Lady H and I didn’t have to wait long for one last shuttle ride. There were 2 shuttles for our route this time. Why is it, this last ride is always the longest? Nothing major to report on this shuttle ride, but we did have to carry on a tradition that was started on this bus. Well not so much of a tradition but a nice gesture. The passing of the shuttle passes. The passes that were passed on to us, were still good for a few more days. We found a couple on vacation with their children. Since childs passes are much cheaper than adults, we struck up a conversation with them. We asked them if they just started vacation, which they had and then offered them the passes. We told them there were probably only a couple of days left, but this would help them out a little. They accepted them and thanked us whole heartedly just as we did with the lady who gave them to us.
Soon we arrive at our shuttle stop one last time. It was a quiet walk back to the resort. Not because we were tired, but because we knew this was it. The dreaded time when you know vacation is officially coming to an end. Lady H and I got back to the resort and continued packing. We had packed a little on our non-park day, but now we really needed to pack. Our flight leaves at 1:55 pm. Which means we have to be at the airport by at least 11:55 am. Which means we have to leave our resort no later than 10:55 am. If traffic is still as bad going to the airport as it was coming from the airport, then we may want to leave sooner than 10:55 am. Which means we have to be up early once again. We leave out only the stuff we need for the morning. Everything else is now packed and ready to go.
Now to honor the tradition we did start when we got here, sit out on the balcony and have some beers. Being there are only 4 beers left (3 for me and 1 for her), we made quick disposal of those beers. No more beer, no more park bottles, I guess we’ll take a nap now.
Well it seemed like only a nap anyways. The alarm goes off at 7. Morning seem to come around pretty quick. It must have been hiding around the corner.
We go through our usual morning routine. Please don’t make me repeat it. Lady H and I finish packing our remaining stuff. I start taking everything down and loading the car, making several more trips up and down the stairs. Once the car is loaded, we drive towards the front desk and proceed to check-out. Tricky Larry is already busy working on his next victims. It sounds like he has them hooked. We don’t stick around to see the outcome.
I program the rental car company’s address into Dru and we’re on the road again. As we drive along, Dru takes us a different route this time. One that doesn’t have tons of construction going on. Good thing I didn’t throw Dru out the window after all. We’re making it back to LAX in no time here. I tell Lady H “How come she didn’t take us this route the first time?” Lady H just shrugged her shoulders and laughed. Along the way we also passed Knott’s Berry Farm. Looks interesting. One of these days we may have to give it try.
We make it to Los Angeles in about 40 minutes. I’ll have to try and remember this route for next time. Dru is getting us close to Thrifty now.
Remember when we didn’t have any help finding a car? We felt like ex-prisoners being thrown back into society. We were given walking papers and forced to fend for ourselves. Not having help with this process is about to leave us in not such a good mood.
Anyone that has rented a car knows they have 2 options when it comes to gas for the car. You can prepay for a tank of gas, meaning you don’t worry about finding a gas station when you return the car. Or you can fill it up before you return it. I have always chosen to fill it up when I return it. Mainly for the reason being I found it saves you a few bucks. They charge you a certain price per gallon (which they claim is usually the average price), per the size of the gas tank in the car. If you only use half the tank, you still pay for a full tank. Most of the gas stations close by usually charge about 10¢ more per gallon than those not close to the rental car companies.
Anyways when we picked up the car, I opted to fill up the tank before returning it. We found a station about 2 blocks away from the company. I filled up the tank and proceeded to return the car. The person that checked us in comes over, zaps the tag on the car and asks for a gas receipt. I tell him “I’m sorry but I don’t have a gas receipt. I wasn’t told I needed one.” He sounds surprised by comment, "You don't have a receipt?" What part of "I wasn't told I needed one" didn't he understand. I tell him once more "NO. Again, I wasn't told I needed one. Would you like me to bring the transaction up on my phone?" He just shakes his head no, prints out my receipt and we proceed to the shuttle that will take us back to the airport. At first I didn’t think anything of it, but as we were on our way to the airport, I decided to look at the rental car receipt.
That
. He charged me for the gas anyways. Not much I can do about it now. I’ll write a complaint to the main office when I get home. The reason this really ticked us off was because on the day we picked up the car, there were at least 2 employees we came in contact with that could've informed us about this. Neither one did. And even more, when I offered to bring up the transaction on my phone and show it to the person checking us in and he said no.
Back on the shuttle to the airport, we soon we get to checkpoint Charlie at LAX. I mean we literally get to a checkpoint.
“¿Que Paso Vato?”
Ok, I didn’t really say that. I’m sure I would’ve been dragged off the shuttle and detained against my own free will. Even if I willed it, I would still be detained. Being on the shuttle we were allowed a free get out jail card. Our driver was just waived on through. Anyone in a car wasn’t so lucky. They had to stop, be strip searched, tires taken off the cars, trunks inspected and then submitted to a full body scan.
