A continued sense of not moving. I am, however, catching up on my reading.
Flying to a small island West of France tomorrow.
Day 93
Feeling the sensation of a lack of momentum. It feels as though we should be a car, or doing something but we’re just packing suitcases.
Day 92
Thinking it was a library we looked through the window of a building, and seeing us this nice lady below showed us around the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park. I have the name somewhere, but it’s pack in a suitcase. Will update the blog when we’re home.
“This is one of the right relief sculptures that adorned the four turrets atop the 1884 Will County Courthouse. When the courthouse was demolished in 1968, Will County Board historian Billie Limacher was instrumental in having them saves and stored. In 1997 city manager John Mezera commissioned Joliet artist Marsha Lega to repair and restore them to their natural beauty.” — Plaque next to the relief.
A nice view across the canal.
Still in Joliet we went to the Route 66 Museum (well, one of many Route 66 museums.)
Below the original costumes from the Blues Brothers lent by Judy, John Belushi’s widow.
The “Spitz 512 star projector & control controller.”
Lunch somewhere then to the Final Hotel.
Day 91
Cleaned the car a bit in Paxton.
Into a town called Piper City to get some food, but first posting a card for mum. Outside was Nancy R Stamm (she gave me the full name). She was VERY chatty. Followed me in a said the person in the post office MUST talk to me, as much as said she really didn’t have to. She also followed us/was going to the same place to eat as us. Jane declined her offer to pay for our food and she then refused to speak to her. She carried on talking to me. After eating we went to the library, and Nancy was spending the afternoon there too so the talking continued. Bookmarks from Debbie. The library had a framed double-sided quilt made for the town’s bi-centenary.
Through rural landscapes. We stopped at a place called Cabery and took a photo of the church. I found the following article on it. The article is from Apr 28, 2021, and it’s still there.
Temporary Reprieve for Cabery’s St. Joseph’s Church
The majestic St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, completed in 1904, sits at the village’s highest point next to the town’s newest structure, the township shed.
Early pioneers first established a mission there in 1867. Faithful parishioners built the first wooden church on this location in 1892.
St. Joseph’s current stone church has been the site of countless weddings, baptisms, funerals and masses.
However, due to disrepair, the church building has been on the chopping block since the Diocese of Joliet closed the church in 2015.
St. Joseph’s Preservation Society, led by Cheryl Weaver of Cabery, has been granted chapel status twice before.
However, that status has been revoked both times.
The mission statement of the Society is to retain chapel status of the building and financially take care of the property.
The plan is for the St. Joseph’s Preservation Society to refurbish it, and utilize it as a chapel for private prayer, weddings, funerals and baptisms.
Brody Hale, attorney for the Society, has even gone as far as the Vatican to beg for the church building to be maintained by the Society - to no avail.
The demolition of St. Joseph’s had been slated to take place any day now. (The rectory was razed in May of 2019, despite the Society’s offer to purchase it.)
However, on April 21, as a Hail Mary effort to keep the church intact, an injunction was filed against the Joliet Diocese by Weaver.
The injunction maintains that there are human remains under the church and to disturb them would violate the law.
The injunction ensures that the church will not be demolished at least through July.
Religious items from inside the church were removed on April 19 and taken to St. Margaret Mary Church in Herscher where they will stay until a final decision is rendered about the fate of the church.
The objects will be returned in the event that Weaver and the St. Joseph’s Preservation Society win the suit.
Hale stresses, "Churches are not just buildings. They are sacred spaces."
The Society has funds to purchase the church as well as a committed benefactor who will fund needed repairs along with providing upkeep costs in perpetuity.
A St. Joseph’s preservation supporter writes on the Society’s Facebook site, “St. Joseph's is a beacon of hope, a refuge, a sign of continuity of the faith in spite of demographic changes. Keeping the church as a sacred space shows respect for those who built it out of love and sacrifice. Tearing it down would be an affront to all the hardworking faith-filled families who sacrificed personal wealth to establish a place of worship.”
It is the goal of the Society to purchase, restore, and maintain St. Joseph’s church as a chapel for personal reflection and family events, as well as a religious landmark for Cabery’s future generations.
If the church is to be saved, it may be due to the site being a burial ground.
But, it will also be due to the tireless work of the church’s current supporters. — herscherpilot.com
Through a town called Lincoln.
To town Dwight and bookmarks from Kim.
