9th Feb - Day 1

Well, that's the big day here at last .Not long up, just having a cuppa before I get ready . Getting picked up at 5.50 to go to the airport. All bags packed and ready for the off.

See you all at the airport !!

Happy 17th Birthday Andrew - hope you have a great day !!!

Arrived airport 6.15am , not the first there all in good spirit. Everyone checked in, through security, no problems, phew ! No one overweight lol.

Had a bit of time to kill before flight. All on board by 9.00am.

Think we caused a bit of confusion with the staff and other travellers as we had all our original seat numbers changed to be in one area.

Breakfast was good , fruit salad then ham , egg, potato cubes and what looked like spinach !

Flight attendants all very friendly . They even said happy birthday to Andrew and gave him chips (crisps) and chocolate. He certainly won’t forget his 17th birthday!!!.

Dave recommended a film for me to watch Ticket to Paradise with Julia Roberts and George Clooney, he said I would like it , yes he was right but I was a blubbering wreck for most of it, not the kind of film you want to watch in full view of everyone !!!!!

Good flight with a nice easy landing , got to Raleigh around 12, a bit of a faff going through security again for our connection as we had to pick up our case to get them on the next flight and it seemed to take ages.

Wondered at one point if the golf bags were all going to turn up ! Eventually managed to grab a quick coffee before boarding at 2.15.

All the young ones were filling their faces , gosh they can eat !

Quickish flight to Raleigh 1hr and a half .

Almost there! Cases and golf bags picked up ,now for the last part of the journey , Gareth, Steve and Stuart with all the juniors got the shuttle taxis to the hotel whilst Dave, Helen and Dave went to pick up the car from Hertz. Lovely brand new Chrysler 7 seater , still an hour and fifteen drive to hotel . Here's the laugh the guy in the Hertz place said additional drivers were free if they were the spouse and he looked over at Helen and me and he said which one of these lovely ladies is your wife to which Dave replied ''I am a mormon and they're both my wives''.

Dave will say anything to save money !!!!!

By the time we got to the hotel it was dark , all the boys and girls were checked in at the fabulous hotel , The Carolina . An amazing place to stay. Some of them managed to have a quick shower and freshen up before going to the PInehurst Brewery for dinner not for us though lol.

So, everyone to meet at 7.30pm to walk over to the brewery , most of us managed that , a few stragglers though . Eventually got over there , met up with Eric and Linda Carrier who have very kindly let us have their condo to stay in for 3 nights. It was great to meet up with Linda and congratulate her as she has just come back from Miami having completed 7 marathons in 7 days! What an achievement !!!

Place was heaving as they say back home ! Didn’t manage to get all 28 of us seated at once but in groups , food was excellent . A very long day having been on the go almost 24hrs. Everyone was shattered so after meal it was home to bed zzzzzzzzzzzzzz