The Best Vacation Ever

July 14th 2006

Friday evening, July 14 2006.  The journey begins.  Crammed to the rafters with gear lashed to the roof (like 21st century Oakies heading for a better life "out there") we departed Manhattan for a week long climbing trip to North Conway New Hampshire.  Joining us were L, T and their son t, Susan and Wilson.  Susan and Wilson were on their own.  L, T and us would be swapping kid duties on alternate days.  At least, that was the plan.

So as not to endure an 8 hour overnight push, an exhausted child and the prospect of setting up a tent in the dark we broke journey in to two parts: drive to a motel (Red Roof Inn.  Nice; recently refurbished; pleasant surprise) in Springfield Mass then an afternoon trip the north country.  Part one went well.  As with any car trip along the  broad shouldered highways and byways (who, exactly, travels on "byways"?) of this Great Land it was as dull and prosaic as that statement just composed.  One bright light is this:

The bag is tough to read, but Donut Dip is probably the best damn donut shop in the galaxy.  I bought a half dozen and I don't even particularly care for donuts.  Good coffee too.  With a tag line like: What Foods These Morsels Be resistance is futile.  And check out the what-are-today-ironic-quotes (used in the ancient times when music media was categorized by rpm and before the invention of bold or italic fonts) on the phrase at the bottom (blurry, I know): "Several Other Special Varieties Daily".  It's gotta be true; it's quoted.