Resting and Relaxing in Tega Cay, SC - Cross-Country Road Trip 6.1

We spent the last 2 days unwinding and relaxing at our friends Atiyeh, Anna and Kent’s place in Tega Cay, SC. They live in a quiet suburb south of Charlotte where a practically brand new, 4-bedroom plus basement, humongous house rents for about what I pay for an older 2-bedroom in Corona Del Mar. This is the major problem I have with traveling anywhere outside of Southern California…I get depressed when I realize how much I overpay in rent!

James and I came out here in early ’08 at the same time they were hosting Tim and Rachael on the Jalopy Tour. Since then, Anna and Atiyeh had a baby, Miss Clara Jane, so we got to meet her. In anticipation of our arrival, Anna was trying to figure out places to take us, but honestly, I was glad there weren’t too many options. This was about the halfway point of our trip and we were both pretty pooped. Sitting around all day with TV, internet and good company sounded just perfect to us.

We had great conversations about travel angels (Anna had one in Europe), green homebuilding (James, Atiyeh and Kent want to start a business), politics, economics and I think we even solved the meaning of life. I was able to get about 9 posts uploaded to my blog which was a relief, plus I did a couple of cardio workouts on their NordicTrack. James and I had high hopes for workouts on this trip but sadly, the cold weather has made that nearly impossible. We’ll just have to work twice as hard when we get home!

James was able to help the boys solve a leaky water main problem they’d been suffering with for almost a year and he shaved his head! I’d say between that, the blog catch-up, the workouts and the relaxing, we had a very productive stay in Tega Cay!

Paying it Forward in Burlington, NC - Cross-Country Road Trip 6.0

We got hungry on our drive to Tega Cay, SC and decided to check out a place called Cracker Barrel. We had no idea where we were or what to expect but for some reason it was calling us. We walked in and I was very surprised at how different it felt from all of the places we’d been so far. Not anything physically different, just a feeling. Almost like there was an actual line we crossed going from North to South.

We were greeted by the hostess who was as friendly as friendly could be. Then a nice man named Wayne came to seat us. I don’t know why but for some reason I just felt an instant connection with him. Maybe it was his genuine smile or his humble demeanor, but he was just one of those people you can instantly tell is a deep down good person.

We ate our food (delicious!), played a peg game they had on each table and even treated ourselves to dessert. All the while I kept my eye on Wayne, just watching him do his job. I never once saw him standing idle or joking with his co-workers, he just seemed intent on doing the best job he could. I decided then that I had received so much good karma on this trip; it was time to give a little back.

It just so happened that the manager was working the register when we paid our bill. He was a friendly guy (are we getting lucky, or is everyone nicer on the East Coast?) who seemed interested about our trip. I told him what a great lunch we had and that I thought Wayne was doing an exceptional job. He agreed and said that he often wishes there were more of him.

Normally that would be where I leave it. I did my part by talking to the manager…but no, something didn’t feel complete about it. I wanted Wayne to know. As we’re turning to leave I turn right back around and ask the manager if he would take a picture of us with Wayne. He obliges and the instant I saw Wayne’s reaction, I knew that we had done our job. His face beamed with pride and his huge smile was contagious.

We continued our drive to South Carolina feeling 100 times happier than when we started. For the rest of our drive across North Carolina I think about karma – how easy it is and how good it feels to keep the good kind circulating.

Pancakes in Petersburg, VA - Cross-Country Road Trip 5.4

We left Kendall and Jarred's place late last night after ordering in and unwinding for a bit after such a long day of sightseeing. Our next stop is Tega Cay, South Carolina and is about 6 hours away, so we decided to "tackle some time" as James likes to call it.

I'm a lady, so I won't go into detail, but I was getting over a 2-day "just because I want to throw a wrench in your road trip" stomach ache. About 2.5 hours and 2 stops later we arrived at our home for the night...a Walmart parking lot in Petersburg, VA.

We slept very well, it was the first night without wind threatening to topple the van over. The only time I woke up was from being TOO hot from the heater and all the blankets.

I woke up sans stomach ache and felt like a new person. I was so happy I decided to make a nice pancake breakfast before we hit the road again. Plus I've learned that food is a great way to get James up without having to nag him. The pancakes turned out great, if I do say so myself, luckily we had thought ahead and asked for extra butter and syrup at the Friendly's we ate at in Gettysburg.

