Friday - Nov 20/15

We departed home today. We were going to hook up last night. Liz's always invites us over for a "Last Supper" before departure. It was raining so we postponed hooking up until morning.

After hooking up our first stop was just up the road at the McD's in the MacEwen's in Morrisburg, ON. Our usual trip breakfast: Egg McMuffin meal w/O.J. Bonus: Free coffee day today. Charlotte had one with the meal and took the other for the road. We entered Hwy 401 about 8 a.m.

The border crossing at the Ivy Lea Bridge (1000 Islands) was quick. No half hour wait like other years when we were leaving on Boxing Day. Our lane was clear when we arrived.

I-81 through Watertown, NY to Syracuse. I-481 around Syracuse. The bypass is a little less than 4 miles longer before it reconnects back to I-81. It is an easier drive with a lot less traffic.

Our next stop, as usual, was just after entering Pennsylvania at the  the New Milford Flying J.  Flying J Truck Stops have RV specific fuel lanes making it easier to get 60 feet of Motorhome and car in and out. They are often located near Interstate Highways just inside the state border of the state with the lower gas price (less tax).

I-81 provided good travelling through the mountains under sunny skies. The only problem was mid afternoon traffic congestion near Harrisburg, PA were it links with I-83. The congestion has been getting increasingly worse yet nothing has been done for the past few years. It took over an hour to go just 7 miles. Once across the river the traffic was heavy; but flowing steadily. Our next Flying J stop was located off I-81 just inside the Virginia border.

Here the procedure is to check the RV parking area. If there is a spot we grab it for the evening and fill in the morning. If not we fuel and proceed to the S Pleasant Valley Rd (Winchester, VA) Wal-Mart about 10 miles down the road. There was a spot so I took it - we would overnight here. We went in to the Flying J Denny's for supper and then it was back to the RV for the night.