The Alaska Bag Drop had a long line. We were four big bike boxes/cases and three large duffel bags. That means we had to go to both oversize and regular bag drop locations. New trick we learned from Erin Roe…go to oversize first and get rid of the box/case. However, turns out an agent has to scan the bag tag. There was no agent. Back to the regular line. Then an agent came to the regular line and told us to go to oversize first, and she would scan our tags. Okaaaay!!! We did that, then returned to the even longer regular bag drop. An employee said there was another bag drop downstairs with a much less line. Off we went. It was, indeed a MUCH shorter line. In fact, no line at all! Once the bag drop debacle was completed, we headed to TSA Spot Saver. I highly recommend doing Spot Saver. We breezed through security in no time…well…Makaela’s bag was flagged, but that’s because she packed everything else in her carryon backpack, and it was very full. The TSA guy told her she should get a bigger bag!
The plane was late in arriving, and therefore we were late in leaving. I had the honor of being in the very last seat. At least I had a window.
Finally taking off!
The flight to Tucson was uneventful. We all got our bikes and bags. The hotel we were staying at had a shuttle. We kept trying to call the hotel to get them to send the shuttle. No one would answer the phone. Finally, we gave up, and Makaela called a Lyft. The driver was able to fit Catherine’s and my bike cases as well as our bags and Jana’s and Makaela’s. The hotel was just 1 1/2miles, but it would have been impossible. Jana and Makaela got a cab to bring them and their bike boxes. Turns out the receptionist at the hotel was the only one there. We asked to be reimbursed for the Lyft and the cab since one reason we stayed there was because there was a shuttle. The woman said she would talk to her manager.
At least the sun and warmth felt good.
Once in our rooms (me and Jana in one, Makaela and Catherine in the one next door), we got to work putting our bikes together. Our plan was to get the bikes together, then ride them to dinner as a bit of a shakedown. Unfortunately, Catherine’s rear disc rotor was bent. She tried to bend it back, but it just wasn’t enough. Jana called Transit Cycles. They had a rotor in stock. Catherine would take her bike in to them at 10:00 the next morning.
The other three of us rode to a Mexican place for dinner. It was about a 6 1/2 mile ride there. Not long after we left the hotel, I realized I hadn’t tensioned the belt on Billy. I just pedaled easy, and was able to use Jana’s multi-tool at the restaurant (they had us bring our bikes inside as it was a high bike theft area).
Catherine Ubered to the restaurant. We had a delicious dinner, then the theee of us rode back in the dark. Jana and I had headlights, but no taillights. Makaela had her headlamp that she used as a taillight, and followed us, because she had no headlight. We made it back safely.
Our rooms were clear to the back of the hotel. We rode our “personal mobility devices” down the long hallway.
Back at the hotel, we worked on getting g all our gear packed on the bikes as much as possible, so we could aim for an 8:30 departure. How was Catherine going to deal with her bike AND ride??? To be continued yes in the next post.
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