American History Road Trip 2016 - Home Time! Nashville-Atlanta-Heathrow ending with a shopping haul

[miss_mouse]

Trip Report Index

NYC - DC- Virginia - Tennessee - Kentucky - Indiana - Illinois

Day 14 – Monday & Tuesday - Homeward Bound

Just to start, I'm Lisa - the planner and reporter. Ade is my hubby and he's our driver and there's Hollie who is 16 and Louis is 14.


Home Time



It was our final day with Dad.

Our flight was this afternoon from Nashville which was 2.5hrs from Dad’s. We were flying Nashville to Atlanta and then Atlanta to Heathrow.
There are no direct flights anywhere near Dad unfortunately.

The alarm was set for 6.45am, but we were awake earlier.
I’d had really bad dreams.

It was only 1c outside but was so sunny and our room felt really warm.

We got up, made tea and showered and then woke the kids up.

I cleaned our bathroom, we did final checks and that was it.

The plan had been to visit Nashville for the day, but Janet really wasn’t feeling good and was full of cold, so she stayed home and Dad took us to the airport.
I felt so bad.

We left just after 9am.
We had 2 pieces of luggage weighing 23kg and 2 at 20k.

It was really sad leaving Evansville.
I’m so glad that we took this trip. We’ve been talking about bringing the kids for years.

Dad wanted to stop at McDonalds for breakie but I asked for Denny’s. We can have MaccyD’s at home anytime.



We went in and got seated.
It smelt of vom!
I don’t think Dad’s let me forget it still!
Both Louis and Dad kept moaning.



The local Sherriff’s were having their breakie too.



Dad making it very obvious that it was stinky here!





Bacon Everything!







Sociable lot!





The loos were ok and smelt better than the dining area.





Food came and was fine.
We’d all gone for a build your own.



Dad insisted on paying and we spotted his shirt twin in the queue.
I didn’t get the camera out fast enough but we found it highly hilarious.
Then this lady walked up to where we were stood and said ‘Have you already paid?’’.
To which Hollie Replied ’’Yes!’’.
But the lady was talking to Dad’s shirt twinnie.



Hollie wanted to disappear.
She was so giggly and embarrassed.



We got to the car (still giggling) and Louis rather than walking around to the other side of the car just climbed over everything and found that funny too!

We were still giggling when Ade found us.
He thought we were giggling as we’d done something to his bag.
Him and his bloody bags!



We were back on the road again.



Soon going through to Tennessee.



It’s funny now seeing that sign as we are waiting for flights to be released right now and we plan to start a roadtrip next year in Chattanooga.



Past Nashville.



The stadium.



The airport was really poorly signposted.



Checkin was easy and there were no queues.



We managed to find a Nashville mug,



We got some drinks and wasted a little time.
I hate this feeling.
We have this every year when we see Dad back.
That sicky heavy feeling in your chest.
A guy started to set up and play some very southern sounding music.
Welcome to Nashville.



Time to say goodbye.
The worst feeling!
I got really emotional. It’s really unlike me. I always hold it together. I didn’t even shed a tear when he moved over to the US. But I blubbed all the way through security.
We’d had such a lovely time with Dad. This felt like such a special trip.

There was a little queue, but it wasn’t too bad.



We got cozy and waited in the gateroom.

Dad messaged whilst we were there and had just 107 miles to go.
He was filling up with fuel.
Our plane was coming in a little late.

We’d originally had a tightest connection and then the flight times were changed a little which made it even tighter and I managed to get it changed, so we now had 2.5hrs between flights which felt good. It had at one point been 50 minutes.



The plane came in and was turned around in super fast time.
As soon as passengers were off we were boarding.
We had booked Comfort Plus so were first to board.



It was the first time that the kids were on a small plane and the first time doing a connecting flight. The configuration was 3-2.










The plane never went any higher. We just flew over all the broccoli.
It took just 40mins to Atlanta.



The comfort plus seats were good.

We flew over downtown Atlanta.
I looked out to see if we could see any walkers…



We could hear lots of stressed people behind us with short connections, so feeling very thankful as that could have been us. We stayed put and let everyone rush off.
That was a reason to start with that we booked Comfort Plus so we could be seated at the front of the plane knowing we had to rush off.
I’m so glad we were able to change flights.



The airport was well signposted.

We stood looking up at the signs working out which Terminal we needed and another passenger stopped and asked if we needed help. Wasn’t that nice? The second time that happened during this trip. I love kind people! He pointed us in the direction we needed to go to catch the terminal train.



We then got off and were able to help another passenger who was confused.
Nice to be able to pay the help forward.

The airport was really nice.

There were alot of food places to choose from.

We decided to eat at TGI’S.





Louis and I went for chicken fingers,



Super crispy but rather unseasoned and disappointing.


Hollie fancied something a little plain so went with a club sandwich.



And Ade had a cheeseburger.

It was ok, but the beer was the best and felt very needed.

It came to $73 and we left a tip.



We plonked ourselves down at the gate by the chargers.