Day 90
To Covington. Visited the library and got some bookmarks from Amanda and Terisa. Eggs and potato at the Court House Café.
Max likes a band called American Football, and there’s a house on the cover of their first album.
After checking into the hotel in Urbana we went for a walk to the garage to get some more milk, and at their checkout they had a square you put your shopping on and a top-down camera recognised what was on their and put it onto the bill.
Day 89
Coffee and a sandwich in Roanoke (though the coffee was more brown water than coffee). Some bookmarks from Karen.
To Erie (Eerie) Indiana for a nineties television throwback. Population 16,661? I’m pretty sure the whole town is just one short street with nothing at one end, a burnt out building and - but of course - a church in the middle.
I did look at the population of Erie. It said 538 (2013). I’ve no idea where they all were.
Into Peru (the circus capital of the World, apparently.)
Some bookmarks from Emma.
The hotel was quiet, but there were some cars outside.
Day 88
We spent the day in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
The bus that Rosa Parks’ refused to give up her seat on is there after being restored. Surprisingly you can go inside the bus, and actually sit on seat she sat in.
The chair that Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when assassinated at Ford’s Theater in 1865,
John Wilkes Booth was a well-known actor and a Confederate spy from Maryland; though he never joined the Confederate army, he had contacts with the Confederate secret service. After attending Lincoln's last public address, on April 11, 1865, in which Lincoln stated his preference that the franchise be conferred on some black men, specifically "on the very intelligent, and on those who serve our cause as soldiers", Booth hatched a plot to assassinate the President. When Booth learned of the Lincolns' intent to attend a play with General Grant, he planned to assassinate Lincoln and Grant at Ford's Theatre. Lincoln and his wife attended the play Our American Cousin on the evening of April 14, just five days after the Union victory at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. At the last minute, Grant decided to go to New Jersey to visit his children instead of attending the play.
On April 14, 1865, hours before he was assassinated, Lincoln signed legislation establishing the United States Secret Service, and, at 10:15 in the evening, Booth entered the back of Lincoln's theater box, crept up from behind, and fired at the back of Lincoln's head, mortally wounding him. Lincoln's guest, Major Henry Rathbone, momentarily grappled with Booth, but Booth stabbed him and escaped. After being attended by Doctor Charles Leale and two other doctors, Lincoln was taken across the street to Petersen House. After remaining in a coma for eight hours, Lincoln died at 7:22 in the morning on April 15 Stanton saluted and said, "Now he belongs to the ages."Lincoln's body was placed in a flag-wrapped coffin, which was loaded into a hearse and escorted to the White House by Union soldiers. President Johnson was sworn in later that same day.
Two weeks later, Booth, refusing to surrender, was tracked to a farm in Virginia, and was mortally shot by Sergeant Boston Corbett and died on April 26. Secretary of War Stanton had issued orders that Booth be taken alive, so Corbett was initially arrested to be court martialed. After a brief interview, Stanton declared him a patriot and dismissed the charge. — Wikipedia
And a life mask of Lincoln.
For some brief lightness. The large Wienermobile.
After the brief palate cleanser. The car that JFK was assassinated in.
Back down into Ohio so we can get into Indiana tomorrow, as we’re still pushing for three days of not moving before we head back.
Day 87
Into Marblehead. An unexpected Muffer Man.
This muffler man is affectionately known as Handless Jacques by some. He has seen better days, and has been relocated from his original location.
Jacques was originally in place in front of Jacques' Roast Beef sandwich restaurant, and held a roast beef sandwich along Lexington Ave in Mansfield, Ohio.
Eventually Jacques' changed into a pizzeria. Giant Jacques traded his sandwich for a pizza, and his name for "Big Pierre."
It is said that eventually Jacques/Pierre was deemed a hazard to traffic in Mansfield, and he was carted off to his present day location in Marblehead, Ohio. He now holds nothing, exposing that he has no hands, and longingly stares toward Lake Erie.
Along with the Roadside America site, Jacques has been mentioned in Ohio Oddities by Neil Zurcher, and Weird Ohio, by James A Willis, Andrew Henderson, and Loren Coleman. He's likely in other books as well, but these are the ones I had on hand where I was able to find him. — waymarking.com
Bookmarks from Tina and Margaret at Marblehead Library.
The lighthouse was closed, but a nice visit. You can read about it here.
Jane bought something warm to wear. Expertly knitted by Christi at the Just for Ewe Gift Shop.
