Author: patrick

Saturday, Oct 22

Drove south out of DC and found the longest bridge/tunnel in the US: the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (15 miles long).  Felt like I was driving out into the Atlantic.

First, a high rise followed by miles of low bridge. 

Then, out in the middle of the ocean-size bay, suddenly the road dives below the water level into a mile or two of submarine tunnel.

Then more low bridge looking like you’re heading for Portugal.  

This repeats a couple times (more tunnels).  Of course You finally come out in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Quite the ride.

Friday, Oct 21

Spent an active day doing the tourist trek around the Washington Mall.  Paid visits to the boys:

First Barack 

Then Abe 

With a salute to George (or at least his spire) 

And finally new guy Martin 

Then suited up for another night on the town, attending a Russian jazz concert party featuring guest trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. 

And, of course, the after-party with the performers and glitterati  

Thursday, Oct 20

Travel time from Newark to Alexandria was fairly short.  Got here just after noon.

Visiting college friend Mary who is president of the board of a local Russian opera company.  So off to a gala concert at the French Embassy.

The operatic concert was from a Russian Opera.

The performance was followed by a dinner reception (with a few more songs)

Wednesday, Oct 19

Spent the day checking off my New York bucket list.

Just coming up from the PATH train station at the World Trade Center is awe inspiring as you see the new “Oculus” which serves as a skylight for the station.

  The Oculus. I had never heard of such a thing.
Then on to the 9-11 Memorial.

Then to the new Freedom Tower 

AND going right up to the 102nd floor observation deck.

And finally touring the most excellent 9-11 Museum (took me almost 3 hours).

Portland, Maine to Newark, NJ to be more exact.

Found my little car all well and ready to travel. (Thanks Carolyn and Cynthia for the car care hospitality.)

Just needed a new wiper blade, a window wipe, and a restocking of the car food cooler.  (One should always have a stash of cookies in the car cooler in case of a roadside emergency.)

Lots of beautiful New England Fall color along the way.  Changing to less red and more yellow as I went south – also a dramatic change from cool and misty to warm and sunny.  Nice.

NYC roads are in no better shape than our Bay Area pot-holed tracks, and there are more of them.  Got here ok, but how was this even possible before GPS/Google maps and turn-by-turn directions!?  Like following a strand of spaghetti through the bowl.

Flew home from Portland for a FrontRunner 25th anniversay party, and a week’s break.

Did a little shopping while I was home to get ready for the rest of the trip.  Wait-those don’t look like road warier duds…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also got our Halloween ghost, “Olie”, out of his storage box and flying around the front yard. Ready to spook Peter while I’m on the road.

Spent a non-driving day in Falmouth with Peter’s daughter Carolyn and her mother Cynthia.

Hiked the local trails (right out the door) with dog Bella.

Had lunch at Royal River Grill House on the harbor in Yarmouth (crab, lobster, etc).

Toured the Coastal School for Girls where Carolyn will be teaching.

A full day of driving, taking some backroads through the Adirondack Mts, admiring the start of the fall colors.

And then: Maine at last!  

Total trip: 3,662 miles in 10 days

Stayed with good friends, Rick and Sharon in Syracuse.

Started with a night around the famous Monroe Firepit.  (Sorry, didn’t get a photo).

Took a couple hikes through the local woods, where I learned to push over dead trees.

Then Rick took us to the local apple farm where we toured (tasted) the produce.

Finished off the day with dinner at the famous Dinosaur BBQ in downtown Syracuse.

From Rochester Hills, the shorter route to NY is through Canada. (Remember to bring passports.)

And just before crossing back into the USA, we stopped at famous Niagra Falls, which earns its fame.

And just across from the Falls, is a tribute to our friend Tesla (no, not Elon – Nikola).