A ROAD WELL TRAVELED …. from the Porch

Dorothy had her Yellow Brick Road …. the Beatles had their “Long and Winding Road” …. and I have the highways and byways of East coast driving.

About 1-1/2 years ago, my husband and I found ourselves in an exceptional position.  We had dreamed of retiring to a nice area of the good old US of A and had our sights sent in the Clearwater area of Florida.  The most attractive thing about that area is its simple beauty — so close to the Gulf of Mexico as well as fun locations well within driving distance.  An added plus is family, family and more family — right in the immediate and surrounding areas — what a bargain!!!

Well, we had been looking a single dwelling homes but finally realized that we would still have the responsibility of all of the upkeep that goes along with that.  My feeling is that we are retired and we’ve put in our time in regards to hard work.  Now it was time for us to enjoy “horse-play”.  We began looking at condo living and, lo and behold, we stumbled upon a place that we both fell in love with … warts and all! (NOTE: when you see the words “needs TLC” and/or “a real Fixer-upper” don’t be fooled — it means there is a major overhaul in your very near future — LOL!!)  Never afraid to take up the challenge, my hubby assured me over and over again that he could do the work, he could “fix it” — and guess what!! — he truly did.  We’re not quite done but man-oh-man — he has made such great progress and I’m loving it!! I kept telling him that the only opinion and voice that he needs to pay any attention to is mine … he took that to heart and we are both thrilled with our next adventure in a cozy little condo in Clearwater.

In order for us to take part in this huge undertaking, lots and lots of travel is involved, mostly of the “road trip” kind.  During these kagillion trips up and down the eastern coast of the United States, I made notice of some pretty interesting sites.  Leo NEVER lets me drive — which I am perfectly capable of doing, by the way — but he says he enjoys it so who am I to argue, right?  So I usually settle myself in and catch some of the amazing visions along the way.  No video games for me — I see lots of life passing by as we head south (or north) towards our destination.

For example …. have you ever noticed just how many types of mobile homes there are on the roads?  They come as small as little tiny claustrophobic ones in the beds of small puck up trucks.  Or there are the huge monstrosities cruising at 65 MPH while getting 3 miles per gallon — AND if they break down with no extra vehicle being towed, these behemoths are essentially stuck with nowhere to go as they wait road-side for assistance.  I remember one that I saw just recently without that extra mode of transportation being towed by a truck that was just as large as the mobile home!  What a site — not one but TWO huge machines hauling ass down the highway!!

Then there are the “turtles” that sit atop of automobiles … and the different types of “pop-up” campers (we had one of those!!), along with the camping vans (we had not one but TWO Volkswagen buses — that I really miss having!!), as well as the various tents and other camping increments lashed willy-nilly to passing cars loaded to the gills with families and all of their stuff!  It’s amazing to me that we all turn into gypsies during the summer months — tying up bikes, coolers, and sharing caravans with friends and loved ones to destinations known only to the passengers of these conveyances.

I love reading the names of all of the different mobile homes, campers, vans and “turtles” that we encounter on our little “Magical Mystery Tours” towards either the Sunshine or the Garden states.  They conjure up mysteriously dreamy visions of a life of freedom … names like “Open Range” or “High Country Cougar”.  When I see names like this, I am reminded of the untamed western part of our great nation … not necessarily of a journey to Rehoboth Beach, know what I mean?  These names invoke visions of camp fires, horses, coffee and beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner … not ocean kayaking or paddle-boarding in the Atlantic ocean — 🙂

My favorite name that I’ve seen for one of these mobile homes (funny — I also see actual houses being transported on huge trailers and hauled by VERY huge trucks — WIDE LOAD!! — and these are the real “mobile homes”, right? Get it?) is the name “American Dream”.  Dragged along by a pick up truck known as a “5th wheel”, I take quick peeks as just what all is being moved along with the trailer and truck.  I notice on the side that there are places where the trailer can be extended out to add more living space, which comes in handy especially since there might be 2 or 3 bicycles tied to the back of it, each with its own person.  As we creep up next to the pick-up truck itself, I notice lots more family oriented stuff in the truck bed — maybe a tricycle, some body boards, and many outdoor types of toys.  Inside the truck itself, extended cab and all, families of 4 or 5 people are whisked along towards their own personal “American Dream” of a fantastic family vacation — low on expense and high on memories.

I don’t just look at the trucks, cars, motorcycles and other vehicles on the roads as we travel.  I also like to take in some of the road-side sites — and it you look closely enough, you will be amazed at just how much of right outside your car’s windows.    Take, for example, the many, MANY motels that dot the landscape — with their HUGE billboards advertising free WI-FI, heated pool, free breakfast.  Well, for us, keep the Wi-FI and pool … and make sure that the “free” breakfast comes with plenty of coffee — LOL!!  I got to wondering just how the phenomenon of roadside lodgings came into being.

