My Florida Trip Book

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Day 54 – Home Sweet Home

We got a decent nights sleep and were back on the road at 8:30 am arriving home by 9:30 am. Ron was concerned about getting the MH in the yard but was pleasantly surprised with a clear driveway and spot to park the MH. That was until he tried to back it in. The thaw had caused the ground to be mushy so there was no way to get the MH in without getting stuck . We had to put the MH in the driveway on a downward angle. The angle made it difficult to unload and we could not open the slides to get  the remaining food and clothes. Will have to wait until the ground hardens a bit then park in its normal place. We had the same issue a couple of years ago so no big deal.

Jewel was very happy to be back and was ready for her jaunt in the Flea Market parking lot.

New Solar panels at Flea Market

 

MOTORHOME 3,567.1 MILES

 

JEEP 1,037 MILES

 

TOTAL 4,604.1 MILES

 

 

THE END!

Day 53 What a Day!!!

Well, since we went to bed sooo early we woke at 3 am and decided it would be a good time to get through the beltway in DC and avoid all of the traffic. So off we went in our PJ’s at 3 am to avoid the rush hour traffic. Yes, we are crazy!!  Despite the early hour there was still a lot of traffic on the road. Once we cleared the beltway Ron decided it would be a good idea to get through Baltimore as well. Again we managed to traverse that without a problem. We took a different route, 695 W and avoided paying the huge toll on the Scott Key Bridge.

It took us two hours to get around both DC and Baltimore (usually a 3-3.5 hr. drive) and we were ready to settle in and get a little more sleep. Of course the Maryland House was closed for renovation so we had to drive another 22 miles to get to another rest area. We arrived at 5 am and there was only one spot left, just for us. By the time we resurfaced at 7:30 am we were the only ones there. All rest areas look pretty much alike but Ron makes me put in the picture anyway. LOL

We had hoped to get into Newark NJ in time to stop to see Kelly before she returns to Washington but our timing was off and they have been keeping her pretty busy at Audible. We did speak with her this morning and she is flying out later today. Hopefully, she and her family can get out here on a vacation in the near future.

We left the rest area and had planned to take I-295 N then 84 home to avoid the exorbitant tolls. It was not in the cards for us because as we were approaching the exit for I 295 there was a sign stating that I 295 was closed due to an accident. And boy was there an accident. A 20 year old man was exiting I 295 at a high rate of speed on his motorcycle, lost control and was ejected and unfortunately died at the scene. We saw the motorcycle then the body covered on the side of the road. Such a sad day for his family.

So we continued our journey down I 95 thinking about the tragedy and how fortunate we were to still have choices. The  first 800 or so miles were a piece of cake but that all changed the farther North we got.  The roads in this part of the country are terrible and tolls equally as bad. The slowdowns were brutal and at one point it took us 45 min. to travel 3 miles because of a truck broken down in one lane.  So much for making good time.The NJ Turnpike cost us  $42.50, the GW Bridge $60.00 and that was only 2 of the five tolls we paid for a total of $126.75. And we skipped a toll by taking 695 W. OUCH!!!

We finally got through the heavy traffic in NYC and into Connecticut. It was after 4 pm and the traffic had picked up and slowed down to a crawl. Ron was really tired so we pulled into a rest area to wait out the traffic. Any hope of getting back on the road would have to wait until the traffic cleared.

Jewel has been traveling really well. We think it might have something to do with us bringing her bed with us. She was even relaxed when we were bouncing over the ruts in NYC. LOL

So we were nicely settled in and I thought it would be a good idea to stay where we were for the night but Ron had other ideas. He wanted to drive  a little more and get closer to home, but he did not want to get  home in the dark. So we drove another 100 miles and pulled in at the Pilot Truck stop at exit 93. The truck stop was definitely not set up for MH’s so we parked across the street in a vacant gas station. It worked out well and since the Connecticut State Police drove by us twice we figured we would b OK parked there for the night. 

It had been an unusual travel day for us with many stops and starts but overall OK. Will be home in the morning and then the unpacking begins.