Thanksgiving Trip - Day 4

[Checked out of the Broadmoor around 1000L - stopped at Garden of the Gods Visitor Center one more time for souvenirs (1130L) - drove to Pike's Peak and went to the top - bought some snacks (1315L) - cell phone call to Dad, bursting soda cans... - picked up some great souvenirs at The Summit House at Pikes Peak (1405L) - after we got back to the bottom of the mountain, we drove up to Florissant Fossil Beds and learned a lot during an interesting visit. After that (1630L), we continued north to the Denver area and checked into our Residence Inn in Westminster. Visited Joy and Ken for a late dinner (cookout)]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 3

[visited Air Force Academy and Garden of the Gods with Breton and her grandmother]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 2

[visiting with family in the morning - took our kids (along with Megan and Erin) to the "North Pole Santa's Workshop", a Christmas-themed amusement park in Cascade, Colorado - we had a great time on the rides and got to see Santa - stayed until dark and picked up some good souvenirs on the way out (1710L) - by the time we got back to the Broadmoor, it was dinner time - we first tried to meet the large group at a restaurant in Colorado Springs but the wait would have been over two hours - instead, ended up taking all the kids (and Ellen) to eat at California Pizza Kitchen - everyone had a great time]

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 1

[drove to the Hartsfield airport around 0500L for our flight from Atlanta to Denver - it turned out to a only a partially filled flight (with room for the kids to spread out!) - we arrived in Colorado before (0800L) and picked up rental car (Hertz) - after getting our bearings (and breakfast ?), we began our drive down to Colorado Springs - it took nearly two hours to get there - we still arrived at the Broadmoor Hotel with plenty of time to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner - we had a great time visiting with the family!]

Atlanta, GA (USA)

[Atlanta Falcons - Tennessee Titans game at Georgia Dome with Chip - rode on MARTA]

Key West, FL (USA)

[date uncertain (could be 21st) - Wing Conference Pickup - lots of guest pilots - flew from Atlanta to Key West, then to New Orleans (long landing by guest pilot), then to Millington, then back home]

Marietta, GA (USA)

[FCF flight with Jamie]

Minot, ND (USA)

[date uncertain (could be 16th) - flight with Mike M. - Atlanta to Minot to Colorado Springs and back to Atlanta]

Whidbey Island, WA (USA)

[left Great Falls just after midnight - arrived in Whidbey Island around 0200L - stayed near the airplane (CBQ) - went to sleep and woke up just before noon - checked out of my room at 1140L - flew home to arrive in Atlanta just before 2300L]

Great Falls, MT (USA)

[route check with Ray - flew to Norfolk - had to stop twice - Madison (?), Wisconsin and Great Falls, Montana at midnight]

Disney Halloween Trip - Day 7

Checked out of our rental home again and left for Atlanta (0900). A good drive all the way - good way to finish the vacation. And I didn't forget my laptop again, either...

Disney Halloween Trip - Day 6

We went over to Disney World one more time today - we had one day left on our pass. On the way out of the park, I told everyone to get their hands stamped (not for any particular reason, but it worked out later). Got gas in Kissimmee before leaving the Orlando area. Got on the highway, headed back towards Atlanta around 1400L. Suddenly (around 100 miles later), I had one of those "Oh No!" moments - I realized that I had left my laptop in the rental house! The panic wore off quickly, though, when I realized I could probably extend my leave. After calling work - and getting an extra day off - we turned the car around to retrieve the computer. Fortunately, the rental place hadn't been cleaned yet (since we actually had one more night in the place that we hadn't planned to use) and the key worked to back in... After putting my hands on the laptop (whew!), we headed back to the Disney Resort. We spent a few more hours over at the Magic Kingdom. Everyone was very happy to have the chance - an unexpected bonus!

Disney Halloween Trip - Day 5

Spent a few hours with Dad and Beth before they had to leave to catch their flight. Afterwards, we headed over for another day at Disney World! We bought some princess gear for the kids at "Sir Mickey's" (1340), "Tinker Bell's Treasures" (1350) and "The King's Gallery" (1400). Ended up at Epcot, much later, where I enjoyed HUGE beers at the Germany Biergarten. We also got some food at the Electric Umbrella (1905).  The kids had fun doing the Chicken Dance and we stayed a long time (left at 2130).  [Did we stay to watch the light show?]

Disney Halloween Trip - Day 4

Enjoyed another day at Disney - this time at the kids' favorite part of the Resort: Animal Kingdom! Dad and Beth seemed to be enjoying themselves. Ate lunch at Restaurantosaurus. After getting our fill of the rides and seeing lots of animals, we went back to the Magic Kingdom for one more evening of fun with the Grandparents...