Dang! You did some driving! Interesting stop at Drake. Good for you.

Sorry about losing the piece of trim on the Outback. On the bright side it takes some anxiety out of the next one.

The Grisham comment was my impression of his early books. I have no experience with his more recent ones. The first 95% of the book would be well written and detailed, and then all of a sudden it was like, "Whoops! Where does the time go? I have to finish this to be able to shop the manuscript to Hollywood!" Then it would get tied up quickly with little attention to any details.

I was going to ask if you experienced any of the flooding. Looks like you got out just in time.

Query. How did you find the camp grounds where you stayed? You mentioned a few weren't easily findable.

Was an awesome ride. Thanks for taking us along.

You're welcome, glad to note my experiences.

When you ask, "how did you find...", it sounds as if you're asking "how did you locate..." rather than "how did you like them?" Short answer is, stumble upon them. Here's a pretty typical scenario.

I'll usually have an early dinner, then a few hours before local sunset, start looking for campgrounds. Most places have billboards or something, often I'll look for the little tent symbol near the highway too. If it gets to be later (~6PM on this trip, I don't want to have to set up in the dark), I'll find a McBurgers or something, hook into their wifi (don't have a very good data plan), and start doing more active searching.

A couple times, I struck out finding a place; near the Cape and northern Maine stayed in a hotel on a really nice night. But mostly, facilities are widespread and available. Being a single tent camper, it's easy to squeeze me in, unlike (I suspect) an RV.

After setting up (~20 minutes), I'll typically grab a beer and walk around the campground to see license plates. Of course, they're mostly close, but sometimes I'll see someone from far away. Plus it's nice to just get a walk in before bed. Not uncommon for other campers to say hi and chat a little bit.

In the morning, it's usually about the same amount of time to pack up. Early in the trip, I'll have breakfast burritos I made before leaving. Throw a couple of those in a pan on low on the camp stove. By the time things are packed up, they're usually warm and toasty. Of course, they only keep for a while. I'll make ~ 6 mornings' worth before leaving, and freeze them. Later in the trip, it's "get on the road and find something."

Just in case I misinterpreted, KOA are to be avoided; while nice, clean, and all that, they're generally expensive (due to location), and often not much more than a big open space--little shade or privacy. Mostly, campground operators are good people and make a legitimate effort to have a pleasant place to stay. Publicly-run campgrounds are a little more hit-and-miss, but generally clean and good camping.

More on the topic of food, I do try to avoid getting something I can get any time here. If I have chain food, I'll try to find something we don't have here. Mostly though, looking for a diner/bar & grill/whatever that's local.

I was also surprised at the lack of free wifi. Out here, it's just everywhere by default. Even the smallest spots have a free network available. Many spots east of here didn't offer wifi at all.

---------------

In the middle of the night, of course I had to get up for bathroom. Reaching around on the end table, thinking to myself, "these hotels need to be better about making the bedside light findable in the dark." and getting frustrated.



---------------

Slowly getting back to my life. Got up this morning, walked up to the store to get some groceries (nice to be more ambulatory again). Shutters I ordered for the bedroom window came in while on the road, so got the install scheduled. Mowed, cut back some of the overgrowth, got some beer, doing laundry.

While checking my CC statements, checked my credit score on Discover. +12 points, after running up a pretty significant amount of debt during this trip & with the shutters. I don't understand their modeling, but no matter. I'm unlikely to need credit anytime soon.

Car payment coupon came in the mail, so walked up to Chase and paid that. Pretty sure yesterday was the second anniversary of buying the Subie, so halfway there.

ever wonder why some companies pay for tv ads to encourage your checking of credit score as if it were your ira?

i'm new to your adventure descriptions and wish i was a-wearing golddog travel threads before your road trip west in '21.
do it again and perhaps LazyRayZee and MeanOlZeno might come out to play,
or-they-gone somewhere else because they can't stand the smell of smoke no matter the original source.

Welcome, Red!

Funny you should mention that. Ray and I had PM'd about meeting when I was going through MT that year, but didn't work out due to the heavy smoke.

Likewise, if you find yourself around Denver, give a holler.

absolutely

One thing I forgot to mention: it was kind of funny watching the Subie's clock when near a time zone change.

For the last several miles of US1's existence, it hugs the Canadian border. The clock kept switching back-and-forth by an hour. I assume there's some cellular-type connection going on, and it just matters which tower it happened to hit.

