B. J. and I were up early at our cozy nook near the Jacksonville International Airport. Because we would not have an opportunity to change clothes again until we settled into at our hotel in Fairbanks, Alaska, we dressed in the most comfortable traveling clothes we had. It was 99 degrees Fahrenheit in Jacksonville and it would probably be in the 60’s when we arrived in Fairbanks. We had to have some windbreakers in our Carry-on luggage. We carefully packed our bags for flight because after they were checked we would not see them anymore until our hotel in Fairbanks.

With luggage in tow on wheeled bags, we hotfooted up to the front desk where we would partake of the continental breakfast while we waited for the shuttle to take us to the airport about five minutes away (the driver had to pick up some other travelers so it would take a little longer than five minutes).

We went a little heavier than usual on breakfast because food service on planes is limited these days to peanuts and soda, unless you fork out some extra money for a sandwich or something. Of course, we would have some long layovers in Detroit and Minneapolis that would give us time for a meal or a snack.

Soon, the shuttle arrived, the driver loaded our things, and we were off. We picked up the other travelers along the way and in no time, we were at the airport and our bags were unloaded and we hastily went in search of the Northwestern Airlines Check-in. We did not find the Northwestern check-in so we asked a security person who told us to go to the Delta check-in because Northwestern and Delta had merged. Judy, our travel agent had not told us that.

We got in line and soon we had our baggage checked for Fairbanks and our boarding passes in hand. We were ready to go through the security check, find our loading gate, and wait until time to board flight 1883 for Detroit.

There was a long line at security. They have to scan your carry-ons and, of course, “shake you down” good to make sure that you are not a terrorist carrying anything on your person that would blow up the plane. We got right through security. One of the TSA officers told B. J. that her driver’s license would soon expire. B. J. thanked him and we were on our way to our loading gate.

At 7:30am, the call to begin boarding was given and soon we were aboard. We stowed our carry-ons in the compartment over our seats and settled down, buckled up and waited for takeoff; it is one of the most exciting parts of a flight.

Soon, the pilot and the flight attendants gave us our emergency drills and all systems were go. The pilot revved up the big jet engines and we began maneuvering out onto the runway for takeoff.

With the plane in place on the runway, the engines got louder and shortly the big jet was zooming down the runway. Then the big bird lifted off and we were pointed skyward. Houses, cars and highways rapidly became little specks beneath us as we gained altitude. The sensation of climbing higher and higher to the cruising altitude of 39,000 feet and a speed of 550MPH is almost like “juicing” Li’l Blue in her special “scat gear”.

Soon our pilot came over the speaker and announced our flight route. We would go north up the coast, cross over Savannah, Ga., and then over Columbia, S.C. and then on across the western end of Lake Erie to Detroit where we would have a layover and time to get a bite to eat and browse through some the exciting airport shops before boarding our flight to Minneapolis. We were keyed up.

Welcoming more than 35 million passengers each year, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is one of the busiest airports in the United States and among the world’s largest air transportation hubs. DTW is also a major base of operations for ultra low cost carrier Spirit Airlines. Together with 14 additional passenger airlines - including four foreign flag carriers - Detroit’s airlines and their regional partners offer service to more than 160 non-stop destinations around the globe.

Although still not up to the sprawling Atlanta Airport, DTW is also one of the newest, most operationally-capable and efficient airports in North America. With two new passenger terminals, 145 gates, six jet runways, and two modern Federal Inspection Services facilities for international arrivals.

Even though, B. J. and I were anxious to get to Fairbanks, we were fascinated at having little time to take in some of the attention-grabbing stores in the huge airport.