Does It Really Have to End? Going Home

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Day 11

Does It Really Have to End?

Today is the day it all ends…back to Atlanta, back to the heat and humidity, back to the fast paced life we left 11 days ago…back to reality.

This morning began with a 3am alarm ringing. Time to get ready, check out of one final hotel, grab the shuttle to the airport and catch an early morning flight home. All went as scheduled. Even the flight went smoothly. It is probably the smoothest take-off I have ever experienced. If only all takes-offs were that good – flying would be so much more enjoyable. No one felt ill this time (except for Donald during the landing in Atlanta), so that was much more enjoyable as well. I took a few more final pictures during the flight and Stephen and I kept trying to determine what areas we were seeing below, but couldn’t really say.

This trip was an 11-day adventure taking us to 4 different states across our great country and a day trip into another country. After a brief stop in Colorado, we toured Washington, Oregon, California, and Victoria, Canada. We have traveled over 4000 air miles and around 2000 car miles. We have taken 4 boat rides and have seen a variety of wildlife throughout our travels. We have spent a total of 10 nights in 8 different hotels. We have spent weeks planning and organizing this trip and hours day dreaming about it. Was it too ambitious? Perhaps – but totally worth it. These are sights and areas new to the whole family and I can only hope that my children will look back on this and realize how special it was to tour these areas and see the sights we did. We are truly fortunate to have this opportunity.

We visited towns, cities, country sides, coastal areas, national parks, state parks, and of course a few airports. Though the cities were attractive cities and it was interesting to compare them to home, they are not a place I would like to frequent. The national parks, on the other hand, are. I realize many people love the city life, but I am not one of those. I find peace and beauty like no other in the parks and could easily call those home. I enjoy seeing the undeveloped landscape and to look out thinking that this could be land never seen before. I love that we have a country that protects these areas so they can be enjoyed for many more generations. I love the mountain landscapes and the rugged coastlines. To have both together is awesome and incomparable. Would I do this trip again? – Absolutely, but at a slower pace. I do not know if my children would say the same – they are tired.

I think I am the only one sad to see our vacation come to an end. I love seeing new places and could certainly spend more time doing just that. There is an excitement that awakens inside you when you see something you have never seen before – that excitement will not be there tomorrow.

Until our next adventure, happy trails………..

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Comments

[Mary Jean Wilkins]

Was a wonderful for us all. Glad all are back home now and safe! This is a good record for the rest of your lives to remember!! Love you all.