Our day starts early, up at 5 am and on the road by 6:30. We do pretty good with traffic until we get close to Washington DC. Then we sit an move very slow for several hours. Once through this area it isn't to bad. The drive through PA was beautiful.
When we stop for lunch at a truck stop we saw the news of the flooding in PHX. What a mess, we were worried for our friends and family that it might affect. Luckily all are well, a little wet and tired from fighting the traffic an street closures but doing good. The pictures posted on face book were amazing. I am glad we were not there, with all the rain we have had since we left home, there has been no flooding, thank goodness.
We made it through the first two tough areas, I was able to follow the signs pretty good an direct Joe the right way. The last difficult area is in NY. We were unable to get a NY map so are using the atlas and it is hard to see things as it is pretty small. They have these stops for texting instead of rest areas. It was funny to see signs say texting stop 1 mile ahead. We went to one to see what it is. It is just what it says a small area where you can park and do all your texting. They have them about every 5 miles or so. Sure could of used a rest area!!!!!!.
Trying to figure the road system out was difficult. I finally turned to our GPS. This was a big help. Once we got to the one and only tole bridge we thought we would be home free. Unfortunately Joe got in the wrong lane on the bridge going through the tole, he is in the lane for ezpay no cash. Will of course we don't have the ezpay an we can't back up, they let us go through so all was OK in the end. But it trying to get money to pay with I lost the GPS, it had slid under the console and I couldn't find it so we were not sure which way to go once through the tole gate. Joe made a quick decision to continue following the 6. I finally found the GPS and we were back on track, Joe had made the right choice. Now the big problem was the road wound down like a cork screw and was very narrow. A big gas tanker was coming up the other way and partly in our lane. That was a close call, we were so close to him and no where to go. I was so glad when we finally found Croton Point Park. Once signed in I was able to try out the tips I learned on backing this up. It only took us three tries to get in straight, this is he quickest we have backed into a spot, so I guess I did learn something.
We managed to quickly set up and then go to dinner. We went to the Croton diner. You need to be hungry when you come here. I had the Yankee Pot Roast and Joe had their Lasagna. You get soup and salad with your meal which were very good. When our meal arrived my jaw hit the table. My plate was more than enough to feed two people. I was already half full after the soup and salad. Joe's lasagna wan't much smaller. Needless to say we have dinner for tomorrow night too.
Now back to the park and finishing setting up an go to bed, what a long stressful day.
Tomorrow we will be going to Yorktown Heights NY to see Joe's Aunt who we have not see for around 17 years, she is 90 years young now. Can't wait to see her.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Exploring Richmond (09/07)
Today is our day to drive around Richmond and see if we would like it here. It is a very old historic city. The house are beautiful. I see several I would like to have. It seems to be pretty easy to get around town except like Atlanta they don't have street signs on all the streets. So when you are looking for a certain street it is hard to find.
We ate lunch at a nice little diner. It looks like all the locals come here so it was a good people watching pace and the food was good. After lunch we went down to the water front. There is an old Steel mill there that was built in the 1800's. We took a tour of the ruins that are left. This was the biggest steel mill in the South and supplied the confederate with all the armaments during the civil war. It was very interesting going through it and watching he movie on it's history. After we finished there we went across the street to the river and walked along it for a ways.
By 3 pm it was time to head back to the park and start getting ready for travel tomorrow. It will be one of our most difficult travel days, going through Washington DC, MD, and PA all the way to NY, about 480 long miles.
We ate lunch at a nice little diner. It looks like all the locals come here so it was a good people watching pace and the food was good. After lunch we went down to the water front. There is an old Steel mill there that was built in the 1800's. We took a tour of the ruins that are left. This was the biggest steel mill in the South and supplied the confederate with all the armaments during the civil war. It was very interesting going through it and watching he movie on it's history. After we finished there we went across the street to the river and walked along it for a ways.
By 3 pm it was time to head back to the park and start getting ready for travel tomorrow. It will be one of our most difficult travel days, going through Washington DC, MD, and PA all the way to NY, about 480 long miles.
Richmond NASCAR style (09/05)
Again a slow start to our day. This is becoming a habit, a nice habit. We go into Richmond to have lunch at Five Guys Hamburgers. We have tried them in Yuma and didn't like them, but everyone out here raves about them, so we thought we would give them another try. They were actually pretty good. Much better than the ones we had in Yuma but still not the best hamburger I have eaten. After lunch we went to the movies. We saw If I Stay, this is a good movie, very moving. Make sure you bring a box of Kleenex with you, it will make you cry. At least it made me cry and I didn't bring Kleenex. It is a movie we both would recommend you see, it has a little different concept.
Now back to the park and time to get ready for the races. I love going to these NASCAR races, especially the smaller tracks. Richmond is an mile track an we are sitting in turn 4 row 30, so we are up high enough to see the whole track and part of pit road. Now getting to the track was horrible. We drove right to it but then trying to find where we should park was a night mare. The signs directing you were almost nonexistent. We were finally directed to gate 11, across the street from the track, into this big empty field. Once parked we had to walk about 1 mile to the track, This again was a challenge as there were no directions on which way to go. Luckily we were able to ask parking attendants and then follow everyone else once we caught up with them. So for signage I give Richmond a big NEEDS IMPROVEMENT!!!!!!!!!
Once in and we have found our seats we go explore some. We have decided to rent some headsets that let you listen to your favorite driver talk to there crew while the race is going on. We got the little more deluxe ones that also have mics so Joe and I can talk to each other. These were really great.
