First day

The packers were scheduled to arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 am so we got up early to do some last minute sorting and packing. Five men arrived at 10:15. I showed them around to tell them what was staying and what was going. Then they started packing and wrapping. They seemed to be doing a really good job... Professional, fast but careful. We are supposed to give them lunch. Good idea, we have to eat too. But they had already packed the dishes! I ran out to get some paper plates and utensils. At about 4:00 pm they said they were finished. I did the walk around and they had missed my closet. LOL. The closet door is behind the room door so if the door to the room is open, you can't see it. So they went back and got that, plus a few odds and ends like some lamps. They said the weigh station closes at six so if they weren't there by then, they would lose a day. It took five man-days to pack, and that's with them having all the supplies at hand and years of practice unfolding boxes, taping them closed etc.. Hiring them to pack was the smart thing to do. We have to call late afternoon today to find out when they will arrive in Henderson.

We were on the road at 5:24 after saying goodbye to our "family" who will be moving from the basement to the main house.

Driving south on Interstate 287 I notice how green it is. That's something I will miss. The weather is perfect, 74 degrees. Oops- this is NY, it's rush hour. Our speed drops down to 40 then 30. Let's stop for coffee and let some of the traffic pass.

Back on the road watching th "Jersey drivers" tailgating and cutting people off. I wonder if it will be the same as we get to the heartland. At 6:18 we get to route 80 where we head west. We will stay on this for days. The sun is in our eyes, and everyone slows down. We pass Lake Hopatcong. I spent many a fun day at an amusement park there when I was a child staying at a bungalow colony in Mt. Freedom. We reach Pennsylvania at 7:00 and it becomes a bit more mountainous and picturesque. We found a nice radio station and enjoyed the sunset.

It was not easy to find a decent place for dinner. We finally ate at a Subways.

Mel did most of the driving. We did 290 miles and stopped at a motel in Dubois, PA. It was 11:00 and we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.