As it turned out, Peter never saw Baba again.
Preparations to leave the Center were made, and on Monday morning, 30 July 1956, Baba came to meet everyone in the group traveling with him. A few additions to the group — Enid Corfe, Anne Ginsberg and Christine Wise — were to travel with them to California. Baba instructed Harold Rudd to return home with his expectant wife.
Although Carrie Ben Shammai was longing to go with Baba, he instructed her to return to Israel and do his work there. Carrie recalled: "Just having found my Master, in physical body too, after unending periods of seeking, how could I leave him so soon again?"
Baba kissed her on the forehead and assured her, "It was sufficient for you to have come to New York and Myrtle Beach this time."
Those not going to Washington, D.C. with Baba embraced him for the last time. Baba also paid a final visit to his dear Nurjehan — Norina. They gazed at each other silently before the Master enfolded his disciple in a last embrace. Baba took from his pocket a fine lawn handkerchief, folded it and pressed it to his heart.
He tucked it into her pocket saying, "Keep this under your pillow every night. I am with you always."
Baba left the Center around 10:00 A.M. The last face he saw was Norina's, standing at the screen door waving goodbye. It would be the last time she would ever see Baba.
The car driving Baba and the mandali drove ahead to Wilmington, North Carolina, followed by those accompanying him in buses. At the airport, Baba sat on a wooden bench and had a small bowl of food provided by Kitty. Those leaving for New York came to bid him farewell; some were moved to tears at the impending separation. No one was to ask questions. Baba got up and walked among his lovers, joking with some and patting others. He embraced Carrie Ben Shammai again. Fred Winterfeldt put on a striped tam (Scottish woolen cap) plus Bili Eaton's feather hat to amuse Baba. Baba came and stood beside him and Ben Hayman and told those with cameras to take their picture.
The group flew from Wilmington at 1:10 P.M., on National Flight 320. Baba was to stop for the day in Washington, D.C., en route to California. On board, Eruch brushed out Baba's hair and retied it in a pigtail. Afterwards, Baba told him to give the stray hairs from the brush to Ruth White, sitting across the aisle.