Travel Day From Massachusetts to Maryland

Mark Twain wrote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of ...[people] and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

I am past the half-way point of my 4 month Post-Retirement road trip. Although I had the pleasure of seeing beautiful scenery along the entire East of the US, I must say my fondest memory is meeting and enjoying all of the diverse people along the way. They have all been extremely kind, caring and wonderfully generous people. In exchange for conversation, chores, etc., they welcomed me into their homes, provided me shelter, meals and much, much more.

Enough of waxing philosophically....Let's update the blog with the route that Google suggested without tolls. Along the way, I stopped at several Rest Areas on the Interstates. I saw "Free Coffee" under the Rest Area sign on I-81 just south of Scranton, PA. I broke my rule of drinking coffee after noon. I am glad that I did. In addition to coffee, the local Lioness Club offered Hot Dogs and a variety of other snacks for a donation! Yes, I enjoyed a loaded dog.

I arrived to the DC area safely without too much traffic. I am staying in a beautiful home of a Couchsurfer who also seems to be an informal leader in his neighborhood. He has a vibrant & busy home. I met and interacted with several of his neighbors and some of his co-workers. 

We played Jenga, enjoyed a drink & conversation, music, etc. He served a very ample barbecue of Pork Steaks, Ribs, Chicken, Shrimp, Corn on the Cob, Baby Red Bliss Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Fruit, Sangria, etc. I finally went to bed after 1 am earlier this morning.

Photo of Luis and Ricardo from Ecuador playing Jenga.

Dinner Table