Dallas, TX and Home

We awoke in Texas for the first time in our lives. Sorry folks... it was nothing special compared to the views of the last 18 days!

View from our hotel in Dallas.

We grabbed some coffee from the Starbucks downstairs as we got ready to head back to the airport. We decided to go early in an effort to get our Vancouver - Victoria boarding passes in advance as you have to physically see an AC agent here.

On the bus back to the "D" gates Kelly commented that its been 24 hours since our last search for our bags:-) We have not seen them since checking in San Juan but expect them in Victoria...  At least that is what we were told. Fingers  crossed.

At the airport in Dallas we took the sky link train from the D gates over to the E gates and the Air Canada counter. Sadly no one was there so back we went to the D gates for some breakfast. "Look an Irish Pub! Perfect! " ......Kelly reminded me that it was 9:30 a.m. :-(. I quickly converted to ship time but that was only 11:30... darn ...Ok it's a bit early so we just had breakfast.

Loaded up the plane and we were on our way just a few minutes late. Arrived in Vancouver with plenty of time to clear customs and head to my home turf, the commuter gates for our trip to Victoria.... well that was the plan. As our bags were in the system somewhere we had to have some paperwork filled out before we could leave the baggage area without our bags. This took about 20 minutes and sadly, caused us to miss our 2 o'clock flight to Victoria Arghhh Ok no big deal until we found out that the next two flights were already full ;-(

We went for a bite and a cool down beverage and then went down to the gate just in case.... low and behold we got the last two seats on the 3 o'clock flight. The familiar sight of the gulf islands was our welcome back to the place we live and enjoy life & family, although a bit cool and drizzly right now.

Once on the ground we headed to customs to get our bags.... not there.... off to Horizon... not there either... finally off to Jazz and they tracked the bags to Seattle! Whew! They will be sent up tonight and delivered to the house. I don't have to lift Kelly's bag!!

Grabbed the Mazda 3 and drove home. In the door at 4:30 only 16 hours late.  I am positive the Brits beat us home to England! As Kelly said on the first day of the blog "it's a wrap" on our 2013 Cruise. Wow!

We met so many great folks both on and off the ship and have many memories to share with friends & family back home. 

The Cruise Critic gang made us feel right at ease from the first Sky Bar social until the last one. It was certainly a benefit to  have these "friends" along for the cruise(s) and to just bump  into them from time to time. Our Dinner table crew made the trip even more enjoyable as we relived the days events every night for each other.  We just hit it off....  or it could have just been the Jim Bean? :-)  I believe we still need to finish that golf game one day! I was in the lead before the "course official" removed us... Just sayin :-)

I will be posting links to the other pictures we took as well as links to other cruisers pictures. I believe Dan said he had taken over 5000! 

South Africa is next on our travel list in August. Till next time, safe travels everyone!

Epilogue: Our bags were delivered directly to the house at 9 p.m. and all of Kelly's shopping is safe and sound! :-) I can now rest easy.... until the next trip!