Whew

I’d been obsessing about testing negative for Covid, a requirement to join our birding tour. My anxiety level went even higher when a couple were forced to drop out because he tested positive. Yikes. Finally time to test, and all good. Both Grant and I are negative. Which I was sure we would be, since we really haven’t been around anyone. Except for all the people at Bob’s funeral 11 days ago. Surely, we’d have symptoms by now. Except Patten tested positive and didn’t feel bad. Round and round the hamster wheel turned. What a relief to be done with that!

We drove really long the first day and got to Fayetteville, North Carolina, staying at the Baymont by Wyndham, mostly because it claimed a hot breakfast. That is always desirable so we can eat, then get on the road, rather than spending an hour debating where to go. Evidently, Wyndham and I have different definitions of “hot breakfast”. The cereal choices were corn flakes or Fruit Loops. 

Another long day to Carney’s Corner, New Jersey, this time staying at a Holiday Inn Express, which was lovely, with scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits which Grant enjoyed. I settled on a bowl of Kellogg’s cereal with freeze dried strawberries, plus a Greek yogurt with more strawberries. 

Just before we went across the George Washington Bridge into New York City, Grant became concerned about getting gas. We had 80 miles left in the tank, but were in a maze of expressways and an industrial area. He lost the route on Google maps, so we ended up touring Fort Lee, New Jersey to find a gas station. Having filled the tank, I put Maine into the app, and we were routed up the Garden State Parkway and onto the Merritt Expressway through Connecticut, a lovely wooded drive, probably gorgeous in the fall, but not one I’d looked at, I find it disconcerting that with GPS we know exactly where we are, but it’s just the zoomed-in view on our little screens. We have no idea of the big picture of where we are. I thought about bringing my USA atlas but didn’t. Now I wished I had.

One more long day, and we made it to the Copley Lareine Motel at OOB (Old Orchard Beach), Maine. Now we can spend the day walking on the beach, going to state parks, and resting up for birding. 

Next time we drive north, I’m taking the Auto-train. I guess I’m glad we didn’t have reservations this time, because we left two days later than expected. But not having to drive those first 900 miles would be worth the expense. 

Our other bugaboo is finding places to eat. Just so much energy spent with much tension expended. I did pack enough picnic food so that, with breakfast at the hotel, we only had to find one meal per day out. In Hope Mills, NC, I chose Dirt Bags, a local craft brewery with a big backyard and play area for dogs and kids. There were a couple of food trucks and Napkins, their burger and fried tater tots restaurant. We also ordered a basket of fried Brussels sprouts. Quite good, if not nutritionally dense. A brief rain shower encouraged customers to move inside. We hadn’t gotten our food, so we just stood under the overhang and waited it out. The rain stopped, a table was available, and I got the text that our meals were ready. All good.

For lunch, in Fredericksburg, VA, Grant picked Dona Terra, a Peruvian diner in a strip mall. Except we got confused on the exact turn into their parking lot. In the mean time, we had a bathroom break at Cookout, a fast food chain new to us, and found Decatur’s Crabs, which sadly only sells crabs by the dozen, half bushel, and bushel. When we head back south, I plan to have the cooler empty, so we can get some to share with whomever we end up visiting. 

One more time around the block, and we got to the right parking area for Dona Terra. We shared chicken tacos, refried beans, yellow rice, and sweet plantains. I resisted the temptation of the wall of cookies, buns, and bread since I’m enjoying how loose my pants fit.

After a dinner picnic in our hotel room, we went across the highway to the Turnpike Inn. Not quite the completely covered ceiling of dollar bills like No Name Pub in the Keys, but they have to start somewhere.

 I drank a local IPA while Grant walked the middle aged bartender through how to make a Manhattan, even though she didn’t have any bitters. I can’t even think what to comment.

At OOB,we dined at The Shack on lobster roll for Grant and lobster grilled cheese with Gouda and sourdough bread for me. Crazy expensive ($32 each) but crazy good. Too many calories to have often; absolutely worth it this time.

Lunch the next day was The Run of the Mill Public House in Saco. The eggplant parmigiana wrap was meh because the eggplant wasn’t cooked enough. The clam chowder and beer with blue cheese soup both were delicious. Fun site overlooking the Saco River. We shopped at Hanovers to supplement the last of our picnic food for breakfast. Dinner at JJ’s Two, next to the train track. While we ate, a freight train headed south, and an Amtrak went north. I wished Auto-train came this far. I would definitely use it.