Arrival at Portland

July 10, 2010 — PORTLAND, Maine

I arrived at Portland International with rain falling on the tarmac. At baggage pickup, I got my gear bag and then had to go to a separate pickup spot for out-sized baggage to get the boxed bicycle. I asked the guy who helped where it might be OK to reassemble the bicycle, and he suggested the southern end of the baggage claim area. A relief.

It was still raining lightly outside and although there was room outside to assemble the bicycle under a canopy, there was a security person keeping the pick-up and drop-off vehicles moving. They might not like the idea of me dawdling with my hex wrenches and screwdrivers surrounded by wheels and panniers and racks and baggage.

After assembling the bike, I went to the bathroom and changed into bicycle shorts and shirt and then wheeled the bicycle through a revolving door. Yes, a very big revolving door.

Comments

[Tandorra]

I can't help but smile as I imagine you assembling, seeing in my mind as an in-veritable location, bits and pieces of a bike that surround you like floating ring. Did anyone stop to investigate?

[Charlie Alison]

Lots of people watched while waiting for their own bags to come off the carousel, but the only person to really check on me was the baggage guy who had retrieved the bike for me in the first place. He asked where I was headed and if I needed any help. Really nice guy.