I sit in the back seat of Tomato Rex Sex Machine, the red GMC Safari Van bought in Atlanta about 2 weeks ago, and named by some random girl in a club in Atlanta. We call it T-Rex for short. It runs well, has done for the last two weeks. Air con, cruise control, power everything, style, class, and set to be a legendary vehicle for this road trip through the US and Canada.
Dale's driving at the moment, Luke's asleep in the front passenger seat, on the right hand side of the vehicle, Matt's back in Australia now after leaving New York the other dayI'm in the back for the first time to catch up on some photo uploads and write this blog.
It's Friday today, tonight we'll be in Boston, Massachusetts after spending the last two nights in Zionsville, small town Pennsylvania, with my friend Josh and his family. Today's a relaxing day of driving compared to our crazy week in New York City. Oh sure, we did the usual tourist attractions - Empire State Building, Central Park, Downtown Manhattan, Ground Zero, Staten Island Ferry, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Subway, but it's always the random nights that make the headlines. Like the night we went to the comedy club for a show and the 2 drink minimum turned into a maximum and one of us got robbed by two hookers after mistakenly getting into the same taxi as a quick way to get to the next bar. Riding the subway at 4 in the morning is always fun, unless you go the wrong way, or express through your stop and you end up in Harlem at 7 am.
Washington DC was a little quiter, heavy on the legs after 12 hour days walking around all the Smithsonium museums and laughing at the irony of the Whitehouse Security in the land of Liberty.Big cities are great for seeing the sights in a relatively small area, but it's the small towns that often make your travels memorable, like the historical town of Colonial Williamsburg, in Virginia, near Yorktown and the scene of the last battle for independence in 1781. A change of route took us there and to the Bed and Breakfast where we enjoyed some fine colonial hospitality in the quaint setting near the College of William and Mary (a prestigious law school among others).
The strawberries were tasty that night..... the ones we'd picked for $1 per pound outside of Carrboro, North Carolina, two weekends ago. We'd spent the weekend exploring the University town with it's Co-op supermarket, Sunday morning jazz and coffees in the park. It was great to chat to the locals about the culture and atmosphere of such a nice little place away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. Of course it helps to know someone in a place you're traveling through and Mary, Jack, Mandy and Miriam were excellent hosts, particularly with recommendations from the 100 or so beers from the menu at the Milltown Bar or what to eat for a hungover breakfast afterwards at the friendly Elmo Diner.
Hospitality from friends is great to have when you'r on the road. A place to sleep or wash some clothes is always appreciated but it's the gathering that I like, the chance to do some grocery shopping and cook your own meal for once in a while. I think the Red Thai Chicken Curry was a hit, or was it the Australian wine or the cheese..?Speaking of hospitality, I guess you have to be careful not to overstay your welcome and whilst I don't think that has happened so far, we certainly left imprints on the loungeroom floor at Holly St Atlanta where we parked ourselves while we searched for T-Rex. Of course we were told that it was no problem, but it may have been because at least while we were on the floor, there was less chance of Brittain receiving a knock at the door at 4 am from 3 Aussies fresh from the Caribbean having driven 14 hours straight in a rental car from Miami airport!
And of course, we cannot forget the exceptional hospitality shown by Nelda and Skinner, Brittain's parents, in Georgetown, Kentucky where we spent a week after the Kentucky Derby on the 5th May. Dale met the Governor of Kentucky, right before we hoed in to a breakfast of bacon, eggs, cheese grits, biscuits and gravy - obviously the health food section of the annual breakfast feeding a few thousand people at the Capitol in Frankfurt. Of course Dale informed the Governor that he would like to vote for him but that he was probably ineligible!
Luke and I nearly cleaned up on a horse at 50 to 1 but were, as always, pipped at the post. Dale's horse came first in the Derby, although I don't think I saw any of the winnings by way of bourbon after the race! We did all have mint julips though, and won't ever again!
And there were a few bourbons drunk later that Derby night with some Kentucky guys and girls. They drink it like water up there. We resisted the urge to show them how much Fosters we all drink and joined them in sampling the local cuisine and beverages. Of course we spent a good part of the next day in bed.So Boston awaits and Vermont State after that, then into Canada for a break from conversions of gallons, miles and pounds.
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