The Scenic Route

I’m sitting at a small service garage twenty minutes from the Grand Canyon, getting my oil changed before embarking on the final 500 miles of what will end up as a 4000 mile trek.
Got up early so that I’d have a couple hours to check out the canyon and still get to Nabeel’s [...]

Big Sky Country

Last year I spent a week in the deserts of west Texas and that was when I first fell in love with arid climes. Today I was on the road for eleven hours and was definitely feeling burnt out on all of this driving, but as I spent an hour and a half chasing [...]

Little Mountain Towns

After two 8hr driving days and an 11hr day tomorrow, I took today to explore the Rocky mountain area and just generally chill out.
To that end I drove out to Idaho Springs, 30 miles west of Denver, and spent an hour in a private mineral bath, then visited Red Rocks on my way back towards [...]

Lost in the Maize

If the midwest is America’s bread basket, that bread is cornbread, and as Chris Rock once said, “Cornbread: Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that.”
But damn, there is a lot of it. And that’s been true since Ohio. Take a look at the photos below, each are from a different state. There’s something soothing and pastoral [...]

Staple Foods

The Mississippi is now behind me, and with it all of the friends and relatives on whom I could lean for food and lodging. From here out it’s just like the Oregon trail. With paved roads, the internal combustion engine, and an iPhone.
After posting from Chicago I stepped out to [...]

I Heart Gotham City

Not that I’m particularly surprised, but I really love Chicago. Of course it doesn’t hurt that my aunt Tisa lives it up in a tricked out apartment blocks from Wacker Drive and the Riverwalk.
Last night we went to a new restaurant called Blue 13 (also, she knows the owners) where I ate rabbit [...]

Mr. Smithee Goes to Washington

At a rest stop on the Ohio turnpike on route to Chi-city. Everybody says that Pennsylvania is a big void between Philly and Pittsburgh but I found it to be pretty scenic. Specifically and especially in comparison to Ohio so far. Indiana, you’re on notice: step your game up.
Anyway, had a great time [...]

Chesapeake Highlights

Ah yes, the very bridge Washington used to cross the river and surprise the Hessians back in 76.
And if you look closely, you can see the entire state of Delaware in the background…

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

So today’s trip from Jersey to DC was a hassle thanks to a huge detour on 95S near Baltimore.
That said, the night in Philly was great and catching up with Nate in Jersey was equally awesome.
Mike took me to Old Philadelphia for his personal choice for best cheesesteak, then we wandered a bit and [...]

Eastern Seabored

Quiet day so far. Drove into manhattan, had breakfast in Union Sq, lunch in Bryant Park with the inimitable Peter Naas, then took a couple of ‘Sopranos’ opening credits pics on the New Jersey Turnpike because I’m a total nerd.
Currently in Philly and bound later for the sleepy backwoods of south Jersey to, [...]