Here is how it happens . . .

If you were on the 12:35 pm IAH to BNA flight yesterday, it wasn't really meant to be a 4:07 flight. Nor, was my day supposed to be over 9 hours of flying! But, both scenarios collided into monstrously long day.

A quick tire change at the gate delayed boarding slightly, but we were off the gate within a reasonable 1-2 minutes late. We added a few late bags, and I know that was the right thing to do!

As we started to taxi, we were told to wait at "spot 2"; perfectly normal. We were number 3 at "spot 2". Well, "spot 2" airplanes were not going anywhere. We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. Meanwhile, the planes going to "Spot 1" passed us by. While at "spot 2" we were told we would be getting a new route. Sort of a detour around the Thunderstorms in the area. No problemo. We had plenty of fuel, so besides waiting :45 minutes or so for the "reroute", we were looking good.

Once we were released from "Spot 2", we were given instructions to join the 15 airplane congo line. No problemo. Bad weather requires more patience. But, wait, I know what you are thinking, "Its not raining at the airport, so why are we waiting?". Just imagine a flooded
on- ramp, off-ramp, or feeder road. If a storm is sitting over the "departure gate" (a.k.a. on-ramp, off-ramp, feeder road) airplanes wait on the ground until the weather clears. We call it the 1-2-3 rule. 1 cloud, 2 raindrops, 3 hour delays. Not to be confused with Karen Smyers, 3-2-1 rule. The dedicated blog readers will remember that one . . .

Back on track. We went through NUMEROUS iterations of the "departure gates are open", 2 planes take-off, "the departure gates are closed", shut an engine down to save fuel. Repeat.
Repeat again. Repeat one more time. But we are making progress, its just taking a LONG time, and Uncle Sam (Federal Air Trafic Controllers) is dictating the pace.

"If everything flows normally, we should be off the ground in 15 minutes." I said that so often, if the passengers heard my voice over the PA system anymore, there probably would have been mutiny - (I am kidding). Understandably, there was frusteration. Contrary to some rumors, we don't leave the gate knowing these things are going to occur.

Finally, we made it to number 6 for departure, fuel is getting a little tight, but still PLENTY on board for safety, and mother nature decides to put a Thunderstorm north of the field creating a strong northerly wind. Well, that is great, except there are 25 - 30 airliners lined up to depart to the Southeast. We can't take off with much of a tail wind, and you can't put the plane in reverse. ( OK airplane geeks, for clarification, you can't put it in reverse for purposes of turning around to take-off the other direction!!!!)

So the next 5 or 6 departures were choreographed in between achieving the proper wind conditions for a safe takeoff. Finally, we got on the runway, achieved the proper wind conditions, and flew safely, quickly, and uneventfully to Nashville.

I am pleased to say, in the 4:07 minutes, I did not used the bathroom once.

You can figure out the rest. There isn't any discussion about triathlon on the blog today. Not a good training day. I left the house for work at 5:05 a.m. and didn't return until about 8:30 p.m. I was starving when I arrived home. Just enough to refule and get back at it again Thursday (Today)!

Hopefully, triathlon training will get near the front of the congo line again soon.

But until then, my legs are still KILLING me.

Have a KonaSpeed Day!