Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

April 21, 2010, Page 2

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Trip to Europe more than Neillsville woman bargained

(Courtesy of Paul Knoff, News Director, WCCN)

A Neillsville woman is back on American soil after an interesting vacation to Europe. 

Doris Bakker embarked on what was supposed to be a nine-day trip to southern Ireland and Wales. She left April 8, and she was supposed to get back on the 18^th.

“The trip was wonderful,” Bakker bubbles.  “Ireland was beautiful, the flowers were in bloom. They have, literally, billions of daffodils growing wild.  Even London was beautiful.  You’d never know there was a problem,” she says.

But…there was a problem.

A huge cloud of volcanic ash was hovering over Western Europe.  It basically shut down the airspace.  Bakker first heard a volcano in Iceland had erupted Thursday.  She was eventually told that not only had her Sunday flight been canceled, but officials also weren’t sure when the airspace would be reopened.

“The details then were this could last anywhere from a week to a month,” shared Bakker.  “The airport was closed. Don’t go to the airport,” she says.  So, Bakker found herself stranded in London with a group of 27 other tourists – many from Australia.  She quickly made arrangements to extend her stay at a hotel.  She says it wasn’t cheap, but at least she had a place to stay.  Money was an issue.

“They do not want U. S. dollars anywhere unless you go to a bank,” she explained. “They prefer not using credit cards. What they really wanted you to do; was use ATM cards,” Bakker recalls.  Bakker didn’t have an ATM card; thankfully her friend did.

Wednesday she was told to go to Heathrow Airport for a flight to the Twin Cities, but there was a snafu, there wasn’t a plane available.

“It would have cost me $60 to go back to my hotel,” she related.  “I went to the Delta office and asked if there was anyway to get standby to anywhere in the United States.  I really didn’t care where, just get me anywhere,” she says.

It turns out the flight was to Detroit.  Bakker finally made it back to Neillsville late Wednesday night.

While the ordeal was frustrating, it wasn’t without some benefits.  “People were very gracious,” she said.  “We met the most interesting people because we all had the same crisis.  The other thing is we all sat back and said “no matter what we are not in control.’”

Bakker has visited (?) countries, but she says this is definitely one trip she won’t forget.

Delayed Swear-in – Better late than never

Doris Bakker (right) was just a wee bit late returning from her overseas trip to Ireland and Wales to get sworn in Tuesday, April 20, as a returning Clark County Board member. Bakker, who represents Wards 1 and 5, District 26, was delayed in England because ash from the recent volcano in Iceland shut down most air traffic in Europe. Doris took her oath of office Friday afternoon with Clark County Clerk Christina Jensen. Bakker returned home Wednesday April 21, after an interesting ordeal.  (Photo by Linda Cottrell-Sanders/Clark County Press)