Oct 4, 2026 -it’s 6:47 AM on Sunday yesterday I drove 539.9 miles in my my car and my gas was 36.9 mph on the Econ. I’m ready to go to New Hampshire. Good morning it’s September 4. I’m leaving Scranton , Pennsylvania right now. I got to Scranton and I was very good about finding a place to stay and I was just like you cannot keep driving you’re gonna end up sleeping in your car so I found in Econolodge filled my car with gas so I have gas this morning and I went to this place that I pulled up to was kinda scary, but as it turned out, the guy was really nice and I didn’t get exactly what I wanted but the price was the same. All I cared about was a clean place to sleep and that’s what I got.

Pro traveling tip: If you fill your tank the night before you can just get up in the morning and leave.

I decided to go get some food since I’m really hadn’t eaten all day except for my salami and cheese and I had a still haven’t bought a loaf of bread and so I tried to get something to eat. I went downtown and it was just too much so I decided to go to another restaurant and I couldn’t find it so I went Dunkin’ Donuts to get a cup of coffee so all I would have to do is wake up in the morning grab my coffee and leave.

I’m an iced coffee drinker. I should’ve brought my cold brew with me. I didn’t do it. I ordered on this machine and I order a cup of coffee with extra cream and I get my coffee. I go back to the motel and put it in the fridge.

I wake up this morning and the coffee is black. I went over and they gave me a free cup of coffee, which was very nice. I just wanted somebody to know that you got to pay attention.

Pro-tip: If you buy coffee the night before check it to make sure it correct.

The other thing that happened is that I usually don’t make a reservation for a place to stay until I get there. I decided to get a place to stay in NH ahead of time. I usually don’t do that because I honestly don’t know how far I’m gonna go, but I know I thought I was going North Conway. It would be fun to stay in North Conway. I can go have my emotional time there and have a whole day. I can just drive a little and take my pictures. I find this place that I think that maybe I’d stayed there when I was with my dad when we went skiing. The Colonial Motel. Its perfect. I can drive up to my room. I don’t need anything fancy just need a clean bed. I can’t make a reservation online so I call and the guy on the end of the phone says give me a minute. He comes back and says it 600 dollars for two nights. I must have said something because he said so and so up the street is charging 1200. I say thank you.

What do I do? I get on Facebook and find this awesome group called North Conway complaint page. I get on there explain my situation. Everyone was really nice but they made it clear this was the busiest weekend of the year because not only was everyone leaf peeping but there was a fair in Fryeburg.

Pro-tip: If your going some place thats gonna be busy at least make a list of possible motels and hotels.

Then I’m thinking why even stay in North Conway. I can stay in Franconia where its less crowded and I know where to get the good coffee. (Franconia Coffee House)

7:54 am and I’m in Binghamton ,New York on route seven for like 100 miles or so so.

In Binghamton I find the most wonderful radio station that is playing every song I love.

Protip: Along this route if you see a bathroom use it because you may not see one for a long long. Same thing for coffee which is why I was happy I had a nice cup of coffee to start off with. It’s the simple things.

There was fog. Pea soup fog. I had coffee and yummy vanilla scones from Wegmans that I had packed. The fog finally clears and New York State does not disappoint. There is no traffic and the leaves are changing. It’s pretty and pleasant and just a lovely drive.

Pro tip: Make a thoughtful playlist. If you can’t figure it out ask your 7 or 12 year old grandson to help.

I had about ten songs on a loop but they were songs I really liked so I just let them play because now I’m locked in and I don’t want to stop unless I have to.

It’s 11:20 am and I’m crossing into Vermont. Its 60 degrees. I am home. I’m in New England. Welcome to Vermont the Green Mountain state.

I’m driving on this highway that is in Vermont but on the border of New Hampshire. Again, awesome drive. No traffic. I’m dying for coffee. In Vermont on the highway its kinda strange. On most highways there are signs and it will say what particular gas station it and what restaurant and the name of the coffee place. In Vermont there are just symbols-gas, forks and knives. So when your driving by yourself you have no idea and you also have no idea how far off the road these places are. I’m sure they do this as to not detract from the beauty so this is an fyi and not a complaint. Just be prepared.

I stopped at the Londonderry Village Market / Mountain Marketplace for some food. This must be a family run store as the guy at the cashier seemed to know everyone. He told me I missed the leaves by two days.

Still no coffee.

I made it to Littleton, NH and there was a Dunkin Donuts thank goodness.

I made my way to Franconia via Sugar Hill and it was beautiful. I took these photos from the parking lot of Polly’s Pancake Parlor .

Back in the White Mountain! Life is good!