The alarm woke me up at 4:45am. I got around and got the crew up before 5am. The crew moved well this morning. The tents were emptied and the vans were loaded before breakfast.

Homebound continental breakfast began at 5:45am. Everyone was on time and we were done eating and finishing evaluations by 6:15am. We did our final check out at the Welcome Center, met up for final words, and got on the road at 6:35am. Everyone made a point of looking back at the arrowhead formation on the back of Tooth Ridge – tradition states that those looking back on the ridge when leaving will return to Philmont someday.

A stop at I-25 to fill up Johnny and Elmer J got us to Logan, NM. At Logan, we stopped for gas and restrooms. From there we pushed on to Amarillo, arriving at the Golden Corral for lunch at 12:45pm central time. Our decision on lunch destination was much better this year (Big Texan in 2002 was a fiasco). The food was good and plentiful, and everyone finished eating in just over an hour. We stopped again at a new, very fancy rest stop near Memphis, and again in Childress for more gas. A final stop in Wichita Falls for restrooms got us back into Arlington.

We arrived in Arlington at 7:40pm, stopped to fill up all of the vehicles one last time, and drove into the church parking lot before 8pm. Pam, Chelsea, and Sarah (now all dolled up and causing many stares from the guys used to seeing her trail dirty) were there waiting for our arrival. Needless to say, Pamela’s hug was good and long.

We took a final group photo, passed out physicals, photos, and annual patches, then unloaded the trailers, all the while talking with family that was there for our arrival. I talked a bit and drove home at 8:30pm.

(journal of Shane Hoffman)