We downed our breakfast, played some music and then hit the road again. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we are getting the hang of road tripping in the Magic Van!

Warming Up in Washington D.C. - Cross-Country Road Trip 5.3

Washington D.C. lived up to my expectations. I really enjoyed seeing the White House for the first time. We also walked past the FBI building which was cool for me because I've always wanted to be an agent. A girl can have her dreams, can't she?

We got to see the original Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of rights at the National Archive Museum (which I was shocked to learn, does not charge admission). That was a nice conclusion to our journey so far. We started up North where the idea of independence got it's legs, then moved further south where the Civil War was fought and concluded, then down further to our capital where all of the documentation is kept safe. I'm really glad that we took this route. Plus it's 49 degrees and I was able to shed my extra layer of thermals!

"Let It Be" in Washington D.C. - Cross-Country Road Trip 5.2

Spent the morning walking around D.C. and saw the Lincoln memorial, Washington Monument, White House, National Archive Museum (where the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights are stored). We're about halfway done sightseeing and since we reached our 3 hour parking limit we're now sitting in the Magic Van cooking some lunch, catching our breath and listening to The Beatles.

As I sit here in the passenger seat with the FDR Memorial to my right and the Washington Monument straight ahead, I listen to the words of Let It Be, I am feeling inspired. So much has been (and continues to be) done for us so that we can live in peace. Why then do we waste our precious time creating so much needless drama in our daily lives? Things tend to just work themselves out when you just let it be.

A Warm Welcome in Arlington, VA - Cross-Country Road Trip 5.1

We arrived in Arlington, VA late last night after powering through a long drive after a long day. Some days are more exhausting than others on this trip. I don't know how James did it because I caught myself dozing a few times, but we made it safely and were welcomed with open arms by our friend Kendall and her fiancee Jarred. They gave us a quick tour (we caught them right before bed) and like every one of our hosts on this trip, made us feel right at home. Then it was time for some much needed shut-eye.















We woke up the next morning and were both moving pretty slowly, so we allowed ourselves to relax a bit. I got some much needed internet time and James was doing something van related. By mid-afternoon we were ready to check out some sights. Since we only had half of the day left, we decided to visit Arlington National Cemetery and save Washington D.C. for tomorrow.

We got a little lost on the way, but ended up driving around the Pentagon, which I really enjoyed. The cemetery was very humbling, and added some "recent" to what has been a historical adventure. We saw the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK's grave site and countless others who have given their lives in service. It's a beautiful site, but a little depressing to see first-hand how large it actually is.

Then we finished off the day with a nice Italian dinner with Kendall and Jarred in Georgetown.

Roads Trips are Tough Work! - Cross-Country Road Trip 5.0

Because this road-tripping business is not as much rest and relaxation as I thought, my blog postings are going to be coming sporadically. Basically whenever I have an internet connection, I try to play catch up as much as possible. I write the blogs by hand on the road, then type them up later on. Sometimes my inspiration comes out of order, so even though the top blog is the same, there might be newer blogs down below (I added Boston and Martha's Vineyard today).

So that you don't miss anything, be sure to scroll down, or you can look though the archive links on the bottom right column. Hopefully I will catch up soon!

Gorgeous Day in Gettysburg, PA - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.6

After soaking up as much as we could, we left the Gettysburg National Military Park and began our auto tour of the area. It was quite an experience to have just learned about all this history, then to walk on the ground where it actually happened.

We walked around the cemetery where Lincoln gave his Address, which I now know was to honor those who fought in the Civil War. We went to the Pennsylvania Memorial, Culp Hill and and other sites where major fights took place and many people lost their lives. Normally standing on what is essentially a mass grave site would freak me out, but I was surprisingly filled with a sense of peace and humility. That's probably because such a great job has been done to preserve this historic place and educate those who visit it. I think any soldier - union or confederate - can rest comfortably knowing that they didn't fight in vain.

