Final Thoughts on 2013 Road Trip - Part 1

What a great Jazz Vacation - although, we never listened any jazz.  However - we sure did live like jazz for just a little while.  3/4 of the Spivey family returned home on Monday morning (6/10/13) in time for the funeral of a great saint of the faith - Mr. Bascom Scroggs.  We left Sarah in Charleston to join the FBC youth group at M-fuge.  Since then, we have been trying to reengage in life without much desire to do so.  Below are a few final records and thoughts as we close us this year's journey!

Road Trip Memories

• Vehicle:  2011 Honda Pilot
• Miles driven:  2702 miles
• States:  13 States (and the District of Columbia)
• States without Welcome Centers:  5
• State Tags Scene:  44 States, 1 DC, and 4 Canadian tags (the Mountain West just does not travel by car to the East)
• Amount of Money Spent of toll roads:  Over $100.
• Most Expensive Toll:  $15.50 to cross the Verrazano Narrows Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, NY.  
• Parking:  Expensive in Boston, but glad to have it easily accessible the Boston Common.  Didn't try parking in NY
• Forms of Transportation:  Boat (Maid of the Midst in Niagara Falls), Trolley (NF State park), Train (Long Island Railroad from Port Washington to Penn Station NYC), Subway (NYC), Cab (NYC), Bus (NYC down 5th Avenue), foot - everywhere!
  
• Most stairs at one time:  294 stairs to the top of the Bunker Hill Memorial in Boston. (Marcia felt the effects for days afterward). 
• Most Uncomfortable Night:  1st night at the Sleep Inn in Beckley, WV.  They had two rooms available - a smoking room with 2 beds and a nonsmoking with 1 King.  We choose the Nonsmoking - so we had 3 people in one King and dad took the floor.
• Sketchiest Hotel:  the Rodeway Inn in Niagara Falls, NY.  The hotel lobby also served as a convenience store.  Best moment - Dad - at the front desk - on the phone with Mom - in the car - trying to decide whether to stay.  The fact that it was after 6 and we had already paid for the night won out.  Turned out to be a good hotel room - better than the first night!
• Sketchiest Drive to a hotel - but coolest history:  the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Winthrop by the Sea in Boston.  The GPS took us to the end of the Boston airport runways and then into a lower middle class neighborhood after dark. When we arrived - everyone asked - is this it?  It was - the hotel was in the middle of a neighborhood.  The hotel turned out to be a former Jewish Community Center with a basketball court on the 2nd floor.  Our room was extra large and we were one block from the beach.  The folks were extra nice and we loved the pure Boston accents.  
• Longest Feeling Drive - the NY turnpike traveling from Niagara Falls to Springfield, MA.We didn't get into the hotel until 12:30 AM.
  
• Longest traffic Jam:  Getting out of NY for the first time.  Traveling on the NY turnpike- we had to pay a toll before we left the state.  Got in line at 11:05 PM and there was only one lane open.  Took us 30 minutes to pay our money to leave.  
• Hardest day of travel:  NYC to Williamsburg, VA through Tropical Storm Amelia.  
• Coolest driving moment:  An unplanned drive through the deserted streets of Washington DC.  The rain from the tropical storm had cleared.  It was late evening and the light was awesome.  Had the roads to ourselves as we explored the capital's monuments.  Very cool.
• Most Memorable Meal:  Donatello's Pizza and Wings in Niagara Falls, NY.  Steve, the owner, was so kind and the food was so good - especially for a road trip.  Here is a picture of the girls trying out their NY accents behind the counter. 

• Most Memorable Character:  Antonio - We are sure this is not his real name - who was selling $1 pictures under the canopy of the Late Show with David Letterman to keep out of the rain in NYC.  He kept making us laugh.  Here's a picture below Donatellos.  
• Biggest Serendipity:  Touring with Megan Kleinert and her dad, Keith.  While we were in Niagara Falls, Sarah's best friend, Megan, texted her that she was traveling with her dad to take a car to her sister in law in
  
  Boston.  So we were all be in Boston at the same time.  Megan walked the entire Freedom Trail with us and we shared a great meal with Keith, Alex,Whitney and Megan at the Union Oyster House - the oldest continuous serving Restaurant in the US.  Then, we find out they will take Amtrak back to GA with a stop in NYC - same day we will be there.  So, we enjoy our last night in NYC together with a great meal at Ellen's Stardust Cafe on Broadway.  Best song of the night - was Georgia on My Mind!
• Best quote:  While walking down 5th Avenue 
  
  in NYC, Marcia sees the De Beers Jewelry Store (See picture - just add about 5 mean looking security guys to the picture).  So - we walk in.  We are definitely not the normal clientele - raincoats, backpacks, t-shirts.  However, the salesmen behind the counter engages Marcia.  He pulls out a trey of pink diamond rings and offers to let her try one on.  As she pulls off her diamond ring, he is telling us about the rarity and the uniqueness of pink diamonds - Marcia's is not pink if you are wondering).  As she gets it on, the man says to her:

Salesman:  "It's 1.65."