Then into the forty-seventh and penultimate state. Michigan.
Day 86
Quite the driving day. We’re close - perhaps 700 miles to go - but we’d like to get to an hour South of the airport with enough time to have 2-3 days in the same place to get everything ready for flying.
We stopped in Westfield, NY and saw the Barcelona Lighthouse, and had a walk around the bay.
Entry in service: 1829
Decommissioned: 1859
Height: 40 feet
Interior stairway: Spiral wooden staircase anchored to the tower walls and a single wooden central support beam.
Number of steps to the light platform: 50
Base diameter: 22 feet
Wall thickness at base: 3 feet
Construction: Native rough cut fieldstone with a lime based mortar
Into the state 46; Ohio and passing through Conneaut we saw this beauty of a library but, alas, it’s derelict.
An article on it:
CONNEAUT — More than 20 years after its final book was checked out, the former Carnegie Public Library in downtown Conneaut is still awaiting an occupant.
“For sale” signs recently sprouted outside the long-vacant building at 282 State St., three years after it was purchased by a Florida-based limited liability company.
“It’s always been for sale,” said Kathy Zappitello, executive director of the Conneaut Public Library. “The owner has always been interested in selling or leasing [the old library]. What matters is finding a business plan that fits.”
And an owner with deep pockets. “It would cost a significant amount of money to rehabilitate [the building], and that’s the hurdle,” Zappitello said.
The library was one of many underwritten by steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie more than a century ago. The building was erected in 1909, and closed nearly nine decades later when the current library opened its doors on Buffalo Street in 1998.
A few owners have acquired the property since then, most recently Ponyx Properties LLC of Fernandina Beach, Fla., which paid $125,000 for the structure and grounds in January 2017, according to Ashtabula County records. At that time it was reported the owner would seek a developer willing to give the big brick building a fresh start.
There have been inquires, said Zappitello, who is also president of the board of trustees for the Conneaut Foundation, a philanthropic organization that bestows grants on community-based projects.
“It has garnered attention,” she said. “It’s been looked at many, many times. There has been serious interest.”
There have been shoppers, but no buyers, and one big reason is the capital that would be needed to bring it back to life. Technology upgrades alone would be a big investment, Zappitello said.
“It needs a lot of work,” she said. “It really does boil down to money.”
A previous owner has also stripped the building of its unique fixtures, Zappitello said. What people see on the outside — a stately structure — isn’t reflected on the inside, she said.
“It doesn’t have the character, the features one would assume would be there,” Zappitello said.
The physical condition of the building prompted the city fire department to cite a former owner into court in 2015 when she failed to address problems noted by fire inspectors, including issues with the roof.
The condition of the building remains a worry, officials said.
“It’s a pretty sad situation because it’s in such disrepair,” said Jon Arcaro, Conneaut City Council president. “It’s a shame, because on the outside it’s such a beautiful, architectural structure. It’s very unfortunate for the city.”
Zappitello agreed.
“We have to, as a community, be concerned about [the building’s condition],” she said. “Nobody wants to see that building demolished.”
Conneaut Public Library will not acquire its predecessor, Zappitello said. The reasons the building was vacated, such as concerns over public access, still exist today,” she said.
“We feel bad, but we have no interest,” Zappitello said.
There is hope, however, that someone with a suitable vision for the property will come along, and a new chapter will be written for the old library.
“We’re trying to find the right entrepreneur with the right fit for the community and the right business model,” Zappitello said. — starbeacon.com
The post office next door was in better repair and posted a card.
Day 85
Niagara Falls from the US side. The view of the falls is better from the Canadian side (which we saw back in 2019) but the skyline is better from the US side.
The squirrels were very tame, so Jane was more interested in them than the waterfalls.
In Silver Creek, NY we got some bookmarks from Amy, Linda and Bob (back row) and Christine in front.
Outside the library was a plaque to Robert F Young. Not an author I’d heard of. I’ve added a short story of his called “The Servant Problem“ to the Kindle and will have a read.
Day 84
Into a town called Sodus where we had a coffee, and picked up bookmarks from Amanda and Roxanne. A slightly spooky ghostly reflection of me taking the photo as they were behind plexiglass.
To Ontario (not that one). Wikipedia doesn’t say why it’s named Ontario.
