Bye bye, ABQ. See you in a month.

The trip has started. I am in 14E on an American Airlines flight heading to Bar Harbor, Maine. I hope I have everything I need, and at the same time, I hope I am not carrying more than I need. I packed the bike more than a week ago and included most my riding gear in the bike box. But of course I did not actually write down and inventory the contents. I knew I would remember what was in that box and bring the rest of my necessary items in my carry on luggage when I flew out. Note to self: next trip make sure I have a written inventory of any box I am about to tape up, before I ship it, for future reference. 

At the moment, I am flying to Dallas and there I will catch a flight to Boston, and then a hop to Bar Harbor airport, which is about 45 minutes away from Bar Harbor. I am not sure how to close that 45 minute gap right now. I am hoping the shuttle is running, otherwise I get to pay for a taxi. Yesterday was Andrew's birthday, so we celebrated that event. "Andrew, Happy Birthday! Oh Dad, are you leaving tomorrow? Guess we'll see you later. Be safe." 'Be safe' always causes me to think, "I have my helmet, my flashing lights, bright and visible clothing", but I remain mostly at the mercy of that driver that might be texting, finishing getting ready for work while driving, paying attention to a misbehaving child in the back seat and not paying attention to the cyclist right off their front right fender; thump, thump! Fortunately, my experience has been, that driver is very rare. Just about everyone I encounter usually slows to pass and pulls out and gives me wide berth, when they can. I try to give them an appreciative 'thumbs up' in their rear view mirror, hoping they are not mistaking it for one finger salute.

Travel update: I am now sitting in Logan Airport in Boston, waiting for my flight to Bar Harbor, my last stop today. I just finished a terrible meal in the food court, yech. It was below average airport food. Oh well, here's hoping for a marvelous breakfast in Bar Harbor tomorrow morning. TSA in Boston wanted to know what the SPD clips in my shoes were for. "These are riding shoes ma'am, and those clips attach to my pedals." "Oh." I hope we land in Bar Harbor Airport before the shuttle stops running. And I hope my bike is waiting for me at the lodge. More tomorrow.