When the Federal Aviation Administration announced a nationwide grounding of flights on Friday, three women from Bismarck found themselves stuck at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Dr. Tara Harding, owner of Simply Wellness, and her colleagues Alisha Maier and Maressia Cowter were returning from an annual training session when the shutdown began.
“We didn’t know what was going on or why it was happening,” Harding said. “They kept delaying our flight and offered nothing.” With no rental cars available within four hours and other options such as trains, buses, or a U‑Haul proving impractical, the trio faced a long, uncertain wait.
Creative solution: buying a car
Harding’s mother‑in‑law suggested a bold alternative: purchase a vehicle and drive home. The women took the advice, went to a local Ford dealership, and bought a Bronco with no money down. They set off on a cross‑country road trip that will cover roughly 1,700 miles across nine states.
The drive is expected to take about 26 hours—far longer than the four‑and‑a‑half‑hour flight that was cancelled—but the women are making the most of the journey. “It’s been an adventure,” Harding said. “We’re in Iowa now, the seventh state, and South Dakota will be the eighth before we get home. We’re a close work group, listening to podcasts, music, drinking energy drinks and coffee, and taking turns sleeping and driving.”
Homeward bound
They plan to arrive back in Bismarck around 11 p.m. Saturday. Once home, they intend to sell the Bronco back to a dealership, hug their children and husbands, and enjoy a well‑deserved rest.
This story highlights the resourcefulness and determination of North Dakota families when faced with unexpected challenges, turning a national aviation disruption into a memorable family road trip.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
