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]