First Space A Flight

For awhile now we have been talking about our trip back to MA in October.  The plan was to take a military flight to take advantage of the low cost...it's FREE!  Well, the time had finally come.  I was a little nervous about this trip since I have never flown Space A and was doing it for the first time without Eric and with two toddlers.

The main thing to remember when flying Space A is that you have to be flexible and patient.  I started trying to come home on a Tuesday and got on a flight on Friday.   I was really trying to get on a flight to somewhere in New England but had to settle for Dover, Delaware.  I boarded the plane with the kids at 8:00 p.m. Spain time and arrived in Dover at 5:00 a.m. Spain time (11:00 p.m. eastern time). The girls did great...they slept most of the time.  We flew on a C17, which means we sat in jump seats against the walls of the plane, there was cargo in the middle of the plane that was being transported (No pics to post because I'm not sure if we were allowed to take them).  The great thing about the C17 is that once in the air you don't have to stay in your seats.  I was able to make a bed for the kids on the floor so they went to sleep.  The downside is that it is really cold and really, really loud.  

Once in Dover I checked into a hotel...thanks to a really nice retired military couple for driving us to the hotel or I would have had to walk three miles with the kids at midnight with luggage and without a stroller...so again THANK YOU! Although we slept on the plane we all slept for a little while longer at the hotel.  The following morning I picked up the rental car for the last part of the trip...the drive to MA.  I have to say this was worse than the plane ride.  I was so tired and have never driven 7 hours with the kids by myself...even as I write this I don't know how I did it.  However, the kids were so good during the drive...they slept most of it and then kept themselves entertained with Leap Pads, iPad, coloring books and snacks.  I think the highlight of the trip was when Rebecca threw up all over herself while I was driving over the George Washington Bridge...too many snacks!

Finally at around 4:30 in the afternoon we arrived in Townsend, MA...I was so happy and grateful that we made it.  The kids were so good throughout the whole trip!  Although it was an almost 24 hour trip to get home the cost was about $200 compared to flying commercially, which would have cost $3000 or more.

Next up...the trip back...that included an impromptu mini vacation!