Back home

We were awake early tuesday morning and left in New Iberia at 7:45 am to drive the approximately 250 mi (400 km) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport at Houston. It’s become warmer and more humid again, a little overcast, temps rising from about 60 to 80 deg. F (27 C) at the Texas border and dropping again to 60 towards the airport. Truck traffic became heavy when approaching Houston and, in addition, it began to rain hard for an hour or so. Nevertheless, we made it in good time - four hours -, with one short pit stop, to the airport, returned our car and unterwent the usual procedure. Had to repack things in our luggage at the check-in counter, since we had a couple of extra pounds in the suitcase (54 instead of 50) and employees were in an accurate mood today. Eventually, we made it with 50 and 48 pounds, plus a fortunately not counting couple of pounds in the „hand luggage“. No lines and no waiting time, and, thanks to free WiFi, time until boarding at 4 pm past fast.

Our rental car - a Nissan Rogue - was the perfect car, right size (Midsize SUV), good gas mileage (29 mpg) and comfortable. At the end we had driven 2686 mi. (4322 km) in total. Considering that the distance from Houston to MUC is approximately 5800 mi. (9330 km) this is a considerable distance for not quite three weeks.

The weather was gorgeous everywhere from Texas through OK and KS to Louisiana, especially considering the time of the year. We wore our warm jackets only once in the Flint Hills and the only rain we got was on the way to the airport.

The plane, a B767-400 as usual, was only about half full, but each row taken by at least one person. Smooth flight, „chicken“ or „pasta“ – glad we still had Frank's satsumas –, no sleep. Had departed about 20 min. late and arrived half an hour early, at 9:20 local time on wednesday. Quick trip back home, arrived at 11:15 am.