My Fantastic Road Trip Adventure' 2nd installment

Next was anticipation of disembarking, getting my car and being on the way...which did not happen for 2 more hours, there were over 200 cards to get off the train ...and 50 people paid $50. extra to be first. So it was after 11am when I started on my 8 hr. trek as AAA had outlined for me(not counting the unexpected: accidents, bad weather , toll slow downs etc.) When I started my car a sign came on ;Check air pressure. Oh no! why now? I don't know how to. I figured I'll get on the road and stop @ a gas station later. As soon as I got on the infamous I-95 bumper to bumper traffic ensued, it was the Washington beltway. After awhile it opened up and I breathed a sigh of relief as I entered Maryland...but not for long...a big overhead sign said in large letters CRASH! ALL LANES BLOCKED! OMG For the next hour and a half we sat in our cars as 6 lines of traffic filed into one lane which took like what seemed like forever. Once out of that mess, I decided to check the air in my tires and top off my gas tank.  As I parked my car I spotted a police officer entering the mini-mart. I'll ask him for help I thought, that would be safe.. He did help & it was safe. When I first approached him, he replied 'M'am I don't work here. 'I know, I see you're an officer of the law & I thought you might help me.' The nice officer did help me check & put air in my tires. Do I know how to get my needs met or what? I topped off my gas & was happily on my way...or so I thought. Next jam up Baltimore Tunnel & every toll after that...incld Delaware Memorial Bridge. It seems EZPASS is the way to go, if you don't have one...you wait. There were 6 lanes for EZYPASS & 1 for cash(that could be a country western song) so the cash line was always long & time consuming. As a result I did not make the time I would have liked to...oh & did it mention it was raining to add to the mix? My trip tik said I would arrive in 8 hrs to Ma. When that time came I was inly up to N.J. wondering who I knew there that I could crash for the night. I was exhausted and bleery eyed. Finally when I reached upstate N.Y. I spotted a Howard Johnson Inn...& in I went for the night.( My AAA came in handy for a discount) That was the best decision I ever made!

My Fantastic Road Trip Adventure

On July 30th I started my adventure...first stop Kissimme and friend Gloria's...c'mon along for the ride. I-4 ,the nightmare obstacle course went smoothly & uneventful. I reached my turn in an hour and a half...turned a block too soon (anxious? excited?) and had to redo & go one more block to Gloria's, made good time too. on the way I was listening to a book called 'Stay' about friendships and relationships and as it was beautifully resolved I filled up thinking how lucky I am to have many beautiful friendships and all the love in my life now. Gloria is a DollBaby and welcomed me warmly. We caught up with our lives and then being the computer whiz she is offered to show me the places I was headed on Google/World. This was alot of fun and helpful too as it gave me more info of the streets around the area I was going...and more confidence too. Gloria was planning to move to Atlanta and was in the process of selling her car. The phone rang, the interested party would be there in half an hour. He showed up with his wife so they could drive two vehicles back and cash in hand...he was serious about closing the deal. Papers were signed, money exchanged, copies made and it was a done deal. I was glad I could witness her good fortune. Off we went to Red Lobster for a celebration dinner. Next morning Gloria saw me off with a nutritious dinner of oatmeal and hard boiled egg. and I was on the road again. This time traffic was very evident on I-4 HMM! what's this? it cleard up after Orlando &  I kept an eye out for my exit. As luck would have it...I missed it & got off the next one.

One of my concerns about this trip was missing exits. I better let that one go as it was becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.. I found my way back to the state road I was looking for with the help of an elderly gentleman vacuuming his car at the gas station I stopped at.

This was to be a trend on my trip people were very helpful to me when I needed it and asked for it. I arrived @ my destination of the Auto Train station in Sanford by noon, plenty early and that's the way I like it. I checked in & settled in, had lunch, bought a postcard to send son Gregg & Vesna and checked my lotto ticket. You won! $5.50 the lady announced. OMG , I was elated, what a good omen  to begin my trip. The Universe loves & supports me always!Soon it was time to embark onto the train, excitement mounted as the next adventure began. I found my seat and was to be riding alongside Jera, a 20 something college girl who turned out to be a delightful travelling companion. I got out my book as we headed to points north. This was a relaxed mode of travel and I was enjoying it Dinner time came around and off to the dining car I went. After brief introductions, we discovered that the 4 of us at that table were teachers, 3 retired and one currently teaching. We waxed poetic on the current state of education, unhappily so. After dinner I read some more and then settled in for a long sleep...or should I say sleepless night as we propelled north. I could not get comfortable on those 'lounger chairs' and felt I had not slept a wink all night. when Jera asked me in the morning if I heard her crying. NO! ( I guess I did catch a few zzz's after all) did you have a bad dream?? 'No, I was twisted like a pretzel and awoke with a sharp pain. Guess I wasn't the only one who couldn't get comfortable. But morning broke and breakfast was served.