Route 13
1. Said to Joe while driving on Interstate 95 from D.C. to Massachusetts, “If we’re not broke from paying tolls we can stop and buy some dinner.”
2. Not only is driving on Interstate 95 a nightmare, they make you pay for the grief they give you, to the tune of about $40 to get through New York and New Jersey.
3. I call “toll booths” “troll booths” because being made to stop for them reminds me of the Billy Goats Gruff passing the troll to cross a bridge to get to their grazing field.
4. On the road we pay the troll to let us cross his bridge … Because with every trip there is a trap … and with every road we lose the grass … “Let us pass!” we say to progress … But progress says, “No … I’ve got a hunger to grow and I’m coming to eat you up!” ~ Poem adapted from “The Billy Goats Gruff” and read at a Blacksburg town council meeting in protest of the Smart Road development sometime in the 90’s.
5. Some would say that gourmet Irish/English food is an oxymoron, but we found just that at a restaurant near D.C. where we had “bangers and mash,” sausage, garden peas, mashed potatoes, gravy , topped with whole mustard seeds and washed down with Guinness beer.
6. I also like bubble and squeak (another Irish/English dish, made with potatoes, carrots, and cabbage), and I think it’s funny that “plates of meat” means “feet” and “apples and pears” means “stairs” in Cockney Rhyming Slang.
7. After we ate our bangers and mash we toured Glen Echo Park, the amusement park museum next door. Next, we went to a meditation class in Washington. As people started coming in the meditation hall and setting up their blankets and mats in front of the speaker’s altar, I felt like a picnic was about to ensue.
8. Pillows and cushions made me think no, maybe a pajama party.
9. We found out that a beach in Connecticut called “Calf Pasture Beach” is as good as any place to stop and kill 2 hours of rush hour traffic. While there, I saw a horseshoe crab and a tree full of berries that looked just like blackberries only white.
10. Funniest recent moment: Before we left for Massachusetts I picked up the Museletter (our community newsletter) mail at the post office and one subscription renewal included an spelling correction for a woman named Grace Woods. She crossed out the S in her last name on the address label and wrote next to it, “only one tree.”
11. Said to Joe at 4:00 today while enjoying lunch and a micro-brew at an outdoor café: “Beer is the new tea.”
12. At 4:20 (still sipping): “Beer is the new joint.”
13. Directions to more 13 Thursdays: take a left click HERE.
July 8th, 2009 11:49 pm
I’m so glad I live in a place where tolls aren’t practical. Hey, love your photo this week.
July 8th, 2009 11:55 pm
Why do I think that just perhaps you were not completely in the frame of mind for meditation that day… pajama parties and picnics?
I95 is not the best interstate for driving, but south through NC, it does seem to be the easiest way to get to I20 and then across and through that monstrosity that is Atlanta without having your hands fuse into the steering wheel from having such a tight grip… it seemed to get me to Mississippi faster than I85 that leads to a massive maze of nightmare navigation in that same spider web that is Atlanta. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.
July 9th, 2009 12:58 am
Loved your ‘troll booth’ comment! I don’t think I’ve ever traveled anywhere that required a toll. You can tell I don’t get out much.
July 9th, 2009 6:23 am
Troll booths…that’s terrific! I’ll never again not think of this when going through them.
July 9th, 2009 6:40 am
ahaaaaa
neat list 🙂
13 Breath-taking Moments
July 9th, 2009 7:04 am
4:20 LOL Now that’s funny. Sounds like you had a lovely excursion. Happy T13!
July 9th, 2009 7:10 am
I’d love an icy cold beer. After driving a long time….and I know what you mean about the toll roads.
My 13 is posted now, I hope you can find time to stop by for a visit. Happy Thursday to you.
July 9th, 2009 7:27 am
Calf Pasture is a neat place! I spent a lot of time there when I was younger. I love Long Island Sound.
I too love Irish cuisine. I always know I ate something when I am finished.
Where do the States find all those trolls to man the booths?
July 9th, 2009 7:34 am
I love your “troll booths.” Hilarious…and perfect.
July 9th, 2009 8:32 am
I seriously loved this list…the illustration of “troll booths” is genius. 😉 Where did you have your bangers and mash? Was it near Glen Echo??
July 9th, 2009 8:40 am
i love MA. I spent 2 summers doing summer stock on the cape!
happy tt!
July 9th, 2009 9:15 am
Yep, toll booths can be a pain. I’m glad you got through them. I like your thought about “Troll booths”. Happy TT!
July 9th, 2009 9:37 am
Yes, the Irish restaurant was right next to Glen Echo park. I would have named it if I could remember.
Okay, I just googled Glen Echo and Irish and found it. It’s the Irish Inn at Glen Echo Park.
July 9th, 2009 12:19 pm
#9 -not playing the gridlock game opens all kids of goodnesses.
y’know I’ve only ever seen a toll road on the bridge to the U.S.
July 9th, 2009 12:37 pm
Wow! You’re brave to drive 95!
I’ve only taken the VA to MA (or MA to VA) trip on 95 three times in my life, between the tolls, the crazy drivers (I’ve seen some scary stuff out there)& the dangerous roads I find 81, 84 & 90 much safer & relaxing.
July 9th, 2009 12:56 pm
I did it once and lost 5 years of my life. I would never do it again. Joe drove and it drove him a little crazy too.
July 9th, 2009 1:20 pm
Haha – 4:20! Might make the toll backups more relaxing – but your beach diversion sounds wonderful too!
July 9th, 2009 1:24 pm
I love this one……….especially the TROLL BOOTH. It does so much remind of “The Billy Goats Gruff story”, that I must of read to Andrew a zillion times. It was his favorite story. xo
July 9th, 2009 2:19 pm
#2 omg $40.00???
July 9th, 2009 2:25 pm
There were 6-8 of them from D.C. to New York. We got off in Connecticut because of the bumper to bumper traffic.
July 9th, 2009 2:35 pm
I love the comment written on the change of address! Very cute
July 9th, 2009 3:53 pm
#10 had me laughing out loud — what a great correction!
July 9th, 2009 4:58 pm
Love your comments on tolls/trolls. Thankfully, no toll booths in Wis. You’re free to enjoy the scenery here, so long as you don’t litter. 😉
July 9th, 2009 8:17 pm
#12 is funny! Happy TT
July 10th, 2009 12:14 am
#3 – me, too!!!
July 11th, 2009 8:15 pm
I cannot believe the cost of Tolls! Good God, things have changed. Back in the day, it was a quarter or at most, Fifty Cents at any of these toll places….Sounds like you are having a great time, Colleen….A Road Trip with stops for Food and Beer…!