The first settler was Freeman Hopkins, who arrived in 1806. He built a small log cabin that had to hold his nine children, wife and himself. Heavy timber and swamps made life difficult for the first settlers. The town of Ontario was created in 1807 as the "Town of Freetown" from a part of the town of Williamson. Soon after, the name was changed to "Ontario". — Wikipedia
Another library, and bookmarks from Sandy.
Into Rochester to see the George Eastman (Kodak) museum. One of the photo exhibitions was about segregated school proms. When, you ask? 1920? 1930? Nope - not integrated until 2010.
A segregated prom refers to the practice of United States high schools, generally located in the Deep South, of holding racially segregated proms for white and black students. The practice spread after these schools were integrated, and persists in a few rural places to the present day. The separate proms have been the subject of frequent (often negative) press coverage, and several films. — Wikipedia
Day 83
Out of Troy. Below the Green Island Bridge which takes you over the Hudson River.
Into Esperance where we posted a card.
To Cherry Valley. We found a shop with a bookmark and a nice card, and had a coffee there. The library was closed though - boo. We posted another card - obviously.
The overland route westward from Albany which crests the divide between the Mohawk and Susquehanna valleys was an invitation to settlers. George Croghan, Indian agent and western land speculator from Pennsylvania, in 1768 staked out a large tract near Otsego Lake. During the Revolution the frontier settlements suffered from British, Tory and Indian raids from Canada. The most famous was the Cherry Valley massacre of November 11, 1779, the troops of General Clinton were floated down the Susquehanna from Otsego lake to join General John Sullivan's men at Tioga. The Sullivan-Clinton Expedition devastated Indian lands and secured the frontier.
Renewal of settlements came after the Revolution when Judith Williams Cooper founded Cooperstown. The Cherry Valley Turnpike chartered in 1799 opened the stage coach era, encouraged westward migration and the rise of small communities along the route.
Remaining largely rural and agricultural the region has become famous as the setting for the romantic tales of James Fenimore Cooper. Resorts and tourist attractions have flourished and Cooperstown, is well known for its historical and folk museums and its baseball Hall of Fame.
Picked up a bookmark from Scott in Morrisville Library.
The hotel had a restaurant so we went for an actual proper meal out. “Do you have a reservation?” No. Someone had cancelled so we got a table. Had a filet mignon steak that was soooo nice. True the meal cost more than a hotel room, but it was really worth it.
Day 82
A morning driving around Burlington, Vermont (just about fifty miles south of Canada). First stop was the World’s tallest filing cabinet. A rusty 40-foot-high tower of stacked file cabinets welded together.
Then to Union Station because it has a Flying Monkey on the top because.. (goes to look up the reason)…
The first winged monkey appeared in Burlington, Vermont in 1975, sculpted into the roof line of an historic old building on the corner of Bank and St. Paul Streets. The sculpture was commissioned for a store called Emerald City of Oz. Emerald City was a waterbed store and a politically motivated gift boutique. This first creature was positioned so that he begged discovery, crouched, ever vigilant, always on guard, and softly bathed in green light. An icon was born.
His mate emerged from the primordial soup behind a slate turret on the south side of the same building. These two mythical creatures were sculpted in steel by Steve Larrabee (1950 - 2011). For the better part of ten years, they stood their post in downtown Burlington.
Businesses changed hands, addresses changed and Burlington's winged monkeys, threatened by zealots, flew south for a two year hiatus, mounted on giant rocks, deep in the forest. Emerald City reopened in 1988 and the winged monkeys landed on Shelburne Road, on the southern edge of town.It was here that tragedy struck. In September, 1992, the original sentry was ripped from his post by thoughtless and foolish hooligans. He was kidnapped and held against his will in a mysterious cell, parts unknown. He was gone.
A pall fell across the land.
The search was intense, but leads turned up empty, and the trail grew cold. After 6 months, his replacement was conceived in the workshop of sculptor Larrabee. A Crimestoppers Tip in May of 1993 instigated an undercover stakeout and the South Burlington Police Department caught the kidnappers in a botched transfer. After three days in a police locker, the proud creature, battered and beaten, was returned to his anxious guardians and his ever attentive mate. Literally days after the homecoming, his replacement arrived. This glorious new creature was sculpted in copper, wings back, in heat, baying at the moon. Her little fingers grasped the edge of the gable roof as she seized her haunt and screamed in silent delight. She was a blue species, and now, with diversity, there were three.
