10 Hour Drive

I did two 10 hour drives in the past three weeks all by myself.  10 hours of driving.

10 hours of driving by myself.

I remember the begining of both trips very well.  Both times my reaction was, well, I will be sitting here for awhile.

I also thought a lot about my destination.

On the way up I remember going through Southern Virginia and seeing just how deserted it is.  South of Petersburg is in the middle of nowhere.  I had my Ipod on shuffle and my Iphone connected via bluetooth.  I cranked up the music and kept the cruise control on at about 68.  I could have gone faster, but my car gives me instant miles per gallon readings.  68 was getting me better miles per gallon.

Hunger set in about an hour into my trip, so I had a pre made peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I absolutely hate spending my hard earned money on food prepared by someone else.  I don't normally like going out to eat.  The PB&J hit the spot and made me satiated.  I washed it down with some water and kept on going.

I was looking for cheap gas on the way up and a place to wash my car.  I was eagerly anticipating bringing my new car home for my dad to see for the very first time.  I wanted it to arrive clean.  Spotless.  I wanted it to look brand, brand, brand new since I really wish my dad, who loves cars, was there when I picked up my first new car.  I had planned to find a Sheetz on the way up somewhere before Richmond to fill up on cheap gas and get a car wash.  I missed the station, which was ok.  I ended up speaking on the phone with a friend for a while (using Bluetooth and keeping my eyes on the road...My car has a microphone that picks up my speaking).  They made Virginia feel like a smaller state than what it really is.  Even though I missed the station I didn't need the gas, (but wanted the car wash)  so I decided to just keep on going.

I hit Washington D.C. around 3:30 or 4.  I hit traffic because of an accident.  When you travel 550 miles you have to expect traffic.  I grew restless in traffic.  I was getting great mileage and knew that sitting in traffic was giving me worse mileage and making me sit in my car longer. 

I finally got through Washington.  I traveled over the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge and took a look at the Capitol Building in the distance.  I had thought about stopping just after D.C. because I really had to pee but decided to keep going.  I wanted to get through Baltimore next.  I didn't know what traffic would be like.  It turned out that Baltimore was fine.  I got through there and then stopped at a Sheetz in Joppa, Maryland about 6 hours after I left North Carolina.  I got myself some junior mints and a Pepsi in case I needed any caffeine to keep me going.  I finished up some Pizza from the night before for dinner, filled up with gas for $3.15 and made my way North to New Jersey where I got to meet up with a friend.  Not long after leaving Joppa I saw my first sign listing the miles until New York.  That sign was uplifting to say the least, even though it said about 140 miles...which is about two hours.  I used my IPhone directions to get me to a Starbucks where I got to meet a friend.  I have to say that stopping and seeing a friend on the trip made the trip that much better.  I got a chance to rest and talk to someone.  It broke up the trip nicely and gave me something to look forward to on the way.  It was like hitting a benchmark. 

I left there at about 9:45 and called my sister to let her know when my estimated time of arrival would be.  I was very much awake and alert.  I was energized from seeing my friend and maybe even more importantly, being kept awake by 20 ounces of Hot Chocolate in my bladder.  I had to go by the time I hit the Vince Lombardi rest stop in North Jersey.  There I got more cheap gas, but in my excitement of being close to home I just decided to hold it and keep going.  I raced home from there.  I got over the George Washington Bridge without any traffic.  It was like god had to have decided to move all of the cars to the side of the road so that I could get through.  I then went on the Major Deegan and drove through the Bronx and where my grandpa used to have a clothes cleaning business.

Then I had fun once I hit the Cross County Parkway and the Merritt Parkway.  These roads are older and have more curves in them.  I loved taking the turns in my car.  I felt a little racy by the end of my trip.  Every exit felt like I was that much closer to home.  I felt like I was leaping home, rather than inching home.  I saw gas for a dollar and a penny more than what it was when I had filled up last in North Carolina.  I knew I was getting close to home!  I saw the exit for the Westchester County Airport, my favorite airport in the world!  I then saw the sign welcoming me to Connecticut.  I was overjoyed to see that.  After four months I was finally in Connecticut again.  (Longest amount of time away from my home state) I saw the exit in Greenwich that we used to go to my Grandma's old house.  I saw the exit that I took for my job in Greenwich.  I saw the Round Hill Road exit which is a road that leads to where some of my ancestors lived.  Then I saw the exit for Den Road.  I was one exit away.  I sped past a car and got to the off ramp.  I was back in Stamford.  Finally.  I couldn't believe it.  I remember being shocked that I was at my driveway.  I was shocked I had just backed my car into the garage.  Finally, many hours later I was home.  I listened to so many songs.  Listened to some sports radio as well.  I thought about my life and reflected on it.  I thought about my future and looked forward to planning some fun things to do at home.  I also saw that I got 37.1 Miles Per Gallon for the trip.  I was so happy.

Only two drivers really pissed me off.   One got the finger.  (You do lose your patience on 10 hour trips) The other was going 30 below the speed limit.  They were lost or going to get themselves hurt.  I went around them and felt bad for them.  

The trip back was different and for your sake I will cut out some of the details.  It was bittersweet embarking on the journey home.  Although I was amazed that I had no traffic through the George Washington Bridge and Northern New Jersey.  Just before the George Washington Bridge I saw the sign and building of the clothes cleaning company my grandpa had. I got to Newark Airport in about an hour.  I was amazed.  I thought I would be home in no time.  Then I got stuck in traffic twice.  The traffic killed me so I decided to stop at the last rest stop in New Jersey and get gas.  I relaxed at the same time and called a relative to thank them for a gift and catch up with them.  I called another relative when I hit traffic in Maryland.  It was great to catch up and great to have something to take my mind off of traffic.  It was nice to have another human to talk too.  I got through all of the major cities after that with ease so it felt like I had to be close.  I stopped in Northern Virginia for my last stop just to give myself a break.  I checked my phone, social media, email etc.  Saw some scores too.  I had some candy and then got on my way.  I hit rain soon after and I started to get tired and antsy.  I finally gave in and had my Pepsi.  (I love Pepsi but don't drink soda that often and try not to unless it's a special occasion)  The rain was annoying.  It slowed me down and made visibility worse.  It made driving through rural Southern Virginia long and boring.  I listened to music and amazingly, New York Sports Radio 660, WFAN to kill the time.  I loved hearing the sports radio with the New York accents and of course the talk about the disaster that is the New York Jets.  Northern North Carolina was also desolate.  Then all of a sudden Durham popped up from the middle of nowhere.  What once was 140 miles away was finally 0.  I pulled in at 1am, unpacked my car and got to bad around 2:30.  I woke up at 8:45, had breakfast and got back in my car to head to work.

What I learned is that it's possible to drive that far by yourself.  You have to plan for some traffic and plan to leave at a time that minimizes traffic at the big cities.  Taking a break now and then is vital.  Having a friend to see along the way or someone to call makes things better.  Most importantly make sure you have a full Ipod/Iphone, a good radio and good speakers.