On My Way To Edinburgh, Scotland

The prelude to my Scotland trip began on Pi Day. My phone alarm went wild with weather alerts. “Get to a safe place!” For nearly an hour, I spent quality time in the basement with a book, blanket, and flashlight.

The lightning ignited the sky like the 4th of July. Hail, however, was the main attraction. Some stones measured 1.5 inches in diameter with wind gusts of 90 mph. Miraculously, none of my windows were broken.

Around 4 am, I crawled upstairs and went to sleep. I’d assess the damage later. Daylight came. Part of the barn roof was missing. I was debating whether or not to cancel my trip. No, I thought, the damage will be here when I get back.

I left the house for the airport but didn't get far. The gate was blocked by a fallen tree branch. I tossed it into the woods. The next obstacle was a downed maple. Fortunately, a road crew was in the process of removing it. I barely made it to the airport in time for my first flight.

Approach to the Newark New Jersey airport. The dreary weather didn't exactly paint the landscape in a favorable light.