Soaking Up Our History like a Sponge - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.5

We spotted the American Civil War Museum on the main road in Gettysburg which sparked our interest, so we parked the Magic Van and went in. We lucked out because it was free admission that day. I was kind of freaked out by the creepy mannequins they use in the displays, but I got over it and was able to absorb the history. It turns out Gettysburg is essentially where the civil War was won by the North. Fighting continued for another couple years but this place was the major deciding factor. Confederate General Lee made a fatal move when he decided to attack the Union in Gettysburg. Despite poor odds and being in losing status up to that point, Union troops help their ground and fought with all their might until the Confederates had no choice but to retreat. I'm a sucker for underdog stories so I found this very interesting and couldn't help but realize how close we were to becoming a slave country. Pretty scary.

Next stop was the Gettysburg National Military Park. What an incredible facility this is! I highly recommend it, especially since it's only about 2.5 hours from Philadelphia. It's a brand new building with state-of-the-art everything. Tons of actual relics from the Civil War, incredible exhibits and interactive displays and an endless supply of history and knowledge. I'm not a fan of war so I don't usually enjoy stuff like this, but there were so many authentic letters and artifacts, I felt like I connected emotionally with the soldiers. It's kind of tough to write it off as ancient history that has nothing to do with me when I'm staring at an actual boot worn by someone that died for my life to be the way it is.

When you go to the Gettysburg National Military Park, you absolutely can't miss the cyclorama. It's a 377'x42' painting done by Paul Philippoteaux in the 1800s, a French painter who did several depictions of the war. This is his only surviving piece and was in such bad shape that it took decades, about 10 million dollars and an international team of experts to restore. It's almost impossible to describe the sense of awe it inspires. You just have to see it.

Glad We Chose Gettysburg - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.4

We left Philadelphia a little bit behind schedule so we weren't sure if we should skip our next stop - Gettysburg, PA - and just head straight to DC. We didn't know what we'd find there or if it would end up being worth the extra time, but decided what the heck...we're out here, might as well do it.














Thank goodness we did because Gettysburg turned out to be one of the most picturesque places we had been to so far. We had a beautiful blue sky spotted with bright white puffy clouds that made a gorgeous backdrop for the many outdoor shots we took that day. Temperature was a frigid 26 degrees and would literally freeze my fingers in the 5 seconds it took to frame a shot and press the button, but we managed.

Unfortunately if there was an "Americans totally ignorant of their country's history" folder, I would be one of the many pages in it. The only thing I knew about Gettysburg was that Lincoln had given an address there. I couldn't even recall the significance of the Address, just remembered hearing about it in high school. Pathetic, I know, but this trip is changing that slowly but surely.

There Ain't No Hillbilly in these Beverlies! - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.3

2/22 11:22pm - King of Prussia, PA
It's our second night in the van and we now have blankets, pillows, a comforter and an egg crate. It feels like a 5-star resort! How the heck did we survive that first night (the one that James has now dubbed "The night we cheated death") in Rhode Island?

2/23 8:41am
This rig is genius! We ran the battery (for the fridge and heater) all night and woke up to it being 59% full. We were so warm inside that James actually ended up turning it off. It was 27 degrees outside and we were actually HOT! I was so happy when I woke up that I felt like cooking. We had a nice breakfast of oatmeal and sliced fresh peaches. Now off to Gettysburg!

Trusting Our Instincts - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.2

When we finally found a parking spot in the heart of Philadelphia big enough for the rig, we were more than ready to get out and grab some dinner at McGillin's, Philly's oldest pub. We started walking and were approached by a couple of shady characters asking random questions, which left us feeling uneasy about leaving the van unattended. It was getting dark and we just didn't know a whole lot about the area where we had parked.

We got to the pub and just weren't feeling good about the van (and all of our stuff). Being the gentleman that he is, James braved the cold again and moved it to a pay lot while I stayed warm inside. I made him call me as soon as he got to the van just to make sure he wasn't being jumped or something. Even though we had searched the city for so long for that spot, our peace of mind was well worth the $20.

Finding Our Roots in Philly - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.1

Philadelphia was a great experience for both of us. We were both hooked on the "John Adams" HBO mini-series, so seeing the real-life places was a bit surreal. I found it inspiring to stand in buildings like Independence Hall, Congress House, Carpenter's Hall and Old City Hall where our nation was created by ordinary citizens.

Some of the buildings still have original furniture and you can almost see George Washington himself sitting at the head of the room trying to figure out what being President should really mean. Now that's a stressful job!
















