Day Twenty-Three...

---

...started in Maryland and ended in Connecticut. We were in five states today: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Today's driving was another adventure. The website I use to plot our course lets me know if there are any toll roads on the route I've chosen. I knew once we got to this area that would become an issue. Yesterday as I was reviewing our driving directions I discovered that yes, we would have one stretch of interstate requiring a toll. I did a little digging to see just how much that toll would be. Almost $25! Yeah...no. I re-routed to see if I could find another way across the Hudson River. I looked north and found a smaller highway that, according to the information I found regarding the bridge, had toll that was a lot easier to swallow. Off we went.

We were in PA in a matter of minutes; the campground we stayed at was just a few miles south of the MD/PA border. State number two for the day. Pennsylvania is a very pretty state. We didn't see any Amish buggies, but we did pass a few signs making us aware they might be in the area. Interstates may get you places faster and easier, but the highways are more interesting. Something else I saw that I'll have to see if I can find out what they're for were signs that read "Blue Detour", "Red Detour" and "Green Detour". We kept passing these small signs with arrows directing you to the detour. And just what is Shoo-fly Pie?? Something else I'll have to look into. Some diner or something claimed to have the best.

From Pennsylvania, we cut across New Jersey. We were in the state less than 50 miles, but the part we saw was lush and green, not the stereotype. Jersey led us to New York. All was going well until a very concerned, but helpful man in the car next to us on the Palisades Interstate Parkway put doubt in our minds. He was sure we'd be too tall to clear the overhead part of the bridge structure and let us know we could take the next exit so we wouldn't be stuck on the parkway. In my research to find a less expensive way across the Hudson River I also found out specific bridge information. According to the website the bridge has a 14 foot clearance. We'd been going under overpasses with a 13'8" clearance without a problem. Still, we were unsure so we exited, happened upon a nearby half-empty park-and-ride lot and regrouped. I found a phone number and called to verify. The man I spoke to said the bridge did indeed have a 14 foot clearance and that if we stayed in the right lane we'd be fine. We measured the height of the RV to make sure what we were dealing with. Less than 13 feet, we should be fine. Back on the road, back on the parkway and we're seeing the "Passenger Cars Only" signs again and Mike gets nervous about the height again. We just don't want to risk it so we exit for good this time. We find our way to another bridge, cross the river to the toll booth and the woman says, "$24.75 please." Mike asked incredulously, "How much?!?" "Twenty-four dollars, seventy-five cents." Fortunately we had enough cash handy. We were anticipating maybe $9 or so. The one other time we paid a toll there was the base rate for passenger cars and a certain fee for each additional axle. The passenger car fee for this bridge was $5 so even if the axle fee was $2 that would bring our toll to $9. Apparently not. I think we were charged the same rate as semis with trailers. What can you do? It's not like you can turn around. We paid and the woman wished us a nice day. Uhhhh.....

Making our way to Connecticut and the Atlantic coast, we regained our calm and began to enjoy the drive once again. Our preplanned route would take us on a smaller highway running parallel to the interstate. Our calm and enjoyment were destroyed when we read a sign near the exit for the smaller highway listing the restrictions. No commercial vehicles, no vehicles over 7,500 lbs, no vehicles over 8 feet high. Seriously??? Parts of Connecticut's infrastructure were still firmly rooted in the early 20th century. If we weren't pulling an RV I would think it was all quaint and picturesque. Now, it just frustrated us both. Recalculating...

By this time both Mike and I just wanted to be finished driving for the day. We continued on the freeway as I tried to figure out how to get us to our parking lot for the night. We finally pulled in a little after 8:00 exhausted and more than ready to call it a day. Only one more day of driving.

---

Photos

Stone House
This one was probably built in the 20th or 21st century, but there were a lot of stone houses in Pennsylvania; some old, some new.

Comments

[Deborah]

Shoo-fly Pie
I have a recipe, and, in fact, have made shoo-fly pie several times in my life. Let me know if you want some. BTW, it is also known as molasses crumb cake/pie.

[Tee]

Sounds like a trying time! Maybe before any future jaunts across states you two should start up a "toll fund" bank account. (smirk).