Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Conference 2011 - Getting Home
I started the morning by trying to get up to date with my blogging. I was initially planning to post about each day in the evening of that day or the morning of the next. But, time gets away from you at these events when you are burning the candle at both ends.
So, I thought I would put some effort into catching up... and I lost track of time. The end result was that I suddenly looked at my watch and realised that I had about 40 minutes to finish packing and get ready. Anyhow, rushed as I was, I made it down to the lobby to catch my shuttle to Fargo's Hector International Airport*.
Once at the airport, with my heavy bag checked in (yay! I was not overweight), it turned out that the flight departure was delayed about half an hour, which gave me some more time to work on blog posts.
The aircraft we had for our flight to Chicago was smaller than the one I arrived from Denver in. We had an Embraer Regional Jet ERJ-145 with its seating capacity of 50 seats.
Embraer ERJ-145
The inside is tiny, so small that my backpack can't fit in the overhead lockers. The seating is configured with one seat on the left and two on the right. On the plus side, at least they are not using the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop planes anymore.
Inside the Embraer ERJ-145
Here are some photos taken as we left Fargo, lots of snow and ice.
Fargo Air Traffic Control Tower
Lots of snow covered fields
Once we got high enough, the sun was out and the skies were clear and blue
Despite the half hour delay leaving Fargo, I had plenty of time at Chicago before my flight to Sydney via Los Angeles.
Arriving in Chicago.... very overcast and damp. Can you make out the Air Traffic Control Tower?
As we taxi in, I saw a plan being de-iced... not something usually needed in Australia.
As I had time for my transit this time around, I finally had a look at the information shown on the display beneath the World War II airplane in the terminal. The display explains why the Chicago airport is named O'Hare, after the well decorated Lt. Cmdr. Edward Henry O'Hare.
A F4F-3 Wildcat aircraft as flown by the navy's first "Top Gun", Lt. Cmdr. Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare.
The rest of the flights home from Chicago to Los Angeles to Sydney and finally to Perth were uneventful. So, after 35 hours in transit (door to door) I was finally home in Perth. The conference was really over.
Now here is the fun part: While I was spending time in Fargo and travelling home, my wife, Jennifer, got to go to two amazing concerts for which we had tickets. I had planned to go with her, but the conference was scheduled afterwards and clashed. Anyhow, using my tickets for her sister (who flew over from Sydney), she went to see Tim Minchin with the WASO (West Australian Symphony Orchestra) on Friday night and Michael Buble (supported by Naturally 7) on Sunday night. Oh well, next time.
David
* International because it has flights to Canada.