Monday 10th May 2010

Today was our final full day on US soil. We depart tomorrow at 1426 hrs and New York State will be rid of us once and for all.

I know I speak for everyone when I say we have had a great time and the people we have met have been amazing.

Therefore it was no surprise this morning when Terry Donnlick (the wonderful host of Barbara, Tom and I) provided us with an amazingly large breakfast cooked by Olalla. It consisted of fruit salad, cheese omelette, sausage, bagel, home fries etc etc I have warned all of my family that they will see a new, bigger version of me on my return.

We have then headed out with the rest of the group to do a few last minute shopping errands.

The first place we headed to was the Best Buy Shop (of which we saw the warehouse earlier in the tour) and then we had a driving tour round Cornell University.

We saw the gorge along which the university campus runs and saw some absolutely fantastic views. Unfortunately there was an air of sadness, as you can see by the picture, there are large fences up on the bridges due to a number of tragic deaths that have happened recently.

From there we have gone to Wegmans (an absolutely massive grocery store-they have train sets running along the top of the sweet displays and a castle made of crisps).

We have travelled into the centre of Ithaca to explore the many interesting shops and public areas that they have there. We have all purchased a few last minute presents and have then (due to the hunger pangs that some of us were having) attended the Peking Restaurant at Cayuga Mall.

Here we have had a wonderful meal and feeling refreshed and very full (yet again) have then headed to the Six Mile Creek Vineyard.

Whilst at the vineyard we sampled many tasty wines, beautiful views and excellent gifts and we have then all returned to our respective hosts houses. Tonight is a relaxing evening for everyone (or as relaxing as it can be when you journey home is determined by a large cloud of volcanic ash and wind direction) and we will be spending some quality time with our hosts before leaving their kindness and heading to the airport tomorrow.