I was elated when I woke this morning…
No raindrops beating down on fiberglass (the weather guys got it wrong), which, of course, meant I would stay dry while doing trailer dis/connect stuff…
You know: Water… Electricity… Sewer… Truck hook-up… That kind of stuff…
I hate it when I get wet… I’m not prejudiced, so it doesn’t matter whether we’re coming in or leaving a campground… Rain sucks!
Maybe I should splurge on some rain gear…?
We got under way shortly after 8am, and, although the marine layer that hangs around coastlines like this (at this time of year) was pronounced, we saw, and felt, the sun as we drove over higher elevations…
Good sign for a good day!
Stopped once for a rest stop break, but lost count of how many times we were forced to dig into our cash-stash for turnpike tolls…
All in all, I think Lu told me it added up to about 23 bucks…
When you think about how we would be driving if we hadn’t taken the turnpike (on side streets, probably), I believe it was worth it, so that settles that…
As I’ve said before, you really don’t see much of anything (except the ribbon of undulating roadway) while driving through Connecticut…
And that’s essentially true for New York State also, but here, instead of looking at the countryside, you’re too darn busy watching crazy drivers pass you as if you were sitting still…
Here’s a truth about almost (I covered myself there, didn’t I?) all East Coast drivers: They don’t know how to enter a freeway!
Don’t know how many times I’ve cussed at someone coming on an on-ramp, Then, all of a sudden, stopping right at the merge… Forcing you to stomp on the breaks!
Don’t they know I have enough trouble from my Dearly Beloved when she stomps on her imaginary breaks (for some imaginary reason) on her side of the truck?
You should see the wear and tear…
Might have to replace the floorboards soon…
I digress…
Don’t they learn (here in the East) that you’re supposed to match the speed of the freeway traffic when you merge?
Talking about traffic, it became heavier, and more erratic, as we closed in on the Bronx…
Always wanted to say that we drove through the Bronx, and now I can…
Won’t mention that it was on the freeway, of course, ‘cause that would diminish my stature (or something like that), I think, and that would not do…
Crossed the George Washington Bridge and found ourselves in New Jersey…
And… Lo and behold… Out there in the smog/mist/fog we saw The Empire Sate Building!
Gave me goose bumps!
Can’t wait to see it up close and personal!
Anyway, we arrived - unhurt - in Port Republic, New Jersey, and, believe it or not, “Jack” found our campground (Chestnut Lake RV Park) on the first try! Don’t you just love GeePeeEesses?!
Got everything sorted out and put together in an orderly fashion, and took off for Atlantic City…
The place of grandiose wishes and dreams…
We’ve read and heard so much about this place, that we could hardly wait to step onto that famous Boardwalk…
Then reality set in…
As soon as we turned into Mr. Megabuck’s Taj Mahal, and found he wanted ten bucks for a couple of hours parking, we knew that not only the poor has been hit by the recession…
To top that one: We stopped in to check out the casino… Didn’t gamble, but ordered a drink, which came to 14 dollar, thank you very much!
No wonder the rich gets richer…
I’m not quite done with the complaining, yet…
Shouldn’t probably say this, but (and this has nothing to do with the Trump story) we are disappointed in Atlantic City…
We drove around from one end to the other, and walked a good part of the Boardwalk, and we found the town to be run down (outside the glitz of the casinos), we found it dirty (trash and paper all over the place), and the roads are a mess (buckling and heaving everywhere)…
The Boardwalk is impressive, I think, but it’s being used by tourists and beggars alike, and that’s not a good combination… Frankly, I don’t have an answer to any of this… I’m just an observer, but I can say this: They’ve got a long way to compete with Las Vegas, that’s for sure!
That brings us to the end of today’s lesson… There’s no homework, but do check in for more updates in the days ahead…
P.S. The first four pictures were taken yesterday in Mystic, the rest are from today... Here they are: http://cid-44d18849bf3983e9.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/From%20MYSTIC%5EJ%20CONNECTICUT%20to%20PORT%20REPUBLIC%5EJ%20NEW%20JERSEY%20%5E5OCT.%204%5EJ%202009%5E6?nl=1&uc=70&isFromRichUpload=1
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Hi guys.....
ReplyDeleteglad you saw Foxwoods casino in Conn....its quite impressive for this area..like I said we go every once in a while , gamble a little, play Bingo, eat at the buffet and have a few of those $5 Bud Lights!!...I have never been to Atlantic City but Donna has,and she said you shouldnt wander from the boadwalk area, its not pretty(or very safe)....we read you'll be in Florida for Thanksgiving and Christmas.....that ought to be fun, shorts and light clothing on Christmas while we will probably be bundled up freezing and shoveling snow here in the northeast!... hopefully not tho!....hey where will you be beginning of Jan..we are driving to Florida(Disney World) in Jan..we are leaving here Sat Jan 2 and driving, neither one of us like to fly.. we drive only daylight hours or until we are tired so we plan on 3 days to get to Disney....then we'll stay at Disney World until Jan 9th and drive back....hopefully the weather will be good for us driving down and back....we go to Disney every few years but usually at the end of Nov beginning of Dec and its great weather-wise and traveling...but this year we are going in Jan because some other family members will be there at Disney too....we are a little nervous about driving down and then back in Jan, hopefully not running into any snow storms!
....well enjoy your travels, Billy&Donna
Hey, right back at you...
ReplyDeleteLooks like we'll be missing each other again, since we have reservations in the Disney World area between Nov 8 and 22...
Haven't planned it yet, but I believe we'll probably be on the Gulf Coast of Florida during Christmas - making our way slowly Westward...
Have to be in New Orleans in mid-February for Marti Grass...
For your sake, I, too, hope you don't run into snow on your trip down to warmer weather... Hate driving in that stuff!
You guys take care... And thanks for keeping an eye on us!