trip off this

Final Thoughts

2005-06-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

So I'm back at work. It feels weird and slightly awful to be back in NYC for some reason. I'm not sure why. The shock of running smack into a brick wall after travelling at 80 miles per hour for 7 days. Lots of introspective analysis, thoughts and retrospection. I'll spare all that from this forum and just say it was amazing. I had a great time. I hope whoever of you read this found it somewhat entertaining.

That's it! what a trip. ta ta.

from sunset to sunrise ... west to east.

Pictures, Day 7

2005-06-27T10:36:00.002-07:00

sunrise over the Atlantic in Virginia Beach.

Back on the road. The Home Stretch.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel to the Eastern shore of Virginia

fried scallops at Stingray's on the Eastern Shore

Viking bikers have come to conquer New Jersey

Why you never see "I heart NJ" t-shirts.

... in case you needed another reason.

Pictures, Day 6

2005-06-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

Savannah

Clarry's, a decent diner there

a funny sign

This picture came out blurry but really cool.

Sweatman's, in Holly Hill, SC

the approach

the sign

the parkling lot

the front door

plate 1

plate 2

plate 3

one of the rooms in the dining area

a shot out the window

Mr. Sweatman himself presides, pictured with wife and favorite food

Back on the road

the perfect parking to lot to stop for a break

Pictures, Day 5

2005-06-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

A nice balcony garden in New Orleans.

another

iced coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde

a beach with sailboats in Biloxi, MS

Train tracks in Biloxi

crab salad at Wintzell's in Mobile, AL. I also had an oyster po'boy that I forgot to photograph. dang

The Georgia Welcoming Committee selling confederate rugs on the roadside.

The Waffle House menu. As you can see, there are 12 ways that hash browns can be served. Though with all the different possiblities, there are thousands of combinations.

scattered smothered and covered

the hair-pulling final few miles

2005-06-26T18:17:00.000-07:00

... like having to go pee

2005-06-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

"... to the break of day ... I had a ball ..."

just to see my home

2005-06-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

The Mecca of 'cue, part 2: Food Comma

2005-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Mecca of 'cue, part 1: In Pursuit

2005-06-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Rory's Road Trip Tip #35418

2005-06-25T01:31:00.000-07:00

Always make sure your shoelaces are tied before using a public bathroom.

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Georgia Peach, Greasy Brick

2005-06-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Waffle House Undercover

2005-06-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Waffle House, A Plan is Hatched

2005-06-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

Waffle, Interrupted

2005-06-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Trip off Trivia, Question 3

2005-06-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

How many different types of hash browns does the chain Waffle House serve?

[Note: this question is now closed since the correct answer has been posted above in a picture. -ed.]

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Trip off Trivia, Question 2

2005-06-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

What is the most likely orgin of the word 'cajun'?

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Trip off Trivia, Question 1

2005-06-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

[Alright, here is the first of something I should have started in Cali. Answer in the comments section. Correct answer gets a free souvenire. Tie goes to whoever posts first. I'm the sole judge.]

What is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the USA?

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Julian Convinces me to Continue

2005-06-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

Days 3 & 4 Summary

2005-06-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

(they are all blending together)

Miles: alot. lost track. maybe 1000. Hours on the road: almost 24. I'm tired.

Pictures, Day 4

2005-06-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

a roadside market on the way to Ft Worth

I bought some aloe for my sunburn

If I were more enterprising I'd buy some cheap cigs and bring them back to NYC.

beef

and pie

... just like Paris.

some Louisiana foliage

a bad picture of a really cool swamp

jumbalaya and oysters at Felix's in New Orleans (and cheap good local beer)

So this is that "infiniti" tagger guy from NYC. This is in New Orleans.

Pictures, Day 3

2005-06-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

I went on a 3 hour hike to the top of this mountain.

cue Sting. (desert rose -- not really)

At the top of the mountain I discovered ladybug HQ.

more ladybugs ... these pictures only show about 1/10th of it.

a horny toad

a little Native American art style graffiti

chile relleno and more sopaipilla's at Diego's in Santa Fe

In the place with some of the best Mexican food anywhere, someone decided to put a restaurant serving fake Mexican food -- and they put it in a building made of fake adobe.

adobe architecture collage

where I was stuck for 2 hours on hold with Citibank.

I didn't.

bourbon st

2005-06-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

.. is as over-weight and cheesy as the crowd at Disneyland yet somehow simultaneously as unapologetically debaucherous as a frat party in a strip club.

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... its like a tasting menu for the whole country

2005-06-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Too much on the agenda ... not enough time to stop in any one place. Fun but frustrating. I guess that's the nature of this kind of thing.

Coming over the swamps into N'awlins. Amazing. Wish I could stay more than 1 night.

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good bye texas

2005-06-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

errata

2005-06-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

oops not the Mississippi yet. Mixed up.

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locals only

2005-06-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

don't mess saga, postscript

2005-06-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

Added a 'Dont Mess...' bumper sticker to Jill's car(*) to ward off more bad luck and law enforcement. Passed 12 hours and 2 cops in the state thus far w no further problems so i think its working. (* don't worry Jill, its on the window not the paint job and i promise to take it off.)

