Eastern Seaboard of USA
Sunday 17th April
Headed along the 95 to New London and East Lyme, then drove route 1 to Old Lyme. This was a lovely drive through forest and small villages. At Old Lyme we rejoined 95 and crossed the Connecticut River. Route 95 follows the railroad all the way into New York City. We stopped at Westbrook for lunch. There was a nice big free car park by the station but it was a long train ride into NYC so continued further. West Haven looked promising, another nice car park only 6 dollars a day and the train ride was under 2 hours. Drove further along route 95 but traffic became very slow and area was very built up. Decided to settle on West Haven. Slow, frustrating journey back there as yet another accident blocking the freeway.
Overnight in the station car park.
Monday 18th April
New York City! From West Haven we took a direct train into the magnificent Grand Central Station, a 1hr50min journey but worth it to avoid the heavy traffic on the freeway to New York.
On arrival in the city we went in search of a hop on hop off bus tour. We managed to do a deal of both a down town and up town tour for the price of one tour. The down town tour took us past many of the ionic sites, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler and Hoover Buildings etc. At times it was difficult to see the tops of the skyscrapers from street level - no way was I going to get John up any of them!
We got off the bus tour near the 9/11 memorial park. The site of the former twin towers has been turned into an atmospheric park. Two pools of water with 30ft waterfalls tumbling down the sides stand on the sites of the north and south towers. The new One World Trade Centre stands guard over the memorial park.
From here we walked to Battery Park and took the ferry to Straten Island. From the boat we had excellent views of the Brooklyn Bridge, across the Hudson River to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
The uptown tour took us past Central Park. We passed by where Mick Jagger "...live(d) in a flat on the 99th floor of my block" (no clouds and no one wearing a Union Jack), Paul McCartney's penthouse and some of the former mansions of the rich and famous, including the Vanderbilt family. We drove through Harlem, past Radio City and the Apollo Theatre where Buddy Holly and the Crickets where the first white act to perform ("Hey folks, I know we're kinda different but I sure do hope you like our music." - they did!) Many tenement buildings still stand in uptown.
After a long but exhilarating day in an amazing city, we took the train back to West Haven.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday 19th April
We were both tired this morning after our long but enjoyable day in New York City so we set off later than normal. So as to avoid the heavy traffic around New York we took a circuitous route to the north. The scenery was undulating with the Hudson River cutting a wide gash between the hills.
Once we turned south we followed the 206 through a number of small attractive towns until Princeton where we overnighted at Walmart. It was a long days drive for John but at least we were now south of New York.
Wednesday 20th April
After yesterday's long drive we had a late start. We did some food shopping, John bought a new sun hat and I bought a pair of cut off jeans. Yesterday we had failed to fill up with water, all the garages we tried did not have an outside tap. Walmart had a huge garden centre and a man was watering the plants with a hose pipe. I asked him nicely and he filled Nicolle up with water. We then sent some emails and John updated the blog before we set off on the short drive to Croydon. On the way we crossed over a very small river with a toll bridge. The lady in the toll booth insisted that we were a commercial vehicle and had to pay 6 dollars 50 rather than the 1 dollar car charge! Arrived at Croydon. From here we will take the train into Philadelphia in the morning. Overnight at the station car park.
Thursday 21st April
We took an early morning train into the city of Philadelphia. The car park cost 1 dollar for a days parking, the train ride was 1 dollar each and the toll bridge was 1 dollar (for cars). Was everything in Philadelphia 1 dollar? No, the visitor attractions were free!
Philadelphia was the original capital of the nation until 1800 whilst Washington DC was being built. It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the US Constitution ten years later. The city was planned by William Penn Jnr on a grid system which was adopted as the pattern for most American cities.
The centre of Philadelphia has been dubbed as "America's most historic square mile". The Independence National Historic Park is where the majority of the major must see site are located. We took a very interesting tour of Independence Hall which was built in 1732 as the Pennsylvania State House but is now famous as the place where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
The Liberty Bell, the First and Second Banks of the United States, the B Free Franklin Old Post Office an Christ Church all lie within the historic square mile so we had a pleasant walk along the leafy streets. It is definitely Spring here as John's hay fever has been bad. At least it is a change from the cold further north. After an interesting day we crossed into the small state of Delaware then into Maryland where we overnighted on another Walmart car park at Elkton.
|
|
Friday 22nd April
Today we headed south through the state of Maryland. The drive along almost empty roads, through gently rolling countryside and historic small towns made a pleasant change. We crossed Chesapeake Bay over a long bridge, supposedly a toll, but only when heading north and we were heading south. We stopped early to find a railway station car park so that we could take the train into Washington DC in the morning.
Saturday 23rd April
We took an early morning train the short distance into Washington DC. As the major sites of the city are fairly spaced out we decided to take a hop on hop off bus tour. Unfortunately it soon began to rain heavily and we got drenched on the open top bus - at least ponchos were provided although by then we were already very wet. We got off the bus to look at the White House. It is a high security zone so we could only see it from a distance. We walked from there to the Washington Monument before re-boarding a tour bus again. After a long wait for the relevant bus we went out to Arlington National Cemetary only to discover that there was not a return bus for two hours! We stayed on the bus and returned to the Lincoln Memorial. While we were eating our lunch four coaches drew up, all full of ex-servicemen from World War 2 and/or the Korean War. It was very moving seeing these ageing ex military personnel being shown round these historic memorials.
Washington was originally planned in 1791 but few buildings were erected for nearly fifty years. The state buildings are Neoclassical in style and are home to all the national bureaucratic agencies and many famous museums. The federal triangle is a very green, airy area which at this time of year is ablaze with cherry blossom (not appreciated by John).
