(Note: This post previously appeared on my other blog, Middle-Aged Male Musings.)
In early December last year, I purchased four reserved seats to the 120th Midnight Sun Baseball Game, played once again (as it has since 1960) at Fairbanks’ Growden Memorial Park as part of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.
Shortly thereafter, I booked my flights to Interior Alaska’s largest city. The route was from Detroit to Salt Lake City to Fairbanks. I was scheduled to arrive shortly before midnight June 20 which would afford me a proper night’s sleep to better enjoy that night’s game, with its start time at 10 p.m. ADT, the stoppage of play at the first half inning after midnight, and the commemoration of playing without the aid of artificial lighting.
As I packed on Thursday and was getting prepped to head to the airport I received a flight notification from Delta Airlines: “Your scheduled departure has been delayed fro 5:50 p.m. until 6:33 p.m.”
I quickly checked my scheduled departure time in Salt Lake; I’d have but 23 minutes to make my connection. This was not going to work.
A rather lengthy chat with Delta customer service representative Eralyn ensued and I was eventually rebooked onto the 6 a.m. EDT flight out of Detroit to Seattle and onto Fairbanks.
What follows is a timeline of my Summer Solstice journey from Macomb, MI, to Fairbanks, AK.
3:31 a.m. EDT/11:31 p.m. ADT (Thursday, June 19)
I’m serenaded by the Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” to awaken. (Come on, how can you have anything but a great day when “Mr. Blue Sky”!?!
4:05 a.m. EDT/12:05 a.m. ADT
Leave my home bound for Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
5:08 a.m. EDT/1:05 a.m. ADT
Arrive at DTW long term parking. I’d hoped to park at an off-site lot because, well, $32 a day to leave my car is not considered a sound investment and would displease my chief financial officer. That said, the bus departures from the off-site lot are somewhat unpredictable so I chose to be closer to the terminal.
5:15 a.m. EDT/1:15 a.m. ADT
Clear the TSA checkpoint. (Thank you TSA Precheck!)
5:19 a.m. EDT/1:19 a.m. ADT
Arrive at Gate A46 where, sadly, the nearest restroom is closed for renovations. Suddenly there is a time crunch!
5:34 a.m. EDT/1:34 a.m. ADT
Begin the boarding process for Delta Airlines Flight 841.
5:41 a.m. EDT/1:41 a.m. ADT
Arrive at Seat 13D.
5:57 a.m. EDT/1:57 a.m. ADT
Our plane pushes away from the gate.
6:08 a.m. EDT/2:08 a.m. ADT
Take off.
7:48 a.m. PDT/6:48 a.m. ADT/10:48 a.m. EDT
Touchdown in Seattle.
8:22 a.m. PDT/7:22 a.m. ADT/11:22 a.m. EDT
Sat down at Mi Casa Cantina in Terminal A for a bite to eat.
9:20 a.m. PDT/8:20 a.m. ADT/12:20 p.m. EDT
Begin the trek to Terminal B.
10:20 a.m. PDT/9:20 a.m. ADT/1:20 p.m. EDT
Informed via PA annoucement that the gate for my next flight has been changed from Gate B5 to Gate A3. Begin the trek back Terminal A. Sigh:-(
10:55 a.m. PDT/9:55 a.m. ADT/1:55 p.m. EDT
Board Delta Airlines Flight 1061 for Fairbanks.
11:20 a.m. PDT/10:20 a.m. ADT/2:20 p.m. EDT
Announcement that there is a severe peanut allergy on board rendering the Cajun Nut Snack Mix I purchased for my travels worthless for the next four hours.
11:25 a.m. PDT/10:25 a.m. ADT/2:25 p.m. EDT
Our plane pushes away from the gate.
11:50 a.m. PDT/10:50 a.m. ADT/2:50 p.m. EDT
After taxiing at what seemed like a parade pace, our flight takes off.
2:10 p.m. ADT/6:10 p.m. EDT
Touch down in Fairbanks.
2:21 p.m. ADT/6:21 p.m. EDT
Meet my friend Tim outside baggage claim and head to his vehicle for the short ride to his home.
3:12 p.m. ADT/7:12 p.m. EDT
I’m unsure any recent shower has felt quite so good.
6:20 p.m. ADT/10:20 p.m. EDT
Dinner of grilled chicken, home-baked sourdough, cabbage salad, and black-eyed pea salad is enjoyed on the deck at Tim’s place.
7:50 p.m. ADT/11:50 p.m. EDT
Arrive at HooDoo Brewing Company. Some enjoy a pre-game beverage; I opt for water.
9 p.m. ADT/1 a.m. EDT (Saturday, June 21)
Arrive at Growden Memorial Park.
10:01 p.m. ADT/2:01 a.m. EDT
First pitch is delivered by Alaska Goldpanners starting pitcher, Connor Wolf from the University of Central Missouri.
11:57 p.m. ADT/3:57 a.m. EDT
The game is paused during the middle of seventh inning for the playing of “Happy Boy” by The Beat Farmers and then the local Sweet Adelines singing of the “Alaska Flag Song.”
The Panners’ mascot, named Happy Boy, dances for the crowd. Play resumed after a pause to commemorate the Midnight Sun, at 12:04 a.m. local time.
12:41 a.m. ADT/4:41 a.m. EDT
Game concludes with a final score of Anchorage Glacier Pilots 7, Alaska Goldpanners 2.
1:03 a.m. ADT/5:03 a.m. EDT
Arrive back at Tim’s house.
1:33 a.m. ADT/5:33 a.m. EDT
Turn the lights out and close my eyes.
And there you have it, a full – very full! – day of travel and enjoyment. That’s approximately 26 straight hours (with a couple of in-flight long blinks) and 1,900 air miles or 3,112 straight line miles.