WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, AUGUST 10TH AND 11TH, 2017 – NASHVILLE TO DENMARK:
Had to be at the airport at 2:30 pm today for a 4:40 pm flight to Detroit, then Amsterdam, then Billund, Denmark. Dale Watson and his guys are flying on British Airways from Austin to London to Billund. I’ll arrive several hours before them “if” my flights are on time.
Lindsey drove me to the airport and I only had two carry on bags – not going to give Delta the chance to lose my luggage again this weekend. First time I’ve EVER flown overseas with just carry on bags.
I had to buy a good “carry on” bag and remembered that David Bellamy had said TravelPro is lightweight and has the best wheels.
When Lindsey dropped me off, I got my Travelpro carryon out of the trunk and set it down and then turned around to get my other smaller backpack. I turned back around and the TravelPro bag was GONE. It had rolled across 2 lanes of traffic to the other curb and had stopped traffic entirely to keep from hitting it. Yep, David was right – really good wheels! J
The line was the longest I’ve ever seen it at TSA Pre-Check. I only had about 30 minutes in the Lounge before we boarded. Flight left a little late but I still had plenty of time in Detroit. Worked for about an hour and then we boarded the flight for Amsterdam. Have been pretty worried that one of my flights might cancel because of the computer outage Delta had earlier this week. But, I was lucky and my flights departed.
I ate some soup and then watched a movie about “Mother’s Day” with Julia Roberts. It was just “okay”. Slept for 2 hours and then we were landing. I didn’t eat anything for breakfast on the flight – just had coffee. Made the long hike through the Amsterdam airport and my flight to Billund was delayed. We landed about 30 minutes late but Jyette had sent a really nice man and woman to pick me up. It was about a one hour drive to the hotel in Silkeborg. My room was ready and the hotel even had my “fan” waiting for me. I bought it years ago and told them they could use if all year but please have it for me when I come back.
I was able to work for about an hour and then met Jyette in the lobby. She had her hip replaced about 8 weeks ago and is doing GREAT. She was talking about how painful it was with all the metal pins and clips in her hip after the surgery. She contracted pneumonia and said the coughing was the worst part. So glad she is doing so well now.
I hiked into town to do a little shopping. The hotel said the shops were open until 6 pm but everything closed at 5:30 pm….just as I was arriving. I stopped at my favorite “Mongolia “BBQ” restaurant for dinner. I like having “control” over what ingredients are in it. It was excellent.
I was checking Dale’s flights and he was delayed by 30 minutes out of London as well. I walked down to the lobby at around 8:30 pm to wait for him and he arrived a few minutes later. Think they were all tired and headed to bed early.
First festival I’ve attended in Europe this year where we’re not supposed to have torrential rain all day. Hope that forecast “holds”. We have sound check, Press Conference and show tomorrow. Busy day!
The only “English Speaking” channel in this hotel is BBC. If I had a gun, I’d shoot the TV. Tennis shoe won’t work. Maybe I’ll sacrific my fan! 🙂
Jude
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH – SCC COUNTRY FESTIVAL – SILKEBORG, DENMARK:
I am definitely getting a cold and didn’t bring the right meds with me. When I was packing my carry on bags, I thought – I don’t need to take anything. I’m only on the ground for one day. Big Mistake.
Slept like the dead for an hour and thought it was morning. Went back to sleep but the “cold” kept waking me up. Finally got up at 6:30, showered and had breakfast with Chris.
It’s cloudy this morning and supposed to be a light rain all afternoon. Then clear up and be pretty tonight. We left for sound check at 10:45 am and they were finished by 11:45 am!
I hiked back into town to buy the Z’s something and try to find a nasal spray for my cold. Found something at a pharmacy that is supposed to be good. It will be pretty painful when flying that far if it doesn’t work.
We had a nice press conference and I saw Stella Parton again after many decades. She still looks great. Afterwards, I walked over to the festival and delivered Dale’s cds so they could begin selling them.
Even though it’s expensive, I decided to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant. Didn’t want to hike all the way back into town again and the food is always excellent here.
Food was excellent as I expected. Had time to do a little work before meeting the guys at 8:45 pm to go to the venue. Rain finally stopped but it is pretty “cool” here now. Dale had a fantastic 90 minute set and was asked back for an encore. He signed autographs for about a half hour and all his cds sold. Probably could have sold even more.
Back at the hotel at midnight and hoping not to stay up really late. Have to get up at 6 am. We leave for the airport at 8:30 am for our flights — me to Amsterdam, Detroit and Nashville and Dale and the guys to London. I have a really, really short connection in Detroit and am praying that I make it!
When we stored the equipment downstairs, there was a unique drum kit set up – all the drums were “flat” and fit into a small round case. Mike – Dale’s drummer – tried them out and loved the way they sounded. We took photos of the kit and the brochure which indicates they are made in the UK.
Jude
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH – DENMARK TO NASHVILLE:
Well, the “Jam Session” downstairs lasted ALL NIGHT LONG! Bet I didn’t get 30 minutes of sleep. Have to remember net year to ask for a room a long way from the Lobby.
Showered, had breakfast and everyone was ready to depart to the airport early. It was a one hour drive and my check in was a breeze…just printed my boarding passes and I was ready to go. I waited until Dale and his guys got checked in and paid their excess baggage fees.
Flight from Billund to Amsterdam was easy – the plane was almost empty so I had an entire row to myself! We landed exactly on time and I ran like the wind with my carryon bags through passport control, then to gate D1 for Immigration and finally to gate D7 to board. The plane was already boarding when I got there and by the time I got on someone had taken all the overhead space directly above my seat. It truly ticks me off to pay that much for Business Class and then have to store my things several seats away.
I thought I’d probably just pass out as soon as we took off but I didn’t. I’m so miserable with this cold, that sleep wasn’t possible. I watched a movie, ate and tried to sleep. Finally gave up and watched another movie. This plane has 10 rows of business/first class seats for a total of 40 seats. The toilets for business class are usually in the front but on this aircraft, they are at the end of business class and then coach class begins. There are “nets” in the doorways dividing the toilets and coach class and the coach class passengers are instructed to use the toilets directly behind them. That NEVER happens. I stood in line for 35 minutes just waiting to get in a toilet and everyone who was in front of me was in coach class. They really need MORE toilets on that aircraft to accommodate everyone.
Landed on time in Detroit and since I had plenty of time, I had my boarding pass re-printed and went upstairs to the check-in area so I could go through TSA Pre-Check. Even then, they pulled me aside to check my bag. The culprit – “Stroop Waffles” from Holland for the Z’s to take to their classmates next week. J
I have a 5 hour layover in Detroit but getting lots of work done while I sit in the Lounge. Flight to Nashville was on time. I am home for “almost” 3 weeks now (love it!) but the trade off is I’ll be gone for 3 weeks after that. Home now and going to snuggle with my grandbabies tonight. Nothing better although the queen size bed is getting a little small for the 3 of us. LOL
Jude