We are seriously thinking of driving instead of flying to the reunion. It's an eight hour drive for us from Cincinnati. Our flight is out of Columbus, which is two hours away. From there it is less than two hours in the plane. We are probably going to drive in light of what has happened yesterday. It isn't worth the risk. Anyone else changing their travel plans?

If it's still on, I have no choice but to fly...OAK to BWI...not enough time to drive...

According to this report from MSNBC , things are going to be quite different when flying. Personally, I don't mind the majority of these added safeguards, but we have to get rid of minimum wage unqualified people doing the security checks. I will certainly carry less onto the plane when traveling than I have in the past. Maybe this will help cut down on the last minute people who show up with 2 or 3 gigantic carryons and have to drag them the length of the plane. I would not have anything in a carry-on that I don't want the world to know about.

FWIW,
Dave

I am certainly going to fly. Probably be safer to fly then before. Terrorists want to inflict fear and change the way we live. Don't let them succeed.

Let them try and stop me! I will not be hendered(is that spelled right) in any of my events. Life must go on the way it always has.

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I'm still flying. Hijackers are less abundant than bad drivers.

Cam and I are also still planning to fly. Like Rock, too far to drive. We'll drive to our daughter's in San Jose and she'll take us to the San Jose Airport to fly to BWI.

Rich

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Mike and I are still planning on flying. I am terrified about getting on the plane now though. I was very excited about this trip until yesterday. Now I'm afraid to leave the house! I know we can't let them ruin our plans and must continue with our daily living. We were curious to see how many people are going to change their transporation in light of what happened. Hope we all make it safe and sound to Baltimore!!

I never intended to fly, as I am going on to do more lighthouse excursions, but if I had to, I would. You can't let this scare everyone because then you admit defeat.
I just became an avid passenger since 1997, because I refused to be intimidated with fear anymore. I enjoy it, and will continue.
So Sean watch out, I'll be on the highways this trip, but I'll try to drive safe.

My sentiments would echo Sean's comments above. If you simply look at the statistics, driving is a much greater risk.
I will expand with some additional thoughts I have about the matter (maybe they better belong in the "Nothing to do with lighthouses" category but since I've started here, I'll finish here:

What is the main root-word in "terrorist"...a no brainer here..."TERROR." That is their goal: to create terror and panic in people. If we all react with such emotion, then they ultimately succeed. I can't believe that in some parts in the country the events yesterday even triggered a gasoline panic!

We can all feel shock, disbelief, grief, sadness and anger...but we must try not to feel terror. Our sense of security can be shaken a little, but the reality of the situation will be that flights taken after Sept 12, 2001 will be more secure than those taken before Sept 11, 2001. No doubt about it!

I am actually driving to the Reunion, but next Friday I have a scheduled flight to Orlando for a week's vacation. IF (and that "IF" is the big question) the flights resume, I will be flying as planned. I am shocked, saddened and angered by the thousands of innocent lives lost yesterday but I refuse to allow terrorists to run my life.

Doc John

We had alwys planned to drive from Fla to Baltimore, only because we planned to bring our friend back to FLA with us and do a little sight-seeinging of Lighthouses along the way. But, to tell the truth, I'm glad we are not flying. I realize it's a possibliity to be killed in an auto accident, but I would rather take my chances on the ground.

I am Flying from AZ.

Don and I will be flying from San Antonio.

We are schedualed to fly out of Buffalo on the 3rd but we are still considering other methods of travel.

I am still planning on flying from Madison, Wisconsin changing planes in Chicago O'Hare airport and arriving in BWI Baltimore. A big problem may be cancelled flights as the airlines cancel up to 20% of their flights.

I had already planned a 3 hour layover at O'Hare and now it looks like it might be needed. I was going to bring my lighthouse cross stitching to keep me busy while I waited. Now it looks like I won't be able to because to cross stitch I need a sewing needle and sissors. I already heard someone had a cuticle sissors confiscated at our airport because it could be used as a weapon. I guess I will bring a lighthouse book to read instead.

My son had planned to go to a convention in Washington D.C. as a state Delegate on Friday Sept 21 through Sunday Sept 23. His convention was cancelled and we luckily were able to get a refund on his tickets purchased through Orbitz.

