Oh what were we thinking?!

Starting a road trip should be a time of Joy, it is for this reason tht you should never start your road trip at the beginning of rush hour. Back in the planning stages of this trip I brought up to my wife that because of timing she should tke the Friday off so we could leave at off traffic hours. Her work as a therapist did not allow this so we started this trip at 3:15 pm. I know most of you are thinking that doesn't sound so bad, well let me tell you if you live on the Rte 128 belt in MA you know this is not good. From the moment we hopped on 128 to go the mile to the Mass Pike it was bumper to bumper. Apparently a lot of people were trying to get places.
Heading west on the Mass Pike was no better, Rte 80 west is the number of the road. It was awful! It took an hour and a half to travel thirty miles, hell the 50 minutes it normally takes to get out by Worcester was just double time. Finally after almost 3 hours we were on Rte 84 south heading through Connecticut. This is when the rains came.
Not your pitter-patter rains but the full blown torrential downpours that make you see a lot of break lights. All the way through the great state of CT we were again dragging our wheels not making very good progress.
In the vehicle the atmosphere was a bit better with a combination of Joy's music, a country rap and rock mix sure to get most scratching their heads. Elisa's turn was a book on CD called Plato-Platypus-Walk-into-a-bar Understanding Philosophy through jokes. Some funny stuff but I found myself wishing we could spend more time with each idea. Still it was entertaining.
I went with the recent podcast of Filmspotting A great film review show that I religiously listen to. While we waitedin George Washington bridge traffic we listened to thurs. Democracy Now! broadcast about the fabrication of information connecting Hussein and al quieda(sp)
Still it was a brutal first day with a 4 and a half hour drive taking 6.5 hours, so here is the lesson for all of you. DO NOT leave at the beginning of rush hour.
We visited with Alexis and Ariella, and a friend for a half hour or so then I was really tired and wanted to sleep.
Arriving in orange was a good thing and an even better one was having my own pillow, there is nothing more comforting in a strange bed than laying your head on your own pillow.
This morning morning conversation about the trials and tribulation of the family mixed with breakfast and some internet time is making this is a good start to the day. We are getting ready to leave and we will be off to visit old friend Ron O'Rielly in Ringoes NJ before heading off to Boonsboro MD to see Carla and Tom.