport hotel shuttle area
for the shuttle to the Quality Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Flying has become more of a nightmarish chore than a pleasure. The only flights in recent years that had no problems was my trip to and from Miami in August for the Bahamas cruise. We did get a half hour delay for our connector flight from Atlanta, but that actually worked out better as passengers from our Miami flight took their sweet time getting their overhead carry-on luggage and getting off the plane. I actually had to say something to spur them on. We made it to the gate before boarding started.

I am either never flying with American Airlines (they seem to be the worst) again or not flying altogether. I have had enough of this.

Airlines need to have passengers with connecting flights seated towards the front of the plane so they can get out faster. They also need to not have short layover times in case of delays. 

In Iowa

This past week, I went to Des Moines, Iowa to help out my former roomie Jessica with some business related to her late dad's estate and other stuff.

The first day or so was spent decompressing from the long flight and to try out a local sushi restaurant, Wasabi, in Ankeny, a Des Moines suburb. It has been a while since either of us had sushi, so it was an extra special treat.

I had to fly in via Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. It is hard these days to get a direct flight anywhere at a reasonable cost. 

The Des Moines International Airport was roughly the size of the Albuquerque Sunport, but much older. they are a undergoing some building at the airport. 

I took a few photos:

Above. yours truly at the Albuquerque Sunport.

Above, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, at Des Moines International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jessica at her apartment's gazebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jessica's cat Smokey. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, at Wasabi for dinner.

Above, the platter of sushi and sashimi for two. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, inside Wasabi Japanese restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The next batch of photos will be from my trek to the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum in Winterset, Iowa.