DAY 65
Week 10
SAN JOSÉ (San José, CRI) to CORINTH (Texas, USA)
Saturday May 18th, 2019
TODAYS MILEAGE – 1,809 miles / 2,911 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 23,676 miles / 38,103 kilometres
Need to give myself an uppercut for agreeing to a 6:15AM flight, but as I’m often heard to say - shit happens.
I was up at 2:30AM to shower, read the online papers and sort all the fiddly stuff out that’s associated with international travel. To say I was a bit anxious about this particular leg of the trip, considering my last landing in the U.S., would be a huge understatement. I have no control over US Immigration, so I wasn’t sure why I was worrying about it so much.
I was in the hotel lobby at 3:15 to cancel the 3AM wakeup call that didn't eventuate, which fortuitously corresponded with my transfer driver lobbing up. I reckon he must have been on a promise with the missus, as he was consistently punching 120 kph (75 mph) on 80 kph (50 mph) posted roads. No matter for me as I was glad to beat most of the queues with checking in.
Checking in also marked a milestone with all my travel. It was the first time that I would be Skiplagging. What is this you ask? When booking this flight, it was $859 USD one way direct to Dallas, but when making booking with the continuing flight to Los Angeles, it was $229 USD in total + $41 for seat selection + $30 for one checked bag.
I know for certain that all incoming US international flights have to pass Immigration and Customs on first port of call, this case it being Dallas, I’ll simply collect my bag from the carousal and head to the rental car agency and “forgetting” to catch the continuing flight, hence the term Skiplagging.
American Airlines flight 2436 departed on time at 6:15AM and was scheduled as a 4½ hour flight, but once airborne the Captain announced that he was pedalling a bit harder in trying to beat a weather front in to Dallas and we should arrive ½ an hour earlier, which true to his word, we did.
With a fair amount of trepidation, I hit the Immigration Visa Waiver station, grabbed my perceived lottery receipt and fronted Officer Perez in lane 1. “What’s your purpose here sir – business or pleasure?” Visiting family, I respond. He swipes my passport – “Enjoy your stay sir”.
Fair dinkum, 6 1/2 minutes from de-planing to collecting my bag and clearing Customs - it's amazing to see what happens when you don't have a big X on you visa waiver receipt.
I take hold of my brand new 2020 Dodge Ram Durango GT 4 door 4x2 with all the bells and whistles, including the optional 6.4 litre V8 Hemi & 8 speed auto ..... all that and more for $28 USD a day.
I head out into torrential rains that followed me all the way up to where I’m staying and as freeway visibility and speeds had reduced to non-existent, I pulled over at an Arby’s to grab a quick bite to eat.
Whilst waiting for my order, some fella with grandma's nasty tablecloth for a shirt, blue jeans and high heel cowboy boots waltzes in with a six shooter and a Bowie knife strapped to his hip and announces loudly “Break time is over, you have an important customer here now.” I’m like ..... WTF!
I'll give the server her dues as she greets him cordially, adding “How are you sir?” He comes back with “I woke up this morning as an American and that’s all anyone could ever wish to be!” I’m like ….. DILLIGAF tosser. Never in all my years in the U.S. had I heard such shit and judging on how some of the other customers visible cringed at the statement - neither had they as well.
Had to laugh as I collected my meal. I'm missing a cup for my post mix drink, so I ask the server if I could have a cup, to which she responds “Why?”.
Yeah, I know, I can’t help myself sometimes and respond with “It actually makes the transportation of liquids, especially hot ones, easy and convenient.”
I get to Mike & Bek’s fanging for a beer and after a quick run down to the shop for a grocery run, I have that well in hand. Young Mikey gets the evening meal going and with assistance from all the family, he was able to knock up a pretty good garlic & lime marinated pork loin fillets with a green leaf salad with toasted pine nuts, mango, Spanish onions and all dressed with a lemon/lime, honey and mango juice vinaigrette.
• SAN JOSÉ ~ Auténtico Hotel - Sabana Norte (San José, CRI)
• DALLAS ~ They Let Me Back In To America (Texas, USA)
• CORINTH ~ Durango GT Rental (Texas, USA)
Here's a breakdown of the travel times and distances:
9.7 miles / 15.6 kilometres
• Travel Time: 21 minutes
1,776 miles / 2,857 kilometres
• American Airlines AA2436: 3 hours 51 minutes
∗ DALLAS ~ Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas, USA) ~ CORINTH (Texas, USA)
23.6 miles / 37.9 kilometres
• Travel Time: 45 minutes