Scranton, PA (USA)

As I’ve chipped away at the AT mileage, the complexity of the logistics has increased - it’s getting really hard to stomach two seven to eight hour drives over a two day weekend. After skipping a few hiking weekends recently, I was very pleased when my company and clients approved four days away from the sizzling city. My friend, Elizabeth, who has encouraged and supported my trekking in the Green Mountain State over the last few years, added the last piece of the puzzle: a place to stay!  So I set up the plan with and was excited for the hiking trip when I woke up this morning.  I packed for my trip as I was leaving for work.  Got a gas fillup at Shell (near house) at 0550 and drove to Branch Avenue so I could take the Green Line.  I worked a normal day in DC and was planning to leave the DMV after rush hour traffic.  However, Greta called me at around 1645 and asked if I had time for a drink.  I told her I did and she picked me up at my office at 1730.  We drove to the District Wharf and (after having a lot of difficulty), got a parking spot in the garage.  We bought dinner from vendors along the pier (she had lobster and I had a hot dog from The Anthem Shop at 1810) and ate while sitting on the edge of the water.  Since it was so busy, we never ended up getting the drink.  Instead, she drove me to Branch Avenue (dropping me off at around 1930).  Leaving the Metro parking lot, I used I-495 to get to I-695 and then got on I-83.  Used I-81 all the way to Scranton.  After 2100, there was construction almost every hour of the drive (ughhh).  However, I really only got stopped for a long time (30+ minutes) near the I-84 split.  As a result of that delay, I was still driving later than I'd originally planned.  At 1145, I tried to get a room in Milford but there was no vacancy.  I saw lots more signs like that and started to despair at finding a place to stay.  When I got gas at Speedway in Montgomery (NY), it was already after midnight (0120).  I continued to the Bridge Crossing at Newburgh and then got on the Taconic Parkway.  I wasn't sure what to do because it had gotten so late and the closest hotels I knew well were near Pittsfield.  So I kept driving, thinking of my options for sleeping along the side of the road.  There wasn't a lot of traffic but there were LOTS of deer to avoid.  Used NY-23 to get into Massachusetts (had thought about sleeping at a rest area on the way but decided against it).  I got on US-7 near Great Barrington.  It was so late - still, I saw people out on the street and a few crazy drivers.  Otherwise I had the road to myself.  Continued driving throughout the night... When my map application said I was only two hours away, I decided to just finish the drive.  The last hour was very difficult, since I'd been awake for almost 24 hours.  I dodged a LOT more deer but made it safely to Danby.  Got inside the house and went straight to bed at 0500.