Detour: Pittsburgh

End Mileage in Pittsburgh: 79345

As we are drving on our way to Cleveland we realize that Pittsburgh PA is right on our way to Cleveland and is the new home of the fabulous Molly Henry. So we make a small pit stop for some lunch at Panera bread to meet up. Molly left AEW slightly before Leah and is supposedly going to the Peace Corps next summer. After this meeting I'd say the vote is out whether she stays to go to Law school or finds her way to the Corps. Her boyfriend, Bill, and her have a around the world adventure planned for after they take the LSAT's and it just might soothe Molly's craving:) Molly is currently supplementing her income by working at JCREW. No surprise to anyone that knows her, she is bringing more home in clothing than she is making:) Gotta hate minimum wage.

Stop in Pittsburgh to see Molly. 

On the streets of Philadelphia

End Mileage in Phili: 79020

So we are in Philidelphia visiting Leah's friend Kate from her first job at Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture. Before we came Leah was on the phone with Kate asking for directions. Kate attends the Wharton School of Business and had moved in just a day before we got there. So Leah asks Kate if her neighborhood is safe because we have everything that is important to us in the car and Kate replies, "we will see...." We'll we find out what that means the second we arrive. While I empty the car with Kate and lug stuff to the apartment Leah waits by the car, as we approach her we see he sternly saying NO to a passing bum. Apparently the bum is sauntering by her and politely says, "Excuse me ma'am, can I have your pocketbook?" So...at least the bums in Phili are polite! So bizarre:) Later on that day we see someone arrested for shoplifting and some kids kicking one of their friends repeatedly in the stomach while he lay on the ground. Safe town!!

Phili was the first spot on the trip that both of us hadn't previously been. So we actually toured around the city. We saw the Liberty Bell, the US Mint, The Betsy Ross House (which surprisingly had central air), oh and the Real World house. The new season just finished taping there. We had a great dinner at this cute little Italian joint and the owners liked us so much we got some free desserts. All in all it was a short but great visit but won't be moving to Phili anytime soon! Sorry Kate:( Next stop Cleveland....

Ben Franklin Bridge heading into Phili. 

The Liberty Bell. 

The door to the real world house...couldn't get in. 

Everybody meet Kate:) 

Off to Philly

Not too much to report this morning. We've had a great long weekend here in LBI, and now we're heading off to Philly. We spent Friday night playing drinking Genus IV Trivial Pursuit with Leah's Babson crew (ala Mills for you Guelphites, although not the Canadian edition this time). Spent Saturday on the Beach, then had a great Lobster dinner. You know you're getting old when you purchase 2 cases of beer and can only manage to drink 2 or 3 because everyone passes out watching TV. Needless to say, we didn't make it out to the Jersey bars Saturday night. One other piece of notable news is that I've decided to try and grow a beard. For those of you who know me, you know that my facial hair doesn't grow all that quickly, to say the least. I haven't shaved since Friday and I still barely have any stubble. We'll keep you posted on how this goes, and post pics every once in a while. See below for today's pic. Have a great week everyone! I have to say, it's great to wake up and not have to go to work :)

Today's beard 

End Mileage in LBI: 78950 (108 Miles)

Good news:) We saw two more state license plates on the way down to LBI, Oklahoma and Delaware! Only 20 left to go. Thanks to Stacy Truta and Aunty Brenda for their road game suggestions, they should keep us entertained for at least one more leg of the trip:) Keep the suggestions coming. We'd also like to thank Gretchen for her ENORMOUS bag o gifts based upon the things she forgot on her road trip that would have been very helpful to have.

After this nice 3 day break on LBI we really start the journey. For those that don't know the route we thought we would outline it so you can look forward to where we will be going and offer up any suggestions on what we should do along the way.

NYC
Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cleveland, Ohio
Chicago, Illinois
Germantown, Wisconsin
Somerset, Wisconsin (To See Jack Johnson)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Somewhere near Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota
Littleton, Colorado
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Scottsdale, Arizona
Las Vegas, Nevada
SAN DIEGO!!!

We are set to arrive on September 16th! Although we have nothing too crazy to report thus far, we do have to say it is a very liberating thing to not have to think about anything but each other and where you are heading next. The feeling of irresponsiblity that we felt at the beginning of the journey is now turning into a feeling of exhileration and excitment surrounding the uncertainty of what even the next few hours may bring.

LESSONS LEARNED:

-- Even among the best of friends, 7 hours of Trival Pursuit can get very tiresome. -- You should never revert back to grade school gym class captains as the process for picking teams because, even at this age, being picked last still stings.

Second stop..Long Beach Island:) 

Starting Mileage: 78617

And so our journey beings....It was a little sad as we left Boston, we drove by the CITGO and Reverse the Curse sign for what may be the last in a long time:( Looking back we can't beleive we left everything we own in the world on the sidewalk in front of our apartment. Yes it was locked in a crate, but lets be serious, if someone wanted to get in they would. If you happen to drive by 469 Shawmut Avenue take a peek and let us know if our two pods are still there:) Bad judgement on leaving before they were picked up. Ooops! We'd like to thank Deedee (otherwise known as Leah's mom) for putting up with us for a full week and packing our ENTIRE apartment. We couldn't have made the move without her. Thanks mom:)

End Milage NYC: 78842 (225 Miles)

We arrived somewhat uneventfully into NYC....oh a mere 5 hours after we left Boston. Its going to be a LONG trip! Whats going to make it even longer is we've already seen, in just the Boston to NYC leg, 28 states in the license plate game!!! They are the following:

Missouri, Texas, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, Califonrnia, New Jersey, Indiana, North Carolina, Washington, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Iowa, Virginia, Wisconisn, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, Arizona, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, Illinois Maryland, Georgia

If you have any suggestions for road trip games please email us:)

It was great seeing all of our friends:) We do have to report that the burgers at corner Bistro were some of the best burgers we've ever had. Highly recommend! The whole trip went fairly smoothly except for the $115 parking ticket we woke up to for parking too close to a fire hydrant. YIKES! If anyone has any friends in the NYPD let us know:) And so we are off to LBI..our second stop on our journey!

All packed up and... 

....ready to go:) 

Tearful goodbye to Mom:( 

Believe, even from the west coast... 

Bye Fenway! 

Late night search for fresh beer in NYC... 

As we embark on our journey in search of better weather we'd like to say goodbye to all our friends and family here on the east coast. As neither of us are very good at goodbyes, we apologize for those we missed seeing in the last few weeks, but hope you will come and visit us:) We plan to have a PHAT 2 bedroom by October 1st so that you all have a place to crash. We are keeping this blog of our adventures, so please check in and see what we are up to. Leah wanted to write a teary eyed, emotional introduction, so you can all thank me (Mark) later for sparing you. Check ya later, eh hosers!