25th September 2024
A good night's sleep. I woke at 05:00 needing a pee, looked at my phone, closed my eyes and suddenly it was 08:05...
I'm packed, having folded away my newly laundered clothes into the big bag yesterday evening. The big bag contains stuff I won't generally need daily; the small bag is my 'ready-use' stuff (MacBook, iPad, cables, wash kit, etc). I bring both bags in for security but can generally get away with only unpacking one.
I ablute, dress and then look out of the window...
Well, there's no need for that, is there?
I suppose it had to happen - the first rain since I arrived a week ago...
I roll my possessions out to son-of-duckling, then repair inside in search of breakfast...
...trying not to get distracted on the way...
It's a modest setup, but it has the basics. I fill my mug with coffee and choose...
...bacon and scrambled eggs - with a bagel (I'm in New York, after all)...
I drop my key cards at the front desk, then steer the car roughly SSW towards Syracuse, my destination for today...
The roads are quiet, and I make good time with the cruise control set to 65 and
Stuff You Should Know on the stereo...
The rain is intermittent. I have the wipers set to "Auto", and, like every car I have driven with this feature, they don't sweep the screen as often as I'd like (my Škoda is the same), so I control them manually.
Like a savage.
Agnes has warned me that I will be incurring a $1.95 toll during today's journey. Of course, it's collected electronically or by 'phone. I paid about $3 per day for this gizmo that is stuck on the screen. I swing it open - it'll pay the toll, and SIXT will pick up the tab. Failing to do this will incur an admin charge of $15 per toll...
The colours here are a
lot better than they were in Maine...
I get turned off the dual carriageway and onto state roads, and the colours get even better...
Ooh - a bridge!
On a nice, dry day, this would be a great route to ride on a bike. Not today in this greasy, misty rain, though - I bet these chaps aren't enjoying it much...
In the middle of nowhere, I spot a collection of old cars. I have to drive half a mile or so before finding somewhere to turn around. The chap whose house it is is just going inside as I pull up opposite.
I asked him if he would mind if I took some pics of the cars, and he said, "You looking at buying?" I tell him I just want to include them in my journal, and he grunts, "Alright - don't be too long, I'm going out..."
He may not be much of a conversationalist, but he has a fine collection of cars here...
...in great condition (especially since they seem to be living outdoors)...
They have the look of vehicles that are used fairly regularly, which is nice...
...and are quite an eclectic mix...
...although he clearly has a weakness for estates (station wagons)...
I like this one very much...
Look at the design of the front bumper...
Split tailgate...
More treasures lurk nearby - that GTO would be a great project...
Other stuff hidden away - I don't want to overstay my effusive welcome, though...
Back on the road for a bit, I decide I need a pee stop, so decide to have lunch, in the town rejoicing in the unlikely name of
Speculator...
So, my criteria for selecting a restaurant are to ignore its appearance but look for a full car park. I pull into the only free slot.
There are three other cars here...
I sit at the counter - it's a rough and ready sort of place, but the staff are great. Friendly and helpful. I chose unsweetened tea (they didn't have any lemonade), then immediately put some sugar in it, as I felt they'd taken the 'unsweetened' part of the description to the edge of the void...
...and a
Reuben, with sweet potato fries...
It was
delicious...
Only a few miles down the road, I pull onto the forecourt of a tyre fitting place - distracted once again by old vehicles...
Someone has put a great deal of effort into making this look superb...
...which makes their choice of colour a bit of a mystery...
Any ideas on any of the cars so far? Make/model/year?
What about this one then?
I mean, it's rusty now, but if it were restored...
...it would just be ugly.
What is it? A Packard, clearly, but my goodness they must have sneaked them out of the manufacturing plant under cover of darkness...
That's a bit better...
Now we're talking...
Once again - great attention to detail. I believe this dash-mounted gizmo allows you to drive with full beam on at night, it then auto-dips your headlights if it sees headlights coming in the other direction. Sixty-year-old tech!*
I'm directed towards I95 South - my toll gadget gets all excited (I expect - it doesn't give any indication), as we drive under the auto-toll readers...
...and, after a swift transit on I95, I'm directed to the Hampton Inn at Syracuse, where I am welcomed by the lady at the front desk and by my TV...
My room (as usual with Hampton Inns) is great...
I extend my stay for a further night, then go out in search of something to drink. I'm actually after a soft drink - which I get, but I also got waylaid by a six-pack of these...
I fill son-of-duckling up and do the MPG figures.
Again - almost identical to yesterday - 31.28mpg (US); 37.57mpg (UK).
I like the name of the cannabis dealer on this billboard…
* I know, I'm such a fucking nerd...
(my fathers favourite car)
)