Eric:  Carats?

Salesman:  No, Millions!

Sydney (without missing a beat):  Well, what's the most expensive thing you have here?

Salesman:  The $5.5 million broach (yes, it had a 16.5 carat diamond in the middle).  

Marcia quickly took the ring off and we all said, "Thank you!"  It was a great gift to be treated like a human when the man knew full well we could never afford something so grand.  

Saddest Moment:  On the Willamsburg bus headed back to the parking lot after a long day of walking the streets and touring the houses - I told the girls that there 92 year old friend, Bascom Scroggs, had died suddenly in Cornelia.  His death put a quiet damper on the end of the trip - but we spent much time remembering him on the trip to Charleston.

Craziest Shaped Food Stand:  Twist O' the Midst in Niagara Falls.  

Wildest videoed moment:  Family car dancing to "Shake that Thing" as we passed the real exit to Charleston Southern before turning around and coming back.  It was worth the 6 second Vine video.  Here's a link if you want to see:

Reflections on Tourists

Over the last week we have experienced some of the biggest tourists spots in America - Niagara Falls, Boston, New York, and now Williamsburg. I bet over 100 millions people visit these locations very year (50 million in NYC alone). We have learned a lot of about being a tourist and few things about tourism. 

1.  Niagara falls is a Mecca for Indians (Asia). It was a amazing - bus loads after bus loads of men, women, kids and the elderly. We first noticed all of the Indian restaurants in town and then we saw them. It was really cool. The local ice cream stand owner (also an Indian) speculates that Indian immigrants bring all of their relatives from India to NF whenever they come to visit. In NF we definitely felt a part of the minority. This was refreshing. 

2.  In Boston - everything begins with, "we have been doing this (you name it - eating here, doing this parade, going yo school, living here, etc) since ..."  Usually sometime in the 1600's.  This was fascinating until we heard it tons of times.  We have also realized that Va and Ma have been fighting over the who has been doing this longer for a long time. I think because Boston became the larger city and Williamsburg died Ma won this fight. 

3.  In New York - you are definitely in a melting pot. There is one of everything there - I saw a woman in a burka for the first time, a couple needing a room but not finding one, Hasidic Jewish families shopping for toys. This was really powerful and wonderful. 

4.  Williamsburg - we were back in the majority - Almost an all white tourist population. This place helps us really understand the history of our country in such a really real way. I loved it. My favorite part. After a neat street drama - it ended with the Declaration of Independence being read dramatically from the balcony of the state house. After it was read, a black woman actor began talking to those of use close to her on the street. While all of the white male actors were celebrating, She began talking about how this really wasn't freedom for blacks and poor whites. How I would be conscripted to fight for these rich guys who were fighting for revolution. I knew this but to have this woman in period costume to speak to me as a person was really meaningful. 

I don't know what to do with all this but ill be thinking about it. 

Here are a few pictures of the last couple of days:

Sydney posing in Central Park:

Sydney posing in front of degas' dancer. 

At the stocks in Williamsburg. Is this lawful for teenagers?

Eric on trial at the courthouse. I was in trial for failing to come to church once a month. I had become a baptist (went off script). 

My judge who left me off with no fine. 

Fife and drum corps:

Eric's musings

Scott McGinnis and Jay Straughn ruined my life. Really. In January 1990 I was a simple, naive, 21 year old who didn't know much about the world. That January after studying for 2 weeks in London I joined Scott and Jay as we backpacked for another 2 weeks across Europe. It was crazy. From trying to get across the English Channel to looking for a doctor for Scott after he stepped on a nail coming out of the shower at the Three Duck Hostel in Paris to getting locked in the bathroom in Rome - the trip created a life time if memories. During the trip - lone before Facebook and twitter and Instagram and vine - we created an audio tape of the whole trip. I still have it. The memories of being young and traveling around trying to figure out life pop as I listen to it. 

Now that I'm a dad with older children, I can help but want to continue to create lasting memories for both my daughters and me and Marcia. The great American road trip is a family version of backpacking across Europe. We take in new parts of the world. We look to see what each day holds. We spend so much time with each other that we never spend at home. We explore. We give ourselves permission to stop and try something - like today when we passed by the Central Park children's zoo. It was free and Sydney wanted to see it. Some we went in. 

So often in our lives we have to be some where so often that we lose the appetite for adventure and exploring and learning. The road trip brings adventure to life. It's not staged. We aren't on a tour. We are having to oriented to each new place - sometimes we good results - like making it to the 9/11 memorial on the subway the does day, sometimes by back tracking- like to tonight when I forgot again the difference between uptown and downtown. 

