FLYING SOLO

"You’re over weight."

I looked at the airline counter attendant a bit alarmed and shocked that she would make such a comment.

"You’re allowed 20kg of checked baggage and you’ve got 24 … "

After a few minutes of ‘show me this…’ I was checked in and off to US Immigration.

Like one of so many sheep off to the slaughter I worked my way through to the customs officer.

Ticket … Passport … the reason for your trip … thanks.

That was it. Now, I’ve driven to the states before, and I’ve had lively discussions with customs officers before, but this was a snap. No ‘show me this.’ I was expecting a couple of questions, at least a ‘how are you getting back? But I guess I am just too honest looking. I didn’t particularly want to show him that anyway.

So, for all practical purposes I’ve entered the states.

PAPERS PLEASE A quick flash of the passport and the 'foreign' correspondent is in the country ... well at least through immigration at the Winnipeg Airport.
OLYMPUS D500 PHOTO © KEITH MORISON/1999

The flight to Phoenix, by way of Palm Springs was un-eventful. A good thing because sitting in the plane, I was only hoping things would work out. The car I was collecting, was in Arizona City, some 60n miles south of Phoenix, and I wasn’t completely sure how I was getting there. I had made arrangements with a photog in Phoenix, someone I had never met, and could only hope that he was going to be there and still willing to make the trip.

As I left the arrival gate, looking for someone who looked like they were looking for me, I spotted a guy with an F5 taking pix of me …

This must be him.

So after the obligatory introductions, baggage collection and car hunt in the airport parking lot … we were off. So here I am, on the road to a small town in the southern state of Arizona, with a complete stranger and I’m not even sure where I want him to take me. I have the address of the car, the address for the key, but no phone numbers or directions.

CHILL OUT Frost shows itself on the window of the Canada 3000 A320 on the ground in Winnipeg. The tail of an Air Canada plane is seen in the background. OLYMPUS D500 PHOTO © KEITH MORISON/1999

We roll in to the Arizona City, and pull into the first open business we see, the J+M restaurant and bar.

"I’m looking for such and such a road…"

"You just passed it, what address?"

So I gave the address.

"That’s my trailer park," volunteered a patron at the bar.

After some discussions and head scratching we were quickly put in touch with Jack and Bunny Mattieu, and everything was in order.

I have the car, the keys, and I’m on the road.

I’ve taken up on more of Mark’s hospitality and will be snapping up a few Z’s before heading north.

Now the journey begins.

The wait is over.