June 25, 2007
So we had a whirlwind of a trip, leaving last Monday afternoon at around 2 pm and arriving back home Friday night around 10 pm.
Monday, we drove from Michigan through lower Ontario along a pretty two-lane highway, re-entering the US in Buffalo, where we spent the night. The next morning, we got up and drove along the Thru-way across Upstate New York, making many sidetrips in suburbs of Rochester, Utica, and Syracuse to stop and sign books at Barnes & Noble and Borders.
One of the best parts about road-tripping is the sidetrips/stopping to smell the roses part. By the time we got to the Rochester area, we were hungry for breakfast. And after meeting a most helpful woman at the Barnes & Noble in Pittford, New York (she wore really funky glasses and I forgot to write her name down! doh!), we asked her for a breakfast recommendation.
We'd been thinking of an IHOP or 
Perkins, but asking the locals is always a better way to go, and boy were we right on this time! She directed us into the little village/shopping area of Schoen Place for breakfast, where we found the Coal Tower restaurant and its yummy Belgian waffles. Across the street was a park and boardwalk along the Erie Canal, which I'd never seen, so, voila! Here's proof that I was actually there. (The other picture below shows the cylindrical red Coal House restaurant in the background, in Schoen Place, Pittford, NY.)
Anyway, it was a delightful little area–I highly recommend it if you're traveling through. I would have spent much more time there in the shops (and, ooh! there was a lovely little spa too!) if we hadn't needed to be in Albany by 5pm.
The other odd/cool thing about that day–actually, about the whole trip–is that we realized halfway across New York that we were driving in silence. I mean, no radio or CD. We had occasional conversation when I wasn't dozing or working, but no music. That was…well, to quote Wallace Shawn, "Inconceivable."
Think about this: my husband's moniker is Music Man for a reason. The guy lives for music. He'll spend ten minutes fiddling with the stereo or CD player to get a certain station/track to play in the background for a two-minute task. I'm not kidding.
He'll move an entire stereo system outside for an evening bonfire.
He'll make the entire family wait while he finds a particular CD before we leave to drive to the grocery.
The guy needs music like most of us need water.
And we drove our entire trip–Michigan through Canada, across New York, down to Philadelphia and then to Washington DC, back through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan without ever turning on the radio once.
And it was lovely.
So, you? Do you road trip in silence or to jams or news? Do you take sidetrips or just want to get there? Best side trip ever?
June 25th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Before the girls were born, we would take road trips just for fun. We would drive for hours to go to supper, or just to drive. We always had music playing.
Now, we like to get to our destination as quickly as possible. Music is still important, but we have to be careful of the songs we play.
June 25th, 2007 at 11:20 am
GOT to have music. Oh, yeah. I get jumpy without it.
As for sidetrips… depends on the timeframe I’m working with. I love adventures and all that, so I’m up for pretty much anything… so long as there is time.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
No radio? Wow. I definitely would have died. I made an 8 hour Playlist for the trip to Uniontown, OH last November. After working too many retreats and church events, I’ve learned that I am terrible at being quiet.
I love side trips, too! On the same trip to Ohio we stopped off so many times on the way back to visit little towns, and of course see the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame (which was completely out of the way, but I had to go!)
June 25th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
When I was growing up our best vacations were the ones where we had no particular destination in mind.
June 25th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Glad you had an enjoyable book tour! Oddly enough, the 10 year old girl who participated in my challenge and won a prize lives with her family in Pittsford, NY.
I too love to have music on all the time everywhere. On occasion I’ll shut it all down and drive in silence or just visit, but that is rare. I like the soundtrack going on.
June 25th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Strange as it may sound, silence distracts me. Even while reading, I need something going on in the background or I start getting antsy and can’t concentrate. And, yes, music (or news) is always playing in the car. The only time I don’t require a background noise is when I’m on the computer. Haven’t quite figured that one out yet. It doesn’t bother me if there is noise but I just don’t seem to need it then.
June 25th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Well…you just said very nice things about my town. Add to that the fact that Carl, who is responsible for introducing me to whole new worlds of literature through his challenge, is a fan. I think that pretty much clinches it…I need to go buy your book. Or maybe I should just pick up both of them while I’m at it, huh?
Sometimes silence is bliss. Other times it drives me crazy. But as for the side trips…I find them a necessity!
June 25th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Get that man an Ipod! Did I mention I have 1600 songs on mine?
June 27th, 2007 at 1:38 am
I drive a lot for work and as much as like listening to music at home I find it makes me sleepy in the car. I just stay sharper when I drive if I listen to either audiobooks or sports talk radio.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
What a coincidence! Hubby (he needs a moniker) and I will be spending the night near in Palmyra, NY and will need a place for breakfast. Coal Tower sounds just perfect.