We left the campground and took a relaxing drive through Tucson Mountain Park, the narrow roads gently winding through the amazing desert flora.
We stopped at an information centre to learn more about the fascinating Sonora Desert.
Evidently there are many types of rattlesnake in Arizona, and Saguaro Cactus can live over 200 years. We had a new appreciation for the desert environment, and a heightened awareness of rattlesnakes.
We returned to the highway heading west, while Susan completed online flight reservations for my quick round trip from Phoenix to Calgary.
Our route took us through a range of agricultural areas. The most fascinating to Susan was the cotton farms, with fluffy buds bursting open to reveal the raw puffs of cotton. I stopped and picked some for her, that we placed into a vase in the trailer.
The dairy and beef farms, and huge feeding stations bigger than you can imagine. They stretched far and wide. We drove past them for mile after mile. Hundreds of thousands of black and white cows eating at feed troughs.
The stench seared our nostrils and took our breath away. Driving through the clouds of flies sounded like hail on the windshield.
We arrived at Wild West Campground and selected a site with some shade in the dusty lot.
After a quick setup, I packed my bags for a flight from Phoenix to Calgary to assist my son Kelvin with his home search after a job transfer.
My flight from Phoenix to Calgary was uneventful. I looked out the window at the ever changing scenery far below, transitioning slowly from dusty desert to snow covered prairies.
Susan stayed at Wild West Campground with Chloe, and experienced a few days of the windy, dusty, stinky, and fly infested desert.
For me on the other hand, what a shock to my system. Having acclimatized to the heat, the Calgary cold and snow felt intolerable. Thank goodness I packed my warm insulated lumberjacket.
I looked at houses with Kelvin, then discussed the various options he faced. The housing market was lean, the best houses already taken in the summer, leaving undesirable houses on the market in the autumn and winter.
The day I left the hotel for my return flight, we had snow blanketing the ground. The wind chill, and temperature was -18c. I still felt cold despite wearing my warmest jacket.
After cleaning the snow off the car, Kelvin dropped me off at the airport. We said our goodbyes and I headed into the warmth of the airport. Sad to leave him in the cold as I prepared to head south to the warmth.
I cleared security, then customs, with my NEXUS card. It was early and I was hungry. I walked the terminal looking for breakfast, and a comfortable place to wait until boarding. Contented after a hearty breakfast in preparation for a day of travel, I watched the cyclical rush of people synchronized with arriving or departing flights. I stopped into Starbucks for a jolt of caffeine … then heard my name being called over the PA system, to head to my departure gate.
I walked over thinking I was going to be upgraded to better seating. It turned out, they wanted to do a document verification. They asked me for my Passport because I had cleared security and immigration with my NEXUS Card.
I said I didn’t have my Passport with me because I was a Trusted Traveller registered in NEXUS. The asked to see my NEXUS card. I dug into my pocket to show them … it wasn’t there. Oh crap. I patted down and emptied all pockets … it wasn’t there. Oh crap. I emptied my backpack … it wasn’t there. Oh crap.
With a sinking feeling, I left them and backtracked my route through the airport stopping and asking at all the places where I spent some time … no luck. I retraced my route three times … no luck. I messaged Susan explaining the developing situation … she thought I was up to my usual antics of teasing … are you shitting me she said! … no … seriously, she asked? … yes, I said … oh crap. I had a mental image of being stuck in limbo inside an airport like Tom Hanks in “The Terminal”.
My name was paged again … I hung up the call and returned to the gate. No NEXUS in hand. The flight was boarding and they were waiting for me. I wasn’t allowed to board and watched the plane as it was pushed away from the gate.
One of the restaurant staff found it and handed it to the information desk. They were on my route when I retraced my steps three times looking for it in case anyone handed it to them.
The information desk staff walked up to me with a big smile on their face and returned my NEXUS Card … but it was to late … 15 minutes after the airline had closed the gate and my flight had left.
Thankfully the airline rescheduled my departure for the next flight out that afternoon. What a long waiting game. Note to self…travel with both Passport and NEXUS, and store them in a secure pocket so they can’t fall out when sitting down.
After a very long day, I arrived back in Phoenix. Susan picked me up and we returned to the campground in rush hour traffic.
It was good to be back with Susan in the warmth as we drove back to the campground watching the sunset.
