Due to some weather problems in Salt Lake City, our plane was re-routed to Grand Junction, Colorado. In the process I missed my connection and now I am hanging out at the SLC Airport until 8:30pm, the next and only flight to Elko today. So drinking $7 beers and watching some TV will be how I spend my Saturday afternoon.

Knowing I was going to be here for a while, I managed to find a seat by the wall outlet so I could get some stuff done on the computer. That is the good news, the bad news? I packed my charger in my checked luggage!!

Follow the link below to follow along this adventure, one that will change the way I travel for quite some time to come. The last update? I am spending the night here at the airport, follow the link for the whole story.

update: there is shift change at 4:00pm at the bar in concourse E and cheeseburgers are the most popular entree. It appears that things are starting to return to normal but there are some delays still at this time due to the fog. I am starting to get a little nervous at this time about that 8:30pm flight actually being able to leave tonight. Delta continues to list the flight as on-time so I can only keep my fingers crossed, you should do the same. On a sports oriented note, I could not be happier for Saturday NFL games!

update II: leaving the safety of TV screens and $7 beers I came to check in on the gates. The fog has decided to stick around and flights are being cancelled, specially those little puddle-jumpers, like the one I am supposed to get on to go home. The saga continues but does not look too good. I overheard a Delta employee say something about having sleeping cots around if they were needed. Just confirmed with a Delta employee working the gate, all airport operations are grounded at the moment due to poor visibility

update on the update: my battery ran out a few hours ago but I found a kind soul with a full PowerBook battery and a charger who is letting me plug in for a little energy pick me up. The last flight home was cancelled along with 90% of all other flights at time time. I have a seat assignment on the 5:30am flight but logistically speaking that plane would’ve had to come in tonight so we are hoping for the best.

Given the fact it is a weather cancellation Delta is not responsible for any expenses so I am a distressed traveller and I can qualify for a special rate at a near-by hotel. To make it a full fledge adventure and to spice up this story I think I will ride it out here at the airport. It does not make a whole lot of sense to get a room for just a couple of hours, specially when I probably would get the same amount of rest being here.

It certainly could be worst though, in the process of checking into our flight, I met a couple who were on a true traveller marathon. The Elko trip was the last leg of their Piza-Milan-Boston-Salt Lake City trip and more than 24 hours traveling across the pond. They were coming to visit their son for the holidays but instead they have to delay the reunion one more day.

Good night and see you tomorrow!

update from home: after a super delightful stay at the airport 5 star floor, we were able to get out of Salt Lake in the 5:30am flight. The fog looked just as bad as it had been the night before, however, we had a plane on the ground and we were able to get out of town. I am not sure on what the forecast called for but I overheard a couple of employees say it was going to be the same as the day before so I was just grateful to be on our merry little plane and go home. So this ends our adventure for the trip.