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