I have numerous co-workers and friends that had to cancel their vacations due to cancelled flights. I hope we will be able to have our Reunion. Things seem so uncertain right now.

Suzanne

Still driving, still have room. Anyone in this area that are afraid to fly are more than welcome to join us. Leaving Sun. 9/30 with a stop-over in gettysburg to do some "diggin" on the battlefield. Think I would get in trouble if I showed up at the park with my shovel?



[This message has been edited by Gravedigger (edited 09-16-2001).]

We are flying from Dallas to Baltimore on American Airlines.

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Tom & Joyce

We are still flying from Seattle thru Dallas and on to Baltimore via American Airlines.
Darlene

Too far to walk, run or drive! Besides, They're going to use a train next! We'll leave from Ontario to Chicago to BWI on United. Little planes though, 737's. They
only like big ones.

Keepin' the Flame, Rich

Well....our Washington, DC plans have been canceled (we were supposed to fly into Reagan) so I have booked direct flights into BWI from Louisville. Hopefully since they allowed me to book the flights they won't cancel them. We will get there Tuesday morning and do a little sightseeing in the Baltimore area and then be ready for our Lighthouse tours on Wednesday.

KYKEEPER - Pat

Well, we were able to get our money back from the airlines and will be driving to the reunion. I was wanting to drive anyway! Now we will get to see the countryside of Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Maryland! Hopefully the leaves on the trees will be changing! DocJ44, I will blow the horn when driving into Morgantown WV!

[This message has been edited by Randy Kremer (edited 09-17-2001).]

Hi Randy, ...I'm driving too. I figure about eight hours on the road should do it. That allows time for pit stops and minor traffic delays. In case I haven't told you, I'm no fan of flying. After last week's tragic event, I feel even less likely to want to board an airplane.

Bob

We're still going to fly, assuming the flight is still on. In spite of the horrible events of last week, flying is still safer than driving.

Randy,
If you are driving I-68 between Morgantown and Hancock MD you should be in store for a real treat. That particular stretch of mountain highway is an easy drive with light traffic. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but that will be pretty close to peak fall foliage time for the mountains...should be spectacular!

Terry and I will be flying in from Arizona...I'm sure we will be a bit nervous, but it will be worth the trip. This is our first HL Reunion but we have met many WACKO's at other functions. It will be great to see some old friends and make some new ones.


Ruthie

Made my air reservations last night.

$205 Round Trip, Non-stop on Southwest PHX-BWI.

I checked the rates periodically. Never saw it this low.

John and I will fly from Portland OR via Frontier Airlines on Oct 1st--if Frontier is still flying then-airlines offered to refund our nonrefundable ticket if we desired.

Here is the site for BWI Airport:
http://www.bwiairport.com/

I called the hotel today and verified the shuttle rates and times. If you are interested in this option the rate is $11 one way, $18 round trip. Leaves airport from baggage area 6 & 7 every 1/2 hour. Our hotel is the first stop. Also leaves hotel every 1/2 hour so would probably be the last stop returning to the airport.

Also for what it's worth I spoke with a reservation clerk today and requested a room on a lower floor. Seems this hotel is the tallest structure around at 32 floors. She told me our rooms are not all on specific floors but scattered throughout the hotel.
You will also have to provide a credit card upon check-in.

We're still flying Dallas to BWI. We're leaving on 30th, and spending some time with family in the D.C. area.

Jeff and Mary

Well, I just can't get the courage up to fly so I'm coming by Amtrak! Mike is still flying and we will meet up in Baltimore. I love the train so I don't mind the long ride. Can't wait to meet everyone. We are getting very excited about the reunion. See ya soon!!!!!!

During a recent local news broadcast I saw that disposable razors and aerosol cans were being confiscated from carry-on luggage at the airport so if you are bringing these items be sure to pack them in your checked baggage.

I flew in to Salt Lake City on Wednesday night from Montreal, Canada. They were extremely cautious in checking your carry-on baggage. Many small items were confiscated including fingernail files and manicure scissors. You also had to show proof that any electronic item you were carrying was operable, including cell phones, video cameras, cd walkmans, etc. I highly suggest you have fully charged batteries on any item you are carrying. They said they would confiscate any non-working item. One additional item was curling irons were told to be put in your checked luggage.

I was not nervous flying home. Everything went very smoothly with a little patience for lines.