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Post by htmb on Mar 23, 2015 23:52:54 GMT
Yesterday my daughter, S, and I left north Florida for New York City where she recently moved. We had planned to take the dog to NYC, so S had rented a car for the drive. After much back and forth, she decided the dog would be much better off in Gainesville. I also agreed, but it still left us with a very long drive. We started out at 7:00 in clear weather, but ran into fog north of Jacksonville.  Continuing up I-95, it started to rain in Georgia,  And it became steady by the time we crossed the South Carolina line. Conditions continued until we passed through North Carolina and into Virginia.  Though the trees are budding out and spring is apparent in Florida, there were few signs of it to the north.  Only the occasional blossoming tree served notice that spring was trying to push northward.  S is an excellent driver and we made good time. We were certainly happy to see the sun shining near Richmond where we were stopping for the night.   After about nine hours of straight driving we had Richmond, Virginia in our sights.  We crossed the port area on the James River.  And, pulling off the interstate highway, we could already see the architecture here was different from what we'd just left in Florida.  Heading to the home of family members, we passed Virginia Commonwealth University.  And some interesting restaurants.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2015 23:54:51 GMT
Looking forward to more. I've actually been to Richmond, believe it or not.
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 0:13:45 GMT
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 0:16:19 GMT
Looking forward to more. I've actually been to Richmond, believe it or not. Feel free to chime in with information, Lizzy. While S has been there many times, this was my first trip to Richmond and my knowledge is very limited. |
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 1:13:16 GMT
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 1:44:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 1:50:35 GMT
Cool, Cool, HTMB, you are a trooper!
Never been to Richmond but, it's just as I imagined.
Can't wait for more!!
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 1:54:43 GMT
Thanks, Casimira!
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 2:17:40 GMT
It's easy to travel when you're not the one doing the driving. Not only had S driven these roads several times before, she's also an experienced NYC driver. Lucky for me! We passed the time listening to some fascinating podcasts, while I also played a few on-line games and checked into AnyPort from time to time. However, reading in a fast moving car has become much more difficult for me these days. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 4:58:47 GMT
I recognize some of these shots so well.
The very first shot of the the thread says, "we're on the road!!!!
Gotta ask, haven't seen one single person thus far...
That Pennsylvania then New Jersey
Turnpike is a bitch, jeez the tolls alone.
Safe travel dears.
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Post by bjd on Mar 24, 2015 6:53:16 GMT
I'm always surprised at how similar some of the architecture is all over N America. Except for the columns on some of the houses and buildings, many of those houses in Richmond could be in parts of Toronto. I suppose the vegetation would be different though once everything is in leaf or bloom.
How long did the drive take you, htmb?
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 10:47:27 GMT
The Gainesville to Richmond part of our drive took almost ten hours, and Richmond to NYC was six. Yes, the tolls were horrible. We had several bridge and tunnel tolls of about $4 each, but the Jersey turnpike and Lincoln tunnel tolls were each $14! Continuing past Newark.... |
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 11:05:40 GMT
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 24, 2015 11:50:28 GMT
Amazing thread- makes me want to go out for a long drive!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 12:43:11 GMT
Looking forward to more. I've actually been to Richmond, believe it or not. Feel free to chime in with information, Lizzy. While S has been there many times, this was my first trip to Richmond and my knowledge is very limited. I was there only briefly, for about 4 days, to visit my future husband's mother in her nursing home (he wanted me to meet her before it was too late). I met his family and took his mum to the Red Lobster (she had dementia and it was the only place she really responded to). Touristically, we visited Maymont Park, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, the Fan District (husband's old neighbourhood), the river. Spent a fair amount of time exploring my husband's ambivalence to the city (previous relationships gone bad!). I'm sure it's a lovely place, but I have to admit the South, what little experience I have of it, makes me uncomfortable. Now the NYC part of your trip has me fascinated. More, please! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 17:35:04 GMT
I remember our evacuation from NOLA to NY and somehow, I had the good sense to put all the change/coins that I hoard into a pillowcase to take along.
Indeed we used it for all those f'n toll booths.
So that's your entry point into NYC. I was curious. So, the the George Washington Bridge no?
Ah, and, at last, some people shots.
You're going to have a blast HTMB.
And, I am kinda envious although the weather there is still a bit chilly for my thinned out Yankee blood.
Looking forward to more and, please do eat a Sabrett for me and HWINPP. He always used to comment to me about NYC Kosher hot dogs.
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Post by htmb on Mar 24, 2015 17:56:47 GMT
I was just along for the ride, Casimira. S was using her GPS and, between google's directions and her expertise, the Lincoln tunnel was selected. S lives on the Upper East Side to the east of Lexington Avenue and we made it to her apartment building fairly quickly.
I spent a couple of hours in Central Park this morning and attempted to master the local #6 subway line afterwards. I have a good bit of wandering I also want to do this afternoon and will need to decide how I'm going to divide up future threads. I was going to end this one after reaching NYC, but maybe I'll add some more pictures. Any suggestions?
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Post by mossie on Mar 24, 2015 19:11:05 GMT
You've just whetted our appetite for NYC
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2015 23:57:39 GMT
FABULOUS travelogue, Htmb! I'm pretty sure my days of driving long distances across the USA are behind me, but your pictures and commentary brought back all the pleasure of seeing new things that leavens the tedium of being in the car for hours.
Your photographic eye was in fine form -- posts 11 & 12 alone constitute a stellar photo essay. Thanks for showing enough of Richmond to get an idea of how it looks, which for some reason was surprising to me. Some of the streets looked like the love children of San Francisco & New Orleans. And even the Dollar Tree was in an architecturally significant building!
Most interesting & enjoyable. I'm looking forward to more chapters.
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Post by htmb on Mar 25, 2015 1:17:15 GMT
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 25, 2015 3:23:41 GMT
Richmond's architecture looks charming. Your accommodations look really nice, too.
I love seeing the city come into view when I'm returning home from a trip. I don't think I'd ever get tired of it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2015 6:39:16 GMT
Bright lights, big city! New York City does not look like it has changed one iota since I was last there, but it still surprises me to see the completely sanitary 42nd Street compared to my memories from the 70's and 80's. I-95 is such a totally boring road, just like practically any Interstate. It's a shame you didn't give us a tour of at least one exit with "services" but I do understand that your daughter might have thought you insane. I am always astonished by those clusters of signs, first the one saying Exxon, Shell, Texaco, Hess -- followed by the one saying McDonald's, Dairy Queen, Wendy's, KFC -- and finally the one saying Super 8, Motel 6, Holiday Inn Express, Kinghts Inn, etc. And what do you give us instead? Richmond!     |
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