Canton, NY (USA)

[up at 0500 - finished packing and departed Alexandria - used I-495 to get to I-95, then took I-695 to I-83 - made it to I-81 without much trouble - lots of pretty farms, covered with snow - still a pretty clear day, considering the ominous weather forecasts - eventually paid for this thought when it started snowing just south of Binghamton - actually started to worry when I realized the snow was sticking to me while I pumped gas at Great Bend, PA (1030) at the Pump & Pantry - also got "lunch" (actually snacks) before heading north - the snow increased in intensity all the way into Syracuse and I wondered if I would have trouble getting to Canton - luckily, the sun came out soon after that and the weather improved all the way through Watertown - got off the Interstate and used surface streets to get to US-11 - stopped at Walmart in Evans Hills, NY and looked for winter hiking gear (1345) - ended up buying ear/neck warmer, windshield wiper fluid (go through that fast) and a birthday card for Carolyn - continued east towards Canton - listened to the CBC, an interesting broadcast about a book called "Sapiens" (will need to find that later!) - arrived at SLU around 1445 - Eileen recommended I wait for her over at the Brewer Bookstore while she finished up her work for the day - I got hot chocolate - I watched all the college kids in their natural habitat and had some hot chocolate - Eileen showed up around 1530 and we relaxed for a short time - we then got her equipment, moved her car to another lot and then packed up everything in the Explorer - left town around 1545 - we talked all the way down to Binghamton - I actually lost track of time and distance (luckily, this was the reverse of my drive north...) - stopped for gas in Homer (1745) - it didn't seem like a long time later when we arrived in Binghamton - we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel (1830) and actually shared an entree - we talked even more: it was great! - made a reservation at the Fairfield Inn next door and checked in (2100) - got cleaned up and figured out that there was a Regal Cinema right next to the hotel - walked over (cold!) - arrived right before the 2140 start time of the movie "Unbroken" - it went very late - headed back to the hotel (freezing) - got to bed very late...]