Travel
I'm feeling the effects of all the driving, so Sandy, the boys and I went for a long walk on the rails-to-trails walkway this afternoon. I was very cold at first - beautiful sunny skies, but cold and windy. I soon warmed up after a bit of walking.
Now I think I just want to nap for a while!
As far as my luck in finding the kind of motel I like to stay in on the road, the kind where you can park right in front of your room, all I can say is that attitude and frame of mind help. I really want to find a suitable motel and I know I will, and if I don't then I will go with the flow and take what I can find. It's not scientific but it works for me.
It helps when driving on the secondary and country roads as you will be driving past motels, cabins, etc. A good look at the property can tell a lot - is it kept in good condition, painted, clean, etc.? I just get a feeling for what I want, and I'm always grateful when I walk into that room and find exactly what I need. When I get off an interstate to stop for the night, I might choose what looks like a locally-owned motel/inn rather than a big chain. Often an older Motel 6 or Days Inn can be found that isn't a big concrete block with interior corridors, and I don't mind those. Almost all have a fridge, microwave, coffee makers, big TV, free wifi, etc. This trip was in the off-season of course, and the prices ran from $50-$60 per night, but they are higher in the summer months. That's why I like to alternate between the senior rate at a National Forest or National Park campground and a $60-70 motel (some can be higher still).
I still haven't totaled up the costs associated with this travel. I always start out with meticulous recording of expenses, mileages, etc., and after about 4 days I'm making notations on scraps of paper which I often lose anyway. Whatever it costs I have to come up with the money since I've decided to travel, so I don't lose sleep over it.
I took one photo in the last few days of the trip, while I was waiting at a railroad crossing in the rain near Tobyhanna Army Depot (PA). There was a cute little train station, but the picture is rather dark since the skies were cloudy with rain.
I'm sure they don't have passenger service anymore, so maybe it is or will be a museum. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
- Nearly There!
My last night before arriving in the Los Angeles area is in Indio, CA. On my first trip across country in my 5th wheel, I stayed overnight at an "RV Resort" in Indio, and from that time on I have studiously avoided any business with the word "resort"...
- Pennsylvania
I woke up at 8am this morning, which is really late for me while traveling. I needed the sleep though. Yesterday evening I decided to drive to the Denny's and sure was glad I did. I normally hate to eat in any restaurant - you just don't...
- Alive!
A few times today I wasn't sure I'd make it. First of all, until I reached Youngstown, Ohio (eastern side of the state) there was fog and light precipitation all day. The foggy haze wasn't bad enough so that you couldn't...
-
I have just finished several cups of the best coffee I've ever tasted. Ara brought her mom and me some Mother's Day gifts, including each of us a bag of coffee beans from a small company in Philly. They roast the beans in small batches,...
- Have Dinner In South Africa
Voulezvousdiner Have just launched a new special offer. ...
Travel
"Day After" Exhaustion
I'm feeling the effects of all the driving, so Sandy, the boys and I went for a long walk on the rails-to-trails walkway this afternoon. I was very cold at first - beautiful sunny skies, but cold and windy. I soon warmed up after a bit of walking.
Now I think I just want to nap for a while!
As far as my luck in finding the kind of motel I like to stay in on the road, the kind where you can park right in front of your room, all I can say is that attitude and frame of mind help. I really want to find a suitable motel and I know I will, and if I don't then I will go with the flow and take what I can find. It's not scientific but it works for me.
It helps when driving on the secondary and country roads as you will be driving past motels, cabins, etc. A good look at the property can tell a lot - is it kept in good condition, painted, clean, etc.? I just get a feeling for what I want, and I'm always grateful when I walk into that room and find exactly what I need. When I get off an interstate to stop for the night, I might choose what looks like a locally-owned motel/inn rather than a big chain. Often an older Motel 6 or Days Inn can be found that isn't a big concrete block with interior corridors, and I don't mind those. Almost all have a fridge, microwave, coffee makers, big TV, free wifi, etc. This trip was in the off-season of course, and the prices ran from $50-$60 per night, but they are higher in the summer months. That's why I like to alternate between the senior rate at a National Forest or National Park campground and a $60-70 motel (some can be higher still).
I still haven't totaled up the costs associated with this travel. I always start out with meticulous recording of expenses, mileages, etc., and after about 4 days I'm making notations on scraps of paper which I often lose anyway. Whatever it costs I have to come up with the money since I've decided to travel, so I don't lose sleep over it.
I took one photo in the last few days of the trip, while I was waiting at a railroad crossing in the rain near Tobyhanna Army Depot (PA). There was a cute little train station, but the picture is rather dark since the skies were cloudy with rain.
I'm sure they don't have passenger service anymore, so maybe it is or will be a museum. Click on the photo to enlarge it.
- Nearly There!
My last night before arriving in the Los Angeles area is in Indio, CA. On my first trip across country in my 5th wheel, I stayed overnight at an "RV Resort" in Indio, and from that time on I have studiously avoided any business with the word "resort"...
- Pennsylvania
I woke up at 8am this morning, which is really late for me while traveling. I needed the sleep though. Yesterday evening I decided to drive to the Denny's and sure was glad I did. I normally hate to eat in any restaurant - you just don't...
- Alive!
A few times today I wasn't sure I'd make it. First of all, until I reached Youngstown, Ohio (eastern side of the state) there was fog and light precipitation all day. The foggy haze wasn't bad enough so that you couldn't...
-
I have just finished several cups of the best coffee I've ever tasted. Ara brought her mom and me some Mother's Day gifts, including each of us a bag of coffee beans from a small company in Philly. They roast the beans in small batches,...
- Have Dinner In South Africa
Voulezvousdiner Have just launched a new special offer. ...