CSM and I left last Sunday from PVD on US Airways. We went through CLT, got to visit the Admiral's Club and had an upgrade to 1st class. Shortly after boarding, we had to change planes, then we took off. We went to Birmingham Alabama, upgraded our rental to a Chevy Pickup and drove to our 1 star accommodations in Hartselle.
Training was down the road on a farm. It was surreal and awesome to learn to use this amazing technology on a farm. We mounted the unit on a truck and scanned. We mounted it on a boat and scanned some docks and bridges. Downloads and processing take forever. It was the most fun training I have ever experienced.
CSM and I had to return home with the LiDAR equipment. We left Thursday and flew into CLT. We were not permitted into the Admiral's Club (grumble) so we went to the mexican restaurant had some food and several margaritas. We boarded and were stuck on the tarmac for 2 hours. They brought us back to Chaos as several flights had been canceled.
Not sure of what to do, we stood in the first line we found. After 20 minutes someone from the airline announced we were to get our bags from the claim. I ran only to wait. Then someone else from the airline stated that our luggage would follow us and we were to rebook. I have seen a line like this before, it was outside of MacDonalds in communist Moscow.
CSM stayed down by the baggage claim. I hung out in line and chatted with some guy named Joe. After forever, CSM joined us with his bag and the LiDAR cases. I went down and found my bag.
They gave out cards with an 800 number to rebook. The cell networks were stressed. I called Mom to try from her land line. Simultaneously, CSM called his sister who is a manager of a rental company to book a car. Mom got the refund process started and we took Joe with us in a Chevy Impalla.
Joe was the most boring passenger. Joe also did not sleep at all. CSM and I drove all night from Charlotte NC to Providence RI. We may have been driving a bit faster than the speed limit...
I did want to end the training with a practice run of bringing the equipment on the plane... thank goodness it all ended well.