We’re dropped off at the same place we got picked up. Lightning McQueen is still in the same spot. We proceed to check in our bags and prepare to go through yet another check-point. We both passed through with flying colors. Since we made it back faster than what we thought we would, we have some time to eat. We spot California Pizza Kitchen. This is one of our favorite places to eat. We had planned on eating at the one close to where we were staying. We just never got a chance to make it. This must be density.
We proceed towards CPK. One word of advice here if you happen to be in this part of the airport. When going towards CPK there are escalators to the left, right before you get to CPK. DO NOT go down the escalator for any reason. If you do, you’ll have to do the security check-point all over again. No, I didn’t find out the hard way. There’s a TSA agent standing by the escalator making sure no one is trying to run up the escalator. You know what all of us tried to do as kids. Come on everyone, you know you tried this at least once as a kid. I bet some adults have even tried it.
Now, back at CPK we each place our orders. We get our drink cups, fill them up at the drink station, go find a place to sit and wait for our number to be called. Said it would be about 5-10 minutes. They were pretty accurate with the time. Our number is called and I go to the counter to get our order. I take it back to the table and both pizzas are the same. I added some extra toppings to mine and I didn’t get them. I take mine back to the counter so they can fix it. I show them my receipt, show them the pizza and they proceed to fix it. Said give them 5-10 minutes to make me a new one. 10 minutes passes, no pizza. Another 5-10 minutes passes by and still no pizza. I go back up to the counter and try to get someone’s attention. I finally get noticed and I get the usual apology, we’re having a problem blah blah blah problem and it will be a few more minutes. Another 5-10 minutes passes by and I finally get my pizza.
Regardless of these 2 instances, the rest of the day would be smooth sailing. Or smooth flying I should say. When we took off, I didn’t think we were going home. When flights take-off from LAX, they head out towards the ocean. When this happened, I thought “Cool, we’re headed to Hawaii. I don’t have any money left, a room or clothes; but I can pretend I’m a castaway and sleep on the beach. Who cares I’ll be in Hawaii.”
I tell Lady H we’re flying over the ocean.
Now’s a good time to pay attention to the safety procedures the flight attendants point out to you. Put your oxygen mask on first. Forget about the kids until you have yours on, then pick to save the one with the most potential. Don’t worry if granny is struggling she’s already lived a full life, and on and on. I think the most important one to pay attention to here is about the flotation device under the seat.
Soon we’re really far out over the ocean.
Maybe we really are going to Hawaii. Or not. The pilots make a left turn and we’re now flying up the coastline.
Downtown Los Angeles
“They’re making another left turn.” We now start heading back towards the mainland. Shoot. I guess we’re not going to Hawaii after all.
At least not this year. We will be sometime in 2014.
I continue to take pictures and soon I realize where we are at. I had to go back and find this specific post, but our good friend Ponzi couldn’t be further from the truth when he posted this. I wanted to comment earlier on this, but waited for this moment.
If you turn around to see where you came in as you entered, it's to your left and if you turn around for one last look at the castle before you leave it's to your right. If you're Nebo and you've had a few too many Sunny Ds, it's somewhere over your head as you lay prone on the pavement. After you leave Disney and fly back to your homes, it's below you.
Ponzi really hit the nail with his head on this one. If you recall one more time, I was talking about the DL Opera House. What I described as a mini
Disneyland museum. Yup, it is now right below us in case you haven’t figured out what I’m looking. I'm sure you all did though.
I cropped the photo to bring it in a little closer and pointed out a few things that really stand out.
This would be my final glimpse of DLR for this vacation, but hopefully it won’t be the last time we ever see it. I wave one last goodbye, turn on my ipod and take a nap. Soon we would arrive back in Albuquerque, as would all our luggage. We call our Chauffeur (aka D’MIL). She picks us up and Miss Daisy moves to the back seat. Some how I’m stuck driving again. We stop to eat some New Mexican style cuisine at one of our favorite restaurants and head on home; where Lady H and I would anxiously wait for our return trip to WDW within the next 3 months. What can I say, one can never get enough Disney.
“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
Well my friends and fellow Dis’ers, this concludes our adventure of Thumping Our Way Through Disneyland. We are happy to say we will be returning to DLR this year and can’t wait. We have a few Dis meets in the works, but always welcome more. We hope you have all enjoyed this TR as much as we have enjoyed telling it. We’ll post one final chapter for some final thoughts and words. Post the remaining links to our pictures and comment on any comments. Please stick around with us just a while longer before we pull the plug.
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Anyway I've been informed that you can only get the Hatch chili from Hatch, NM and we only get them here once a year. I bought some things but I missed the roasted peppers. Might have to pick some up tomorrow - don't know how to roast them myself. Are you familiar with these? Are they hot? I couldn't tell because the sauce and sausage I tasted today had Jalapenos in them.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. 
Who knows how long it would take us to write that report though. 
