Disclaimer: Most of what is written below is a word-for-word account from my travel journal written in 2003. I did have to edit some of the content to make my account a little less dull. I also added a few hindsight comments in italics here and there. Some of the pictures included are my own and not the greatest quality (disposable camera, you know 😉 ).

August 7, 2003

This humble journal now finds me in Rhode Island…and I’ve reached the ocean at last! I’ve stopped at Point Judith, RI, about as far south as you can get in the state.

The day is overcast, but…the Atlantic is still beautiful in its way. I’m sitting on the rocky shoreline now, listening to the waves crashing-real waves, I mean. Not the Lake Michigan power-boater-causing-a-wake type of wave…From where I sit, I can see just how vast and powerful this ocean is. It’s a little intimidating, really. I can smell the salt and the seaweed around me. It is simply amazing…

………………………………………………

…I stopped off at a little seafood place not far from the ocean. I’m having my first taste of real New England clam chowder and am enjoying it very much. I am sitting at a picnic table, surrounded by a few other outdoor diners, continuing to soak in the sea air while I eat. I also have a small tray of fries, but I made the mistake of leaving them exposed while I made a quick run to my car. The minute I left the table, a flock of seagulls (no, not the band) attacked my lunch. The chowder, which was covered, survived, and so did most of my fries, but now their cleanliness is in question. So now I’m feeding the remainder to the birds. I looked at the people who were still sitting around, wondering why they hadn’t tried to defend my lunch. They, in turn, looked at me like I was a first class idiot for leaving my lunch exposed. Oh well…you live and you learn. : )

………………………………………………

…I stopped for dinner in Stamford, CT and started making plans for this evening’s travels. I was originally planning to go to New York City and see the Statue of Liberty. It was getting late though, and I really don’t want to negotiate with New York traffic at night. So it was with deep regret that I officially nixed NYC out of the travel plans. Next stop: Monmouth Junction, NJ.

………………………………………………

… I thought I’d be at the hotel sooner but I got stuck in NYC traffic before I even left Connecticut. It took up a good two hours, but I didn’t mind it too much. I crawled across the George Washington Bridge which was exciting (that was sarcasm).

I pulled off for a break…It has started to rain again…it has rained just about every day of my vacation. Sigh…I should probably get going soon…Thankfully, the hotel is not too much farther.

………………………………………………

…The last stretch to my hotel was a nightmare. The rain really started coming down, and out of nowhere came huge amounts of traffic zipping all around me. I also managed to get lost too. I’ve had enough-I’m going to bed.