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Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Back on Dry LandDec 29, 2008
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Morning came early. We didn’t expect to see the Ft. Lauderdale skyline when we peered through the curtains at 5:30 in the morning, but we were actually taking on the local pilot to begin docking. Of course, there was no hurry so we took showers and had breakfast. The port authority is in control when the ship pulls in and it takes some time to clear the ship through the immigration and customs procedures.
At exactly 7:15 a.m. they announced they were ready for the ‘expedited departures’….yeah, that’s us. We made our way to the gangway and we were off the ship and through customs within 10-15 minutes; this is the only way to go. We called for the Park & Fly shuttle and they got us to our Jeep. We paid our parking fee and we were on the road heading for the turnpike by 8 o’clock.
Joe calculated our total voyage at sea to be about 3,300 nautical miles (kts); this translates to about 3,800 statute miles, I think, if my math is close. Now, we had another 230 miles by Jeep to get us back to Tampa and home, sweet home.
The first order of business was fuel for the Jeep so we stopped at one of the service plazas on the turnpike and topped up. I went to Starbucks to get us some coffee and we were on our way.
Everything was in order when we got back to the motor home. I unpacked us, and started a load of laundry and then it was time to get Foxy paroled from doggy prison. Was she ever happy to see us!! They said she had been really good for them, even ate her food every day; but, she hung on to Joe like a second set of skin………she’s glad to be home. We are too! It was a fabulous cruise.
