The travel day began with Rob driving me to the bus station in Portland. In true Morris form, we arrived early, which allowed me to hop onto the early bus to Logan. If you know me, I like being early. Sometimes this pays off; sometimes, it doesn't. Today it didn't. Icelandair didn't open their desk until about 3.5 hours before our flight would board. Although I had to stand waiting for about an hour, I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to chat with a nice couple from New Hampshire. They told me with pride about their family and daughter-in-law preparing to climb Mt. Rainier soon. Once my bag was tagged, it was time to move through security.
Security was once a dreaded event for me. Shoes off. Jacket off. Everything is out of your pockets. Laptop out. Every lens out of your camera bag. No more for me! I signed up for TSA Precheck and a Known Traveler Number this winter. Wow! What a difference. I sail through security now without a thing to unload from my bags.
Now there was nothing else to do but enjoy dinner before boarding my plane and chat with other excited travelers. One couple was heading to Scotland on a National Geographic Journey, and they assumed, because of my buff, that I was heading there as well.
Once boarded, I had the wonderful gift of an empty seat next to me. My National Geographic buff was converted to an eye cover, and I snuggled for a nap. I woke to bright light streaming in, but it quickly turned to fog. I thought at first it was because we were moving through the cloud cover but later learned that it may have been volcanic fog from Fagradalsfjall.
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