Well, it isn't Swaziland

We are spending our first night of travel at the Dulles Hilton. Flat-screen TV, a spa-type bathing room, all the amenities. How did this happen?





The day started as planned, with the group of 15 convening at the United ticket counter in Des Moines at 4:45. Everyone arrived on time and there were no problems with luggage. We met Julianne, our “24/7” contact. Bishop Scarfe, Donna and Dave Oakland came to the airport to see us off.

We had a rocky landing at O’Hare and then nature’s fireworks really started. Lightning, rain, more lightning, more rain. Our 8:05 AM departure to Dulles and then our 11:50 departure time to Johannesburg came and went. Toni and Andy stood in line, negotiated with United gate agents, and covered all possible bases for alternative flights with South African Air. The rest of the group chatted, walked, read, slept, played cards and snacked on Keith and Holly’s stash of goodies, and maintained good spirits. .

We finally left O’Hare on our original United flight at 12:50PM and arrived at Dulles to start the game of finding alternate flights to Johannesburg all over again. At present we have “guaranteed seats” tomorrow on the flight to Johannesburg we should have been on today. But we don’t have tickets or boarding passes yet, so stay tuned.

We have plans for breakfast and a 9:00 departure for the airport to obtain the coveted boarding pass, proof positive that we are about to embark on our Swazi adventure.