We sat beneath the corn that looked rather happy to see us!

Ade was up and down the whole time. I think he was feeling a little anxious.

I was whatsapping with Dad who was home now.
He said that Patch was missing us.
He was really surprised that Patch had liked us as she attacks other people.
Janet’s daughter in law gets proper bombed and attacked, they can’t let patch out when she’s there.



As we were flying Comfort Plus again we were first to board after the Delta One passengers had boarded.

We were happy here. Plenty of room and the kids loved the in flight entertainment. Said it was better than Virgins.



The seats were nice leather seats and it felt quite roomy.
We had the last row in Comfort Plus which was nice as we could stay reclined the whole time as there was no one behind us.
The curtain was pulled across and it felt like a really cozy small compartment.
We thought it was worth the little extra that we’d paid.





And this was the last photos taken with this camera….I’ll tell more soon.

Cont ...

[miss_mouse]

Cont...

I can’t comment on the food as the kids and I choose not to eat as we were still full.

We did manage a little sleep.

We arrived at Heathrow and everything was straight forward.
The same taxi driver that we’d used on the way was waiting for us (Ade’s parent’s neighbour).

And we got home and unpacked.

The Haul….







New York seemed such a long time ago now.











Then whilst clearing away and getting organized I suddenly couldn’t find my camera.
I had that sick panicked feeling.

It wasn’t anywhere and suddenly I realized that it was in the seat back of the plane.
I always thoroughly check everything. I’m so good and I get the others to checks their seatbacks too. Why had I not checked mine today?
I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.
So unlike me.
I think the whole emotions of leaving Dad and loosing my camera just came out.
I love that camera and use it every day.
Everything was backed up until the morning we left, it's just the camera itself I love!

I started calling the airport and you just can’t speak to anyone from the airline there anymore. I had to do the standard thing of filling out a form and if it’s found they’ll contact me.
Ade took over and started calling the airport lost and found departments.
Somehow he managed to speak to someone from Delta by getting put through by someone else. He had my camera. We knew it was mine as it’s covered in white painty fingers. I paint a lot!
He was there for another 45 mins.
We left the kids and got back in the car to Heathrow.
Thankfully it was only Terminal 4.
I used to work at Heathrow and early hours of the morning the best timing I ever did was 23mins to the staff carpark.
Naturally there was heavy traffic.
The satnav did it’s best taking us a scenic route.
I called the guy back to let him know we weren’t far off.

We pulled up at T4 10 mins after he finished his shift.
I ran in and he was there with my camera. He had waited for me
I was so thankful and so relieved.



Yay!

So that’s my happy ending to an amazing trip.
And the moral of the story…..always check your seats before leaving the aircraft!

Thank you for sticking with me.
I’m so pleased that I’ve managed to get to the end before our next trip.

This was the most amazing trip ever. I'm so glad that we did this and so pleased that we've experienced this with the kids.
They've bonded even more with Dad!
We are now planning a road trip starting in the Tennessee Mountains next year and working our way down to Florida. Dad and Janet should be joining us for the first few days in Chattanooga.
We just want to see more of the USA.

Better get cracking with my Pre Trippie now...only 13 days to go!

[i love jack]

Aah what a great trip, I've really enjoyed reading it, sounds like you had a great time with your dad and that shopping haul is pretty awesome!
Look forward to the next one!

[Mamie Baldwin]

Oh how I've loved this Trippie. You write with such passion and your happiness at being with your family shines through. I felt a wee tear coming when I read about you leaving Dad at the airport! I can't wait to hear about your next trip. Happy planning.

Pam

[Melbatb]

Thanks for sharing a very memorable trip!

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by i love jack

Aah what a great trip, I've really enjoyed reading it, sounds like you had a great time with your dad and that shopping haul is pretty awesome!
Look forward to the next one!

See more...

Thank you so much.
Yes it was a pretty special trip.

Thank you for reading along

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by Mamie Baldwin

Oh how I've loved this Trippie. You write with such passion and your happiness at being with your family shines through. I felt a wee tear coming when I read about you leaving Dad at the airport! I can't wait to hear about your next trip. Happy planning.

Pam

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Thank you Pam, that's so lovely of you to say so.
I've loved reliving these memories and I'm so pleased that I've journaled along the way for these past few trips. I just wish I'd known of the Dibb when we first started our trips so I'd documented them when the kids were little. They are so nice to look back on.

Thank you for reading along.
Take Care x

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by Melbatb

Thanks for sharing a very memorable trip!

See more...

Hi

Thank you so much for reading!

[Guest]

So glad you got your camera back. Always have go double if not triple check the seat pockets!

Amazing haul you have there. Have a fab time in Orlando

[miss_mouse]

Originally Posted by orlandolover04

So glad you got your camera back. Always have go double if not triple check the seat pockets!

Amazing haul you have there. Have a fab time in Orlando

See more...

Thank you so much.
I know, I usually do too. I was so surprised at myself.

Looks like you will be out there the same time as us.
Have a great time