"JFK Airport and The Blackout"
by Diane Goodwin
Of course, I wasn't packed either. Anyone who knows me from the NJ brevet series will tell you how my boss always keeps me late .... I always seem to arrive in a rush to the brevets and this randonee would be no different.
The lighting system was still undecided. Would I take the Schmidt Dynamo hub or go with Ksyrium wheels and Cateye Halogen battery lights? When Paul arrived, we placed three wheels in the bottom of the hard shell case and topped it off with spongue liners and the Tuscany Litespeed - I would decide in Paris. For the first time in my bike travelling history, there was nothing but a bike in the case! Usually I stuff as much as possible with the bike but then the case is extremely heavy.
We ran to Radio Shack to pick up three walki-talkies (one for Paul, Pat and myself). I would have support along the route and thought it best to give a radio to each person. They were great for 2 miles and only $20 each (Motorola). In the end, they were useful at the hotel - locating one another while shopping. Additionally, I purchased batteries and spare bulbs for the helmet headlamp and Cateyes. Spare bulbs are required for PBP and I wanted to have enough .... I had more than enough!
Clothes were thrown in the backpacks and everything I needed ended up packed ... well, everything but the safety vest (need this for bike inspection) and my RUSA jersey! Yes, a jersey identifying your region is most important when riding up the finish ramp at PBP. Spectators cheer everyone on but want to know where each rider is from - these jerseys identify you.
We caught a cab .... a mini van - good thing with all the stuff. First stop, 25th and 9th Ave to pick up my business cards ... got to have those when you meet European riders and organizers! As we turned onto Grand Street from FDR highway to catch Williamsburg Bridge, Paul noticed the traffic lights out (4:05 p.m.). This was the beginning of the blackout. The cabbie was smart to take the highways to JFK airport. If we took back streets as most will, the traffic lights would have been out from the blackout. Somewhere on Grand Central we heard via radio there was a blackout .... here was the beginning of our madness!
At JFK, we stepped out of the cab and were asked questions like, "what's going on?." First, people thought it was terrorist and then reality struck - the entire Northern region was blacked out; it was not terrorism. It was 5:15 p.m. when we arrived. I was worried we were only 2.5 hours early for the flight. Travelling with the bike, three hours check-in prior is required. On the 400K Florida trip, I was not allowed on my flight because I arrived within 30 minutes prior to the flight - so, I was especially worried travelling abroad.
It was obvious that we were stuck there. Travelling to Manhattan and coming back in the morning was not an option. We needed to board the first flight out. There was no food (except that Alex Bekkerman had 100 Power Bars and Dave Jordan, a secret junk food stash). I decided we needed to keep a list of the cyclists and form a group to check-in. Air France was telling us the line we were in was not a line anymore - it didn't seem fair. We were told there would be a "first come, first serve" deal. It didn't matter if you were the next in line as Margo was, whoever got to the counter first would win a boarding pass on the next flight. Who was stuck? Dave Jordan, Jeffrey Miller, Paul Miller, Betty and Mark Sheehan, Jessica and Mark Hnatov, Margo Montequila, Alex Bekkerman, Pat Cole and Jay Ambrosen, Michael DeLillo, Tom Ryan, Bob Powers, Annetila and Geoffrey Kauffman, Linda McAdams and myself were all stuck .... 18 of us.
Geoffrey Kauffman smoozed the counter girl which allowed us to form a line at another counter - as a group! One by one, we dragged our bikes ... the bikes we were yelled at by security for abandoning while in the blackout. Security often brought dogs to abandoned luggage. Being there for so long, the guards started recognizing who's bag belonged to whom.
Sleeping in JFK was no fun. We walked outside for air and watched the sun setting where the smokers were. The cookie and bottled water cart found its way to our area (first class) - so we grabbed whatever we could. This would be our dinner. Mark and Betty Sheehan chose to read most of the time. Geofrey scouted the gate for info. Margo was forced to stay by her bag and soon fell fast asleep. The others, well, they found a space away from everyone to rest.
In the morning, a flight would leave at 10:30 a.m. (really noon). Some of us had boarding passes. They had a secured seat. The rest of us stood in line (thanks to Geoffrey). Half of us were boarded - but the rest of us had to wait and hope to get a seat. The Air France supervisor was not being fair ... at this point, she looked for children and elderly again, then frequent flyer and first class. At this point, the French rushed the counter and were screaming at her giving "sob" stories of why they needed to board. Our little cycling group was doomed. During this rush, I kept hope and my face in this lady's face. Dave Jordan encouraged me to stay where I was and listen. One time I commented to the crowd " it's not Air France's fault ... just be patient." Those were key words for later.
I purchased an orange juice for one counter girl and she became my friend. We started getting secret info. The last info was to make sure to get on this flight or else we'll be bussed to Newark.With this info, I walked to another counter to find the station manager and check out Newark and Boston flights. Little did I know but the cycling group was being boarded. There were two seats left and Paul came looking for me. When I arrived back at our line ... I went to my soup and continued to eat. Paul came to me with the bad news. The last two seats were GONE! After trying so hard to fight for everyone, I lost my own seat! At least Paul was waiting for me. I ran over to the "red dress lady" aka "supervisor." She recognized me. She told me to hold on. She came up with two more seats. Remember the "key words" I spoke to the crowd? They paid off ... because the counter guys who heard them upgraded us to Business Class and on the second floor!
So we all made the flight .... just before we boarded (we had to walk outside because of the blackout) I phoned Claus Claussen's office in Missouri. His wife answered. She now had a complete headcount and estimated time of arrival for Claus to pick us up. He did! We arrived in Paris at 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning.
My word of advise ... arrive one week before the PBP event starts. You need this time for organizing yourself.
Unfortunately, Pat Cole and Mike DeLillo each had luggage stuck on the conveyor belt in JFK. It was unretreivable and never made it to them in time for the ride. Mike had to DNF because he relies on his orthotics which were stuck in JFK.
Our RETURN flight was almost as bad .... at the conveyor belt in JFK after PBP, none of our bicycles appeared. They apparently never made the flight. Some of us got our bikes back the next day but most it took several. Air France wasn't very helpful or friendly. Their computer system seems to lack high technology. Like all organizations ... it's the people who make it successful.