Earthquake Reflections 2-Trip back North

A drizzly night led into a drizzly overcast day. Eli and Anna talked about being home on Saturday so much that I reminded them now and then that while Plan A included getting home on Saturday-often in Haiti one ends up on Plan B or C.

An uneventful drive to the airport and getting though security. We didn't bring all of our stuff or the stuff that we were bringing back north for the clinic. Almost all the medical supplies in Haiti shifted South in the first days following the quake. After the donations started to arrive the South had way more supplies than the North therefore we thankfully picked up some overstocked supplies for the clinic.

With 7 of us flying I really didn't want to deal with a lot of boxes and luggage so we left a large pile to come the following week with Chris and Kathleen. Delayed because of weather and a questionable departure-the news that we could load into the plane put smiles on our faces.

Busy air traffic delayed our departure so we waited in the plane. Anna fell asleep. We flew further East than on our first trip and had a good view of the hydroelectric plant and lake. Soon the clouds dropped lower and we experienced flying between the mountains and a turn around.

Yes-we turned around and landed at the Pignon airstrip. Thankfully a terminal complete with bathroom had been added since our first flight here in 2003. We snacked on some treats while waiting the news. Finally the pilot [4 days into his Haiti visit] said we could return to Port-au-Prince for free or stay in Pignon and play for the flight that far. While we were only 20 air miles from Cap we knew that it would take us a few hours drive-if we could find a good driver or have our truck driven from Cap to get us.

By now it was early afternoon-so we tried a couple numbers of folks we knew who lived in Pignon. Come to find out a friend of ours build a very nice guest house just off the end of the runway. And he could give us a ride to Cap the next morning as he traveled to the DR. The weather remained cold. A nice bed, cold shower, good supper, movie night and a ride in the morning. Not bad for Plan B.

Thanks-Neil.

The road hadn't improved any but the experience I'm sure is one that the Bailey's and Jeremy still talk about. Lunch in Cap. A calm drive home. Thankful to be there.

So looking back-I'm glad we didn't have all the boxes of stuff. But if you read the blog about Chris and Kathleen's return trip you'll see that the big bag with most of the medications and tools didn't make it-I wish I had brought that one with us.