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Bonneville Travel Log – June 29th, 2007 – Day Four
We had to get up relatively early this morning for check out and to drop off our bags for the charter. We had to drop off our bags by 9:00, but the bus didn’t leave for the airport until 11:00. We had just enough time to grab some breakfast at the Paradise Grill and drop some more money into the machines. Jon and I both agreed we are lucky we don’t live in Vegas. We’d be totally broke and probably divorced.
I’m not even sure how to describe how comical it was going through ticketing and security at the Wendover airport. The ticketing and security area were together in a room about the size of your average living room, yet in that small space they had three separate check points where they checked both your ID and boarding pass. The check points were so close together, in fact, that the employees manning the stations were visiting with each other as we went through the line. They seemed to take their uniforms very seriously, though. I watched one security person wrestle a walker away from one passenger (remember the description of the age group of our fellow travelers from Day One…). She tried to wedge his walker into the X-ray machine unsuccessfully until one of the other Mensa candidates pointed out that it wouldn’t fit. I stifled my laughter so as not to draw attention to myself. I didn’t particularly want to give the butch lady with the wand an excuse to call me aside for a pat-down.
I’m glad I was able to view the whole situation with a sense of amusement. Another passenger didn’t feel the same way. He was so incensed at being pulled aside for additional security screening that he made it very clear to the airport staff that he would be writing a letter to his congressman. After all, it’s not like he rode up to the airport on a camel or something (his words, not mine).
Our plane ride back was pleasant. We had one new passenger on our way back to Denver. He was a representative from the tour company trying to get people to register for another trip. As soon as I spotted him, I could tell by his tie and the Mr. Slick grin that he was a salesperson. We ignored him and he left us alone. I entertained myself by making Jon take a relationship quiz out of Oprah Magazine. The fasten seatbelts sign was on, so I had a captive audience. He was less than pleased, but cooperative. We arrived back in Denver after a little over an hour in the air.
And that concludes our trip to Wendover. See everyone in 42 days and counting…