Parking the Magic Van proved to be difficult and we spent a lot of time driving in circles. When we finally found Christ's Church, they were locking the gates so I jumped out and begged the worker to let me in. He must have sensed my desperation and let me in. He graciously showed me around and even let me sit in the pew where both George Washington and John Adams sat. Incredible!

I've been to a lot of historical buildings in Europe and always felt a bit envious that they have such a long history and cultural past. I never realized that the U.S. does, in fact, have history and culture. Maybe it's because I live on the west coast and don't see it everyday. The U.S. is just a lot younger with a lot more freedoms than other older countries. I felt a huge connection to my country today, it was an incredible feeling.

First Stop, Cheesesteaks! - Cross-Country Road Trip 4.0

The weather in Philadelphia was pretty poopy, light drizzle and for some reason, seemingly colder than any day we had so far. But we had one day to explore so that wasn't going to slow us down! We stopped at Pat's King of Steaks (recommended by Penko) for an authentic Philly Cheesesteak. This place was straight out of a Seinfeld episode. Instructions are posted on how to order and if you aren't ready by the time you get to the front, you go back in line and start over.

We ordered a "wit-out and provolone" which equates to a cheesesteak with provolone and no onions. Our sandwich was ready in about 30 seconds, they've got it down to a science. We sat outside enjoying our food and my fingers were so frozen by the time I finished, I thought I just might get frostbite.

A bachelor party happened to be there and asked James to snap a pic for them and, in good fun, I told them only if they would take one with me in it afterwards. Here it is!

Manhattan Doesn't Want to Say Goodbye - Cross-Country Road Trip 3.4

We say our goodbyes early (8am is early for a bunch of night owls), pack up and hit the road. While I could have easily spent another week absorbing the energy of Manhattan, we've got a schedule to keep and must move on to Philadelphia.

We enter our destination into our navigation and notice it wants to take us through the Holland Tunnel. Tim had mentioned that propane tanks weren't allowed in the tunnel so James wanted to find another route across a bridge. I wanted to just take our chances in the tunnel and not waste time taking a long route, but he was driving so he got final call. We couldn't figure out how to change the route in the navigation, so we attempted to use our maps. Problem was, we didn't have a zoomed-in version that showed us all of our options. I'm trying to read 3 maps at once, James is battling aggressive pedestrians and cab drivers and it begins to feel like we're never going to get out.


After about an hour, and one huge loop around Battery Park, Tribeca, Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho, we give up and go through the tunnel. We exit unscathed and excited for our upcoming adventure in Philly.

I Heart New York - Cross-Country Road Trip 3.3

Our days in NY were mostly spent walking around the Greenwich Village area soaking up all of the art and creativity around us. I could easily spend all of my time there sitting in one spot looking at what everyone is wearing. I love the fashion! James really enjoys the record shops and finds one, John Varvatos, that is his musical Mecca. My Mecca experience was finding Harpo Studios in Chicago a few years ago (yes, I'm an Oprah fan and not ashamed to admit it).

Our creative juices started flowing and we found ourselves taking pictures of buildings, doors and other architecture that spoke to us. I even dabbled with some cool color features on my camera.

Poor Tim and Rachael both had to work long days. They had joined us in Winter Park so were catching up on time they had been away. Not to worry though, James and I had both just visited for Halloween in '08 so already did the touristy things. Plus it was really nice not to have a long list of sightseeing to get done. If we wanted to sit inside and be online all day, we could. Besides, I had a bunch of blogs and pics to upload!

The City that Never Sleeps - Cross-Country Road Trip 3.2

We had two nights in New York that both happened to fall on a weekend which meant it would be a sin to stay in. On night one, Tim had some friends over and we headed out to Brooklyn for a Fashion Week finale party. I've only heard great things about Brooklyn, so was excited to see what all of the fuss was about. I guess years ago you'd do whatever it took to avoid setting foot in Brooklyn but now it's one of the hippest, trendiest, hot-spots of New York. I was sporting a nice, warm faux-fur coat (from Rachael's closet) which I was afraid might be over the top, but was quickly informed that NOTHING is over the top in NYC.

