Limo to the Airport

We had originally planned to drive the old Jaguar back to Iowa with a stop over in Memphis to visit our good friends, Mike and Niecie. Sometimes the best laid plans take a different turn. During our visit to southern Florida and whilst taking some side trips it was determined that an old football injury would make it an excruciating experience to be 22 plus hours in a motorcar, even a silky smooth Jaguar...and beside that...if we bring the old girl home...then we don't have wheels when we go back...........................so PLAN B was hatched.

Ever try and get a one way flight home from the mainstream carriers on short notice? Short answer is $$$$$$$$. So I looked into Allegiant Air which originates a one way flight from Orlando Sanford to Cedar Rapids ...nonstop...for $89.00 and lo and behold there were seats. Its really not 89.00 because they tack on addition charges for things so mundane as seat assignments, ordering online, checking baggage, ya da ya da.....Here is a copy and paste from the confirmation: AIRFARE:
$165.58
FEDERAL TAXES: $12.42
SEGMENT FEES: $7.00
PFC: $4.00
911 SECURITY: $5.00
CONVENIENCE FEE: $19.00
PREPAID BAGS: $15.00
MISCELLANEOUS: $15.00
TOTAL: $243.00
PAID: $243.00 M

Now how to get to Orlando from Tampa..about 125 miles and 2 plus hours. Tony Orlando to the rescue! That's not his real name...but his first name is Anthony and he lives in Orlando...so Tony Orlando works. Tony is a professional driver...having driven over the road coast to coast in 18 Wheelers and currently drives a coach for a mickey mouse outfit in Orlando. Tony made a career in the US Navy and cruised the world on an aircraft carrier and told us about that part of his life and the initiation that occurs when you cross the equator......but thats another blog. Tony can spin one hand clockwise while spinning the other counterclockwise....try it and let me know if you can do it.

We imagined some sort of stretch towncar with the morning paper and a mug of coffee....well his 2000 Ford Ranger did have a stretch cargo bed which I convinced the mystery lady would be here seat on the trip to Orlando at 5:00 am. I thought the vehicle had 23,800 miles on the clock, but a closer look revealed 238,332 miles. An even closer look revealed a small jump seat behind passenger seat for the mystery lady...her hairdo would not be ruffled. Tony says his mom rode back there from Orlando to Miami without a complaint....so it was off to the races.

Tony knew the best routes to get us to our plane safely and on time. Who needs thoses stuffy old towncars anyway. Thanks Tony for a job well done.