Late night departure

August 6th (but barely...)

As much as I had hoped and wished to finish work early today, to be able to get on the road as soon as possible, of course it was not to be. Too many people arriving and ordering too late meant I was rushing home late, and still with the idea to get on the road and begin driving tonight. I must be crazy.

And so after a cooling shower to wash off the heat and humidity of the day, and packing a snack to sustain us until whatever our destination might be tonight, Mario and I packed our overnight bags into my freshly-cleaned car and hit the road at 11 pm. It is still so hot out there, and as we cruise down autoroute 15 on our way to the border, a hazy half-moon hangs low in the sky, overseeing our trip. 

At the border, the guard asks our reason for travelling to NYC. What you actually answer and what you want to answer to that question are often two very different things! Because I need to get away from the repetitiveness of my daily life? Because I feel like experiencing walking the sidewalks and feeling the buzz of the big city? Because I crave $1 slices of pizza? Nope. We are travelling for vacation, and with that, we breeze through the questioning and the border crossing. But wait - how do you two know each other? 

Heh. Gotta love the questions sometimes!

===================

We decide to not drive through Moriah. For...reasons.

Nope. Definitely not.

========================

We stop at all the tourist service areas, in search of the elusive hotel discount books. We finally find one at the High Peaks rest area, where the hot night air is heavy with the scent of pine forests, and a handful of cars are stopped for the night. Though tempting, we move on, in search of a town with inexpensive accommodations. The highway rolls under the car in darkness, the road markers reflecting the light of the high beams back at us, whizzing by like constellations , guiding my way towards Albany. Karaoke music blares from the speakers, and I croon along with the tunes, the music keeping my alert and awake until we reach Schenectady, and the cheap but adequate Econolodge hotel. There's a bed for us to collapse into, and even breakfast included in the morning - it's not luxurious, but yes, this will do nicely.

First sleep - 

Tomorrow, 

NEW YORK CITY!