On every tour you need a slow day - and today was that one. Scott Minogue and I checked that it was open (with me hitting the deck on the ice in the carpark) and worked out a safe way for us to all walk over the road to get there. Those who were keen (about two thirds of the group) braved the slippery (and I mean slippery!!) walk down and across the road to enjoy one of America's special places for breakfast - IHOP (International House of Pancakes) - where, for $5 you can get two eggs, bacon, sausage, has brown and all the pancakes you can eat!! Mullie took the honours with 8, followed closely by Scott Stanford and myself with 5!
We left the hotel at about 11am bound for Concord Mills, the big outlet shopping center, and arrived to find many shops not yet open, and some never to open, due to the weather. There were very few people out shopping, especially up to about 2pm, so we all enjoyed an uninterrupted shopping spree. It took Karen and me over 3 hours just to walk right around past all the shops!! Many on the tour got some great bargains (I hope you enjoy the presents they bought you all!) and it took until about 4.30pm before we started to gather ready to head back to the hotel.
By 5pm the center was closed - early due to the weather (usual opening hours are 10am to 9pm) - but we had had plenty of time as at times it seemed as if we were the only people there.
Back at the hotel we asked the boys to take of their labels, get rid of the boxes, and pack their bags ready for the early departure tomorrow morning. We packed the luggage van tonight, as we need to drive out of here around 6am tomorrow, bound for Charlotte Airport en-route to Los Angeles.
Had some fun trying to find somewhere open for dinner at 7.30pm - it seems they are not really prepared for the snow and ice here in Charlotte and many people did not brave the roads getting to work. We finally found a fantastic restaurant called 'Cheddars' and had a wonderful meal - quite fitting as our last sit down meal together in the USA.
It is timely to talk about three of the 'heroes' of our staff team tonight - I can't tell you how much patience and understanding they have shown throughout the trip and how much work, much behind the scenes, which has made things run so smoothly. My first thanks go to Lynne Cronan, one of our 'mums' who has been our go-to person for boys not feeling well - she has been superwoman to many of them, handing out cough mixture and treating sore throats - thanks so much Lynne.
Secondly, thanks to Scott Minogue, our accommodation manager. He has been the person checking us all in and out, handing out keys, fixing the problems which occur sometimes with boys not getting organised to share their rooms, and then checking their rooms at the end of each stay (helped by Lynne and Robyn) - thanks for taking this weight off my shoulders Scott - you've been magnificent.
Lastly to my wife Karen who has looked after all our financial dealings, keeping receipts and chasing up who I gave money to and why. She's also been the one to clean up when one of the boys was sick, and been an incredible support - thanks so much Karen.
So off we head in the morning to LA for our next installment.
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