The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

The World According to Wayne: The Wonders of Travel

By Wayne Nash
January 3, 2012
Recounting a recent tale of leaving a remote job site and attempting to get home.

I recently got to come home for a few days off, and let me tell you, it was an adventure. I was on a job up near the Canadian border in fairly cool conditions (about 0 degrees F) when my relief arrived. We talked about the job, and made the transition. The roads were fairly clear, and I was able to start the 90-mile trip to Williston, N.D., at a good 40 mph, in four-wheel drive (studded tires). When I got to the main road, the speed picked up, but it still was four-wheel drive.

By the time I got to Williston, the roads were good. While I was stopped for fuel, one of my co-workers called to ask where I was. I told him, and he asked me to stop by the shop. I didn’t really have too much time, but it was an important meeting, so I went for a short while. I finally got to my quarters around midnight for a couple hours sleep and packing for the trip home. I had wanted a little more time to clean out my truck and do laundry, but it didn’t happen.

When I got up at 3:30 a.m. to go to the airport, the weather had cooled off significantly. It was -12 degrees F when we left for the airport – 120 miles away. Since I knew I’d be flying, and going to a warm destination, I didn’t wear any of my arctic gear, just a coat and one layer of long johns.

I got to the Minot airport a couple hours before my flight, checked in and gave them my luggage. I went outside to smoke. That’s when I realized I wasn’t dressed for -15 degrees F.

As it got closer to takeoff time, the airline called my name. I went to the desk to learn that they had overbooked the flight, and I was being bumped. Since I was a little short on sleep and had been in the field for 44 days, this didn’t sit too well with me – plus, my ride had long since left. Needless to say, I went off on them. I won’t name the airline – it begins with “D” – but I questioned its business practices, its owners and employees’ ancestry and everything else I could think of at a pretty high volume – entertained the whole airport.

I realized that cursing wouldn’t do any good, as there was a cop standing right beside me, fingering his handcuffs, but I used every other derogatory English word I could muster. It didn’t do a lick of good. They had overbooked the flight by six people, as if somebody – maybe ice fishermen or something – might just decide to stay in America’s own Siberia for the fun of it. I pitched a futile fit until they wrote me a check for $1,300 on the spot to shut me up. It worked for about five minutes, and then I began to question whether or not the check was any good. They said that of course it was. I told them that I hoped it was better than their reservation methods.

Eventually, a beat-up minivan showed up to take us to the next airport down the road – Devil’s Lake, 120 miles away. All of us happy campers crammed in for another ice drive. When we got to Devil’s Lake, the plane was frozen to the ground. Took ‘em four hours to thaw it loose. They packed us in a small prop plane that shook like a dog passing peach pits. By the time we limped into Minneapolis, it was well after dark and snowing hard – looked like they might close the airport. I also missed my connection to Atlanta. Finally, I got on a red-eye to Atlanta and arrived after midnight, sans luggage. My blood pressure meds were in there, and I sure was needing them about then.

Since the airline was bending over backwards to take care of me and keep a customer, they gave me a voucher for $6 to buy dinner. Have you ever tried to buy a meal for $6 in an airport? They wouldn’t even let me apply it to the bar tab.

Next, in the name of customer relations, they put me up in a Motel 6. Wow. I’m pretty sure I was the only normal one in the building; now that’s a scary thought.

I called the airline to find out when my final connecting flight home to Lottie’s tender embrace was, and found out it was at 3:30 p.m. Great, now another ridiculous wait. I had left the rig Friday night, and now it was Sunday. I had intended to go to church with my family Sunday morning, so I looked outside the motel to see if there was a nearby church I could attend. The only altar I saw where I might worship was wearing fishnet hose, and that’s not the kind of service I had in mind.

I finally got home about dark, Sunday, 36 hours after I left the rig. I can go to Poland in half that time. I’m gonna write to the airline and tell them what I think. Won’t do a bit of good, but my blood pressure will come down if I vent a little. In a couple days, it’ll be time to go back to work. What will you bet they get me there in record time? That’s always the way it works.

Stay safe, stay warm, and keep ’em turning to the right.
ND

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Wayne nash 200px
Wayne Nash is a regular contributor to The Driller. He can be reached at rockbit8@hotmail.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    The Underground Network
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Opinions
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Water Wells
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • The World According to Wayne: The Future of Drilling - the Good, The Bad and the Ugly

    See More
  • The World According to Wayne: The Three Ps of Fishing

    See More
  • The World According to Wayne: Case of the Disappearing Drillers

    See More
×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP