Day 48: Massachusetts

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Today I wanted another Covid Test before I went home. My appointment was at 10:00 in the next town over from Reading, so I took my time from Rhode Island. I stopped by Gillette Stadium and the State House in Boston before getting to my test.  My test was a molecular test, which is better than a rapid test and it only took an hour to get the results. Also, while they took my credit card information, they told me insurance usually covers. This is an improvement over August, when we went to the same brand of Urgent Care after our trip to Colorado and had to pay out of pocket. More encouraging signs that testing is getting better. Oh, and by the way, my test was negative.

Soon after I started this adventure, one of my friends in Minnesota told me that Travels with Charlie was one of her Dad’s favorite books. It had been probably 30 years since I read Travels, so I downloaded it on my E Reader to read again.

It struck me right away the connection I had with the book. Steinbeck wrote the book in 1960, the year I was born, he was also about my age when he did his trip. As he embarked on his trip in September, the nation was going through a Presidential election year, and the country was facing racial strife.  Steinbeck started his trip by going to Maine and then followed sort of the same route that I planned although he ended up only going to 34 states.

Where we differ is that towards the end of his trip, Steinbeck stopped in New Orleans and ended up being really disillusioned by the protests over school integration.  After New Orleans he just wanted to end his trip and rushed home. Steinbeck also talks about being lonely, even with Charlie in his camper.

For me there were 4 keys to my success:

1. Family. Michele and Amanda were very supportive of my trip. In Michele’s case I think she was just tired of hearing about it for so many years. She is my rock and offered encouragement and excitement about what I was doing every night when we would talk.
2.  Luck. I had unbelievably good weather, no traffic, and no car problems. I missed snowstorms in the West by 3 weeks, I dodged a hurricane, and was able to skirt one the worst fire seasons in US history.
3. Expectations. Unlike Steinbeck, who was in search of America, I had just planned a point to point task of getting to all 48 states in 48 days.  I had a few sights I wanted to see planned out, but most of the time I just figured out what I wanted to do the day before. I surprised myself about how much I was able to see. Like the tattoo I saw at the Route 66 museum: “It’s about the journey, not the destination” it served me well because I was content, even if the site I wanted to see was closed.
4. Attitude. My Mom’s saying “if you don’t have fun, it’s your own fault” was by guiding mantra, it got me out of bed every morning, and I never forgot that this was the trip of a lifetime.

We have an unbelievable country. I don’t think there is any other country in the world that has so much varied scenery From the Columbia River Gorge, to the Atlantic Coastline and everything in between. It’s nothing short of amazing. Everybody I met was nice and I just feel lucky to have been able to do this trip.

Finally, thanks to all of you for reading this blog, your notes of encouragement and just knowing you were reading helped fuel my drive.

Song of the Day: Who Says You Can’t Go Home Bon Jovi, Jennifer Nettles

No Pod Cast or Audio Book today, I have been making a playlist of all my songs of the day, so I listened to that

Total Miles for the trip, a little over 15,000

Day 47: Rhode Island

Forgot to tell you yesterday, my Covid test results came back from Delaware in 48 hours – Negative!, Amanda also got her test results on Friday, and so we had dinner together with confidence last night.

Trip is winding down, so not a lot to report today. From New London, I doubled back to Branford, CT so I could have brunch with a friend of mine from High School. Harwood Union readers, you know Susie Radcliff. It’s always fun to see people you have known since 7^th grade or before.

From there I drove up the coast, I had meant to get off the highway and follow Route 1, but I guess I was so full from brunch that I just stayed on the highway until I came to the exit for Newport. Drove over the Jamestown Bridge, the picture below does not do it justice.  Many times, flying into Boston I can tell we are getting close, when I spot that bridge.

Drove through downtown Newport, it was busy and then I headed for the cliff walk. Thought I should see the mansions, especially the Vanderbilt mansion, since I saw the one in Asheville.  All the Cliff Walk parking lots were full, I ended parking on the street and walking by the front of several, but I lost interest in trying to get any closer.

It strikes me as funny that I’m staying about an hour away from my home, but I set up this challenge for myself to stay in all 48 states, so it would feel lame to not follow through and finish this last night in Rhode Island.

Song of the Day: The Last Resort, Eagles (The one that starts with “She came from Providence”)

Podcast: Nothing Today

Book on Tape:  Finished Hoot

Beer of the Day: Rise APA, Whalers Brewing Co

Total Miles: 210 

 Day 46: Connecticut

Home of the Boss

My first stop was Freehold, NJ. Hometown of Bruce Springsteen. I couldn’t very well drive by Michael Jackson’s house in Gary, IN and go to Graceland and not do the same to one of my favorite Artists of all time.  I found on the internet the address of the house that Springsteen lived in in high school. First picture is of that house. No signs or fan memorabilia outside, it’s just a normal duplex that is still rented out like it was when Springsteen lived there.  Freehold was nicer then I imagined in Springsteen’s stories about growing up.  From there I stopped in Asbury Park to see the Stone Pony. The Stone Pony was the venue where Springsteen and Bon Jovi got their first shots at fame.  It was a foggy day; I couldn’t even see the ocean from the boardwalk.

Interesting on the drive to Freehold I was slowed down by a lot of school busses. School busses have been an unusual site during this pandemic. I started to notice a lot of kids in uniforms walking to school. At first, I thought they must be Catholic schools, but then I noticed the girls were wearing really long skirts and then the boys were wearing wide brimmed hats. My first thought was Amish, but then it hit me, Orthodox Jews.  I also noticed they were walking in groups without masks.  Some quick research tells me that NJ requires towns to pay for bussing to religious schools if they provide bussing to public schools. It used to not be a big deal because there were a few Catholic schools, but apparently there has been a flood of Orthodox Jews moving to this area of NJ and the expense of bussing all these kids to their religious schools is becoming a hot button.  Also, I read that in New York, the Orthodox Jews have seen a big increase in the virus because they are not adhering to the social distancing guidelines.

Crossing into Connecticut, I stopped at my friend Ted’s house for lunch. Ted, of my first trips across the country fame. It was good to catch up and since he supplied me with my Connecticut beer of the day I didn’t need to go out and buy a 4 pack.

I am staying in the New London area so I can see my daughter Amanda, who goes to college here. I’m staying in Groton for the first time. I swung by the Submarine Base, the museum is closed, I read some good reviews, will have to check it out when the virus allows. Also, went by the waterfront, which is the last picture, beautiful.

Song of the Day: Father and Daughter, Paul Simon (It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her)

Podcast: How I Built This, McBride Sisters Wine (really good story about 2 sisters fining each other and starting a Winery)

Book on Tape:  Hoot

Beer of the Day: Space Coyote, Counter Weight Brewing Co.

Total Miles: 315

Day 45: New Jersey

Nice Commute

From Rehoboth, DE I decided to take the Ferry to Cape May, NJ. From the time I left the hotel to when I got to Cape May, I only saved about 30 minutes vs driving up and around, but I saved 170 miles and since it was a beautiful fall day with a flat calm sea, it was a nice ride.

Arriving in Cap May I drove around the town and went for a quick stroll through the town.  I’m used to Newark and the Garden State Parkway, Cape May was closer to looking like Key West then it was Newark, really a cute little town.

Next was Ocean City.  When I was living in Chicago and Michele was in Boston, I met her here for a night before I started a business trip though Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This was 36 years ago.  I found the place because I remembered my high school friend, Patty had worked at this hotel in college, which is how I heard the Ocean City was nice.  Patty remembered the name of the hotel and helped me find it again today.

After that, I drove to where I’m staying, just outside of Atlantic City.  I took a long walk on the famous boardwalk. The last time I was here was that same trip 36 years ago.  I remember then Atlantic City was looking a little tired. It doesn’t seem like there have been a whole lot of improvements in the last 36 years.

Song of the Day: Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen

Book on Tape:  Hoot

Beer of the Day: Mosaic Man, Glasstown Brewing 

Total Miles: 75 

Day 44: Delaware

Time to get tested

I did a quick walk through downtown Annapolis, hoping to see some more of the harbor in the daylight. It was foggy and it started to rain so my time there was brief. I did see the gates to the US Naval Academy, but I figured I would have as much luck trying to see the grounds as I did at West Point, so I got on the road to Delaware.

Since I want to be able to hug my family, when I get home, I decided to see if I could get a Covid PCR test. I knew I would have time in Delaware today, so I looked on-line and found a place on my way to where I was going.  The website said I needed to make a reservation. I thought I would just drive there and see how long the wait would be.  I was pleasantly surprised to find I could get a test right away, at no cost.  The test was easy (I did the nasal swab myself) and I should have the results in 3-5 days.  If they do call me in a few days, then I have so much more confidence in our ability to get this under control.  A quick and no cost option to test anybody is what we need.  The last PCR test I took was in Lawrence, MA.  It also was no charge, but I waited for 2 hours in my car to get the test. I also have noticed in the last two days in Delaware and Maryland there is much more mask compliance, even outside when socially distancing. I really think that the states that got hit early and hard, are much more compliant these days.

My next stop was in Lewes. A cute little town that I walked though before heading to the Henlopen State Park, which has beautiful beaches.  From there I headed south to Rehoboth, where I am staying for the night.  Rehoboth is much more developed then Lewes, but after a nice lunch at Dogfish Head Brewery I walked along the boardwalk, which is nice, and the beaches look good too. At this time of year, it’s busy, but not crazy.

Song of the Day: Table for One, Courtney Marie Andrews. My friend Rocchio, sent me this song, it’s fitting for this trip and especially today, when they sat just me at a table for 8.

Book on Tape:  Started Hoot, Carl Hiaasen. Time for something light

Beer of the Day: Hazy Ripple IPA, DogFish Head Distilling

Total Miles: 120

 Day 43: Maryland

Busy Day

Left Charles Town, WV and stopped at Harpers Ferry. First Stop was a small civil war battlefield, then I dropped into the town which is part museum, part functioning town. 1^st picture below is from the town. The Appalachian trail also runs through the town. 1,167 miles to Maine, 1025 miles to Georgia. I hiked the trail from West Virginia to Maryland (ok it was only 300 yards over a bridge)

Next was the Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD. I was able to tour the whole park, 13 Stops that give you the highlights. Incredible to think that 27,000 American’s died on this field, in one day. America’s greatest loss of life in a single day. The park was in good shape and it was a beautiful fall day with very few people. At most stops, I was the only person.

From there I headed to The Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport.  I knew one of the Space Shuttles was there, I had no idea how big this museum is.  They have everything here from the Wright Brothers era to the Concorde.  They have something pretty cool here.  At several points through the museum that have large TV’s set up by some of the exhibits.  On the TV is a live guide, working from home. It’s like an open Zoom Call. You converse in real time with the guide. Really clever way of having guides, safely.

My last stop was Washington D.C. I couldn’t very well tour the 48 states and skip over D.C.  I just drove in and starting at the Lincoln Memorial, drove by the Washington Monument and up the mall to the Capital.  Junior year in college, 1981, I lived in DC for a semester doing an internship at the Department of Commerce, so I have spent a fair amount of time at the museums on the mall. For the night I’m in Annapolis.

Song of the Day: Maryland, Vonda Shepard

Podcast: Smartless, Stacey Abrams. (How Voter Suppression works, and how she is working to fight it)

Book on Tape:  Nothing Today

Beer of the Day: Snake Dog IPA, Flying Dog Brewery

Total Miles: 170

 Day 42: West Virginia

Long Haul

Today was inadvertently my longest day.  When I switched Virginia and Kentucky around, I left myself with two options for today.  I could either go back the way I came yesterday and just push further into West Virginia, or I could drive up the east side of Kentucky and cross over to West Virginia.  Last night when I found that by going up the east side of Kentucky, I could follow the Country Music Highway, I had my answer. Since I drove down the Blues Highway back in Mississippi, it was destined that I drive up the Country Music Highway today.

I started the day before dawn and headed up through the coal towns before joining Highway 23. It passes though the birth places of Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, The Judds, Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, and that one hit wonder… Billy Ray Cyrus, among others.  The Highway has signs as you go, but you have to look fast to see whose hometown you just passed.  I stopped in Loretta Lynn’s hometown, I guess because of the movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter” they built a Highway 23 Country Music Museum there. It was closed on Monday’s, so back on the road again for me.

Even after 42 days, I can’t explain how excited I am every day to get back on the highway. At 5:00am I’m lying there in bed in a hotel in Kentucky, and all I can think of is, let’s get moving, I’ve got things to see. I know it’s it going to be all day in the car, but it’s all good, because there is all of this amazing history and scenery.

I stopped at a gas station in West Virginia this afternoon, as I was paying for a snack, a women who had pulled in at the same time as me, asked me where in Massachusetts I was from (she had seen my license plate) When I told her, she said she was originally from Maine.  I asked her where and she said a little town near Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft. Remember back to Day 2, Dover-Foxcroft was my first stop. Small World.

Song of the Day: Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver

Podcast: How I built This: Lush Cosmetics

Book on Tape:  Finished Talking to Strangers. Why failure to Default to Truth is behind a lot of the Police encounters with African Americans that lead to violence. Also, why enhanced torture techniques used by the CIA can actually lead to getting the wrong information.

Beer of the Day: IPA, Big Timber Brewing

Total Miles: 630

 Day 41: Kentucky

Had to head back west to get Kentucky crossed off the list. From Roanoke I headed south on I-81 before heading west to Kentucky. The Western part of Virginia is nice, the leaves were changing and It’s not that much different from Vermont.  The first picture below is a roadside scene in Western Virginia.

I drove though the Cumberland Gap, a tunnel, much like the Eisenhower tunnel in Colorado, through the mountains where Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky meet. Once through the tunnel, I was in Kentucky. There is the Cumberland Gap National Park just off the highway, and that was my stop for the day.  There is a visitor center, explaining the importance of the Cumberland Gap as the passage the settlers would have taken from the Virginia colonies, over the Appalachians to the West. It was also a strategic location to hold during the Civil War and it changed hands a few times.  The park has a winding drive to a lookout point. The second picture below is from that drive, it shows a Civil War earthwork with a cannon that was used to fire down into the gap.  At the top there is a nice view of the 3 states and that is the third picture.

I’m staying in the little town of Middlesboro, KY tonight.  I noticed at lunch, as I was sitting outside, that I kept hearing the sound of revving motors.  I asked the hotel desk clerk and she told me that the local high school boys, like to do that with their trucks as the cruise up and down main street. She also said they like to gather in local parking lots and checkout each other’s trucks. America!  I thanked her for putting me on the other side of the hotel, away from the highway.

Song of the Day: Kentucky Rain, Elvis and Wagon Wheel, Darius Rucker (It mentions Cumberland Gap)

Podcast: Nothing today

Book on Tape:  Talking to Strangers, I am finding this really interesting.

Beer of the Day: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Lexington Brewing

Total Miles: 280

 Day 40: Virginia

Blue Ridge

Today was all the Blue Ridge Parkway, with one detour. The last time I was in Asheville I went to the Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center and watched the movie but couldn’t drive the Parkway because of ice in the tunnels. The Blue Ridge Parkway, if I remember the movie correctly, was a public works project during the depression and it winds through Virginia and North Carolina for 470 miles.

I had planned to head to Kentucky, but had trouble finding a hotel available near where I wanted to stay so, I decided to drive almost exclusively on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Roanoke Virginia. I will hit Kentucky tomorrow.  The Parkway is spectacular, a two-lane road, top speed of 45 miles per hour. It winds through the Appalachians and offers many pull outs for amazing views over the hill into the valleys.  About 100 miles north of Asheville, it got really busy, cars parked everywhere, every lot full.  People all taking pictures of the foliage. It was a beautiful fall day, temperatures in the low 60’s at the most.

My one detour was to Mt Airy, North Carolina. Mt. Airy is the birthplace of Andy Griffith and is where the TV Show Mayberry RFD, drew its story lines.  As you can image, the town has embraced this and become a tourist stop all based on that TV show.  There is an Andy Griffith Museum, a replica Floyd’s barbershop and many other references to the TV show.  My generation is the last generation that is going to remember that show.  I wonder if the town is prepared for a loss of interest built around a TV sit-com from the 60’s.

Song of the Day: Virginia, Whiskey Myers

Podcast: How I built this: Two stories of Black Women running companies, The Dallas Mavericks and Bossy Cosmetics.

Book on Tape:  Talking to Strangers, today Amanda Knox and how she was wrongly convicted because her telling of the truth did not fit her actions

Beer of the Day:  Ramble On, Star Hills Brewing

Total Miles: 315

 Day 39: North Carolina

From Hilton Head my first stop was Columbia, SC – Bose friends, I had lunch with Ed Hines, my long-time colleague.  We had nice Carolina Barbecue.  Good to see Ed.

Next I headed to Asheville, NC.  I was in Asheville a few years ago on my first “shakedown cruise” to see if could do a road trip by myself and enjoy it.  On that trip I did Charlotte. Asheville, and ended up in Nashville. I also made a stop in Kentucky for lunch, because I had never been to Kentucky. That trip proved to me that I enjoyed road trips and didn’t mind the constant moving.

On my last visit to Asheville, my goal was to visit some of the breweries that Asheville is famous for.  Something about the water being really good here.  On this trip I decided to see the famous Biltmore Estate. It was built by the Vanderbilt’s in 1895.  When I arrived at 3:30 I found out for $120 and a 3 ½ hour wait I could tour the mansion.  That’s not my style, so I opted for a self-tour of the gardens for half that price. I thought it was really crowded, but one of the staff I talked to, said it’s always busy, and coming late in the day is better.  If you come, buy your tickets on-line ahead of time.  The gardens are impressive, they were designed by Frederick Olmsted, who also did Central Park.  It was also nice to see the mountains again, as it’s been since New Mexico since I have seen any.

No brewery tours this time, in fact the only hotel I could find was out by the Asheville Airport, I’m 10 miles from downtown. People at the hotel tell me it’s because it’s foliage season down here and the hotel is sold out tonight (I think that is the first time since South Dakota)

My mask story of the day is the stop I made about 1 hour outside of Columbia, stopped at a Pilot Truck Stop, which is a huge brand on the road, both for truckers, and us regular drivers.  Happy to report that everybody I saw was wearing a mask.

Song of the Day: Carolina in My Mind, James Taylor

Podcast: How I built this: Method Cleaning Products (This is a good Podcast, about how people build companies)

Book on Tape:  Talking to Strangers, really interesting about how we are wired to default to believe people. Explains why Bernie Madoff and Jerry Sandusky got away with their crimes for so long

Beer of the Day:  People’s Porter, Foothills Brewing

Total Miles: 360

Day 38: South Carolina

Not a lot to report today, it was only 40 miles from Savanah to my overnight in Hilton Head.

It was nice to have an easy day and the hotel let me in early, which enabled me to get laundry done. Sometimes it’s the small things that bring joy when you are travelling. I think today is the shortest day of this trip. I added another 20 or so miles driving from one end of the island to the other, but still easy. It’s also the first time I have seen the Atlantic Ocean since Day 1, when I drove through Portland, Maine.

Hilton Head is nice and like other tourists’ spots, it is unusually busy for this time of year. The waiter last night in Savanah told me his restaurant is up 19% in sales this year, even with the brief shutdown they had and the extra space requirements.  The waitress at lunch said they are usually not this busy in October and it was a 30-minute wait for lunch on a Thursday, at least to sit outside.  The beaches here are also busy.

I understand that some people that read this blog like my mask report, so today’s story is how the island of Hilton Head has huge mobile signs up as you drive on to the island that there is a mandatory mask order in place.  It does not say just indoors and not just when you can’t social distance.  Driving around I saw very few masks, nobody riding bikes were wearing masks, and even at the hotel I see guests walking in and out without a mask, despite the signs on the door.  My favorite look is of the couple, walking hand in hand with one person (usually the women) wearing a mask and the other person not wearing a mask. If your partner is not wearing a mask, it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing one yourself.

Song of the Day: Strong Enough, Ray LaMontagne (mentions South Carolina)

Podcast: Smartless, Today Adam Sandler

Book on Tape:  No time today

Beer of the Day:  River Dog IPA, River Dog Brewing

total miles: 60

 Day 37: Georgia

Before dinner last night I drove around the state capital in Tallahassee. Again, no bias, but Vermont still has the most impressive State Capital I have seen.

From Tallahassee I drove north to the town of Thomasville, GA. My guidebook steered me towards Plantation Country and specifically Pebble Hill Plantation. It’s supposed to be one of the most spectacular ones in the area.  I was too early by and hour and half, so I took the picture below and kept going.

The good think about heading to Thomasville is that it got me off the interstate and I followed a good road, two lanes in both directions all the way to Savanah.  There were a few towns, like Valdosta along the way. Very nice country.

Savanah is one of the few towns on this trip that I have been to recently. Michele and I came here 2 years ago, and we really liked it.  When we were here it was early December, so I am surprised how busy it is now, and I see a lot of families, so it must be that same thing where people are travelling because their kids can do school online.

For my mask report – I was glad to see all the stores and gas stations have masks required signs. In Savanah there are signs that masks are mandatory, even outside as you can see by the picture below.  The bad news is that less that 50% of the people are following the order.  I was watching at a gas station where person after person was going into the store with their mask around their neck or their chin, some just holding it in their hand.

Song of the Day: Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles

Podcast: On Something, weed in cooking (ok as a spice, but be careful trying to use it in baked goods)

Book on Tape:  Talking to Strangers, Malcom Gladwell, interesting about how we are wired to believe people and have a very hard time telling when people are lying.

Beer of the Day: Mountain Jam, Southbound Brewing Co.

Total Miles: 260