Jay and Scott ruined my life so that I can long longer settle for a life of being settled. I craze adventure and new places. I love to see what people god will

Bring  my life that day - like the man seeking $1 photos of NYC under the overhang of the late show on broadway or meeting home friends in a far off city. 

I am glad my life is ruined. I would not have it any other way. 

A few pictures from our second NYC day. 

Day 5 - New York City

We had a great night with Jacob and Lori Burgess in Port Washington, Long Island. They gave these worn travelers warm beds and Southern hospitality. They also helped us get oriented to NYC.  We are thankful for Habersham county Ex-pats we have met along our journey. They steered us well every time. 

A quick run down of our day:

9/11 Memorial

Staten Island ferry

Shake shack lunch at Madison square 

park - notice the line

Grand central station

NYC public library

Bryant park

Times Square 

Spider-Man musical - which is wicked awesome (as they say up here). Not actual picture from musical but another spidey we met in Times Square 

Oh, and we had as the opportunity to get our picture placed in Times Square. It was a Pfizer promotion of some type - we just liked getting out pictures taken. Here they are - notice how Marcia doesn't look her age. 

Day 3 and 4: Boston strong

Hi it's Sydney, um well yesterday we walked the WHOLE 2.5 mile freedom trail in Boston,Massachusetts. Its a brick trail that guides you through historical sites. We met up with Sarah's best friend Megan whose brother and sister in law lives there. I felt sorry for her cause she had to walk it too. Well we went to a bunch of church's and they were really cool. We got to see Paul Reveres house and where he was buried in the same grave site as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Benjamin Franklin's parents. Paul Reveres house was quite nice considering there was air conditioning. We also got to eat at the oldest restaurant in America called Oyster union house with Megan's family. We ended up staying in a extended hotel but we only stayed one night. 

 Today we woke up and went to a local cafe, with GREAT food. After that we went to Bunker Hill and walk up ALL 294 steps cause there was no elevator. Then we went to Harvard University and toured. Considering it will be my only time going there we tried to make the most of it. It wouldn't surprise me if Sarah made it in. I was also embarrassed when I wanted to get a dance picture and everyone was looking at me but oh well. Then after Harvard we went to the Boston garden and went on the "Swan boat." It's basically a boat with about 4 or 5 benches on it with a swan on the back and a person that works there is peddling it. Anyway after that we went and saw where the Boston bombing was. There was a bunch of stuff people have put in remembrance of it. It was super sad. Well now were traveling  to Long Island,NY and NYC!!!! 

                                     -Sydney :))

Day 3. Niagara Falls.

Today we had the opportunity to experience Niagara Falls. It was amazing. We first rode Maid of the Mist. On a usual day at Niagara, a boat ride on the Mist would consist of beautiful views and, as the name states, some misty water. Today, due to past storms, the Maid of the Mist turned into Maid of the Downpour. We were absolutely soaked. The windspeed was so high, it was literally like we were in a hurricane. It was one of the best experiences of my life. 

After experiencing Maid of the Mist, we were able to dry off with some nice hurricane force winds on the observation deck. It was like our own personal body dryer. 

We then got to have a nice picnic by the rapids before the falls. We were supposed to have a rainy day, but instead God blessed us with beautiful skies and sunshine. 

After our picnic it was time to get wet again. We next experienced The Cave of the Winds. The highlight of this tour was what they call the hurricane deck. You get to stand 10 feet away from the Falls, and get drenched by its powerful water. To our amazement, we all stayed dried under our ponchos, except for Dad. :) 

After The Cave of the Winds we poked around Niagara's Discovery Center and Aquarium. We weren't very impressed. After some delicious ice cream from the Twist o' the Mist, we went on our way.

We are now currently on our way to our hotel for the night in Springfield. Tomorrow morning we will head to Boston and meet up with my best friend Megan who is also on vacation there. I've had a great time so far and can't wait for more fun experiences. - Sarah. 

Day 2

We've spent a long day driving north today. We left beckley, wv at 8. Wr struggled finding a hotel in niagara that we could afford and not scare us. We took a chance. Found a place with good reviews and cheaper prices (although not cheap for us). Ended up in a place that scared the girls. If it wasn't after 7 when we arrived, we would have left. In fact, the room is good and not too far from the falls. 

On the way to Niagara, we stopped in Pittsburg for a 2 hour excursion. We rode up the Duquesne Incline for great view of the 3 rivers and city.  Here are some pictures. 

We continued our attempt to take pictures at every state welcome center.  Of course, Pennsylvania's WC didn't have a sign. Here's our attempt at coal miners memorial.

We thought that was bad until we got to NY which didn't have one at all. So we took a picture in the travel plaza tunnel in the rain. 

Finally we arrived at Niagara Falls. Wow. Had a great meal at Donatellos. Pizza and Wing combo was the bomb. Steve the owner was worth the stop. 

Ill let someone else blog about our walk in the rain tonight. Here's a taste of the falls. 

Eric