7 Days and 11 States, My 7-11 Travels

In my usual style, an aisle seat, I have taken out my laptop to reflect on my last seven days (see picture for view from my seat).  Since boarding, it has been a rather interesting flight with various infants, one yappy little dog, and everyone afraid of sneezing with the worries of Swine Flu. It is during this said “quiet time” (with headphones on) that I reflect on where I have been over the last seven days.

I crossed the country last week.  I left the West Coast leaving from San Diego, California with a pit stop in Atlanta, Georgia with arrival in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. After empting one suitcase of dirty clothes and repacking another, I then traveled by car for a Spring Roadtrip up I-95 through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and today just a smidgen of Connecticut. Yes, that is right seven days and eleven states.  I would have to say I did a 7-11.

During this week, I rode in a double-decker bus (Yes, like in London), four taxis, various planes ran by three distinct airlines, one car for over 1,800 miles, one bike, and by foot.  However, I was grateful that none of my travels had been my motor home, semi, or horseback; all I would consider rather unpleasant ways of travel. I did see a Segway along the journey that I wanted to try, but I passed.  I will keep it on my to do list.

I have said many times, “If the government had a GPS tracking system on me, they would think that I am doing something illegal.”  It is not a secret that they most likely already know my every location and move; and, if the government doesn’t know my every move or happens to lose my location, I have helped them by tweeting my travels.  My twitter name is MsTravelingPant (The character limit of Twitter is disappointing.).

Heading back home, where I hang up my laptop bag (I rarely wear hats), I am looking forward to warmer weather as San Diego was unseasonably cool as well as the Northeast was rather cool with rain showers bidding me farewell today.

My next adventure will be my third trip to Costa Rica.  This, as my last year’s trip was, will be for business. Regardless, all travel whether for pleasure or work leads to stories, experiences, and learning.  I am hoping that my colleagues in Costa Rica make some VIP calls to make sure that the typical hot, humid weather is ready for me. Please no more unseasonable weather.  Maybe Ms. Traveling Pants can wear some shorts since it is already May.

Spring Roadtrip Part 3

We awoke for Day 3 in New Brunswick, New Jersey at the Howard Johnson.  It was an interesting evening at the HoJo.  As you never know what is wrong or right about a hotel, this was definitely just a place to stay and not a hospitable experience.  We arrived very tired on Day 2 and entered the room, which appeared clean to immediately refuel with some apps and beer.

Little did we know last evening that the cable didn't work and that the air conditioning was difficult.  As in difficult I mean, that it would work in cycles.  Each 5 minutes, it would turn on and then turn off with a loud grown as if it was about to breathe it's last air conditioner breath.  

This morning after one of the best slept night's in the last week (despite the cable and air conditioning noise), I awoke to a hotel coffee maker that didn't work.  Can you believe it? Yes, the caffeine addict didn't have her juice. So after two very long 10 hour driving days, no coffee. It definitely was not a good morning for groggy Ms. Traveling Pants.

Now, as a lesson to all that have worked in the hospitality industry, I told the management at the HoJo upon leaving, "I am here to check out as well as let you know of some issues with the room.  First, the cable is not working nor the air conditioner.  And to top it all off, the coffee maker doesn't work."  I was then told by the management, "We will put it on the list. Thank you Mam.  You are all set." Wasn't that great customer service?  I just didn't have the energy or care to protest (lucky HoJo).

So it was off to the New Jersey Turnpike for a quick two hour journey through Jersey to New York and over to the Hudson Valley.  Interestingly enough, we saw no Cracker Barrels from the hotel in New Jersey through New York that was until our exit getting off of Highway 84.  It was the Poughkeepsie exit 13 and ironically our last exit.  The last and final Cracker Barrel #41 was there.  It was a sign.  It was closure.

I only saw one memorable bummer sticker from NJ to NY:

"Just say Show Me the Carfax."  I guess the marketer was a fan of Jerry Maquire. You know, "Show Me the Money!!!"

However, I just wanted to chime in that most bummer stickers this year are political support stickers from the previous election.  I guess I don't know why Republican supporters keep those stickers on the car.  Come on, get over it and take them off!

After arriving in town, we checked into the same hotel as in March when we did a visit.  We then previewed the studio apartment that my husband will be renting while attending the Culinary Institute of America.  To celebrate and only a couple blocks walk from the new apartment, we had lunch overlooking the Hudson River Valley.

We walked along the river with the bright sun and a brisk breeze to digest. Afterwards, we did errands including buying a futon and supplies for the apartment.  You know the type: the 32 piece dinner set, the 10 piece cooking set, bathroom supplies, alarm clocks, wastepaper baskets and the like.  It was like getting ready for the dorms all over again, except that I was not having my father build a wooden bunk bed for my roommate and I.  

We had a wonderful day despite rather stressful news back home regarding a restructuring of my current employer.  We had a great lunch, got errands done including getting the apartment finalized, saw the movie "The Soloist", and then had yet another "last supper." 

Tomorrow is claimed as, "The Day of the Resume."  We plan to appear in person and drop off 40+ resumes to restaurants throughout the area.  It should be fun.  We will certainly get to know the area.

Keep you posted on the rest of the trip.

Spring Roadtrip Part 2

Left the Motel 6 in Fayetteville, North Carolina at 9:15 AM after a short run and getting gas at $2.03 a gallon. We started on the road after passing 24 Cracker Barrels. Within miles, we spotted another.

We have passed another 5 in North Carolina before crossing to Virginia and seeing 6 others, 2 in Maryland, none in Delaware, and so far 3 in New Jersey. We are at a total of 40 Cracker Barrels.

Couple of insights or random thoughts:

1) Did you know that in North Carolina they still have smoking sections in restaurants? Unbelievable huh?

2) The Cracker Barrel count is getting high, but I think that return trip in a couple of years will need to be Waffle Houses. I swear they are like a bad penny.

3) I am actually starting to wonder how many fast food restaurants with the Southern theme of chicken and biscuits can service through the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, etc. There is Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-a, BoJangles, Popeye's and countless others.

Favorite billboards on this stage of the trip:

1)  A Snickers billboard stating, "Pledge Sigma Nougat" instead of Cum Laude or something like that. I guess in my punch drunk state, it was rather funny.

2)  A Jim Beam billboard outside of Baltimore, "Columbus didn't ask for directions." In little type, it mentioned, "Guys never change." After now 20 hours in car with my husband, I was needing a little humor to hit my female funny bone.

We stopped at a wonderful, Mediterranean "Hole in the Wall" restaurant outside of Alexandria and ate Chicken Shawarma with Tahini (see picture above)  It certainly beat the other options on the typical roadtrip.  So far it has been the highlight of the culinary trip, as I was recently on a business trip, which means I had buffet after buffet after continental breakfast, which all under perform one's appetite.

Well, just moments ago, we stopped in New Brunswick, NJ for the evening.  We were hoping to make it to Poughkeepsie today, but 4 traffic hiccups in the D.C. and Baltimore area made things interesting. However, I would like to note that 511 is a helpful little tool.

Stay tuned for the final leg of the driving trip in Spring Roadtrip Part 3