Just Autos this time!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Trains, Planes, and Automobiles.”

It was a glorious fall day, sun shining in the robins’ egg blue sky, cool but not cold, in other words perfect driving weather.  Our quest was to see the fall colors in the northeast, visit younger son in Brooklyn, see the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island  and attend a conference in DC.  Whew!  Lots of time on the road.

Our trusty Subaru Outback was packed and ready, the dog safely taken to her doggie vacation (yea! she was excited to see her bbf Cara!) and off we went.

We’ve flown to New York many times and driven only once before.  The lesson of the previous driving trip was that doing the eleven-hour trip in one day would be a BIG MISTAKE.  And we remembered – 11-hour ‘drive time’ with various stops along the way turns the trip into a 14-hour driving day.  So we stopped for the night in Richmond, Virginia.  Beautiful old city with lots of historic things to see.  But, we were on a mission to see our son, so we walked around downtown, had drinks at The Jefferson Hotel, a lovely dinner at Pasture restaurant, then next morning hit the road to Brooklyn.

Seeing our son’s New York is always fun.

Manhattan Bridge

He’s been there five years and we make a point to go there at least once a year (more would be my preference!).  I started going to NYC when my parents took me as a nine-year old.  I can close my eyes and feel it now – the bustle of the city, the lights, the Broadway shows – oh my!  I’ve always loved New York City, so my younger son is living one of my fantasies.

We’ve done the touristy things many times before.  Seeing his neighborhood was primary on my list – Dumbo, Crown Heights, Prospect Park.

After a couple of precious days with our guy we were on the road again to Boston this time.  Husband, Bill has been there before, so he led the way on all the sights we could see in a short 24 hours.  My favorite memories are the Boston Public Garden which is the setting of the book “Make Way For Ducklings”, drinks with friends at The Oak bar in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel and a photo by the statue of Edgar Allan Poe.

“On the road again” – Willie Nelson’s lyrics say it well.  We’re off to Newport, Rhode Island next.  Getting on to the island is a trip in itself while we look for life as it was in the Guilded Age.  Staying with friends in their historic house was great fun.  The weather was cooperating in the best way possible – glorious blue skies, cool but not cold…awesome!  Our quest to see the beautiful fall colors? Not so much.  Turns out we traveled about three weeks too soon.  Oh well – still plenty of beauty to see.  If you get a chance to see the Newport Mansions – go! Amazing to see what was built for the purpose of entertaining for just eight weeks out of the year – yes – 8 weeks.  We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside, so use your imagination when you see these photos.

Camels?

Daisys at Doris’ house

“40 steps” at Cliff Walk

Our final stop was at a conference in Washington, D.C.  Older son lived there for several years before

“The Pope”

moving home and I didn’t take any photos this time, but enjoyed my ‘audience with the Pope’ at one of the rest stops along the way.  Had a great time poking fun with a friend of mine over this pic.

Have fun traveling – peace be upon you!