long day of travelling

We got back to Seattle about 0130. I took the time to pack, do some washing and organise my transport for the day. Having not slept the night I left for the airport at 0430 and bid VIsh farewell.

I learnt not to use a paper bag as handluggage lest you spill water in it and cause it to disintegrate.

25 hours: 2 countries, 5 states.

I jumped onto the Frontier plane and was in and out sleep the whole trip until we started to descend for Denver. And what a view Denver was coming in. I've seen countries of red, brown, yellow, water and green but never white. Snow white. Apparently Denver recently got 2 feet of snow (!!) so the fields were overed in snow. What a sight! I wish I had an aisle seat and a camera not attached to my phone.

My time in Denver airport was quite educational. I felt I had a good sample of America in there. Denver is the home port and central hub of Frontier airlines where most of its planes depart for all of its destinations

<I've written a bit about it in my paper journal I"ll write it in here later>

I was that wooden head on a spring on this flight into Chicago. In and out of sleep. I don't think I remember anything from getting onto the plane and holding altitude. I think the kid next to me found me to be quite entertaining. Good for him.

The decent was turbulent as Chicago greeted us with heavy rain. Our luggage was delayed and wet. I made the smart move of purchasing something to eat before exiting to the baggage claim. My backpack survived unscathed but I can't say the same for my cardboard box. Traveler tip: check in non luggage bags as oversized items. They will hopefully get treated better.

Waiting an hour for the Van Gelder /Coach USA bus to Madison a young lad struck up a conversation with me. He was a University of Wisconsin student and also going to the Memorial Union stop. I learnt a little about his home town of Denver and of Madison and about some sports antics. Wisconsin is famous for producing cheese and is therefore known as the "cheese state". Their football supporters took this one step further. The people of Madison, being the capital of Wisconsin and a university town, absolutely love their sports teams, so much so that they wear a cheese hat to their football games. So, the people who support the Packers are affectionately known as 'Cheeseheads'. Oh yeah, Madison is meant to be 'bone chillingly cold' (We're talking down to single digits in Fahrenheit!! - Damn global warming). But it has suprisingly not been the case this year...so far.

1830 - the bus arrives as schduled.

1850 - some idiot drunk decides to drive into the side of the bus and along it. Then starts hassling the bus driver after we're stopped and our very professional bus driver, Tom, tries to do post accident details exchange.

1920 - Tom has locked himself in the bus and called the cops as the drunk continues to knock/bang on the door.

post 1930 - cops arrive and sort things out as I sleep

2015 - we're off again Vish did warn me about Chicago drivers - Welcome to Chicago. So the bus I'm on is scheduled to stop at Jamesville and then we're meant to change busses to get to Madison. Because we were late due to the accident, we'd have to wait another hour for the bus. Fortuantely for us another bus driver arrived and offered to drive us up to Madison. I'm really glad he got paid by the hour. 2315 - arrive at destination. Memorial Union. Horrah!

Thanks Vish, I've learnt to wait for people in under shelter and not on shady streets. Hello Jamie!!! *picture much giggling and giddy little schoolgirl stuff* 25 hours: 2 countries, 5 states.