Also, when I had lunch at Ole's the other day (first town in MTZ), my phone noticed right away. The Subie didn't notice til I was in Colorado, many miles down the road. So it must not be one universal service that everything connects to.

On the subject of US 1, I've now driven that on both ends (Boston to Maine, and Ft Lauderdale to Key West), and a lot of the stretch between Philly and Arlington, VA (plus a tiny bit around Augusta, GA).

States in which I've been to their highest point: 9 (NE, KS, OK, TX, DE, FL, IA, NJ, NH). According to my map, I went right by RI's, but did not see a marker or anything.

Oh yeah, two things from driving a lot on two-lane highways.

Don't pull out in front of me close enough that I have to brake, then drive under the speed limit. You're in such a hurry to get out there, go!

Also people that can't manage their speed to be consistent. Seems like they always speed up in the passing zone, then slow down when you're back in no passing.

I'm pretty good about sticking to the speed limit. I'm in no hurry (being retired is great that way), just out enjoying the countryside. So if I'm coming up on you, you're probably doing it wrong.

Pet peeve of mine as well, especially since the first leg of my journey to "work" is a 10-mile two lane road with few passing zones and fewer passing opportunities.

My theory is that the slowpoke assumes that everyone else is driving their speed, therefore they have plenty of time to pull out in front of you...but then you prove to be another one of those maniac speed demons, and that's on you.

Narrator: It was on them.

Gave the Subie a bath yesterday and vaccuumed it out today. I guess that makes the trip officially over.

For the second or third trip in a row, had some gatorade and an extra water jug in the cooler and never touched them. Think I'll stop bringing those.

Also forgot to put the chocks (really pieces of 4x4) under the car wheels, just dragged them around the country. I did used to use those when traveling in the pickup as a just in case, since it had a manual transmission. With an automatic, I don't think there's as much need.

Some stuff I brought didn't use, but might've. For example, packed some jeans and sweatpants, figuring it might get cold up in Canada or New England. Even with the rainy weather, though, it was warm enough to be in shorts and a T shirt. Sometimes needed the raincoat over.

Only thing left to deal with is an invalid charge from the motel up at the top of Maine. They charged me $98.05 for the night of July 4, but also $100 for the 5th, bu which time I was in New Brunswick.

Left a voice message and sent an email telling them to reverse that charge. Of course, it's the weekend, so I'll give it til midweekish before I ask Capital One to start a fraud investigation.

Haven't really considered a next destination. Have the inkling of an idea, but I'm going to let it sit for a while, at least til the bills are paid from this one.

You should come to Texas next April for the eclipse.

That's a good suggestion, Mark. Apparently, it's going to be seen at the Armstrong Air & Space museum in Ohio. There were displays mentioning they're going to have an event.

Only disappointing parts of Maine:

The hotel operator not fixing the invalid second-day charge. Emailed them Saturday, left a VM Sunday. Called today, actually got someone. They're claiming there was blood on something, so they charged an excessive cleaning fee.

There wasn't. They're lying. Supposedly the manager is going to call me back.

Did not see a Russian submarine entering any of the inlets. TBF, though, they probably came at night while I was in the tent.

Drove the length and breadth of Maine, did not see a bear, moose, or Stephen King.

Finally got a response from the hotel in Maine. They texted me some photos of a room with a spot of blood on the sheets and bamboo cover from some date.

The story he told goes along with how I stayed; he noticed me drop the key early on the 5th for room 17, went in there, saw the blood and took these pictures. Don't know why I still think it's kind of sketchy, other than I think I would've noticed bleeding. Looks like maybe a quarter-sized, or a little bigger, spot about where my left shoulder would've been.

The truth is, I have no recourse to prove that they are trying to scam me, so I'll end up paying the extra $100 charge. In the scheme of things, even if they are scamming me, it's not that big a deal.

did you post pics of that particular situation and i missed it?
and would you terribly mind sharing them again?
small blood spots on the linen may be a sign of cimex and the bed was bugged.

No, no pics, and I've already cleaned the text messages from my phone. Pretty sure it wasn't bedbugs though, as a) it was one spot, fair-sized and 2) have had no ongoing effects.

Forgot the most important stat of all.

Percentage of 2p2ers I've met IRL who are good folks: 100

You know who you are. Whoever's next, don't break the streak!

