Debarkation & Return Home

            Thursday, 31 Oct 2019 – This morning, we said goodbye to Jesse Jr. and family, who were in the cabin next to ours.  As required, we vacated our cabin by 8:00 AM and went to the Lido Café for breakfast, with our carryon bags and laptop cases in tow.  We managed to say goodbye to most of our family before they left.  Although the disembarkation times were on a first-come, first-serve basis, we were unaware of this fact.  Therefore, by the time we picked up our luggage tags, only the latest departures were available.  We stayed in the Café until our disembarkation number was called at about 9:15 AM.  At that time, we disembarked the ship, picked up the rest of our luggage, and stood in a long line to show our passports to immigration before leaving the building.  By then, it was about 10:00 AM.  Sally waited at the curb with our luggage, while Jesse walked two blocks to the parking garage to pick up our vehicle.  After loading our luggage, we set our GPS for home and followed its direction out of the city.  

We stopped in Wildwood, FL, for gas and cappuccino fairly soon.  By then, since it was about 90 degrees; we found cooler clothes in our suitcases and changed in the restroom.  Later, we stopped again in Atlanta for more gas and cappuccino.  Before long, it started raining pretty hard and the temperature dropped drastically.  By about 7:30 PM, we stopped in Kinggold, GA, where we purchased burgers and milkshakes from Burger King; then we stopped at a Circle K for eggnog (for later), and bananas and milk to eat with the granola cereal that we had brought along for breakfast.  We then tried booking a motel in Nashville online; however, everywhere we checked was already full.  Luckily, we managed to check into a motel there in Kinggold, GA.  Since it was Halloween, several trick-or-treaters stopped by the motel for goodies while Jesse checked us in.  We were in our room by 8:10 PM.

            Friday, 1 Nov 2019 – After enjoying a tasty, complimentary breakfast in Kinggold, GA, we checked out of the motel at 9:50 AM.  The weather was clear, but rather cold.  Since we had changed back into warmer clothes, we were comfortable.  In Paducah, KY we stopped for cappuccino and gas, and then drove the rest of the way home, arriving at about 8:30 PM.

Home again!  It was great fun to cruise with friends and family!