Katrina Cometh

Friday I Leave Miami to meet with my companions Dave and Craig in South Dakota. We are backpacking in the Badlands National Park for four days. What a great trip! I’ve bought a handheld GPS because the region where we will be camping is backcountry wilderness with no trails. We’ve planned at length to have a low impact, low weight excursion. There is no potable water in the backcountry so we’re going to have to carry all the water we need. The GPS is programmed with a nice two day loop, past a stream and over hills. I have been looking forward to this for weeks.

On Friday the Airline Industry made their bid to stop me. The Mechanics Union at Northwest Arilines went on strike. By Monday I felt better when I learned that despite the strike, Northwest Airlines was still flying and making 98% of flights. I, of course, am flying Northwest out to Rapid City, South Dakota. I am flying Miami-Memphis-Minneapolis-Rapid City. It’s the scenic route. At least they are flying and I will get to the Badlands and the fellowship shall triumph!

This morning I learn that the tropics have cooked up a little surprise of their own. Overnight a tropical depression decided to get serious and become a tropical storm. They named her Katerina. She is tearing through the Bahamas and should be a full blown hurricane by Friday. Incidentally, that is also when she is predicted to make landfall. Guess where she seems to be headed? Miami! If it makes landfall within 100 miles of Miami they will close the airport on Friday, I won’t be able to get out, and the fellowship shall be doomed!

Curse the fickle finger of fate and its repeated attempts to poke me in the eye!