In 1996 the original pair, flew to the clock tower that was once Union Station and is now the ever vibrant Main Street Landing.
The copper goddess with the silent scream landed on the edge of a wood, amidst a patch of wild blackberries in the cities north end. Once again, the better part of a decade passed.
Businesses changed hands, addresses changed and Burlington's winged monkeys, threatened by zealots, flew south for a two year hiatus, mounted on giant rocks, deep in the forest. Emerald City reopened in 1988 and the winged monkeys landed on Shelburne Road, on the southern edge of town.It was here that tragedy struck. In September, 1992, the original sentry was ripped from his post by thoughtless and foolish hooligans. He was kidnapped and held against his will in a mysterious cell, parts unknown. He was gone.
A pall fell across the land.
The search was intense, but leads turned up empty, and the trail grew cold. After 6 months, his replacement was conceived in the workshop of sculptor Larrabee. A Crimestoppers Tip in May of 1993 instigated an undercover stakeout and the South Burlington Police Department caught the kidnappers in a botched transfer. After three days in a police locker, the proud creature, battered and beaten, was returned to his anxious guardians and his ever attentive mate. Literally days after the homecoming, his replacement arrived. This glorious new creature was sculpted in copper, wings back, in heat, baying at the moon. Her little fingers grasped the edge of the gable roof as she seized her haunt and screamed in silent delight. She was a blue species, and now, with diversity, there were three.
In 1996 the original pair, flew to the clock tower that was once Union Station and is now the ever vibrant Main Street Landing.
The copper goddess with the silent scream landed on the edge of a wood, amidst a patch of wild blackberries in the cities north end. Once again, the better part of a decade passed.
There was great joy.
The blue goddess flew to the waters edge and trumpets from the theatre on the lake.
Joy.
Her clarion call, while but a whisper to us, pierces the primeval veil and lures a rogue male, blue too, what were the odds? From beyond the veil, he lands on the cupola above the Theatre, where he lures his siren sweet.
Again joy.
Across the land.
For now,... as has been,... in the dark of night, and in the blink of an eye, the flying monkeys of Burlington, Vermont soar over the mountains, glide over the lake and serve as our mythical protectors.
For indeed they do. Fantasy is real.
Ask a child. Ask any child.
These creatures of the sky keep us forever young. — MonkeysWithWings.vom
Inside the station the toilet was locked (boooo) but Alberto opened it (hooray).
He retired, but went back to work at the station because he likes meeting people. He’s seventy-nine. He told us many stories about when he was in London, one of which was being sent to Tesco with a list of things to buy. At the end it said to buy a hundred rolls so he went to ask at the bakery. They said that was a lot and they were closing soon, and asked to look at his list. No, they said, not a hundred rolls - loo rolls.
It looks like they’re standing on a pier, but it’s a slow moving boat.
We’d planned to go to the hotel via Bennington but after the clocks went back it gets darker earlier and I was getting tired so back into New York, and to our hotel in Troy.
Passed a sign that said; “Mountains are not just funny; they’re hill areas.”
Day 81
Driving through more of New Hampshire, which is a lovely State.
Through a town called Bethlehem and posted a card to Mum.
Brunch in the town of Littleton. Eggs Benedict again, thanks for asking. Looked like a cool town and shops that were actually open on a Sunday but we had to get to Burlington by 1:30pm.
Into state (counts on fingers), 45. Vermont. It’s in our list for the one of the prettiest states.
To the Ben & Jerry Factory (but, alas, you can’t take photos in the interesting bit.) The graveyard lays to rest cancelled flavours.
Into Richmond to see the Round Church.
The Round Church, also known as the Old Round Church, is a historic church on Round Church Road in Richmond, Vermont. Built in 1812–1813, it is a rare, well-preserved example of a sixteen-sided meeting house, likely the only remaining example of its kind in North America. — Wikipedia
Day 80
We drove through Lewiston, Maine. Flags were at half mast, and trees had white ribbons tied to them following the mass shooting there ten days ago. President Biden had visited yesterday.
We got some bookmarks from Ron at the library.
The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was impressive, but I couldn’t really get a good angle on it for a photo and it was closed.
Wedged into an alley some steep steps lead down to Quiet City Books.
Back into New Hampshire we had a nice lunch (spoiler: I had a cheeesebuger.)
Hotel in Gorham, New Hampshire and out to the local pizza place/bar for some beer. The church outside the hotel lit up when it got dark.
