Stage 1: Manhattan to Kansas City

[dvandom]

Left the apartment at 7:30, it was raining lightly. By the time I got out of town the rain was replaced by light mist and occasional fog (getting as bad as 1/4 mile visibility a couple of times). I switched from I-70 to US 24 in Topeka (it costs me maybe ten minutes more driving, but the scenery is a lot nicer and there's no tolls) and made a quick pitstop at the north Topeka Walmart to check for toys. :) No luck, though.

The mist finally let up around Lawrence around 9:20, and I hit my one patch of road construction delay...about a minute as traffic lights were set up to alternate traffic across a bridge reduced to one lane for maint. Rolled into Economy Parking at KCI at 10:15, just in time for the rain to start up again, but I got a space near one of the shuttle bus stops so I didn't get particularly wet.

Check-in was fairly quick, although slowed by the fact that the only station open had a family with endless troubles (and a guy who apparently didn't know the computer system very well). Finally a second window opened and I got checked in, paying my $20 for the checked bag. Frontier has at least kept the cookies along wiht the Midwest Airlines name. Om nom nom. For some reason (I'll try to remember to ask later), they have Mardi Gras decorations up, and at least one employee was dressed up as if she were in a Krew. Rather late or REALLY early, yes?

Anyway, KCI is one of the few airports left with free WiFi, hence taking the time to type this up now. Gonna shut down in a minute and walk the terminal for my daily exercise. Thanks to all the electronics in it, my carry-on is probably heavier than my checked bag!


Turns out the Mardi Gras thing is to celebrate the fact that the airline's first flight from KCI to New Orleans flew out today.

Terminal C is the weakest link in the food chain. Terminal A has a mini food court, and B at least has a Quiznos. But all C has are two lounges, a Starbucks, a Great American Bagel and the usual assortment of convenience store sandwiches. I ended up having a buttered toasted bagel for lunch, easily enough carbs to count as a meal anyway.