Leaving Minneapolis

Thursday 3rd September 2015

Only one thing on the plan today, catch a flight out of Minneapolis!

After a relatively slow start, we had breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast room at the Comfort Inn is co-located with the swimming pool and makes it feel a bit like a terrace. The TV was on loudly in the corner, which to me doesn't make for a relaxing meal.

After breakfast, we headed to the Twin Cities Premium Outlet Center in Eagan about 5 miles away. It was to be our final retail therapy in the USA. We managed to find some clothes to buy that we 'needed'! We also stopped for a snack lunch. We already knew we needed an extra bag, so having left the Outlet Center, we drove to a nearby Walmart and bought a bag. That was the only thing we bought!

Back at the hotel, we did our final packing, changed into travelling clothes, loaded the car and checked out of the hotel. As it was only two-o-clock, we had a couple of hours to kill, so we sat in the air conditioned lobby of the hotel and read. The weather, which had started out misty and humid had turned into another beautiful hot day.

At around three forty-five, we drove the 5 minutes to the airport, topping up the fuel tank en route. The rental car company (National), were happy with the car and we were quickly on our way into the airport. It wasn't too long a walk, but we were rather laden down with bags! American airports seem to charge for baggage trolleys too!

Having dropped our bags off, we went through security quite quickly and settled down to wait for our flight. We were in Terminal two at Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) airport, the smaller of the two terminals, so there aren't many food outlets or shops here. We did have a snack and bought a few snacks for the flight as we don't think we will get fed. The flight is due to leave at 1930 and arrive in Iceland at 0630, both times are local. I think it is six hour flight by my calculations.

The incoming aircraft arrived at 1810, and now we are waiting fir it to be cleaned, refuelled, re-provisioned and then we are due to board at 1850.

We've been airborne for 5 hours and we have about 35 minutes to go. There is some signs of daylight on the horizon now too. The temperature in the cabin has been way too warm, so warm in fact that the lady sitting between Lynn and I got up about an hour ago to head to the toilet and promptly fainted. Lynn managed to catch her head before she hit the floor. The crew rushed out and administered oxygen, gave her water and cool towels which sorted her out. We thought the crew might turn the temperature down, but they haven't. Usually, on night flights people are wrapped in blankets, shorts and t-shirts would be more appropriate tonight.

0630 and we are at Reykjavik again, we've gone full circle!

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