Drove through PA, around DC, stopping in the heart of the condfederacy for lunch. The beer bar at the Capital Ale House was extensive, but I was a little hung over from the festivities last night. Ruth showed her sleeping skills with the help of “extra drowsy” dramamine. Ended up in Smithfield NC, home of such luminaires as Ava Gardner, the KKK and the Powell clan. Tried to get the famous White Swan BBQ for dinner, but they were closed at 5. Smithfield Chicken-N-BBQ was an acceptable substitute.
Category: Travel Page 44 of 62
Globetrottin’
Stopped for lunch and the first oysters of many at the Black Rock Oyster Bar in Connecticut. Then back into the car, spending the night at Ken’s. Rock band, Raymans Raving Rabbits and an open bar awaited.
I awoke at 4 to shovel my car out from a foot of snow pick up Ruth at the airport. Back to the house for a quick nap, and then to the commuter rail for Littleton. Janet wanted to avoid driving into the city, and I was initially happy to oblige. But when we got off the train, there wasn’t an actual station, only a parking lot. So we trudged a mile toward town, eventually getting cold and asking for a ride from a family who were also outside shoveling. Janet and Lou showed up eventually, frazzled from their week without power, so our complaints were mild. We fortified ourselves with coffee and pastries at a cute shop and then slumped into the car for the beginning of our journey.
I’ve always enjoyed Halloween, but this year I went the extra mile. Actually 3000 miles, as blew my carbon budget flying to Oakland for a party with Ruth. I assembled the costume haphazardly, but it all came together for the desired effect. Two mutton chops, six aluminum claws, one tub of hair gel, one bear belt buckle, one surplus jacket, and innumerable exposed chest hairs, and I became the man himself. Some of the party goers failed their nerd test, thinking I was wolfman, but a quick flash of my claws was quite convincing.
I was in good company with my girl Rogue, 1973 David Bowie, Little Red Riding Hood with a Jagermeister basket, Superman cum Clark Kent, Quailman, and the entire cast of SuperTroopers (Staties and Spurbury, with real facial hair). Next year Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus? Due vita, una secreto!
Want to make your own? I used the Media Lab’s waterjet and these files:
SVG
PDF
DXF
I return home tired, dirty and poor. I visited 17 countries over 68 days, traveled over 16,000 miles, and spent way too much money. It was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to do it again. Next year in Ulaan Bataar!
Here are some of the panorama I took, after post processing with Calico.