Travel days are often “lost days.” By that I mean that the effort and energy required to get from point to point often delivers a net loss in terms of value.
I actually spent two days traveling back to Maine after leaving my Airbnb location in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Tuesday was a long day of driving, traffic snarls from DC north, and just plain gridlock in NYC as I hit the Big Apple at rush hour. Then, creeping northward into Connecticut, battling the worst drivers and driving I’d witnessed on the entire trip.
My goal on Wednesday was to get north of the city and I managed to do it, balky back and all. My back’s been fucked-up the entire trip. Any significant time in the seat was followed by excruciating pain upon exiting the driver’s position.
I wanted to stop-over in Providence and see Mark’s tree in front of the library on the Brown campus. I hadn’t seen the tree since its planting last fall.
The benefit of my marathon driving day on Wednesday is that I was in Providence at 8:00 a.m. and I had some time in that space remembering my son before things got busy. It was very emotional.
Mark’s tree at Brown.
The plague in front of John D. Rockefeller Library
I also got to spend the morning in the city, seeing some old places imbued with special memories. I saw a couple of people who’ve become special friends after Mark was killed.
Then, I pointed my Honda Accord for Brunswick, Maine, with the last 190 miles to be covered serving as familiar terrain. It felt good to pass the blue “Welcome to Maine” and by 3:30, I was home.
I spent a week on the road. I made it through another Father’s Day without Mark.
A few trip highlights:
Totals miles driven: 2,314
Favorite restaurant: Root & Bloom Café-Buffalo, NY
Favorite breakfast: Little Lad’s granola (packed for the trip)
Best convenience store: Rutter’s #64-Calisle, PA
Most chill stop: Raleigh-Durham, NC
Surprise location: Rochester, NY
Best show: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks-Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Favorite food in the car: Bing cherries
Hawks seen while driving: 40
Bunnies seen while at hotels: 2
Worst drivers: State of Connecticut
Toughest state to speed in: North Carolina
Most breathtaking vista: 1. Scenic turnout-near the Blue Ridge Parkway north entrance, Afton, VA Honorable mention: Allegheny Mountain pass in rural PA.
Favorite driving song: “Never Lose That Feeling” Swervedriver (from Mezcal Head)
Favorite CDs on trip:
Spouse There Goes The Road (Live 2003-2010)
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Sparkle Hard
The War on Drugs A Deeper Understanding
Duke University Chapel, Durham, North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains
Map from the road.