It turns out that it's just a depressing to write about the final day of your trip as it is to live it.
The week went by very fast, and all too soon Friday was upon us. The plan was to let the kids spend our last morning in Florida with Grandma & Grandpa while we packed up the van with all the stuff we brought with us, plus all of the stuff we acquired while down there. The rain was coming down pretty hard most of the morning, but luckily I was able to back the van into the garage to load it up.
We all settled in for a little lunch (hot dogs, mac & cheese and whatever leftovers were still hanging around in the fridge), then we headed for the van.
As I've mentioned before, Madison is a very emotional child and leaving was hitting her pretty hard. It broke my heart to have to buckle her in while she quietly sobbed.
So with everything and everyone loaded up, we hit the road in the early afternoon. I don't know if Evan was bored or what, but we had to have 3 potty stops before we left the state of Florida. The second stop was at a rest area just south of Gainsville, where this sign was posted:
Sorry, puppies. You're going to have to hold it until we get to somewhere that I won't die by taking you for a walk.
Little did I know that stop would be just over an hour away. Evan announced he had to go again, so I took the next exit - the last exit before you get to the Georgia border. The gas station there had certainly seen better days, but it was our only option. The bathrooms are in a separate building across the parking lot. I have never (and I mean
never) been in a flush bathroom that smelled more like an outhouse in my life.
On our way back to the highway, we noted the irony of this place. While the first restrooms you get in Florida at the DOT rest stops are very clean and welcoming and happy, the last restroom on your way out of the state basically says "What? You're leaving? Fine! Up yours!"
Most of the ride was uneventful. Dinner was a McDonald's Drive Thru somewhere in Georgia (I think
)
We stopped for gas in Tifton, Ga and were impressed that it had a sign declaring itself the Reading Capitol of the World. I guess since we read that sign, we contributed!
I didn't keep track of the details, but I know I drove until we got through Atlanta, then we alternated every few hours until we got to Kentucky, in the middle of the night. We were all pretty beat, so we all caught some sleep at a rest area.
I think this was in Indiana somewhere. Spoiled dog.
We got back into Racine just around lunchtime and swung through Qdoba on the way to the house. 1287 miles (we took a different route out of Lakeland - more highway miles, but it maybe saved us only 5 minutes) in 23 1/3 hours.
So that's the way this trip ended. But as I said before, this series is a trilogy. It will be continued in December 2010, when we return to Disney World for a week in a 2 bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom with an old friend and her son. Stay tuned, you're not going to want to miss this!
Thank you for reading along. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my trip and reading all of your comments. Hijack attempts and all.
So I can't think of a more fitting way to close my trip report than with someone's last words.
Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home! Home! And this is my room - and you're all here! And I'm not gonna leave here ever, ever again because I love you all! - And oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home.
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: 'With great power comes great responsibility.' This is my gift. My curse."
"Drink up me 'earties. Yo ho!"
Madison was disappointed that she was not able to meet Otto with her shirt on but it was a much cooler experience for us adults.
