Best Laid Plans...Can Change

Four of the "Chicago Five" waiting at O'Hare

So, four of our nine-member BikeKenya2012 team is safely in Nairobi.  Mark & Megan Booth and Becca Lamp flew out of Cleveland, connecting in New York JFK and London Heathrow before landing in Kenya. They are joined by our Kenyan team member--Bishop Nixon Dingili.

John Franklin Hay on the phone with KLM, making
alternative flight and lodging arrangements

Our "Chicago Five" (Kevin Williams, Bob Burtch, Alex Drummond, Jack Hughey and John Franklin Hay) were checked in and ready to board on Sunday afternoon when the flight monitor went from "on time" to "cancelled." Apparently, the plane that would have taken us to Amsterdam was struck by lightning on its way to Chicago, had to be diverted, and repaired.  Just like that, our anticipation turned to a bit of disappointment.

But, as I have been saying to others, half jokingly, "hakuna matata." No worries.

The last 24 hours for the Chicago Five has been quite an adventure in itself.  From waiting for four hours in a long sues of KLM passengers whose international connections had been disrupted to trying to hail a taxi with KLM ground transportation vouchers (which the cabbies did not want to take).  We rolled with the punches and everyone displayed a lot of poise and grace.

A close-quarters taxi ride to and from 'OHare. We enjoyed
chatting with our driver, Mushtak, and thank him for
choosing to use our KLM ground transportation vouchers.

We rolled out early this morning and have made it as far as Detroit and are ready to board our flight for Amsterdam to connect to our flight to Nairobi.  We're hopeful the one-day setback will soon be a remembered blip on the screen of our planned adventure.  We're all anxious to get on bikes and start pedaling.

We've met some colorful people already.  From the the redheaded woman who kept yelling out "the sky is falling" comments to our fellow flight passengers to Julie, the older woman from Madison, Wisconsin whom Alex helped find her way to the baggage claim area (and whom we saw again at the hotel the airline put us up in). Many small story lines developing.  The fun has begun.  And we aren't yet even out of US airspace.

Stay tuned and keep coming back!