After finishing packing, Joan and I drove up to Brevard over US 276, arriving just before 10:00.  Elise and Laura were already there as we pulled in.  Mario joined us a moment later.  We packed our gear into the van and then said good-bye to waiting loved ones and friends and drove up to W. Main St. to pick up Anne, Bob, and Drew.  Once we were all settled, we headed to Atlanta via US 64W to NC 281.  Almost immediately, we hit heavy rain, which lasted until we got to South Carolina.  The rest of the drive was easy in a light drizzle.  We stopped for lunch at Wendy’s in Lavonia, GA. 

We parked the van in long-term parking and went to the Delta check-in.  The Faulkner arrived a few minutes after we did, escorted by his parents.  Soon after we boarded, Dave got on.  He was supposed to leave a day earlier but his flight was cancelled due to weather.  We took off a few minutes behind schedule.  I watched a sappy Jennifer Lopez movie, “Maid in Manhattan,” and eventually fell asleep.