The show was sold out, so we headed to a spot Tim knew of a few blocks away. The wind was not kind to us and I was very glad that I had grabbed that big fluffy coat. We arrived at our destination seconds before turning into people-sicles (that's me be over dramatic again), and I immediately noticed a while new vibe. People were dressed more casual, the place felt more "homey" and the prices were much more reasonable!

We spent a few hours having dinner, drinks and good conversation, then headed back to the city in what may or may not have been a legitimate cab. The driver avoided the question and we didn't want to wait in the cold for another one, so we took our chances. We made it back safe and sound and got some rest knowing that The City would be waiting for us when we woke up.

Tim, Rachael and the Magic Van - Cross-Country Road Trip 3.1

A few of you have asked about the Magic Van and what the story is behind it. Well, here goes...

Sometime around early summer of '07, James' good friend Tim lost his job after the financial company he worked for went under. Tim and his girlfriend, Rachael, then decided that they would take a year off to tour and explore the country. They sold both of their cars, Rachael quit her job and together they bought the Magic Van. They left Orange County, CA around late summer of '07 and spent the next year on what they call the "Jalopy Tour".

They concluded their trip in NY and are currently living in a cozy 1-bedroom apartment in the trendy Greenwich Village area. They have both found jobs, have made great new friends and seem to be adapting quite well to the NY lifestyle. They are the inspiration to this 3-week, abbreviated version road trip that James and I are now taking.

Parking in Manhattan - Cross-Country Road Trip 3.0

We got to NYC after a scenic journey across Rhode Island and Connecticut and entered the city via FDR Drive which gave us a nice view of the skyline that I've never seen before. We even spotted a gondola that I didn't even know existed. My nerves are running a little high because it's crazy enough driving in Manhattan, let alone driving a big rig like the Magic Van. James handles it like a champ though, he's only been driving it for about 24 hours but you'd never know it.

We obey the soothing commands of the navigation voice (which help to calm my nerves) and sure enough are lead straight to Greenwich Village, where the Magic Van's owners, Tim and Rachel, live. While driving proved to be less difficult than expected, I can't say the same for parking. We went in circles for about 30 minutes and I was reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George has a stand-off trying to park his car in the city.

Just when we were beginning to lose our sanity, we found a spot both big enough for the van and just up the street from Tim and Rachel's. As we were backing in, some brave soul (in true NY fashion) zooms in behind us and snags it. Normally the James that I know would avoid confrontation and find a new spot, but I was introduced to a new James that day. With a fire in his eye, he hopped out, stood his ground and said "Hey dude, I was backing into that spot". I braced for a brawl, but shockingly the guy was very apologetic and we were both able to fit into the spot. We almost had to fight our way in, but we had finally arrived in NYC!

Somewhere in Rhode Island - Cross-Country Road Trip 2.3

We survived our first night in the Magic Van! After dropping off the rental car and hitting the road in search of a place to sleep (see entry #1), we finally spotted a Walmart parking lot at around 11pm somewhere along the 95 south of the Providence airport.

Once parked, James began mastering the electronics (heater!) while I unpacked a bit. Unfortunately since our box of supplies that we shipped out before we left was waiting for us in New York, this meant that we had no blankets or pillows for the night.

As the excitement of finding the van began to wear off, fatigue hit and we bundled up in about 4 layers of thermals and jackets, beanies, gloves, an awning cover we found lying around and extra sweaters as pillows. Then we braced for the cold night.

The Wind was howling and gusting so hard I was certain the van was going to blow over. We managed to get some broken hours of sleep, waking up only when it got so cold we couldn't sleep anymore.

Thankfully my fears of the van toppling over were never realized and we woke up to a thin layer of snow on the ground. It melted quickly with the sun and James made his way into Walmart for a blanket and some pillows. Then a quick stop at Home Depot for a part to fix a leak in the sink, which James somehow was able to figure out in the ice cold temperatures. Then back to Walmart for some basic supplies and breakfast stuff...apples, water, plain yogurt, tangerines, baby wipes, antibacterial gel and dish soap.

As we were getting ready to head to the next stop (New York), reality set in that we are all the way on the East Coast in the middle of winter with no way home other than this Magic Van. Have we completely lost our minds?

For the full Rhode Island to Connecticut photo album, click here. You can also view other city adventures by clicking on the links in the top right of this page.