Oftentimes I think that we need another way to measure distance. Miles and time are not enough. We need to be able to think of distance in terms of anticipation and excitement.

Did you ever notice how the long drive home is much longer than the drive getting there? How the seats are harder and the cabin noisier? How the other drivers are much less courteous and there are many more trucks on the road? Did you notice that the rain comes down harder and there is much more traffic and congestion?

Last Friday morning Liz and I loaded up the car and headed out to Ohio. I

 

I have to agree with you Rob...last year I was on an adrenaline rush going up there for the Route 26 run. But driving home afterwards, I barely made it. I have never been so exhausted. I think doing it alone made it worse, though. Not enough distraction for the miles to go by. Although I did have a blast driving part of the way with Granny and then Gene.

Very strange this year to be riding in the back of the cab of a flatbed towtruck looking at my car behind me!!

 

Still waiting for +1 and the grandson to come home from the doctor's office. Bags are packed, etc. and we'll head out for South Carolina if the physician says okay.
Soooo: About the drive. This year the drive up was horrendous in driving rain and nearly 500 miles of mostly interstate driving with gigantic semi-trucks bumper to bumper most of the way with that nasty water-wash spraying my windshield all the way. I was EXHAUSTED, made worse by the fact that I was leading +1 and the grandson in the grand cherokee. However, the drive home was fantastic. I was alone and decided to only do interstate through West Virginia. Once I hit the Virginia border, I diverted over to Rt. 460 east and drove through the most beautiful mountain vistas and was able to go top-down all the way through Virginia. I made it home in six hours even though I stopped three times to stretch my legs and fuel up, and logged 330 miles. I even stopped for a relaxing lunch at the Tamarack Center in WVa and met some really nice folks from Pennsy. The car averaged 33 mpg and there was very, very little traffic for the last 175 miles AND NO SEMIS!!!! I was a little tired from the drive, but nothing like that nasty interstate driving!!! I think maybe the drive home was better because being alone I had time to pause and reflect on our magical, wonderful weekend. I love you guys.

 

I tried posting earlier, but seem to have problems posting.

I agree with Rob on this. Last weekend we headed to VT in very nasty rainy weather, but the weather was not going to hinder our plans.

We met up with some S2000 owners, and on Saturday and Sunday cruised beautiful country roads in VT.

We parted ways after lunch, still taking back roads. About 2 hours from home, Rick decided he had driven enough and we switched places. An hour later we stopped for dinner. At that point I felt the weekend was "officially over" and it was time to be home.

We hit the highway for the last part of the ride.

I think the feeling of anticipation is always there when you are going away for a vaction or a weekend. On the way home, knowing it's back to reality and work, it's enough to make you

 

Happens virtually every vacation. The drive home is ALWAYS tedious.... and 'anticipation' is the reason. There is the 'letdown' because the special event is over, and we are returning home to the "same ol' same ol" stuff (unless we have another trip to anticipate.... right, Val? Hope that young'un gets clearance so you guys can get outta Dodge today, as planned).

But then, there are the memories... and the friendships. For 'vintage' folk, we do seem to cram an awful lot into a weekend, don't we

This weekend was indeed, "top drawer".

Would do it again in a heartbeat.... even the drive home.

Thanks again, guys.

 

I'm not home yet from the Vintage Buckeye Ohio run. I have two days more before I'm home. After I get home I will have been gone for twelve days in my S2000.

I was quite nervous during my five days to get to the meet but am much more relaxed now, going home. I had a great time at the meet and have enjoyed the trip there and so far, the trip home. But when I get home Friday night, I'm only going to stop at home for a couple hours or maybe for the night, and then drive 90 miles farther to go meet Andy at the beach, where he is with our motorhome. I love going there (Rincon Beach Parkway in Ventura, CA) and listening to the calming waves, crash only yards away. This will probably be the best drive/ vacation/meet of my life.

 

Patty,

It was great being able to meet you in Ohio. I hope we can meet again soon.

I remember when you bought your '05 Suzuka that you said that you were getting XM radio with it. Did you listen to it much on your long drive? I would think that XM radio would be ideal for those parts of the US that are sparse for radio stations.

 

I have this same feeling with our cozy 85 year old summer cottage. It's always exciting (and chilly) in the spring when we open the (real) shutters; fill the hot h20 heater; turn on the power and the pump It signals a new season of fun times in the Central Peeay woods....friends and family.

In early November, I'm always sad to reverse the process The season's memories are fleeting....the trees are almost bare....the chill is verging onto frost I sit on our dock by the Conewage Creek (not so tiny....60' wide) and hope for a last glimpse of our resident Blue Heron or the Green Heron. Then I lock the door, bank the last fire in the wood-burning stove, turn off the power...always feeling sadness.

I think this annual process brings reflections on life itself....realizing that some year Kathy or I won't be part of this ebb and flow of the seasons. But time marches on....glad to enjoy all the best of life in its time.

 

Yes I did listen to XM quite a lot. I probably listened to 150, the naughty comedy station, the most. Also a bit of 7, the 70s, and 8, the 80s, music channels. The weather channel too but I don't remember the channel. Between XM and the GPS, the trip was made much easier.