Today 11Sept2023: Travel day

Traveling across the USA…

I scheduled today to allow me a slow and easy start. I woke at 6:30, again waking before my alarm (why?), and started packing and preparing to exit my hotel room. The trick is not to lose anything at this point. My suspenders flopped out of my unzipped suit bag and left parts behind. I got all of that back to where it belonged. I re-packed everything, my usual method of balling up and throwing in case of dirty clothing. Any spare clean clothing is placed in my carry-on. Susie, Mrs. Wild, would disapprove. She is very much a scientific packer. On calls during the trip, I heard her laugh when I mentioned packing.

Breakfast, after packing, shower, and so on. I wrote the blog in the lobby with breakfast and two coffee. I had to retreat to my room as my colon decided I was having too much of a good time without it. That was why I did not check out quite so soon. I would be haunted a bit by that end of my body today–details are best not shared, but I will tell you, dear reader, I have not needed a change of clothing. Soon, it was time to start the process of leaving. I checked out, saying something funny to the desk team that made them laugh. I hate it when later I can’t remember a good joke.

Off to Lansing downtown. There, I checked in, after three tries, to the parking. The kiosk took ten minutes twice to redownload the parking requirements. I am not sure if anyone ever pays for parking using these machines. I did see Parking Enforcement with dramatic flashing lights (yellow and green–very friendly colors to many Oregonians) giving out unhappy notes printed on a thermal printer in the small car.

Aside: Remember, I am liberal. WTF. The downtown was empty of people and customers. I do not understand aggressive parking enforcement when only 20% of the spaces are used on the Monday I was there. Why waste the time to collect this, and how could the expense to collect the fines and charges be financially successful! Also, I had to leave earlier than I wanted as I could only book two hours of parking (even with dozens of spaces open). I spent an hour at the capital, shopped, and then lunch–usually about three hours. The lack of shops and the aggressive panhandling suggest that people who come should get a coupon for risking a visit to the capital area. I would recommend the first three hours free with coupons.

Returning to our story, I parked at 10ish and headed to the capital. The 1872-built Capital is a beautiful example of the Imperial post-Civil War (called the War of Rebellion on the monuments around this capital) US style you don’t see anymore. All the cast iron stairs and the dome match the USA capital before the more recent renovations. It is a beautiful place to see this crazy, super patriotic style. The metal in the fixtures is mostly copper, and some brass in the gas-style lights. Michigan supplied copper in huge amounts for the war. It is a beautiful building, and I took lots of pictures–most to be changed to black and white to be used with a Call of Cthulhu story.

 

Next, I waited a few minutes for Sumit Comics to open and then acquired a mint copy of an old Dungeons and Dragons adventure and a leather notebook with a fun saying on the cover. I love this store and always find something I cannot get in Oregon. The manager was happy to help me; I suspect Monday is not busy.

After that, I tried the Cuban Joint on the corner. I was a bit basic in layout, but the food was terrific. I got a sandwich and plantains. I took 1/2 to go as my parking was running out, and there was no way to extend it. The waiter was happy that I enjoyed the food. Recommended: La Cocina Cubana.

I called Mom Wild and brought her the other 1/2 of my lunch. She was thrilled. I stopped by in SS Ford, the huge Ford I rented for the trip, and moored it next to her home. I stayed until about 1PM and then said a sad goodbye.

Next, I fueled SS Ford, and as Michigan is self-serve, I had to do all the work. I also noted how drab the gas station was. The ceiling tiles were hanging, and there was rust everywhere. I guess this is what we should expect from the oil companies in Oregon now that we are changing to more self-serve. There is no reason to maintain their stations now that they get maximum profits. I don’t know why Michigan puts up with being bossed around by oil companies–but I am liberal. It looks like crap!

Following my disappointment at the crummy station, I got coffee and a cupcake at Biggby Coffee. I needed to wake up. I ate, drank, finished the coffee, and piloted the SS Ford to the final dock at the Capital City airport. National was happy to get the boat back, fueled, and ready to use. It seems scheduled for a new cruise soon.

I found that Delta was not open for an hour and waited to check my luggage. Evan called with Susie, and Susie laughed when I told her I was stuck again in Lansing. She thinks I am nuts to get there early. She sat around with me last time.

Delta staff showed up finally, and I did the usual stuff and even survived the security check without losing my pants. Removing my belt is not a good idea in general, and then having me raise my arms for the scan is a bad idea. The security guy asked me to pull up my pants before raising my arms. Apparently, he had seen enough underwear today!

I then found a Lansing-made beer and a grilled cheese at the only food place after security at the airport. There, I started today’s blog.

I will continue this when I can.

Here in Detroit, without issue. Took the tunnel, and the next gate on the endless ‘A’ terminal, Dante’s version of air travel, was mine. Easy today. There is Illy Coffee next to the gate. I ordered a plain coffee medium-sized, but it was the Detroit Airport: “No, we don’t have any cups of that size, so you get extra. We don’t have any coffee made, so you will get an Americano,” and I agreed–all at the price of a medium coffee.

I had dinner on the plane, but I had enough food if that failed.

Going backward a bit, on the flight to Detroit, the agent moved me out of First Class and got me a row to myself just a bit back in the plane. It was a comfortable trip for me. I was reading, and I kept nodding off for the twenty minutes. I walked to the gate with another gal who let me lead the way back to ‘A’ terminal. We walked fast and got our exercise before the next long sit.

Well, it will be soon to board. I will continue that in the next blog. Thanks for reading!