Overnight again on Bowie State station car park.
|
|
|
Sunday 24th April
Today has very much been a driving day. We avoided the freeways so as to see more of the scenery. Most of the day we were in the state of Maryland - lush, green landscape with frequent historic plaques recalling battle sites from the American Civil War.
We crossed a long bridge over the Potomac River and entered the state of Virginia, the oldest American colony. Again many areas were ravaged during the four years of civil war. This is an area of former slavery.
Overnight at Walmart, Gloucester - good wifi from both the store and neighbouring Home Depot.
Monday 25th April
Today we left behind the 21st Century and entered that of the 18th Century at the time of the American War of Independence ie. The American Revolution.
Yorktown in Virginia, by the 1700s was a thriving port serving Williamsburg, the new capital of Virginia. Tobacco was the main trade. It was also the scene of the decisive final battle of the War of Independence, when the English were forced to surrender to the joint American and French forces commanded by George Washington.
Nowadays Yorktown is a pretty almost one street town surrounded by the battlefields of that time and also some from the Civil War of 1862. An evocative battlefield trail leads past the main lines of defences and the house where the officers of both sides met to negotiate the terms of the British surrender is open for viewing.
The Colonial Parkway links Yorktown to Colonial Williamsburg and the early settlement at Jamestown. As we drove north along it we were fortunate to see the unique York River Notes Bridge swing open to allow a US Navy frigate to pass through. The bridge has a double horizontal swing opening and is the only one of its type in the USA and only two in the world.
It was an interesting day and it was hot, around 35 deg C, so we were tired by the time we reached our overnight halt at Walmart, Newport News, VA.
|
|
i
Tuesday 26th April
Our day began with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg historic area, one of the must see sites in this area of Virginia. Williamsburg is a detailed replica of the colonial capital. Although most of the buildings are restored, about 80 people live permanently in the settlement. The wide tree lined Duke of Gloucester Street runs east - west through the historic area. The Capitol at one end and the Governor's Palace on Palace Green plus a number of the other buildings are open to the public. It is free to enter the site, a pricey ticket is only needed if you want to go in the buildings that are open or attend any of the numerous special activities. We next visited Jamestown, the site of England's first successful attempt at establishing a colony in the New World. Very little remains of the original 1607 settlement where under the leadership of John Smith the first settlers struggled to survive. After a series of set backs the colony gradually increased in size. Nowadays the 50ft tower of the first brick church, built around 1650 is the only building still standing.
Virginia's Historic Triangle has been extremely interesting to visit.
Overnight at Walmart, Suffolk, VA.
Tuesday 26th April
Our day began with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg historic area, one of the must see sites in this area of Virginia. Williamsburg is a detailed replica of the colonial capital. Although most of the buildings are restored, about 80 people live permanently in the settlement. The wide tree lined Duke of Gloucester Street runs east - west through the historic area. The Capitol at one end and the Governor's Palace on Palace Green plus a number of the other buildings are open to the public. It is free to enter the site, a pricey ticket is only needed if you want to go in the buildings that are open or attend any of the numerous special activities. We next visited Jamestown, the site of England's first successful attempt at establishing a colony in the New World. Very little remains of the original 1607 settlement where under the leadership of John Smith the first settlers struggled to survive. After a series of set backs the colony gradually increased in size. Nowadays the 50ft tower of the first brick church, built around 1650 is the only building still standing.
Virginia's Historic Triangle has been extremely interesting to visit.
Overnight at Walmart, Suffolk, VA.
|
|
Wednesday 27th April
A travelling day. At 11.39am we crossed the state line into North Carolina (Nothing could be fina, than to be in Carolina in the morning!) The land became noticeably more forested and when near a river - swampy. We passed many abandoned buildings along the way and the few settlements we passed through were definitely less prosperous looking!
We stopped to catch up on laundry at a very clean and relatively modern laundromat.
The weather is still close and very hot - mid 30s Celsius.
Overnight at Walmart, New Bern, North Carolina - a Berne (Switzerland) bear statue stands outside the store.
Thursday 28th April
Another long day's drive south. The scenery varied from gently rolling agricultural land where the road was peppered by small settlements with minimum infrastructure through thick forests to a busy, glitzy seaside resort at Myrtle Beach. Passed a bill board advertising "Trailers for sale or rent!", guess there were no "Rooms to let 50 cents"! Crossed the state line into South Carolina. There was a Pawn Shop and a Porn Shop, a shop selling fireworks and one selling firearms and plenty of restaurants if you wanted burger and fries. Overnight at Walmart, Mount Pleasant.
[click] to continue our journey to Florida and the Deep South
[click] to return to Home page
A travelling day. At 11.39am we crossed the state line into North Carolina (Nothing could be fina, than to be in Carolina in the morning!) The land became noticeably more forested and when near a river - swampy. We passed many abandoned buildings along the way and the few settlements we passed through were definitely less prosperous looking!
We stopped to catch up on laundry at a very clean and relatively modern laundromat.
The weather is still close and very hot - mid 30s Celsius.
Overnight at Walmart, New Bern, North Carolina - a Berne (Switzerland) bear statue stands outside the store.
Thursday 28th April
Another long day's drive south. The scenery varied from gently rolling agricultural land where the road was peppered by small settlements with minimum infrastructure through thick forests to a busy, glitzy seaside resort at Myrtle Beach. Passed a bill board advertising "Trailers for sale or rent!", guess there were no "Rooms to let 50 cents"! Crossed the state line into South Carolina. There was a Pawn Shop and a Porn Shop, a shop selling fireworks and one selling firearms and plenty of restaurants if you wanted burger and fries. Overnight at Walmart, Mount Pleasant.
[click] to continue our journey to Florida and the Deep South
[click] to return to Home page