Day 79
A day spent in Salem, Massachusetts known for the Witch Trials, but importantly in the county of Essex. Bottom right is Roger Conant (1592-1679) the first settler of Salem in 1626.
After a cream cheese bagel we went to the Satanic Temple.
Members of the Satanic Temple used a statue of the occult deity Baphomet to protest a Ten Commandments monument in Little Rock, Ark.
The 8.5-foot-tall statue, which depicts the winged half-goat, half-man, with two children at its side, was briefly installed in front of the State Capitol building on Thursday as a symbol of free speech and plurality of beliefs, organizers told NPR. It was also meant to protest the explicitly Christian values promoted by a Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds, in keeping with the Satanic Temple’s belief that religious displays should not be placed on public property. — Time.Com
After it did its job, it moved to Salem.
There’s a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery who played the witch Samantha in the show “Bewitched”. There’s some debate as to whether it belittles what happened to the women killed as witches and a couple of cameras check for vandalism.
The Gardner–Pingree House is a historic house museum at 128 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts. It is judged to be a masterpiece of Federal architecture by the noted Salem builder Samuel McIntire, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972 for its architectural significance. — Wikipedia
Through into New Hampshire, and out of the other side into Maine. States 43, and 44.
Day 78
Before we left Rhode Island we saw H.P. Lovecraft's last house in Providence, in which he wrote “Haunter of the Dark. (Though the house was moved a few blocks from College Street from when he lived in it.)
At the John Hay library we looked at an Exhibit about Mumia Abu-Jamal called “A portrait of incarceration.”
Mumia Abu-Jamal is an American political activist and journalist who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1982 for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. While on death row, he has written and commented on the criminal justice system in the United States. — Wikipedia
On the wall was the notes of some music he’d written. I typed the notes into an application so see what it sounded at. To my ears, not great.
Back into Massachusetts for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
The family bible on which JFK swore the oath of office. His Uncle had been the keeper of the bible and had it ready in a shopping bag ready for the agents to come and collect.
The cafe overlooks the bay into which tea is sometimes thrown.
The Boston Tea Party was an American political and mercantile protest on December 16, 1773 by the Sons of Liberty in Boston in colonial Massachusetts. — Wikipedia
We watched an interesting documentary on The Cuban Missing Crisis (as opposed to The Cuban Visa Crisis, obviously.)
The final visit was to the Museum of Bad Art. The was as advertised. Since we’d noted down the address it was moved to the Dorchester Brewery.
Day 77
We were a short drive from Mark Twain’s house.
Mark Twain said; “Travel is fatal to prejudice.” We bumped into him so I pointed out that should he travel to Florida he’ll find it is instead re-inforced. (Photo edited to suit this period costume.)
Jane had a chat to the lady in the Cafe; Lynn.
Into Providence, Rhode Island to see H.P. Lovecraft’s house, but it turns out there are two streets with the same name and it’s North of the hotel so we just checked in with a view to seeing it tomorrow.
Day 76
Into Albany the Capital of New York.
The Egg is a performing arts venue in Albany, New York. Named for its shape, the building was designed by Harrison & Abramovitz as part of the Empire State Plaza project, and built between 1966 and 1978. — Wikipedia
Across from The Egg is the State Museum which we had a long walk around. Among the exhibitions was one on 9/11, which included among many other artifacts was a piece of one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center.
Southend! In Albany, New York.
In Austerlitz Jane saw a sculpture park as we sped past so we doubled back for a look.
We fleetingly pushed through the corner of Massachusetts (though we’ll do it properly the day after tomorrow) and go to Connecticut.
We were very excited to find ourselves in a Norfolk (named after the proper English one). The library was great, and we got a bookmark from Chris.
To Hartford for the night. Being the 31st and Halloween the person on the front desk was dressed up.
Day 75
A rainy drive through Scranton, the location of the American “The Office”. The tower appears in the credits, and pleasingly Penn Paper is a real paper company at its base. The owner has made a nice display of “Office” related things in their lobby. You’d think they might find it disruptive, but the guy there was lovely.
Picked up some bookmarks from Beth in Nineveh library.
We crossed into New York and drove North towards the capital, Albany and after a nice home-cooked burger at Henry’s Drive-In in Afton, we pushed onto our hotel in Cobleskill. We played some pool (badly) and ate. Our hotel, a Super 8 is so-called because when they chain started each room cost $8.88.
