May 24, 2017 Wednesday leaving Anchorage to Seattle to Charlotte to Nashville arriving home Thursday morning. Up early, too excited to sleep! We had specific chores to do to turn in the RV. We ate the rest of a few food items and headed off in light rain @ 48*. We had to fuel up gas and propane. We still arrived 1 hour before our check in time. The GAH business was just getting in swing with folks turning in their RVs from the Spring Adventure. Before long the place was busy with turn ins. We met a couple we had talked to our first day picking up the ref in Indiana who were in for some repairs on their unit before they headed out for another week. One couple told of being on the Turnagain Arm yesterday where the bore tide came in at about two feet and there were surfers on it! It was further down the road from where we were. We missed it. We had no issues with our turn in and were not too much over on miles, 4300+ miles. The shuttle driver took us to the airport. She is up from Florida for a seasonal job as is her husband. In winter they do seasonal jobs in Florida. We road on the bus with a couple from Connecticut. We were so early at the airport we could not check in. Evidently leaving Alaska means taking your dogs too. I had not seen this many before. We chatted with a very interesting couple whose little dog sat on my lap for a while. Our one remaining bag was a little over weight so we rearranged before check in. We had pre check again so we walked right through the empty security. The TSA agents were so friendly and helpful. The way we think they should be. That reminds me that a couple we talked to went through the same border in Alaska the day after we crossed that we did and commented on the border patrol agents lack of personality. Seems he scared one woman? Once inside security we had lunch at Humpy's, famous for a downtown location. It was just as good and did not seem any higher at the airport. Ed and I had Alaskan Crab Rolls, think lobster roll, but chopped finely. Huge portions. Susan had a grilled halibut dinner which fit her blander diet well. On the way to our gate the McDonalds had $.50 cones. Poor Susan watched as we ate ours. She did get a final t shirt. We waited with lots of folks, but the airport was not crowed in general. This airport is museum of animal specimens. Up stairs is a large display of native art. There are carvings in wood and bone, weaving, beading, doll making, leather goods. The use of skins and innards of animals was amazing. Truly a museum to enjoy while you wait. Our flight was full as usual. We are flying Alaska air that has free wifi, movies, entertainment, and power plugs for every seat if you get there app. The sign made it clear as soon as we sat down so we had time to download the app while we boarded. Ed watched most of a movie! The plane was more modern And a bit roomier under the seats for backpacks and purses. Seats were longer than some planes were Ed's knees touch. A very good experience. We arrive in Seattle near dark setting our watches ahead one hour. We had to take a train to our next terminal. The only place to eat near our gate was a bagel sandwich place. They were big and tasty but the staff had an attitude. Kind of soup nazi thing. Susan and I asked for mustard three or four times but got mayo. We were nearly ready to board again for our next full flight on American Air. What a difference! The seats are shorter with hardly enough room to squeeze our purses and backpacks under. They also have free movies but you have to download AA app. The signs were hidden in the brochures in the seat backs so we did not get it done before take off. Even though it uses the same app name as Alaska Air it would not let us use it on American. Since this is a late flight we are told the lights will be turned out. They weren't kidding. At takeoff they shut them off. We are accustomed to dimming but these were off. The only lights on the plane are the fasten seatbelt signs. When I later turned on my bright as the sun seat light a passenger asked me to turn it off. I was going to try to read to get sleepy, but will type instead. This flight is over four hours and crosses three time zones so we gain 7 hours in four. We were not offered a pillow or blanket? In the dark they rolled by the beverage cart with cold drinks and a cookie. I asked if there would be a wake up coffee break before we landed. He said it was not on the schedule. There again when we fly overnight we usually get a coffee with breakfast type bar to get us ready to deplane. I am very disappointed with American Air. Not nearly as good as Delta or Alaska Air this trip anyway! Susan is napping off and on. Ed is leaning? He naps at home with his head on his chest so maybe he is catching a little nap. Ed did have some luck getting a nap. The drink cups we got were never picked back up so he spilled that as he moved around to get comfortable. We did not get anything but an announcement we were landing. There was some turbulence the entire route. Arrival in Charlotte went smooth enough. We stopped at Burger King for a sandwich. If the bagel people in Seattle were bagel nazis this woman at BK was the commandant. She even raised her voice at me when I stepped over to get coffee creamers. It must be that I am over tired! Our plane is small and old with no electronic capabilities at all so Ed may never see the end of his movie. Again we have some turbulence so no drinks on out flight. Our clocks change back to central. The temperature is warmer. My bed is calling since I have not sleep. Frank said that there were Mexican squatters in our house while we were away. They are probably better housekeepers than I, so maybe home will look better to me than I thought. I may need a driver ed class it has been so long since I drove. Traveling as we have is different. It is not everyday routine. Reality will set in again! We have discussed doing this trip again, YES we have. We try always to go on different routes, in different RVs. We may not be capable of this trip again, but we have talked already. It is not a piece of cake, but Ed did an excellent job handling the rig. He may shoot our current gps. We could get a newer one! We could not have made it without a gps, but I love my paper maps. They are with me always as we travel. We enjoy some of the people we meet.....and enjoy the conversation about the ones we do not enjoy. This is a great big beautiful country even with so many trees, plowed empty fields and frozen waters. The ability to experience this is not something I take lightly. I have never gotten this blog delivered to my mailbox no matter what routes I tried. I see that my followers have dwindled, but this record if more for our history than anything else. I take notes throughout the day and by night I can't read some of them! This will probably be my swan song since this service will no longer be available. Arrived in Nashville at 8:30. We stopped by Kroger for a few essentials. Home was fine. I am Very tired may have mistakes in this entry.WEEEERRRE BAAACCCKK!
FINI!