To Cherry Hill and DC

Sometime in the late summer or early fall of 2019 we were listening to the radio or maybe watching TV. I do not remember the topic or the conversation when one speaker responded to the other, “Well it’s a good thing you did that now before it’s too late.” Glennis commented, “That makes sense. He’s got that right.” Neither of us, at that time, knew that she had just given me the license to make an unbelievable trip.

For some years I had in mind driving the RV across the country seeing some things I’ve always wanted to see and visiting friends in distant places. For several summers I wanted to travel. Both girls were now in college. Fortune had worked the summer between her Junior and Senior year. Her inefficient supervisor took weeks to complete the process of hiring her full time. After graduation she had a chance to work the whole summer making spending money for her initial semester in college. It had happened like that for quite a few years. The whole family couldn’t get free to even travel for a few weeks. So I began to think maybe this summer I’ll go myself “before it’s too late”.

My inclination grew stronger. And as I mulled the notion it occurred to me. I have wanted to go to Georgia and Arizona but it has never made sense to take off in June or July. I reasoned: why not just take off the winter quarter when it makes sense to leave the northeast and go south and west. Now the two notions became an even stronger inclination. Now not later and winter not summer. I toyed with the idea. I shared it with co-workers, friends and family members. Back and forth I went.

YES.

Ehmmmm eyehhh????

Finally I declared. I am going. When? They all asked. Sometime after the holiday. “When?” “When?” “When?” They kept asking. Well, in January when the weather permits. “When?” “When?” “When?”

Ok. January 2nd. (Weather permitting)

I decided sometime in November. Then I became afflicted. Each morning I woke up with an eerie feeling of dread. Off by myself. What if the heat goes out in one of the houses? What if? What if? What if? I didn’t share my feeling of dread or anxiety. By afternoon someone would remark about what a good idea, what a good trip. And why reveal my lack of courage. Why not break out on the adventure. I am way to comfortable enjoying my day to day routine. For a month and half it was a daily fluctuation. Wake up feeling angst, apprehension and foreboding. Optimistic and adventurous later in the day.

On the first the family came together and supported me. All wished me well.

The second of January was a beautiful warmer than usual January day. I was off. My objective was to reach the RV park in Washington DC before dark. The drive was a smooth one until I had to switch from the Garden State Parkway to the New Jersey Turnpike. Suddenly a sign came up I-287 one way North New York City I-95 the other. I did not want to go north. I stayed center still on the Garden State Parkway. Miles and time went by. It felt like I was going east and signs were about Atlantic City. I was stuck in the left most lane. There’s a barrier between the through traffic on the left and the three lanes on the right allowing local exits. When I finally got off the map revealed no west going roads because of wide bodies of water. The only correction was to go back to the origin of my mistake. I did. Still my only choice was North New York City I-95 and I-287. I-287 goes only east. I got off and negotiated crowded streets until I came to a Gasoline station selling diesel. In New Jersey there is no self serve. The attendant’s native language was probably Pakistani. The man in the office also not a native English speaker directed me back to the North New York City I-95 sign. “I don’t want to go North!”, I exclaimed. He explained all entrances to the New Jersey Turn pike have both North and South ramps. You pay the toll and choose your direction. I made it to Cherry Hill RV Park around 8:00, hours after dark.

Cherry Hill RV Park

My site at Cherry Hill Campground.