Some observations:
- It’s a beautiful country, but some parts are more beautiful than others. Pennsylvania’s at the top of the list with its hills, mountains and immense stands of trees. If any of the driving could be said to have been “fun” it was there in my home state.
- Ohio is flat and boring, at least from the driver’s seat of a speeding car.
- But Toledo, Ohio, was a great stop, thanks to my favorite little prince, TMcD, and his wonderful wife Liz. It would only have been better if their son Dan had been there.
- Notre Dame has one of the truly great campuses in the country. Unlike Yale, with lots of city streets bisecting it, ND is a place onto itself. Rarely do students have to play dodge car.
- Much of the time in the car I had my iTunes playlist 4E Essentials on shuffle play. Although I had chosen each of the tracks or albums for that list, I never knew what was coming next. It was great fun to go from the Beatles to Crosby, Stills & Nash to Love to Sugarloaf (come on, you remember their hit) to Led Zeppelin. When I needed a little rest I listened to Dvorak and Beethoven via Spotify. The oddest coupling of the trip was the long version of Sugar, Sugar (that is one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time, right?) followed by Gerry and the Pacemakers’ version of You’ll Never Walk Alone. I may no longer be Catholic, but my tastes are catholic.
- Americans drive FAST. No, make that REALLY FAST. I used cruise control almost all the time. If the speed limit was 55 I set it at 58; when it was 65, I chose 67; and when the limit was 70 I set the control to 70. In ALL cases hundred of people passed me; many of them were really flying by. And tail gating is a national pastime! Ransom says I do that, but if I do — and I argue the point — it’s at city speeds; I have very good reflexes and am in control. I never once tailgated on this trip — except when people would pass me and slide in far too close to my front bumper.
- I love the fact that when I drive to New York it’s on a CT parkway; that means no trucks, no busses. I saw truckers pulling three (3!) trailers; they weren’t full size, but still, 3! And in one case (pictured) I saw a trucker with two full-length trailers attached. I can only imagine the stopping distances involved.
- I have a new favorite budget hotel: Holiday Inn Express. Stayed at one in Rochester; where other choices was $100 and up, HIE was $80 and that included a refrigerator and microwave in the room, free WiFi and a very extensive free hot breakfast. Check them out.
- I brought home, as my Dad always used to do, a package of white hots. This is a delicacy I’ve never seen anywhere but Rochester. They’re like Brats, but different. One bite and I am remembering my childhood.
- And speaking of Rochester, I was very pleased to notice how kind and polite people were there. The young man in maybe his twenties who held not one but two doors open for me and Aunt Sally, while wishing us a happy Labor Day, was as gentlemanly as he was comely. The cashier at Wegman’s — the absolute BEST grocery store I know — was cheerful and helpful and gave us the card holder price when she didn’t need to — I’ll remember her. And the waitress at Long Horn Steakhouse, a low-price chain restaurant, was as thoughtful and polite as she could be. I am definitely NOT used to all this charm, but I mo’ demily appreciated it.
- I ended the trip in Vermont and Massachusetts, visiting with my favorite cousin, Bill Foery, his wife Denise, their soon-to-be-a-rock-star son Brendan and their youngest son, Ethan, as well as Bill’s mom (my Aunt Kay) and Denise’s mom. Here’s a couple pictures of what we did there. It reminded me that Bill and I need to do another road trip like we did in the 90s: roller coasters and other thrill rides!
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