With the advent of the automobile also came the wanderlust of Americans.  But hitting the road back in the early 1920s meant a shot day-trip since long distance traveling was not the best path for enjoyment.  Those who did make those early “road trips” spent many an evening under the stars in tents pitched in fields along side the roads.  Called “auto camps”, there were no amenities (hot tub in your tent, anyone??) other than running water,picnic grounds and — maybe — restroom facilities.  It wasn’t long, however, before “for-profit” commercial camps began springing up.  During the Great Depression, land owners whose properties butted against a highway began building small, one floor cabins.  They were a step-up from the “travel trailers” which were actually personal automobiles that people might have converted for sleeping, had makeshift kitchens and even roof decks.  However, the cabins only saving graces were that families could spread out more at night — and for fees of less than $1, it didn’t break the bank.

Expansion of the highway network in America brought more and more travelers … who demanded more and more traveling luxuries after sitting in a car all day.  So, the cabin industry developed more plans, larger buildings, and arranged them into u-shaped arrangements called “courts” — travel courts complete with filling stations, maybe a cafe and a corner store.  From these early camping/tourist courts sprang an entire industry dedicated to highways and by-ways of our great nation.  Now you can pull off the road, take a dip in the pool, have free TV, Wi-Fi, and even breakfast in bed if you so choose.

On many of our trips, we woke up at zero-dark-thirty, caught some breakfast (coffee and a Danish — breakfast of champions!) and took off again towards our final destination.  I love that time of day — mornings are my favorite!! — and I got the chance to see so many beautiful sunrises.  The colors in the sky are just breathtaking to me … all the pinks and golds and yellow and violets as God keeps finger-painting over and over till the Sun finally wakes up strong!  Sometimes all along the side of the road are fields of all sorts of wild flowers.  We drive by so fast that  I can’t really get a good like at the types of flowers but — boy oh boy — those pinks, yellows and whites!  I also see rows and rows of budding fruit trees — apples, peaches, pears — along with field after field of corn, cotton, and all manner of veggies!  As the sun creeps higher into the sky, the light sometimes gets trapped in the trees only to be released again in a dazzling display of strobe.  Then we might find ourselves driving into a roadside forest where the trees are so high that they reach across each side of the road with their upper branches holding hands.

As we drive down — or up — the coast, I notice many of the brown road signs marking the way for travelers to check out these points of interest.  I’ve never done this (yet), but I am always intrigued by some of their historical contributions.  Take, for example, Sapelo Island in Georgia.  Just what on earth makes this such an interesting place that vacationers would be forced to leave the highway just to go here?  Well, if Wikipedia is to believed, this seems to be a pretty interesting place.  It is a state protected barrier island located in McIntosh County and is reachable only by boat or plane.  The history of this place goes way, way back 1526-1527 when a short-lived settlement sprang up.  It was called  San Miguel de Gualdape and is thought to be the first place in the present day United States that the first Catholic Mass was celebrated.  In the early 19th century, the island was purchased by Thomas Spalding who developed it into a plantation.  There appears to be a long and fascinating history of the island as its development continued over the years …. even boasting the home of Howard E. Coffin, President of Hudson Motor Company.  Along with this distinguished owner came his guests …..such as Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Charles Lindbergh.  In an area known as Hog Hammock located in the barrier island there is a general story, a bar, and some small businesses.  This area is inhabited (population 47) by the Gullah-Geeche community.  Descendants of enslaved Africans in Georgia’s low-county, this community has developed a culture and language that is rich with their roots and blended with the creole languages associated with Barbadoes, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bermuda,  and Belize as well as the Krio languages of Sierra Leone of West Africa.  During the Civil War, the Union rushed the blockades of the Confederates.  Many plantations owners fled to the mainland and only the Gullah remained — eager for freedom and eager to defend it.  So they joined the Union army and some were even depicted in the movie “Glory” as part of the 54 Massachusetts Infantry Regiment under Robert Shaw.

One of the most fun road-side attractions is — wait for it!! — South of the Border in, of all places, South Carolina.  You can tell from miles and miles away that you will soon be seeing that huge sombrero in the sky!  We stopped there only once during our many trips … and I fell in love with it (and that’s no bool!! — LOL!!!)  It is  a kitschy little place loaded with tons of souvenir shops and restaurants.  One of the best ever tourist traps in the United States, it began in 1949 as a beer stand right next to Robeson County, which was a “dry” county at the time.  With business booming, Alan Shafer, founder, began expanding his business with little Mexican trinkets.  Growing and growing, South of the Border now features fireworks for purchase, a couple of motels, lots of eateries, playgrounds and various other amusements.  One of the many highway signs along I-95 usually state of humourous play on words. Hmmmm .. this sounds like a “road trip” to me!!

 

 

So, you see, kiddies — put down tie iPads, stop watching that DVD, and check out all the fun, exciting and VERY unique visions right outside your car window.  Get a taste of American travels, wonder at the origins of places like Ft. Morris Historical Park, marvel at the incredible engineering of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel.  You will be sooooo amazed!!!