hotel
Welcome-Back Breakfast
At the second Waldorf breakfast, the staff saved the same table, remembered drink orders, joked around, and surprised everyone with anniversary and birthday photo gifts.
June 27
The Long Way Home
The return chapter starts with taxi logistics, station bentos, fruit mochi, a Suica reload trap, a missed Skyliner, Siri choosing violence on the train, Sarah's Kindle entering Japanese battery-law custody, and America immediately being America.
Taxi to the bullet train station, bento boxes and fruit mochi for the ride, Shinkansen back toward Tokyo, Suica chaos, missed Skyliner, airport terminal split, the flight home, Caitlin's expired Global Entry, and one yelling TSA agent in Colorado.
Wrap-up and return.
Chapter Moments
funny
The Kindle Stayed Behind
Sarah left her Kindle in the Waldorf room, and the hotel could not ship it internationally because of the battery. Turns out Zach was right: now she doesn't have one.
funny
Siri Finally Answered
Sarah spent the trip fighting Siri while Ashley got perfect answers. On the train, Siri finally responded at full volume, choosing the least subtle possible moment.
transit
Final Boss Train Transfer
The last airport run chose JY plus Skyliner over Limited Express, then added Suica reload weirdness, a gate issue, a missed train, separate tickets, pending charges, and leftover balance as the reason to return.
transit
Welcome Back To America
The trip ended back in Colorado with Caitlin getting bounced from Global Entry because it had expired and a TSA agent yelling at people at full volume.