Same rate for me too, brother. Its been all good folks so far.

Just came across this thread. I'm a sucker for a bit of small-town America.

Did I miss the London 1999 TR?

All the best.

Charlie, welcome to the thread!

Not sure if I posted about London. I see my google photos only go back to 2008, so I'll give a quick (from memory, picture-free) report.

It started off in kind of an interesting way. British Airways was just starting service direct to Gatwick from London, and I got a fare for some ridiculously cheap price (~$400?). I'd just moved to Denver in the spring, so didn't have a bunch of time off. Only went for a long weekend over our Thanksgiving (late November), maybe 4-5 days?

First time to Europe, and really the first time anywhere truly on my own. I'd taken a trip to the Caribbean a couple years earlier, but that was mostly just hanging out at a resort, not too much touring.

Got hold of our company's travel agent, who found a place near Paddington to stay, and got me a ticket for public transport so I could go around.

Fly overnight to Gatwick, arriving really tired. Got to see a little of the south of England. Found my way to Paddington, wandered around til I found the hotel. Much different than what I'm used to in USA #n, the room was barely bigger than the bed (that's all I needed, so not bad, just different). Remember going around the corner to a local pub, trying to stay up til ~normal bedtime. Nodding off in the pub, watching football with the locals. Went back to hotel in early evening.

Over the course of the few days, did a lot of the touristy things. Out to Greenwich to see the Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian. Wandered into the First Shop in the World (24 seconds west), where I learned about the difference between England and the UK from the shopkeeper.

Tower of London, where I got admonished for using flash to take a picture of the crown jewels. Walked around from Parliament/Downing Street/Buckingham. Have a decent picture of Parliament in my house, taken from the far side of the Thames. Did see the dressed-up guys on horses. Not sure if it was the changing of the guard or what.

One night I'm in the pub near my hotel, and somebody with an American accent asks me something about London. "I don't know, I'm an American too, and just got here." We got to talking, they were living around Atlanta. When I told them I lived in Westminster, they inquired further. Turns out they used to live a neighborhood or two over from where I was at the time. Small world; it's amazing how frequently I run into people in all parts of the world with some connection to a part of my past or present.

Being a fan, went out to Baker Street one day. Kind of disappointing museum of Sherlock Holmes, but had a nice time in a pub out there.

The only time I went out of town, connected with a day trip out to Stonehenge and Bath. Stonehenge was interesting to see after all those years; well-signed and informative, but you can't really get close, and ultimately it's some big rocks out in a field. Plus, the weather was foggy and cool.

Found Bath much more interesting than I thought I would. Not usually much of a student of history, but the tour guide did a really good job explaining how it was unearthed and what they'd discovered. Found a pub for lunch, and we piled back on the bus. Got to talking to an older couple from North Carolina on the way back, that was nice.

On the flight back, the we're going along in the dark and the guy in the aisle seat says, "there's a town down there." We figured we were flying over Greenland or some such at the time, and there were lights of a small fishing village down there, with absolutely nothing around it as far as the eye could see.

I'd say, within the context of my limited experience, London is one of the great cities of the world. Expensive, but fun. Should go back, there's so much I didn't get a chance to experience.

Plus, the beer was really good. First time I'd gotten to try London Pride, A+. Food worked for me, I'm a meat-and-potatoes guy, so going to the pub for dinner was just great.

Thanks for bringing back some nice memories, Charlie. I'll give a shout if I'm ever back; please do likewise if you're ever in the Denver area.

P.S. My Westminster and London's are both great, but in very different ways.

Using a flash bulb around the Crown Jewels, eh?

You live in Westminster, USA? Well then, you're practically obliged to return, and let me know if you do.

Not a bulb, but yes.

The jewels are in a darkish room in one part of the tower. Of course they're in glass cases. IIRC, there's kind of a moving sidewalk (not very long) that people get on which transports them past the cases. When I flipped up the flash and took a picture of some piece, one of the Beefeaters admonished me that flash photography wasn't allowed.

Of course, this was in the pre-digital days, so I needed flash to expose the film. Apologized, took the flash off and put it away. No worries.

I don't understand how a flash of light can hurt crystallized carbon and gold, but I guess if thousands/day were to do it, it might have some effect.

It's not about the physical effect, it's about showing respect to the scene. I guess it's easier to understand if you're from other parts of the world. Anyways, good blog, carry on