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01 September, 2003 Our last day. We drove in to New York and encountered the usual signing problems. How come there are NO signs to Manhattan? We toured the Bronx serveral times, although we wouldn't have minded missing it altogether, before we eventually realised, no thanks to the road signs, that we were driving up Fifth Avenue, past Central Park and the big glitzy shops. As we'd been up the Empire State Building at night on our first trip to America, we wouldn't have minded doing it in daylight, but unfortunately the weather was pretty cloudy, so there wasn't much point. So we wandered down Fifth Avenue, asked the way from a policewoman in a vehicle similar to an English milk delivery cart then took a bus to the end of Manhattan Island to Ground Zero. We knew that there was very little to actually see at the site, but being there once again brought home the reality of what happened on September 11. As we stood there looking, and trying to imagine what it must have been like, the heavens opened and it RAINED on us for the first time in our visit. So, steaming gently, we retrieved the Jeep from its parking space and drove back through the streets of New York to Newark to bring our trip a full 3,000 mile circle. And for the first time in that 3,000 miles, we found our destination at the first attempt!! Another first was that we were actually several hours early for the flight, but that had a huge bonus in that the the check-in staff don't care HOW heavy the first bags onto the flight are - it's the heavy ones at the end they don't like! So although we'd had to buy a new suitcase during the trip, and a bag we'd brought as check-in went home as carry-on, we weren't penalised at all for the excessive weight. And believe me, with bags as heavy as ours were, THAT was good luck on a par with missing the New York Blackout by about 15 minutes!!! And so here we are again, with our fourth trip to America at an end, but once again we had made the most of our time and seen so much of the country and visited with some great friends. With plenty of souvenirs and photographs taken along the way we have plenty to remind us of our travels. Pity not all the holiday leftovers are as pleasant! Can't wait for the next trip.
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