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bug, splat. me, thinking too much about it

2005-06-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

don't mess saga, resolved

2005-06-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

Card access restored. Fraud protection activated from so many states in 3 days. Plus i get 6 months free checking for the hassle. And some free stamps from the nice lady at the truck stop. And a free drink from the guy (which he forgot and charged me for but whatever). On the road again.

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don't mess saga, part 2

2005-06-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Citibank agent informed me my card number is apparently one of the 40,000 recently stolen in some MasterCard security breach. Claimed to reenable my card but still not working. Developing ...

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don't mess indeed

2005-06-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

40 miles into Texas, stopped for gas, credit card not working. Maybe i've travelled thru too many states in too few days? On hold w citibank.

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wagons out

2005-06-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

So at last i've managed to extricate myself from Santa Fe after a morning of hiking swimming and shopping for some local chiles and spices to bring home. I could have stayed much longer but as Uncle Greg says "always travel like you'll be coming back" (quoting Rick Steves). Sound advice. To the French Quarter mon amis!

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i am a huge dork

2005-06-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

I should really delete this as well but I wont. why. I dont know. (Me getting pulled over by Deliverance-style Texas cop.)

Drive Friendly, the Texas way

2005-06-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

you know i know you know

2005-06-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

As per Road Trip Tip 3, if anyone knows anyone in Amarillo, Dallas, New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston or Eastern Virginia, lemme know.

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugh-ly #2

2005-06-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

So I got really excited for an indulgent culinary adventure last night (good) when Elana's uncle informed me, within 5 minutes of meeting me, that he was a compulsive over-eater (bad). However, he went on, he was reformed and now on a strict diet (ugh). But I still managed to (over) indulge myself (double ugh).

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Day 2 Summary

2005-06-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Miles: ~350. Road hours: about 5. Petrified trees seen: hundreds. Faux-dobe buildings: thousands.

Today I head towards New Orleans, via Amarillo and Dallas. Heading through Texas! Let's hope I won't have to make use of my new haircut.

Pictures, Day 2

2005-06-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

What trip across America would be complete without shots of large dinosaurs?

A nice ranger welcomed me to the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park.

somewhere in the park. Kind of annoyed by the "drive through" feeling of the place. Seemed like most people didn't walk around anywhere but the rest stops along the road. Of course, I didn't even get out of the car. heh.

where I had lunch. Gallup, NM

Navajo lamb stew and fried bread

A LES tagger in Gallup?

I have never before seen a town so comitted to one single architectural style than Santa Fe. Literally 99% of buildings in town have this adobe (faux-dobe?) style.

dinner. Sopaipillas stuffed with beef and beans, with Santa Fe green chile

Good ol' Uncle Greg. The ultimate Santa Fe'er, who showed me around town.

Rory's Road Trip Tip #3

2005-06-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Know someone everywhere you go. (Elana's uncle showed me around Santa Fe last night which was pretty nice.)

Rory's Road Trip Tip #2

2005-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Driving all night might be less strain on the eyes, but makes the next day hell.

Pictures, Day 1

2005-06-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Not much to see today.

somewhere near barstow

the sunset in my mirror as I drive East

actual lyrics heard on country radio

2005-06-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

"Armagedon may be knocking at my door / But I ain't gonna answer that's for sure."
"She thinks my tractor's sexy."

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another uneventful border crossing

2005-06-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

So now i'm in New Mexico. More for the Lower East Siders: just saw a Dr Sex tag on a train in Gallup, NM. Eating amazing navajo lamb stew.

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bug, splat. me, nuts.

2005-06-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

me singing. I should delete this but I won't.

Day 1 Summary

2005-06-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

In a testament to the power of raw human ambition and the power of a heavy right foot, made it all the way to Flagstaff last night. Pulled over and slept in hotel p'king lot. Wanna make it to Santa Fe asap to spend some time there. Miles: 500.6. Road hours: ~10. Walmarts: 2.

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needle exchange

2005-06-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

(ok, I said Nevada, I meant Arizona. They're like, totally right near each other on a map, so like, don't blame me and stuff.)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugh-ly #1

2005-06-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

My lap and leg area is feeling cool and refreshed (good) because Jill's car has no drink holders (bad) and thus my drink spilled all over my shorts (ugh).

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Rory's Road Trip Tip #1

2005-06-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Driving at night eliminates eye strain from the sun. Drive all night and have more daylight hours to enjoy your stopping points! (Check back tomorrow to see if i'm still enthused with idea)

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Lower East Side or Arizona?

2005-06-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

apocalyp-sync now (soon)

2005-06-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

2005-06-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Update from the road: just passed my first Wal-Mart! Still in Cali stuck in rush hour traffic.

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start your engines

2005-06-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

two bits

2005-06-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

an offer from my dad that I couldn't refuse

2005-06-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

advice from a road trip veteran

2005-06-20T15:40:00.000-07:00