Morgantown, WV
12:25 AM
I am not sure if I have something wrong with me in the fact that I find so much fun and peace by driving, but man, I love the road. I left out today to sunny afternoon and some high winds. It was warm enough where I needed the AC on. Armed with my sunglasses, my newly fixed car, and some tunes, I barreled down I90 East past Buffalo and into Pennsylvania. I passed Erie and headed south on I79. It was a beautiful day.
The drive was smooth and as the sun set, the green of the grass and trees was gorgeous. I took some video of it as I drove. I was in a zone. It had been a while since I had a long road trip and it felt great. I drove non stop for over 4 hours. Toward the end I was getting pretty nervous because I needed food and in more need, gas. I pulled over in Bridgeville, PA.
It looked like a pretty small town that gets a lot of highway traffic. There were a lot of gas stations and hotels. I went to the BP and pumped it up at $2.09/gallon. In Rochester it has been $2.22. As I got out of my car and swiped my card an older red, wanna be sports car pulled up to a parking spot in front of the store. Out his windows blared “O is for other, P is for People, the last P, that’s for Property. You down with OPP? yeah you know me…” And this guy had his head bobbing and weaving. It took me back a few years, a lot of years. Inside I chuckled at the white guy stepping out of the car swerving as he walked into the store. Hey, to each his own I guess. I laughed a little though. I still like that song, I guess I am more insecure and would have been rocking to it with my windows shut and then turned it low once I got aorund people.
I filled my gas tank. It was slightly after 9:00 and my stomach was telling me it was time to eat. No fast food. The blue signs on the highway said there was a King’s Restaurant. I had seen a few of them as I drove, but had never been. I saw the sign from the station and it said it was open 24 hours. This was good because I didn’t want to be that guy who comes in as they try and close. Even better was the sign when I pulled up which said something about ice cream.
I was starving and ordered a bowl of veggie beef soup. It was good, needed more beef. Then the pork chops which came with sauerkraut on it (never had that combination before), mashed potatoes and gravy, and a green bean medley. I was full, but I was sitting right in front of where the waitresses were getting everyone ice cream, so I had to go for that. I asked her for two scoops of chocolate and hot fudge. I watched as she piled on 5 smaller scoops. I ate it all.
I left stuffed, but very happy. I love diner type places. It was about 10 and the goal was to get to Morgantown. I made it and am staying at a Best Western very close to the basketball arena. Pittsnogle in the house!
I think back and wonder if that guy would have laughed at me today with my music choices, but for my friend Jay, here is what I had on as I raved on from Rochester to where I am now in Morgantown, WV.
Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits
The Beatles – Blue Greatest Hits Album Disc 1
A Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory
Radio
North Mississippi All Stars
Garden State Soundtrack
I turned 30 a few minutes ago. I don’t feel that much different. I was on the phone with my friend Ted who I stayed with in Philly and we counted down the last seconds of my 20’s. Oh well, onto the next decade.
Time for bed. 7 hours to Asheville. Photo shoot in the afternoon.