Day 21 - Boston, MA to Gettysburg, PA

Alarm went off at 4:45. It was dark outside. Very dark. What were we doing up at this time of the morning? Oh, right. Going to Gettysburg. Get dressed, load the car and check out. Complimentary breakfast is non-existent, so we are on the road at 5:28 am.

As planned there was little traffic leaving Boston and except for some fog and light rain it was a comfortable drive. Interstates 93 and 95 took us south and across the border into Rhode Island near Pawtucket. Trying to grasp just how small Rhode Island is can be a daunting task. Like trying to grasp the size of an atom. Think of it this way. Rhode Island has an area of 1,212 square miles. Deschutes County, Oregon has an area of 3,055 square miles. Nuf said.

On we drove till a Cracker Barrel sign lured us off the interstate near Warwick. A light breakfast (light by Cracker Barrel standards) and we were back on the road with just a little bit more rain. After a short drive (remember we are in Rhode Island) Connecticut was added to the list of states visited. Feeling the need for coffee we asked for and received directions from our faithful GPS to a Starbucks in Groton. We looked. It wasn’t there. But wait, Groton has two Starbucks. No it doesn’t. However, in looking for the non-existent second one we did get a view of the Electric Boat Company, which is a major player in the building of submarines for the US Navy.

When we finally did find a Starbucks it required driving through a flooded underpass to get there. Did I mention it was raining harder? And as the rain continued to fall, we pressed on toward the dreaded passage through New York City. I don’t mind driving, but when I get passed by a semi doing 15 mph over the speed limit and throwing up a rooster tail of water that covers my windshield, I get just a little bit nervous.

Anyway, the drive through New York City wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I still don’t like driving in between two semi trucks in a lane that seems much too small and doing it a tunnel, but what the heck we made it to New Jersey.

Ah yes, New Jersey. The first 30 or so miles into New Jersey are not eye candy. And they charge you to see it. Yup, a toll road. But after awhile the landscape settled down and New Jersey lived up to its Garden State motto. By now it’s raining just a little harder.

Continuing in a westerly direction, we crossed into Pennsylvania and started looking for lunch. I don’t remember the name of the town, but we both had a bowl of really great split pea soup. It was after lunch that the weather really went south. Rain like I have seen only a few times before. The sound of the drops hitting the windshield was amazing. I am now spending a lot of time in the slow lane while one after another semi passes, tossing up a blinding sheet of water. Tom and Sharon, remember coming back over Santiam Pass in the white out a few years ago? Well, this was almost as bad.

There were, of course, a few missed turns during the day. Mostly due to construction, but one or two that I just blew by. Hopefully in the days to come Barb will become more understanding of these little side trips.

We are now comfortably situated in the Ivy Room at the Gaslight Inn Bed and Breakfast in Gettysburg. If you are ever here, take this room. Dinner was at a nearby pub, cup of chili for Barb and French Onion soup for Bob. And a couple of beers. Dave, thanks for the email on liquid refreshments!

Tomorrow we will spend the day visiting the Gettysburg battlefield. 486 miles today.