531 replies to this topic

[Stingray1]

I didn't have time to sleep. I'm heading into the office and get my payroll stuff done. I'll give DD a call in a little bit and see what happened to him.

[DandyDon]

I never have been able to call the CO desk at the airport as they won't give out the number, but Lisa just called me from there. I got their number stored in my cell now.

She has me on standby for the 7-something plane, but it's full of Little Leagers, not likely to clear.

She's also willing to book me on American, to connect to the same flight that WWench, et all are on, if American will give the seat. It's sold out, too - more baseball kids, but she may have push it thru on the computer. She wants to guarantee tomorrow, but I want there today.

Well no one is usually there this time of morning, but she got called in to take care of things - glad she did.

I'm headed to Lubbock to flash my Elite card a little and see what I can arrange. Been thru these before, much worse. If it can be done, I bet I get it done...

Edited by DandyDon, 16 August 2007 - 01:55 AM.

[georoc01]

Sorry to hear about your travel issues Don. All I can say is that I have been there. I love to fly direct whenever possible, just because of situations like yours.

My two travel comments for this morning.

If you put your school supplies in your carry on, make sure you haven't picked up anything related to glue (including glue sticks), all of those were confiscated by TSA this morning.

TSA while confiscating my glue, also activated my computer so I will be diving at altitude this week. The hazards of living in the mile high city.

[WreckWench]

Oh, ok: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov I see that Erin has drifted north a little, but I think I can get in and out of Houston before he might. Looks like everyone but Stingray and me are coming out of DFW, and your planes can just fly a little more to the east.

"You want beans with that?"

TRIP UPDATE:

There is a potential that we may be impacted by this storm. The cone is 1000 miles wide so we have a lot of lattitude.

THE TRIP IS A GO!!!

Please proceed enroute as trip insurance will not cover you until there is an actual delay.

Since our trip is in 3 segments we'll do each segment as we can.

Keep your thoughts towards the storm as far south as it can!!!

See you there...kamala

[Doctor G]

Oh, ok: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov I see that Erin has drifted north a little, but I think I can get in and out of Houston before he might. Looks like everyone but Stingray and me are coming out of DFW, and your planes can just fly a little more to the east.

"You want beans with that?"

TRIP UPDATE:

There is a potential that we may be impacted by this storm. The cone is 1000 miles wide so we have a lot of lattitude.

THE TRIP IS A GO!!!

Please proceed enroute as trip insurance will not cover you until there is an actual delay.

Since our trip is in 3 segments we'll do each segment as we can.

Keep your thoughts towards the storm as far south as it can!!!

See you there...kamala

I hope everyone has a great trip! -- Have fun and be safe!

I'm really sorry that I can't be there with you this time ----- got to stay in El Paso for a bit and get things running right again at work. ----- But I think that it's going to happen, and things should be back on track before too long.

Hopefully, I'll meet up with many of you soon!

Doctor G

[Scubatooth]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

[pir8]

Have a great trip, wish I could be there with ya.

[DandyDon]

Yeah, George I fly direct when I can, but out of Lubbock - that's to Dallas, Houston or Albuquerque. Beyond that, I do what I can. Anyway, direct would not have helped as the plan was grounded on landing into Lubbock the night before. It could have been non-stop to Coz, wouldn't matter.

New approaches in getting to Cozumel after flight cancels in the middle of the night…

Hahaha! I’d researched flights, flight connections, and land & water connections enough in the past that I could quickly run the research on computer and phone on the possibilities and compare the pros and cons…
> Standby on Cont Air’s next 7+am flight, maybe get out and connect to my original flight to Coz;
> Confirmed on Cont Air’s 4+pm flight connecting to Cancun, a van to Playa del Carmen, overnight there with airline or trip insurance paying, first ferry to Coz, straight to the dive boat;
> Southwest to Houston or Dallas, but wrong airports, taxi to correct airport to barely catch a Continental or American flight to Coz - backup SWA reservation to Dallas booked just in case; or
> Have Cont Air endorse my ticket over to American at the original airport, take one of first two flights out and connect to Coz. The best idea, but the flights were so full that my airline could not confirm this until the other airline counter opened at 4+am.

I rushed thru the night to the airport, and the plan worked. It included a 3 hour layover with no Presidents Club and associated benefits usually enjoyed, i.e. free drinks, lounge, wireless internet, snacks L , but at least I was in a Hub airport with a good aim on Coz. < happy dance >

Slept all the way the Coz, did the airport immigration (who are you trying to keep out of Mexico anyway), bag claim (both here!!), Customs (don’t I look innocent?), broke thru the Time Share hawks with my GTF out-of-my-way look, crammed into a too full & overpriced van, and made it to the hotel. First mission accomplished! Hoorah!

