Headed south. (Brookfield, Connecticut)

We changed our routing a little bit this morning to avoid the dreaded I-95 interstate. That road sucks. Road conditions/pot holes, tolls, traffic around NYC and D.C… anything we could do to get around it, we figured we’d try. We’re now on I-84 in western Connecticut, heading to connect with I-81, which will take us all the way down to Charlottesville (VA). This drive is more scenic, too… more of our style of scenery (less buildings and people, more trees and hills).

Had a nice breakfast of turkey eggs and toast this morning before leaving the B&B… and washing it down here in the van with chocolate chip cookies made for us by Backstage Member Kristen up in Vermont (thanks, Kristen!).

It looks like we should arrive just in time to load in down at Bel Rio… around 8pm or so. Another long day of driving, but the weather is absolutely perfect today – the heat from yesterday has moved onward – so we’re enjoying it.

Funny how crowded the East Coast is. I grew up here (in MA), but having lived away from it for 10 years, coming back is eye opening. We’re stopped at a gas station right now, and every single pump is taken, and a long line inside at the counter – yet we’re “inland” from the main north/south route (I-95). I don’t think we’ll be seeing any remote/empty gas stations for a while. When I lived in MA, the idea of an empty Western gas station creeped me out… now it sounds like home (and these crowds are creeping me out). Life is funny.

One nice thing about being back East – Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner. Mmm. There’s one at this gas station… time to go check it out.

More later…