We arrive in San Diego just after 6 AM. The skies are overcast and smoggy or foggy.
We are followed into port by the Niew Amsterdam, a larger, newer Holland ship.
The ship is cleared by 7:30 and disembarkation begins. Our luggage tags are specific to our airport bus, and we are not called until the bus arrives. It takes 10 minutes at the most to disembark, find our luggage, clear customs and board the bus. One could not ask for it to go smoother.
The drive to the airport is only about 30 minutes. Everyone is let off the bus at the same place, so the bus driver is not having to sort luggage by airline. It is a short walk to Delta curbside luggage check in. Check in takes just minutes.
Follow the signs to TSA. Our boarding passes are properly marked for TSA preapproval. That should help us avoid the longest lines. It does.
However there are always new experiences. There is a TSA officer in line in front of Lynn. She overhears him tell the inspector "check the elderly gentleman coming in this line". Obviously I raised a concern, drug smuggler or terrorist I don't know which, it doesn't matter. In addition to electronic scanning, and a pat down, my hands, clothes and shoes are swabbed to detect any residue of drugs or explosives. To their disappointment none are found and I am allowed to pass on my way. Only a 5 minute delay.
Even with the extra scrutiny we have several hours before our flight. A schedule chosen on purpose to allow for the unforeseen.
The flight is on time. Just over 2 hours. The mountain tops are covered with snow. The SLC terminal is only a few years old. So much more spacious than many of the older airports. They even have a carousel for oversized luggage. A first for me.
John meets us at baggage claim and helps with our luggage and Pam arrives with the van after a simple call. Ogden is about an hours drive. We stop for dinner on the way. An old western themed restaurant where each table replicates sitting in a covered wagon. The steak was excellent, the waiter good.
When we arrive the temperature is about 70. Tonight we expect the mid 40's.