The Travel Day Shuffle: Suitcases, Starlink, and a Surprise Upgrade
February 27 | A Whitney Detour Travel Journal
Travel days always start with a little chaos, and this one was no exception. If you’ve ever tried to fit a week’s worth of adventure gear into a single suitcase, you know the struggle.
The Garage Tetris Denay met us at the house, and before long, our garage floor was covered in clothes and gear. Travel bags have this magical (and annoying) ability to expand the night before a trip. We were determined to make it work, double-checking the Sony camera gear and loading up the Jeep.
The most important passengers, Miley and Dolly, hopped in for the first leg of the journey. We dropped them off at Double J Doggie Play N Stay in Greenville. It’s always the hardest part of the trip, but seeing them immediately start making friends makes the “goodbye” a little easier.
Airport Chaos: 17 Pounds & A “Bomb” Scare From Greenville, we pointed the Jeep toward St. Louis. We parked at The Parking Spot and caught the shuttle, feeling like we finally had things under control.
Spoiler alert: We didn’t.
- The Weigh-In: At the Southwest counter, Denay’s bag clocked in at 17 pounds overweight. (Note to self: A “bring everything” strategy is expensive.)
- The TSA Moment: In our rush to pack the camera gear and gadgets, we forgot the Starlink was still tucked inside a carry-on. The scanner caught it immediately.“You know this looks exactly like a bomb, right?” the TSA agent joked.
Not exactly the words you want to hear in an airport security line! Luckily, a few laughs and a quick explanation later, we were cleared for takeoff.
Touchdown in Big D
We met up with Ashley and Dan at the gate and hopped our Southwest flight to Dallas Love Field.
Traveler’s History Tip: Did you know Dallas Love Field was actually a World War I training base back in 1917? It’s also the birthplace of Southwest Airlines! They’ve been flying out of here since 1971, which is why the airport code is DAL, but the vibe is all “LUV.”
The Rental Pivot: From Wrangler to Gladiator We headed straight to Enterprise to pick up our rental. The plan was a Wrangler, but then Tim spotted a Gladiator Rubicon sitting on the lot.
The Gladiator name actually dates back to 1962, and Jeep fans waited nearly 30 years for them to bring a truck back to the lineup. Seeing that Rubicon badge—built for the toughest trails—we knew we had to upgrade. Tim made the call, and honestly, none of us argued.
Settling In We rolled into our Airbnb in Haltom City around 9:30 PM.
- Fun Fact: Haltom City has some wild history! It’s home to the “ghost town” remains of Birdville. Legend has it that Fort Worth actually “stole” the county seat from Birdville in 1856 by siphoning off a barrel of whiskey intended for voters!+1
We kept the night simple—unpacking, recharging the cameras, and enjoying the quiet. The Texas sun is coming for us tomorrow, and we’re ready for the dirt.
