I appreciate the concern, but I had a good laugh at the 6 hour drive comment. I learned to drive in California, where in 8 hours you could not drive the state length north to south. Six hours is Phoenix to San Diego or Los Angeles, trips I've done many, many times. We just did a 13.5 hour trip with a super car group, 626 miles door to return door. Yes, we were tired and made several stops for fuel, pit stops, and lunch, so it wasn't all driving. We both grew up with family road trips and took our own families on road trips. Driving is a pleasure, not a chore.

If I had more paid time off available, I would seriously consider making a cross-country trip in the S. The distance doesn't phase me, it is the time to get from coast to coast that a new job doesn't allow. So we'll fly in and rent a car. We're looking at rooms now.

The comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. We are both looking forward to seeing parts of the good old USA that we haven't seen before, and some that we have.

 

I, too, wish I had made the time for cross country driving. I'd made a plan when I was in HS with a friend of mine, thinking we'd do it one summer during college, but it never did. And while I now have an S2000, I also have two small kids, so who knows when or if it'll ever happen.

Most of us in New England are used to describing distances by drive time (i.e. "it's about two hours away"), which makes us aware that people from other parts of the country may expect to cover greater distance in a stated time due to the better availability of highways. Google Maps is usually pretty accurate with time estimates even with local roads, but since you enjoy driving, I'm sure you'd enjoy a 300 mile trip that takes 6 hours instead of 4 to be even more enjoyable with the added scenery.

Since you mentioned that you might visit New York City, just be aware that they've recently reduced the Manhattan speed limits to 25MPH on the surface streets/avenues, and are cracking down. The emphasis is for pedestrian injury prevention. Also, there is no "right turn on red" in all of NYC.

 

My comment on the six hours was only made as I was not sure how long you have to spend in each area. Six hour drives can eat up a good part of a day if you plan on spending time being a tourist. I know some people for whom a four hour drive is not to their liking; that is obviously not the case for you, or for us. We too have made many long trips in our S.

 

No offense taken and I hope none delivered. We are both getting excited to visit New England.

After a 3-month trip on my first visit to Europe, I cringe at the American two-week leave that seems so generous. A two-week trip will fly by. You have all given us great information.

 

Wondering how you made out with your contest, and what parts of NE you have visited.

Hope you had a good time and good weather.

Pics?

 

Ack! I had a few paragraphs written and lost them before I could post. We're having a good time so far. Our dancing only starts tonight, and the competition (for fun) isn't until Friday.

We've visited southern CT, put our feet in the ocean in RI, had a few lobster rolls (still looking for a good one) and did the Plymouth rock/Mayflower 2 thing. We're going to put the drive out on Cape Cod at the end of our visit when we can devote an entire day for it. We've made U-turns, and had ice cream, so it's an official vacation.

I get a kick out of our rental car. It has a manual setting that allows me to shift gears by merely tapping the lever - or + to change gears. I can't help but laugh when I'm using it. Go figure. We fly from Phoenix to Hartford and our rental car has Arizona plates.

We spotted one S at lunch a few days ago at the Dog Watch Cafe.

We're taking a slower day today to regroup, register at the convention and see the Dr. Suess sculpture garden. Our "family" will volunteer some time for a charity, which is becoming a tradition. We will have next week to explore the northern part of New England. Despite the rain, we're having a good time.

 

looking for a good lobster roll, try tuckaway tavern in raymond NH or the beach plum in hampton nh

 

If you are in Maine on route 1 , here's a place for your lobster roll with two options. One mixed with a little mayo and celery (I think it was), or what some insist is the ONLY way to serve a lobster roll - lobster and butter in a grilled hot dog roll. I had the first and it was very good. I'm sure the option with butter is just as tasty.

Maine Diner

Glad you are enjoying the trip so far. You weren't far from me when you were in Plymouth.

 

We headed west from Plymouth to get to Enfield, CT via non-toll roads. Made one 20-minutes pit stop, so we ended up getting to our hotel a bit on the late side. We missed the dance on Tuesday night, but we'll start tonight. Wish me luck in the competition on Friday. My partner is a long-time friend from Tucson. It's just for fun, but we have a shot at first place this year.

 

Break a leg!

--kC
(That *is* that what you say to performers, right?)