This was my trip report to my on again, off again girlfriend who is in Chicago (for months now
)
Long trip honey.
Left house in Suwanee at 9:19 AM, just now booted my laptop in Days Inn hotel room at what, 1:11 AM the next day. Yikes. Looooooong trip. Very nearly 900 miles, just short of it.
Went through places I've never been, ever, Maryland, Delaware, DC, Virginia. Had no idea I would be going through Maryland or Delaware. And HOW can those states, and New Jersey, charge so much toll for driving on a FEDERAL US PUBLIC Interstate (I-95, all of the pirates)
!!!!! Outrageous. Assholes. Sorry, I am sidetracked now. So what the heck, let me digress....
Last night, I did my farewell tour of my two Wild Wing Cafes in Atlanta area, first with Clint, my good friend, in Alpharetta, then in Suwanee. Was really great to see Clint one last time, hopefully not for the last time. Then in Suwanee, the folks were buying Jager shots for me big time, regulars there and bartenders. Going to miss those folks in Suwanee a great deal. Saw Dean & Wendy, the owners of both those Wings. They know me very, very well, for many years now. I told Dean my circumstances, and he kindly thanked me, very honestly, for all I had done for them. And that I have...hell, I've kept the lights on at Wings in my time there at both stores
Before I even went to Alpharetta Wings, I went to Friday's, where April is daytime bartender. I thought I saw what looked like Todd's car in the parking lot, so I drove on through, didn't stop, went to Wings much earlier than I planned. I was very sorry and disappointed to not see April one last time. But I'm sure she knows I'll always love her. April is a very special and incredible woman. Not sure how God chose not to make more like her. Many more men would be so much happier today.
Okay, back to today....because of the Jagers last night, my plan to LEAVE my house by 7 AM were completely foiled. I was wiped out by them. And I still had to pack!! (last night) Was up very late.....ended up oversleeping my alarms, and finally woke up in time to get everything packed up, coffee brewed, everything done by just after 9 AM....definitely not bad for me! Unplugged EVERYTHING (almost), turned down water heater to nothing, turned down heat to lowest it would go on the control panel, 45 degrees. Don't think I missed anything....but you never know I guess. Knocked on Jim the neighbor's door to say bye to him. No answer. Dog looks at me from inside the house, and their 4 yr old boy wonders around the living room ignoring the very loud doorbell. So I left.
9:19 AM, I'm on the road. Damn near 16 hours later, I fired up my laptop in my hotel in Newark. Almost 900 miles later.
No cops for most of the day, was surprised. About 10 PM, the stealth patrols parked in the middle of the grass medians of interstates started appearing, lights off, ready to pounce. I only did 5-10 MPH over the speed limit most of the way. Exception to that is the NJ Turnpike late at night where I was FLYING, probably 20 MPH over the limit, with nobody hardly on the road.
I stopped in Raleigh, NC, at Carolina Ale House and Wild Wing Cafe there. Saw three bartenders at Wings that knew me, I knew them, and I couldn't remember any of their names lol. Kitty, now a server at Wings, formerly a bartender at Ale House next door, was not there
Said hi, left. All that was after I spent an hour at Carolina Ale House. Ate late lunch there, had two beers, saw three old regular friends and a bartender I knew from before. That was nice.
I had detoured from a direct route to NJ in order to make that stop, but it was worth it. The hour break came at a very good time, and it was a joy to see some old friends.
When going through DC, my GPS told me to get on the HOV lane...I said screw that! But then I saw the sign flashing "No restricted traffic" or some such, so what the heck. What a great move
I was flying by normal interstate traffic big time, and there was NOBODY in the HOV lanes! For like almost 30 miles, the HOV was walled off from the normal interstate. Made great time there. At one point, I saw an exit for "Pentagon". Passed it, then looked to my left, and said out loud to myself "HOLY SHIT!!!!! That's the PENTAGON!!!" It was right there by the interstate. Not sure why that surprised me, but it did. Never expected the Pentagon to be right by an interstate. Then I saw the Washington Monument, the US Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, I passed over the Potomac river. This was all at night time, light traffic, everything well lit up, and I was able to look around quite a bit. I was stunned. It was all so beautiful. I had chills actually. I never thought I would ever see any of that. Meant a lot to me for some reason.
Actually, my GPS took me right to Pennsylvania Avenue at one point...where the HOV ended for the interstate, and there was a huge van sitting on the shoulder. I think I must have missed a sudden speed change waaaaay down (as the interstate was turning into a highway with stoplights), because I saw a huge flash in my mirror, at me, when I passed that big van. This was real close to the White House, and the interstate continuing on to the White House (I presume) was completely blocked off. No surprise there I guess. So, I'm expecting a photo ticket in the mail for speeding now I guess.
At one point during my travels, there was an 18-wheeler in front of me, going really fast, in the passing lane. Faster than I was going....he was passing traffic, and suddenly he turned on a really high-powered spotlight off his passenger side, aimed directly into the windshield of a car he was passing, an SUV. I thought "What the fuck??!!" Because even I was getting that light about 3-4 car slots back of the SUV. That dude kept that spotlight on for quite a while actually, like two minutes or more. Seemed forever. Pulled out to pass the slower traffic, following the 18-wheeler, and that damned SUV had its bright lights on. No wonder. I flipped the MF off, as I had no high powered spotlight to pour on the idiot myself. Yes, again, this was at night.
So, got to hotel, finally. Hard to find, even with GPS. Took some stuff to the room. Um. Where's the mini-fridge and microwave? I thought they were supposed to have that stuff. Asked the woman at front desk about it...."yes, we have rooms with those, but they are extra. But since you are staying the week, I'll move you for free to a room with those." I tipped her $20
Hey, I only drank....um.....probably 8 or 9 Bud Lights on the road! (shhhhhh, don't tell anyone) Come on, it was a looooooooooooooong day........
So, I have time now to settle in a bit in Newark, NJ tomorrow, watch my Cowboys win against the Chargers hopefully tomorrow, and start my new job, and hopefully very temporary new life Monday with Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, AKA Armpit of the Universe.
I'll be looking to get away from here immediately. SF and DC are still possibilities. I'd love to get back to Atlanta if possible. Basically anywhere else before the 10 cartons of Marlboro Lights I bought in Atlanta this morning are gone, 'cause I sure don't want to have to pay for a carton of those here!!!!!!!!
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Thank God for cruise control and GPS
