Home

Sarah and I were up before 4:00 am and was able to each enjoy a big mug of perfectly strong coffee before the big trip. We had packed the van last night so only needed to pack food for the trip, load the kids and we pulled out at 4:50 am and arrived at Island Royale at 4:41 am.  It really is just 3 condos down from Diane and Mike's condo. I could see Bill and Bethany's bedroom light on when I walked into the condo but the rest of the condo was dark. I slipped out on the balcony to take one last picture.

The light is of the gas rig out in the Gulf. The white lines are the waves. When I turned around I noticed mom's light on so slipped inside to start helping Joan with the packing. What a big job. They were here for 3 solid weeks and somehow someway got it all in the van. The picture below is of the back seat and back area of the van.

The problem I could see was there is NO room for Mackenson and Berlica. Joan explained most of the stuff would go on the floor and the suitcases would be turned around so each would have about 12 inches to drive the 900 miles home. We asked Mackenson and Berlica if we could at least take their two suitcases. Berlica was happy about that Mackenson wasn't but once he emptied out what he thought he might need for the trip agreed. By the time Joan got back from inspection and locking up of the condo it was 6:00 am. When she saw the time mom asked, "why are we leaving at 6:00 am we were supposed to pull out at 5:30". We all had to laugh because in the past if mom set the departure time we left THEN. No dillydallying around. Not that we were but there was so much equipment and luggage to fit inside the van. I snapped the picture below as we were leaving Gulf Shores.

The sky was cotton candy colored pink and blue. We had to stop pretty quickly as the van needed gas but soon we were on that long drive home. The real first gas stop was near Athens Alabama at exit 322. Remember that if you are ever needing gas. Joan told us the stations there were 20 cents cheaper a gallon at that exit. We filled up then drove the rest of the way to Joan's apartments in Athens to meet some people and check over the apartments. Berlica showed us the dove she had picked up the day before and was bringing home.

Either the dove is very young or was injured as it just lay there when she picked it up. We stopped again for gas in Paducah, Kentucky that had a Subway so got sandwiches to eat for our supper. That was our last fill up. Joan thought she had enough to make it home but then decided to stop in Litchfield, IL to fill up the wheel chair van as they will be taking that to church tomorrow and she didn't want to start out with an empty tank. We decided to leave them there as my car had been left at Sarah's house. It wasn't until we were going up 155 that Sarah asked if she should have Nolan bring my car and meet at Hardees in Bartonville. Nolan WAS willing! What a wonderful gift that was. By this time it was almost 9:00 pm, we had been driving for 15 hours and were exhausted. I went first straight to Joan's house to drop off their luggage then over to mom's house to alert Karin that the van would be pulling up in a few minutes. Once mom was safe in the house Karin took over while Joan and Mackenson carried mom's recliner out of the van and into the living room, set that up and ready for her tomorrow. I brought in mom's luggage and helped some with emptying the van then Joan told me to go home. I was more than happy to leave, came home and crashed.  What a long drive.