It was pretty neat to listen to them talk, we kept switching drivers, between Dale Jr, Gordon, Stewart and Harvick. Out of all of them we got the most information from listening to Dale Jr. We plan on buying a set, maybe not exactly like these but similar.
The racing was good fast and a lot of passing going on. It is always nice when there are not many yellow flags.
After the race we headed back to the truck. We thought about taking the shuttle but the lines were so long to catch a ride that it was quicker to walk. We sat in the truck for a while and split a beer before trying to make our way out. The lot had pretty much emptied by the time we left but once on the main road the traffic was heavy. At least they had closed the roads down to only race traffic and you could use all lanes. We were back at the park before to long and in bed and fast asleep by 12 am.
Now back to the park and time to get ready for the races. I love going to these NASCAR races, especially the smaller tracks. Richmond is an mile track an we are sitting in turn 4 row 30, so we are up high enough to see the whole track and part of pit road. Now getting to the track was horrible. We drove right to it but then trying to find where we should park was a night mare. The signs directing you were almost nonexistent. We were finally directed to gate 11, across the street from the track, into this big empty field. Once parked we had to walk about 1 mile to the track, This again was a challenge as there were no directions on which way to go. Luckily we were able to ask parking attendants and then follow everyone else once we caught up with them. So for signage I give Richmond a big NEEDS IMPROVEMENT!!!!!!!!!
Once in and we have found our seats we go explore some. We have decided to rent some headsets that let you listen to your favorite driver talk to there crew while the race is going on. We got the little more deluxe ones that also have mics so Joe and I can talk to each other. These were really great.
The racing was good fast and a lot of passing going on. It is always nice when there are not many yellow flags.After the race we headed back to the truck. We thought about taking the shuttle but the lines were so long to catch a ride that it was quicker to walk. We sat in the truck for a while and split a beer before trying to make our way out. The lot had pretty much emptied by the time we left but once on the main road the traffic was heavy. At least they had closed the roads down to only race traffic and you could use all lanes. We were back at the park before to long and in bed and fast asleep by 12 am.
Lost days (09/3-4-5)
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything. I have been in kind of a funk lately but hopefully that is behind me.
Wed the 3rd we didn't do much today it is raining again!!!!!! But it is nice to just relax together and talk and do nothing. Went for a short walk when the rain stopped for a little bit. Other than that just got ready for our long trip to Richmond VA. This is about 550 mile day. The long drive days haven't been to bad as long as we can get an early start.
Thurs. the 4th we are up at 5 am and on the road by 7. It was a little different getting hooked up in the dark. It didn't get light until almost 7:30. The drive out of Atlanta was horrible, it took us 1 1/2 hours to get through the city. We thought we had left early enough to miss the worst of it but I guess not. Very one lives outside Atlanta and drives into it for work. I was sprinkling by the time we were clear of all the traffic. Actually we were in more traffic than we expected all the way to Richmond. We have to drive through several states to get to Virginia and the roads are not in good shape and lots of road construction , and of course it is pouring rain. I mean can't see 10 ft in front of you rain. The windshield wipers have trouble keeping up. We finally arrive in Richmond around 4 pm. Very nice RV park we are staying in. They took us to our site and guided Joe in, since it is a back in and we don't do very good at backing in. I got a few good pointers on how to direct Joe in backing up, hopefully next time I can get it right. Once set up we drive into Ashland for dinner and head back and to bed. We both are exhausted from today's drive.
Friday morning we finish getting set up and go back into Ashland to the Waffle Hours for pecan waffles. YUM!!!! Then to Walmart for groceries and a few other things. I needed black ink for my printer and wouldn't you know it when I got home I found I bought the wrong one. I can't return it because I already opened it before I saw it was the wrong one. Joe offered to drive back and get the right one but we decided to wait on it.
Friday night Joe went to the Nationwide race at Richmond International Speedway. I know tomorrow's race is going to be a long one so I opted to stay home tonight.
Wed the 3rd we didn't do much today it is raining again!!!!!! But it is nice to just relax together and talk and do nothing. Went for a short walk when the rain stopped for a little bit. Other than that just got ready for our long trip to Richmond VA. This is about 550 mile day. The long drive days haven't been to bad as long as we can get an early start.
Thurs. the 4th we are up at 5 am and on the road by 7. It was a little different getting hooked up in the dark. It didn't get light until almost 7:30. The drive out of Atlanta was horrible, it took us 1 1/2 hours to get through the city. We thought we had left early enough to miss the worst of it but I guess not. Very one lives outside Atlanta and drives into it for work. I was sprinkling by the time we were clear of all the traffic. Actually we were in more traffic than we expected all the way to Richmond. We have to drive through several states to get to Virginia and the roads are not in good shape and lots of road construction , and of course it is pouring rain. I mean can't see 10 ft in front of you rain. The windshield wipers have trouble keeping up. We finally arrive in Richmond around 4 pm. Very nice RV park we are staying in. They took us to our site and guided Joe in, since it is a back in and we don't do very good at backing in. I got a few good pointers on how to direct Joe in backing up, hopefully next time I can get it right. Once set up we drive into Ashland for dinner and head back and to bed. We both are exhausted from today's drive.
Friday morning we finish getting set up and go back into Ashland to the Waffle Hours for pecan waffles. YUM!!!! Then to Walmart for groceries and a few other things. I needed black ink for my printer and wouldn't you know it when I got home I found I bought the wrong one. I can't return it because I already opened it before I saw it was the wrong one. Joe offered to drive back and get the right one but we decided to wait on it.
Friday night Joe went to the Nationwide race at Richmond International Speedway. I know tomorrow's race is going to be a long one so I opted to stay home tonight.
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