Day 2 - Thur, 7/15

Continued on I81 through Virginia, across corners of West Virginia and Maryland past Harrisburg Pa. Then got on US 209 for scenic part of day. I drove, worried that two intrepid old men in fancy convertible might interest local cops. Went through town and after little town with row houses a few feet from road. People can step out front door into street. Some towns are hard scrabble and desolate; some are well preserved and fancy. (I speculated that coal mine owners lived in fancy towns.) Some of these scenes reminded both Bob and me of the places where Jodie Foster ended up in Hannibal movie. No WalMarts, no fast food places.

Past coal mining country, 209 ventures through a park adjoining Delaware River (NJ on other side).

We crossed into NY at Port Jervis. In NY the tone and economic character goes north as well as the road. Stayed on 209 into Kingston NY. After finding a Hampton Inn we crossed Hudson on Rhinebeck bridge. (Bob says it gets a couple of jumpers a year. One's last view would be spectacular. On his last trip the Hudson froze.) We drove through Hyde Park and Vanderbilt estate. Saw where Bob's relatives are buried in Red Hook. Drove through Rhinebeck, place where old airplanes come out every weekend.

A few pictures...


(Maybe Rhinebeck)


(At Red Hook where some of Bob's folks are buried. Shadow is me. Bob and Sarah used to come up here using Red Hook as a base for explorations.)


(Hudson valley from Vanderbilt estate.)


(At entrance to Roosevelt estate in Hyde Park. Bob kidded me about this being mecca for liberals like me. I proudly acknowledged that. Turns out he has been to many of these liberal meccas.)


(Bob at wheel.)