Well, this is it. We are leaving at about 11am, ready or not. Got up at 730 took a shower and made coffee. Usual. Then it’s final pack. Back and forth to the car 25 times packing and repacking. It’s a long trip. We are trying to make 12 hours a day.
. That is immediately prior to leaving. Beth always cries when we leave. Tradition. Dogs are loaded. We are off.
We got about 8 miles down the road to the Shell station on the far side of Skowhegan. Gas. And some chicken from Chesters which is inside the station. We have been fixin to try the chicken for the last month. Finally got it. I am gonna give it a thumbs up. Back in Dixon, the best fried chicken in town is sold at the Texaco station.
So gassed up, chickened up, and back on the road to Manchester Intl Airport. We got as far as Biddeford, in southern Maine, and stopped at one of Maines finer rest stops. Large restrooms, and clean too, and three fast foods and a small general store, and a Starbucks (yay!!) and gas. So we hit the genl store, the bathroom, Starbucks (not in that order).
And we were off again. We also watered the dogs at the doggy rest area. Making decent time. I do still have to find a Cracker Barrel to return our book on tape. I don’t want to buy it.
Just paid my third toll of the day $4.50. That goes with the previous two of $1.50 each. I hate toll roads. I like California better. Just bridge tolls. And Ohio sucks, sorry Ed. Hey Ed, my 5th grade state report was on Ohio and my paternal Grandma is from Ohio. As is my good friend Doug (Newton Falls). So I know Ohio and its crappy road tolls (nice reststops). Just sayin.
We are in New Hampshire!!!
That’s the bridge that seperates the two states. As you can see from the sign. Kinda makes us feel we are getting somewhere. First NEw Hampshire toll $1. There is a definite trend developing too wide and I don’t like it much.
Stopped off in Hampton for rest stop. Hit the Mc’s and…Marika, she’s driving, learned a valuable lesson. I always say, try to park the trailer so you can pull out without having to back up. She didn’t. Short lesson on backing a trailer followed. And don’t turn so sharp you climb a curb with the trailer tire either. Well, no harm no foul.
Made the airport at 2. Watered the dogs (out). Escorted Marika to check in and got her a boarding pass. Escorted her to the escalator and said goodbye. Prob see her in a week. We went back to the car and watered the dogs (in). Boy can they drink water. Esp Jaxon, he just keeps going. Glad I have a gallon bottle for him. And now we are back on the road and in the turnpike. Will keep you updated on the tolls. The airport parking lady want to charge us for the teardrop to be parked. Really. She gave us a break. It might be easier if they just outright steal my money.
The day has become a series of turnpikes and interchanges. I can see my future! The next few days will look like this. Not very exciting. We are driving through Massachusetts now. We managed to drive the NH Everett turnpike and escape all tolls. That’s a nice feeling. And so far, knock on wood, same for Mass turnpike. How long can our luck hold?
This is how I would prefer to travel. Dogs have a good life. And few real worries.
Mass turnpike takes a picture of your license plate every few miles and sends a bill. Seems nice, I don’t have to stop for a voucher every on and off like NY.
We rest stopped for dinner and gas, nothing special except the stupid and rude woman at the pizza place. Her reaponse to each question was “no meatballs no sausage”. I looked at michael and said, McDonald’s. No sausage or meatballs there either.
Driving through upstate NY. Beautiful country, a far cry from the drive out on 80. We are going to join up with 80 in Wyoming but for the time being we get beauty.
We camped out outside Middleville NY. Came in in the dark and will be up and gone before light. We did the usual dog and clean up stuff and in bed by 1030.