A Visit From The Griswalds

Today, was another travel day to get to Amhurst NH for a short visit with our niece Krista and family.  Although there were no stops along the way, the route took us across northeast Pennsylvania, mostly through low, heavily forested mountains (or high, heavily forested hills).  Pleasant, if not spectacular.

Then through a small chunk of New York, then Connecticut (sp?), then Mass and into New Hampshire.  That's five states in five hours, Which brings us to a small side story.  The eastern US has numerous toll roads, generally serviced by EZPASS (a more universal version of IPASS). I contend that each state may or may not have reciprocity with IPASS. Therefore, at the first toll booth in each state, I insist on going through the manual lane which is typically backed up with dozens of cars containing old people who don't bother looking for their change purse until they reach the booth.

My insistence regarding this issue is the mortal fear of heading for the EXPASS ONLY lane only to find that the gate will not go up.  Since everyone behind me is probably on their way to work, (and I obviously am not), we would shortly meet an untimely and unpleasant demise at the hands of some enraged New Yorker.

Val on the other hand insists that EZPASS and IPASS are interchangeable everywhere and it makes her nuts when I head for the booth.  And in spite of her being proven right 100% of the time on the past three eastern road trips, the resulting jovial banter does help pass the time.

That said, we arrived in Amhurst in mid-afternoon.  We were warmly greeted by the Hanks family including their two dogs Hershey, an aging Chesapeake Bay retriever, and Harvey a young mastadon.  They claim he is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, but I never experienced a dog with that much strength and exhuberance. Truely impressive.  Turns out he's a pussycat if you just role him over and scratch his belly.

After a scenic drive through old Amhurest and it's 250-year old homes and a wonderful dinner catching up on family activities, we retired for the night.

Good Night From Amhurst NH.