Whiskey Double, Please!

.

It is Tuesday, January 24, 7.10 pm.

It is the big “run-for-the-PCT-permit-hour”. The application window opens 7.30 pm.

Both my PC and laptop are fired up and ready.

Waiting, staring at the clock.

7.11 pm.

7.14 pm – heart rate goes up.

Waiting – Staring – Waiting – Staring.

7.25 pm – heart rate goes up even more.

7.29 pm – heart is racing. I am reloading all pages…..

Crash.

Can’t get through.

Get a server error message on all pages.

Reloading. Reloading. Reloading.

Crash.

Heart rate sinks to nearly zero.

Reloading. Reloading. Reloading.

There! I have it. Page is here.  Heart rate goes up.

I apply for my date. Push the send button.

Crash.

8.03 pm – there I have it again. Apply for my date.

Crash.

“JESUS CHRIST, THEY HAVE THEIR OFFICE DOWN THERE IN SILICON VALLEY! WHY DON’T THEY HAVE MORE COMPUTER POWER UNDER THEIR BUTTS?”

Getting very frustrated. My face looks like the red WhattsApp Emoji.

Reloading.

There! Have it again. I apply. I get through. Done.

I get a confirmation by email. It says:

Congratulations on planning a trip along the Pacific Crest Trail! This email confirms that you’ve applied for a PCT Long-distance Permit. This is NOT your permit and you have not yet been issued one. We will start issuing permits on February 15th and permits may take 1-3 weeks to be delivered. Thank you for your patience. 

Right.

I go into the kitchen and pour a Whiskey. Double.

 

Learning of the Day.

Make sure there is always Whiskey in the kitchen!

 

13 replies
    • Heidi Broennimann says:

      Hallo lieber Stefan! Vielen Dank! Also ich bin noch nicht 100%ig sicher, ob ich nun ein Permit habe oder nicht. Schon, oder? Oder nicht? Das ist alles recht wirr….

      Reply
    • Heidi says:

      Yes it is indeed Maylis! But also – well – I would almost say – kinda fun too! Make sure to have your Whiskey ready on application day!!

      Reply

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