Dover, DE (USA)

[up around 0700L - ate breakfast - finished packing - took care of some work emails and wrote up summaries of our workshop for my customers - on the phone with Sharon (about action items for next week, support adjustments, etc.) for about an hour - took care of additional work phone calls before checking out of the Residence Inn (1030L) - leaving Somers Point, I drove back to Egg Harbor to get some security issues resolved before departing the area (1145L) - used US-40 to get back to the Delaware River and then crossed into the Delaware - traffic caused me to divert along the Eastern Shore (DELMARVA) - used I-95, US-13 and DE-1 - got off the toll road at Smyrna and started using U-13 - started seeing evidence that it was a NASCAR Race Weekend - decided to pause my drive home and catch some of the activities at the Dover International Speedway (AKA Monster Mile) - caught some lunch at Wendy's before parking (free) - spent some time walking around near the RV Park - lots of vendors and "groupies" - tickets were pretty steep (just for a "Junior Varsity" race - K&N Pro Series) - still, I wanted to see the Nationwide and Sprint Series Practice Session - General Admission seats were pretty good (found one about 25 rows up right next to the start/finish line) - saw all the drivers taking their turns to prep for the race weekend - great experience - departed the track for a bit to explore the vendor area and marvel at the Monster statue near the entrance (!!!) - watched the development race - many of the drivers were making their first start at the track and there were plenty of crashes (and clapping by the fans) - some of the drivers may eventually appear in the other series... - took my leave at about 125 of 150 laps - got back on US-13 and then used DE-8 to get to the Bay Bridge - saw lots of Amish buggies in the dusk... -stopped for fuel and snack in Hartly - turned on DE-44 and then switched to DE/MD-300 until it intercepted US-301 - it was dark by that point - on US-50 and then it started raining - made it across the Bay Bridge OK and then fought my way through the weather to I-495 - traffic not too bad, but still affected by the bad drivers! - arrived home around 2100L]

Egg Harbor, NJ (USA)

[it was tough to get up this morning, but I did... - breakfast with Bill (Jim passed on the meeting) - Bill had to check out, so we were late leaving the hotel - we got stuck in a traffic jam and arrived at the Workshop at 0915L - very productive morning (one break) - lunch around noon (Chick-fil-A with Erica and Bill) - back to work - finished around 1700L - Jim itching to leave for hotel, but got some other networking and admin completed before we left (last day) - worked in the room for a couple of hours - had "dinner" again at the hotel just before they closed it up for the night - later met Jim and Rob for dinner at Charlie's - we watched the first half of the Thursday Night Football Game (Ravens/Browns) before heading back to the Residence Inn at Somers Point - finished up some work emails and packed a bit - bed around 2230L]

Atlantic City, NJ (USA)

[up early again - met Jim and Bill for breakfast - over to Egg Harbor for Day 2 of the workshop (0800L) - earlier start and very busy morning (no break!) - early lunch (1115) - ate with Bill at Chili's - back to work around 1245L - non-stop until after 1700L again - Jim abandoned me but Bill took me back to the hotel - made some plans with Sharon and Rick to get together but they ended up passing - ate "dinner" at the hotel (comfort food) - after Bill's run, we drove over to the Anchorage (very old pub) to relax - around 2200L, Bill asked me if we could drive to the Boardwalk for a bit - decided it would be a good experience - used Main Street and Margate Boulevard to get to Ventnor Avenue - lots of lights and very poor pavement - made it into the casino area OK, but it took a bit to find a parking place (lots of "interesting" characters walking around, too - I had the same impression during my JUN 2012 visit) - we found a good spot near the Tropicana and went inside - it was actually very similar to many of the casinos in Las Vegas - The Quarter was really good (replica of old Havana near dusk - we found some tables (craps and roulette, some cards) - I passed on that and explored the hotel - lots of great things to do and see - meanwhile, Bill was winning lots of money... - after he cashed out, we walked out on the Boardwalk and took a look at few more places - before I knew it, it was around 0100L! - drove back to our hotel via US-322 (Black Horse Pike) and Main Street/Shore Drive - in my room at the Residence Inn Somers Point, I fell asleep at close to 0200L]

Egg Harbor, NJ (USA)

[up very early - breakfast with Jim and Bill - drove up to Egg Harbor with Jim (0800L) and prepped with Sharon, Erica and Loretta before the workshop got started - long meetings all morning (one break before lunch): got a lot done, though - had lunch with Bill and Loretta at Godfather's Italian Grill - back for a full afternoon of meetings (finished after 1700L) - rode back to the Residence Inn in Somers Point with Jim - after getting on the internet in my room (finally!) and taking care of work emails, I met Bill and Jim for the walk down to the Crab Trap restaurant - it was mobbed, but Sharon had already reserved us a table - good meal - left late (walked back) - very brisk and windy - more work emails and other projects - bed late again]

Somers Point, NJ (USA)

[got oil change in the morning - bank deposits - teleconference (cell phone) - left DC area around 1030L - drove to Atlantic City via I-495, I-95 to I-295 (Delaware River) and then US-40 (lunch at Burger King and gas fillup on the way) - got to Egg Harbor around 1430L and took care of security matters - drove over to meet up with Mike for a bit (1500L) before getting together (nearby) with Sharon and Erica - worked (prep) until around 1730L - followed Sharon to dinner at Ventura's Offshore Cafe in Linwood - also joined by Erica and her husband - around 2030L, drove to my hotel (Residence Inn on Mays Landing Road) in Somers Point and then met up with Jim (another hour of workshop prep) - had trouble with internet connectivity, so couldn't get everything done for work... - bed late]

Gaithersburg, MD (USA)

[worked all day at Rockville - drinks with Bill in the evening at J. J. Muldoon's pub]

Luray, VA (USA)

[trip with Mollie - up early - gas fillup - I-495 to I-66 and off at Gainesville (US-29/US-15) down to Warrenton - lots of farmers markets, rolling hills - on US-211 all the way through Thornton Gap - stopped in Luray (Caverns, Museums) - lunch - back up to Skyline Drive - explored - hiked on portion of Appalachian Trail (Jeremy's Run Overlook to Elkwallow Wayside) - Wild About Bears ranger talk - Junior Ranger workbook at Dickey Ridge - through Front Royal - back on I-66 - stopped in Clifton (Outback) for dinner - used Fairfax County Parkway and Old Keene Mill Road to get home]

Washington, DC (USA)

[Nationals Game (Home) after work with Tim, Victory! - back to National Harbor - home]