Nomad Life - Day 173

It was finally time to say goodbye to Connecticut and my wonderful friends - I hadn't expected to stay with Kelly & Steve in Glastonbury so long but but it has been wonderful!  This morning, I woke up at 0630 (without alarm) and started teleworking immediately.  Despite the terrible snowstorm, Steve had to drive into Hartford for work - I was able to say goodbye (and "thank you") as he was leaving.  I then took a break from my computer and ate breakfast before quickly returning to work.  Kelly had to run some errands so we made my farewells at about 1030.  For the rest of my time at their home, I teleworked, with only a short break for lunch.  At the seven hour mark for my work day (1345), I logged off of my computer, packed up the car and reluctantly departed Glastonbury.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and temps were in the mid 30s!  Using CT-2, I-91, I-691 and I-84, I headed west.  Along the way, I passed the time by listening to SiriusXM.  After I crossed the New York border (1450), I began to encounter significant traffic.  Fortunately, I kept moving along OK.  While in this area, I saw lots of snow along the side of the road.  I passed through Danbury, my old Appalachian Trail Hiking Zone (near Fishkill) and crossed the Hudson River near Newburgh without incident.  In fact, I made it all the way to the New York / Pennsylvania border without any problems and, for this reason, decided I had time to get off the Interstate for a short visit to visit Montague (Sussex County), New Jersey (1555).  After finding a little park (just off CR-653, south of the gas stations and NJ-23), I took a stretching break and did some birding.  At 1605, I got back on I-84 and crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.  The drive on the rest of I-84 (to Scranton) went well and I transitioned to I-81 (headed South) at 1655.  I was startled to see that almost all of the snow was gone!  Temps were still in the high 20s but they must have had warmer weather to melt everything...  At this same time, the traffic volume steadily increased significantly (with no warning from Google Maps) until I was almost completely stopped.  With warnings from road signs and (finally) the map app, it was clear that the drive to the I-80 merge was going to take far longer than I'd hoped.  Not wanting to be "trapped" on the Interstate, I exited as I saw an opportunity.  For the first time in all of my years of traveling nearby, I got an amazing view of the Montage Mountain Resort, just to the east of my location.  Ignoring all the map app suggestions, I weaved my way south on back roads (mostly paralleling I-81) until I was able to get on US-11.  The choice I'd made didn't make the trip go faster (lots of traffic, lights and narrow streets) but I felt better because I was still moving.  Google Maps kept trying to get me back on the Interstate, even while reporting that "there is a 12 minute slowdown". I ignored the guidance and kept "feeling my way along" until I accidentally missed a turn for US-11 at Pittston.  This error didn't seem like a big deal at the time but, soon, the four lane road abruptly ended at a stop sign.  From there, I was able to follow (via South Township Road and Main Street) the traffic towards the south and, after cutting north to River Street, I found myself in downtown Wilkes-Barre.  In all my years of traveling along I-81, I don't recall ever being in this immediate area - there were lots of interesting buildings and monuments!  At one intersection, I saw a chance to cross the Susquehanna on Market Street and took it.  After driving a bit west, I rejoined US-11.  Passing through the town of Plymouth, the speeds opened up and I felt like I was home free from the traffic jam.  This route, with took me southwest along the Susquehanna, was very pretty and I got to see a beautiful sunset at the end of the valley.  Also, alongside the road, I noticed lots of signs about the Susquehanna Warrior Trail (bike trail).  While it was still a bit light, I passed a huge Nuclear Power Plant (Susquehanna Stream Electric Station) that was creating the only "clouds" in the sky.  Strangely,. there was still no snow on the ground and the river looked mostly free of ice.  Just after I passed the town of Berwick, I stopped along the side of US-11 (just before the I-80 junction) and was able to locate a hotel within three miles with availability for the night.  Reservation completed, I got on I-80 east for one exit (had to cross Susquehanna River again).  I found my hotel, Super 8 (Mifflinville), on the east side of the river and, after arriving (1855), checked in quickly and found my room. By 1900, I was online for work again and logged one more hour on my computer.  Afterwards (2000), I tried to do some walking near my hotel.  It was cool and brisk and the darkness didn't help - in the end, I didn't reach my step goal.  That's OK, I'm having a good month already...  At 2100, I logged on to one of my entertainment websites and spent the rest of the evening watching movies.  I was awake until 2330 and then went to bed.  Strange to feel that I've "escaped" from the Winter - it seemed so powerful in Connecticut but so tame in Pennsylvania.  We'll see if that continues as I make my way west...