Had a leisurely afternoon meeting others in the group, late lunch, checking my pony bottle in to get filled, long nap, late dinner - whew. Unpacked my massive array of stuff, set up camp in the room replacing two dim light bulbs with bright CFBs I brought and setting up my coffee maker, laying our battering chargers for cameras, installing batteries in dive lights, repacking my boarding bag for the morn, and yes - my roomie is amazed at all I carry. Experienced traveling divers either become minimalists like him or every-damned-thing-I-might want like me. Jim is a great sport, tho.

We’re watching H.Dean with one eye as he is just too far out to take seriously today. Final decision will be made on Monday I guess, as we go to the mainland to dive Cenotes anyway. Do we give up the whale sharks and execute run & hide or do we go for the gusto. If it heads a little south or makes a hard north turn - either of which is possible, we’re fine.

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Edited by DandyDon, 16 August 2007 - 11:32 PM.

[Stingray1]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

We are and we are checking options.
But the diving is very good and you can't tell there's a storm coming.

[georoc01]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

FYI, most of us bailed out on this trip. 9 of us flew out today, with the remainder planning to fly out Sunday and a couple on Monday. Hopefully it was just a premature move and everything will be fine, but when all of the dive ops are pulling their boats out the water, its time to leave the locals to their emergency plans.

[bpro]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

FYI, most of us bailed out on this trip. 9 of us flew out today, with the remainder planning to fly out Sunday and a couple on Monday. Hopefully it was just a premature move and everything will be fine, but when all of the dive ops are pulling their boats out the water, its time to leave the locals to their emergency plans.

Good to hear most are back and the rest are coming. Been watching the thread and hoping for the best for all divers on this trip.

Edited by bpro, 18 August 2007 - 09:20 PM.

[DiverBabs]

Glad to hear that you guys all bailed.

Kamala - I got your message. Thanks so much for the update... I was very worried about you guys. It's a shame about the trip, but hey... there's always next year!!

Let's keep our friends in Cozumel and in thoughts and prayers.

[Stingray1]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

FYI, most of us bailed out on this trip. 9 of us flew out today, with the remainder planning to fly out Sunday and a couple on Monday. Hopefully it was just a premature move and everything will be fine, but when all of the dive ops are pulling their boats out the water, its time to leave the locals to their emergency plans.

Good to hear most are back and the rest are coming. Been watching the thread and hoping for the best for all divers on this trip. DandyDon's updates were appreciated back home...I think it was anyway....are they gone now?

There are still 4 of us here with 2 flying out tomorrow and 2 on Monday unless we can get earlier flights. The weather here has been very nice and diving was great.

[Doctor G]

WW

if your checking online you may want to keep track on this storm as the latest update puts it taking on the yucatan peninsula head on as a strong Cat 4 storm (maybe higher) sometime between monday and tuesday.

you all please take care.

FYI, most of us bailed out on this trip. 9 of us flew out today, with the remainder planning to fly out Sunday and a couple on Monday. Hopefully it was just a premature move and everything will be fine, but when all of the dive ops are pulling their boats out the water, its time to leave the locals to their emergency plans.

Good to hear most are back and the rest are coming. Been watching the thread and hoping for the best for all divers on this trip.

I've been kicking my own butt all week for not being able to go on this trip........ but I never wished for anybody else to have to bail out

Restating the obvious: Hurricane Dean looks like a pretty serious storm, and right now, it appears to be headed straight for Cozumel and/or the Yucatan peninsula

Stay safe everyone! --- Please don't gamble too much with this one.

[Travelgal]

Hope everyone who left yesterday is home safe! Stingray Scuba chick and dandy and I are all still hanging out....time for breakfast then Paula and Paula are heading to the ferry to Cancun...she leaves this afternoon and >I will be spending a night in Cancun and hopefully flying out on Spiritt tomorrow afternoon...Don flies today from Cancun and is most likely already on a ferry and Phylis will be here alone to fly out of Coz tomorrow.....We did have awsome dives yesterday afternoon and it is quite peaceful here and calm.....wish we were all still her and diving together today! I will let you know when I am home! Meeting Devb hopefully in FLL and maybe we can dive if all is well there! Paula