I spent the day on highways, on planes, and in airports. Always entertaining, especially for one who doesn’t especially care for crowded spaces and the hurry-up-and-wait aspect of cross-continent travel.

The highway portion of the day was rather mellow, given the experiences I had during the previous days travel along the interstates of the Blue Ridge. Yikes! It’s like NASCAR with trucks!

So too was the first airport, security, and the nearly empty first flight. So far, so good.

After spending our layover browsing in the bookstore and having an overpriced pint, we went to our gate to board our flight. There we discovered that the waiting area around the gate was populated by an average age far younger than is the norm for such a setting.

Oh shit. The waiting area was a din of excited children and adolescents. I shuddered. Good thing I’d packed the industrial strength ear plugs. Even so, it had the makings of a long flight.

Taking in the scene, we quickly discovered through our observations that all these young people had been participating in some sort of science camp. Once on the plane, and off the ground, these kids were great. They were all occupied with reading or playing quiet games. A couple of fifth graders helped the fight attendants hand out peanuts. The kid behind me had questions about turbulence and I had the chance to talk with her about the big atmospheric ripples that come off the Rocky Mountains from the westerly winds.

These kids were polite, curious, easy going. That’s what I get for making assumptions. The flight crew even thanked the kids (and their adult handlers) for their highly civilized behavior.

Young scientists full of awe fills me with joy.