Following the Appalachian Trail

We woke up in the fog at 7 a.m. after a cold night.  We found a small building with showers, and there, miracle, there was even hot water. We attempted again to find the owner of this exotic place, but after ringing the door of the house where a light was on all night long, and use the horn of the car with no effect, we decided to go. After all, we don’t have six years to go around the world. So we left a business card on the door and left.

We went to Walmart and got some basic stuff to cook, including ground coffee, and sped to the entrance of the Skyline Drive and Shenandoha National Park. The spectacular drive was plotted and built in the thirties, and autumn is the best season to see it. It would have been nice to stay longer, but we had to keep driving through the 100-miles, going as high as 3,680 feet.

We have to start and stop earlier every day, as pitching the camp and cooking in darkness is definitely not the simplest. What can you do, I’m new at camping, so I can only get smarter from there.

Anyhow, around 6 p.m. that day, we were able to find a campground in Lexington, Va. stuck between the highway and a gas station. The luxury of hot showers will cost us $16. Good night all.

Night at the haunted campground

So finally, even if not completely ready, it was time to go. I have to pass the Mexican border before the end of the month, and have to stop in few places, including Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas and Houston. So I left on November 14 at 10:30 in the morning after piling way too much things in the truck.

The crew from Lefferts place wishes good luck to the expedition

I said good-bye to the guys of my block, including Jay, my Brooklyn landlord (on the right), and Smash from Global Block (Yellow jacket) who may meet me somewhere in Central America where he is traveling regularly to host hip-hop events.

Nadia, the woman in the middle, is an old friend from childhood, and decided few days ago to come with me across South America, until she runs out of money.

Mike and Singh say good-bye after checking the car one last time

I also stopped at the BK mechanic shop to say goodbye to Mike and Singh, two guys who helped me a lot with the few vehicles I owned in Brooklyn, including a vintage Mercedes 280SL I had to sell to finance the trip.

Crossing the Manhattan Bridge

Then, along with my new passenger, we passed the Manhattan Bridge, went across Chinatown, and took the tunnel to New Jersey.

Entering New Jersey

Pennsylvania

After crossing Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, we arrived in Virginia, and as the night was already here, after grabbing something quick to eat, we tried to find a campground. Difficult goal, it turned out, as it is kind of late in the season. As the night went darker, few miles outside of Front Royal, we found a mysterious place populated only by remains of broken cars.  We went to the office, but nobody was there, and a glance by the window revealed an incredible mess. As a thick fog came down on us, we agreed we had to stay here, even so we could not decide if the place was open for business or not. We opened the tent, and the light was off by 9 p.m.

The haunted campground