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Christmas trip '05 (long-15 pics-just a warning for you 56kers out there)

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  • Christmas trip '05 (long-15 pics-just a warning for you 56kers out there)

    It's kinda long, but oh well.
    Well we always go to Georgia for Christmas because that's where all our family is except for us out here in Texas. School got out the Wednesday before Christmas and my dad came to pick me and my brother up to go up to Maypearl for the night and then up to DFW for our 845am flight on Firday. We got up about 530am on Friday, got our things together and headed off to DFW. We were making good time, so we stopped at Whataburger to get breakfast. We then went on to DFW to turn in the rental car. We checked for our flight (AA1380) and noticed that it was out of D29. We double and triple checked it just to make sure, and sure enough, it was D29. We went on to D to check in and head toward the gate. We sat at the gate for a while and watched an AC Embraer 190 in the new colors taxi by, an Alaska flight take off of 18L, a China cargo 744F taxi in, and a Southern 742F at the west cargo ramp. Boarding started after a while and we taxiied across one of the bridges to 17R and waited our turn for takeoff. It was the longest that I've had to wait. we took off and I got a good overview of DFW from seat 8F.

    ...and a view of Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, and the Ballpark in Arlington (or whatever it's called now.

    The flight was relatively smooth with a few bumps here and there. Nothing really exciting until we got to the Mississippi River. The sun was on my side, so it was tough getting shots without a reflection in them.
    Mississippi river around the Vicksburg area.

    I saw some smoke from a fire in Mississippi and then fell asleep for about 20-30 minutes or so, enough for me to totally miss Alabama altogether. When I woke up we were about to start the decent for 27L in ATL.
    The queue for 27R including a DL 738 rolling for t/o, 2 DL MD-88s, DL763, UAExpress n/c CRJ, and a DL Connection, possibly ASA, CRJ.

    I saw a Korean 744 at terminal E while we were rolling out and I noticed that the new tower is operational. When I was there back in May, they were still working on it. We waited for about 10 minutes while we taxiied in to get to our gate, T12. We then went down, got our luggage, and met Granddaddy down at the claim. He then took us to his house, where we stay, and then out to where my grandma, we called her Granny Sue, is bureid. She passed away in the fall of 2001, and it's still hard to know that she's gone.

    After Granddaddy changed out the flowers, as he does to keep up with the seasons, we went back to his house and went to bed to await the next day, Christmas Eve.
    On Christmas Eve we have gone to our cousin's house for the past couple of years and have always had fun.
    This is my cousin after dropping some Mentos into some diet sprite. It's diet so it won't attract ants.

    Then we went inside and ate then went to church for the service and came back to open presents. This is my cousin, who's 6 and awesome, and my uncle.

    We all went to our houses about 10 after we unwrapped our presents. On Christmas we went to church and did some other stuff and opened some more presents later that afternoon. This year was no different with one present than all the rest I remember: the Hess truck. This is only the second red one they have ever done, all the rest are white.

    I also got a scanner. It's not handheld, but I don't care. I'm happy. The next couple of days we just did some stuff with our cousins and the wednesday was our day to go do some touristy stuff, but the weather was crappy. About noon I decided to go outside and take some pics. I really love this one. It's a holly bush by Granddaddy's house.

    We then went to see a movie and then went to our cousin's house to play Trivial Pursuit. It took forever.
    On Thursday we went up to Waleska to our other cousin's house, the one who's 6. I just wanted to see how the fire in b/w turned out, and I think it came out pretty well.

    This is my cousin being a typical six year old.

    We went back to the house about 9pm because our flight was at 820am.
    On Friday we woke up, got ready, and headed off to ATL where Granddaddy dropped us off in front of the North terminal for check-in and we said our goodbyes. The security line by the AA check-in was longer than I have ever seen it and it took some time for us to get through. We then went to T10 and sat down waiting. Boarding time was supposed to be at 750, but we didnt board until 820, which was our scheduled departure time. The crew said it was because the crew got in late the night before and was late getting to the airport. The ceiling was really low at ATL, with the top of the new tower hanging out in the clouds. This was taken as we taxiied out to 28L from seat 11F.

    We waited a while in the queue and I saw an SA A346 and an AJ A321, and when it was our turn I got a good view of the cargo ramp. On it were a few FedEx planes, an Omni Air International DC-10, a CAT 722, and a World MD-11, which there was also one at E, and a Hooters Air 757 taxiing toward the terminals. After takeoff we almost immediately went into the clouds and broke through a few seconds later, which I have to admit is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It looked better in real life.

    The flight was bumpy at some parts, but otherwise wasn't too bad. We passed over Birmingham, Alabama, and I got a view of what I'm pretty sure to be UAB. About there was when the clouds cleared and the ride was smoother. Some clouds started appearing as we were in the descent into 31R at DFW. I thought this looked pretty cool. Sorry for the reflection.

    I then got a good view of the airport where I used to take lessons at, a view of Dallas, DAL, and Texas Stadium, where we played for the 3A state championship in 2003, but lost 35-24 to Gainesville.
    We then landed on 31R, which was unusual for me. I have actually landed on both crosswind runways this year, the other time on SY503 from MSP. We landed and taxiied off the runway with about 2000 feet left. We had to wait to cross 35L for a few takeoffs and the continued on to gate C-17.
    This is typical DFW

    When we were waiting at the baggage claim I noticed there were alot of 'Bama fans flying in also. I wondered why until I heard they were in the Cotton Bowl. We then took the bus to the rental car place and it took a while to get our car because of some mixup, so we ended up getting an Escape. As we were driving away from there we saw a UPS A300 coming in along with an NW BAe 146, plenty of AA planes, and an SQCargo 744. That was pretty cool watching it fly almost directly above us without its gear down yet, just flaps. We then drove down to Burnet after stopping at Spring Creek Barbeque and my dad dropped me and my brother off at home.
    And now I'm here. Well now I'm exhausted. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it.

  • #2
    cool report Ryan! looks like you had fun.

    btw, I'm gunna try that mintos/diet sprite thing

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    • #3
      Awesome report Sounds like a fun time.

      Originally posted by Chris@YYZ

      btw, I'm gunna try that mintos/diet sprite thing
      Me too
      You've got to try to find what's right before your eyes-Finger Eleven


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