My journey from Cincinnati to Roanoke

We'll get into this image later, I just needed something other than the next image for my thumbnail image. haha

I can't help but laugh when I type Roanoke. I am a watcher of (and Season 1 fan of) American Horror Story. So I can't type the word Roanoke without hearing the theme song in my head. Other AHS watchers I'm sure can relate.

It probably doesn't help that the hotel I am staying in was built in the 1880s. Of course it has been rebuilt and renovated over the years, so I'm probably safe.... maybe.

LEt's start with arriving in Roanoke on Sunday night. I was in Ohio over the weekend for a memorial and the Ohio Renn Faire. I needed to get from Dayton Ohio to Roanoke Virginia on Sunday evening. Not early Sunday because I had the memorial, not Monday morning because I had appointments with potential clients. So Sunday evening.

We live in Nashville, so our drive home would take us through Cincinnati. I started checking flights and found that I could fly out from Cinci at 7:30 and get to Roanoke (By way of Washington DC) at 11:13pm. That works for me, so I booked it.

Sunday morning I got a call from United Airlines. You know, the friendly skies?

Image Source

They had to change the plane going from DC to Roanoke and wanted to know if I would be interested in being bumped for a $500 Travel Credit. I asked if they could still get me to Roanoke by 8am on Monday. They said no, I said no, we all went on our way.

Until I got to the airport, where at the check in desk I was asked again if I was willing to give up my seat. I said I would if they could get me to Roanoke that night. "I don't care if I fly through DC or Denver as long as I get to Roanoke tonight." I told the check in agent. She for some reason couldn't help me with that, so she sent me to the gate agent. "I can't guarantee you'll be on that flight until you talk to the gate agent." She told me. Which set me in a bit of a panic.

I went through the TSA cattle line, and went rushing to my gate. I had to wait for three other people talking to the gate agent about a different flight before I got to her. I explained what the gate agent told me and she looked me up and said "There's no problem with the Roanoke flight." What? Why was I concerned for nothing??

Well. Maybe not NOTHING. I get to Washington DC and see a nice little jet sitting at my gate for the trip to Roanoke. It's small, but looks decent as jets go. But no. They had us fooled. When we were walked out onto the tarmac to get on the flight we were greeted by this plane.

That's a dual propeller nine row, thirty eight passenger puddle jumper! I'm in the last of nine rows. Here's my view:

Yikes. The little thing got off the ground, and got us to Roanoke. But the turbulence was crummy and not even a little bit fun.

But it did get me here. And now, because this post is getting long, I am going to leave the pinball machines for my next post about my actual stay in Roanoke. Consider it your teaser. But these are from a playable pinball museum. Very cool!

Keep an eye on this space for that post!