December 19: Houston, We’ve Landed
Well, I certainly didn’t land a lunar module on the moon. But getting my motorcycle to South America ended up being a much bigger assignment than I anticipated. With my bike still on the ground in San Francisco and the exporter who arranged its passage not returning my WhatsApp calls or messages for two days, I turned to both high- and low-tech resources to get Adventure Baby to Houston and then Buenos Aires.
Deciding to throw a Hail Mary, I described my dilemma to Chat GPT. She suggested I reach out directly to United Cargo, gave me their phone number, and told me how to locate the information they would be requesting.
Because my phone was experiencing technical difficulties and unable to make or receive regular calls, I used the landline phone at my hotel lobby, standing there in my pajamas until 3:00 in the morning pushing the large buttons on the rather clunky device, grateful to have some way to reach the outside world.
The wonderful employees at United’s Cargo, Shipping, and Warehousing facilities listened to my story, emailed my request for help to multiple departments, took the initiative to prioritize my shipment without any further expense to me, and apologized for the delays in transit.
I especially appreciate the way Kim, Kimberly, Tracy, Jade, Maria, Starr, Chloe, and Rhonda took a personal interest in my situation when I explained how I needed to collect the bike before the customs offices here closed for Christmas, ride 2,500 miles in a variety of weather conditions, and catch my nonrefundable flight home from Chili in just two weeks.
When Kimberly picked up the phone at the freight department in the San Francisco, she immediately exclaimed “Oh yes, you’re that motorcycle lady that needs help. Hold on a minute and let me see what I can find out for you.” Rhonda at the warehouse in Houstin confidently assured me, “I’ll be working tonight and keeping an eye on your bike to make sure they get it on the plane.”
With my bike on the ground in Buenos Aires, the local customs facilitators will process the paperwork necessary to reunite me with Adventure Baby so that we can begin our journey to the southern tip of the continent.
