Roll call was at 4:30 AM on Tuesday. We packed and stored our final things. Jonathan picked us up at 5:30 AM on Tuesday (yesterday). All 16 bags (plus stroller) fit in the back of his van.
Travel from Grand Rapids to Chicago was fine. Here's a picture of Tracy and the kids on the first flight.
Later, it started to get exciting. Mark and I saw that our Chicago to Washington, D.C. flight was cancelled. When Mark told Tracy, she thought he was kidding. "Don't say that, Mark!" But, it was true.
I waited in line a few minutes at the United Airlines counter where a very nice guy took pity on us, rushed down to the gate of an earlier-departing flight, and booked us. He warned that our bags might not make it with us... I know there were some standby passengers for that flight that didn't get on board because of us. I hope they made it to their destination at their appointed times.
Because we got the earlier flight, our Washington, D.C. layover was quite long. But, we took the time to eat lunch and look around. We went to the South African Airways desk only to find that they thought we wouldn't show up due to our cancelled flight. They were ready to give our seats to standby passengers. We were there early enough to avoid that potential fiasco!
During the wait, we found whatever possible to occupy the kids. Mark is pretty self-sufficient. But, I had forgotten just how exciting escalators are for a 2-year-old. Up and down many, many times. Let's hold hands, daddy. This time up the stairs, daddy. I'm going to do it by myself, daddy. Once, Catherine rode on my shoulders from one end of the terminal to the other, singing "God is bigger than the boogey-man" at the top of her lungs.
Our trip from Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg was less eventful than you might expect. Here's our plane.
We were pleased to find that it was a direct flight without a stop in Cape Verde. But, it is LONG. How long, you ask? Check this display just before takeoff.
Mark slept great for about 7 hours. Catherine woke up several times, but slept enough on my lap or Tracy's lap to make the next day liveable. Despite the talkers to our left, to our right, and the kid spastically laughing at The Simpsons, we all slept some, if not enough. When we arrived in Johannesburg, we had 1 stroller, 8 carry-ons, and 7 (not 8) stowed pieces. Arrrgh!
The South African Airways representative said that the bag could (a) still be in Washington, D.C., (b) be in the domestic terminal in Johannesburg (as opposed to the international terminal where it needs to clear customs), or (c) have been taken mistakenly by another passenger. We have a case number and will hopefully get it back soon. The bag contains most of Tracy's casual clothing, some books, and power adaptors for computers.
In Johannesburg, some very nice porters took our luggage through the airport to domestic departures. I wasn't thinking and probably got ripped off when they asked for a large tip. Nuts! I guess that's what lack of sleep and 1st day in the country will do to you.
Our flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town was, in definite contrast to the three flights, uncrowded. That was good, because, as Tracy said, "Catherine has had it!" So, the last two hours were a bit tough with the two-year-old, but we really can't complain.
Our landlords met us at the Cape Town airport and brought us to their lovely house. After a short orientation to the house, Catherine and Mark were in bed. By 11:30, everyone was asleep.
Lots of details, but I don't want to forget.
Love to everyone reading.
--Matt