Some of us grabbed a quick shower in the morning. We ate our last meal at Philmont in the mess hall and made a last stop at the trading post. The busses arrived and we loaded up the equipment and piled on. The movies on the bus made the return ride fly by. The crews had voted on pizza at the beginning of the trip for the lunch meal. Several scouts played waiter and brought the food up to the tables where we were sitting. It was a short hop to the airport, but it took what seemed like an hour to have the bags moved from the curb to the bagage checkin location upstairs. We were lucky to be in the middle of the group and with the bagage men working from each side, our bags were last to be checked in. Why were be lucky? Last in first out.
There were two advisers that almost didn't make it on the flight with us. This was strange considering the reservations were placed a year ahead of time. It was a good thing that the other crew ordered more peppers and onion pizza than they could eat. I helped them "lick the plate" finishing a total of 10 slices. (Even with my help, there were still several slices that went to waste.) The 10 slices helped to hold me through the minimal airline food so that I could make it until midnight.
We weren't sure if folks really wanted us back or not. There was no one, not even my own spouse, willing to drive to the airport to pick us up at that hour. They hired a station wagon and a van. This worked out fine. They met us at the airport and we were out of there almost as fast as the carry-on folks. (Remember the LIFO rule above.) It was a quick but quiet ride home to my house. The calls went out and everyone disappeared quickly.
[Curt don't read this section until you get a package from crew 1.] The crew was to stop by to sign a boogy board that we are sending our friend Curt. I'm sure he will find lots of uses for it in the midwest. As a boating person, I signed it and called it a "mini boat" like the mini bears of Philmont.
Today's quote a scout, who shall remain nameless, whose mother wanted to hug him in front of the other boys: "NO, YOU FREAK!"