Halfway Between Jersey and Pittsburgh

I'm riding shotgun for the first time in the RV. The anxiety is oozing from Jennie as she grips the wheel tightly for the 2nd shift of our day. Three tunnels (she hates going through them even in a car) in the first 6 miles and a steady downpour for the last 15 minutes have made her a pro. We've learned something in the 70 miles Jennie's driven. I'll give it to you in her own words. "I like driving this thing straight". Look, the storm's gone.

We stopped about 25 miles west of Harrisburg, PA to grab some gas, food, stretch our and Daisy's legs and switch seats at the head of the 31 foot beast. As Jennie mentioned, our plan is to drive until we're tired of driving and then hit an RV park, Wal-Mart parking lot or rest area to get some sleep before we continue on. About 240 miles are behind us mostly to the east and slightly north and I'd bet we end up 400+ miles into the country before the day is out.

I've driven the first part of this drive dozens and possibly hundreds of times, but today I thought about all the things the roads leading west from NJ to PA mean to me. Countless weekends of my childhood were spent on rt. 78 trekking toward Shawnee or Cambleback for skiing/alpine slide (depending on the season). Last year we got Daisy and took weekly trips to puppy training classes (yes, she's actually been to classes) further west than east along the interstate. We see my dad in dinner theater once to twice a year a little bit further down the same road. And at least once a month we're going to EWR for an adventure of our own or to pick up a friend who is starting theirs. Route 78 has been good to me and is most likely creating a shadow on the west side of our condo as you read the blog I am writing 300 miles away from its dented siding (thanks for nothing construction next door!). Starting our journey on 78 seems very appropriate. The one thing that kept me a little apprehensive about taking this trip was what we were leaving behind. Spending the first 2 hours on an old familiar piece of asphalt will make sure I don't forget.

Jennie just went through tunnel #4. :)

- Jimmy