Starting mileage: 207,309
Ending mileage: 207,603
Mileage for the day: 294
I woke up several times, but slept pretty well. The weather was beautiful, with a 50 degree temp around 1 pm. Brushing my teeth in the rest area a second time was even more interesting because there were more people around. I changed my clothes in the van. Thankfully I have tinted windows (except for the front), so I just changed clothes under my covers and had plenty of privacy.
I had planned on getting gas before Jersey because I don't like full serve, but I didn't get a chance. I drove as far as Hamden, CT before getting gas, and that was at 4 pm. I entered New Jersey at 1:20 pm.
New Jersey had some beautiful red trees, so I tried to get some pictures of them. Just because I was the only one in the van doesn't mean that I was taking pictures while driving. That's completely unsafe. Ok, so at least I wasn't looking through the view finder. I was kind of just aiming the camera out the window and taking pictures hoping they'd come out.
The Merritt Parkway is possibly the most beautiful road I've ever driven on. It was also my first impression of Connecticut, and it made me think about moving there. I took several pictures. Two are up here, and there are more on my facebook profile. I found New Haven to be quite interesting. It was very comfortable walking around downtown, and I think that's because of the affluence of the area. I was walking nearby Yale, after all. There were a ton of shops, and walking around Yale at night had me thinking a lot about grad school. It was also interesting to see the law school dining hall had the typical cheap tables and chairs that you see at any school. Being there kind of takes away some of its prestige. It's just a school, like Miami. You can learn everything at an average school that you would at a great school. You just make more money with a Yale degree, and money really isn't that important. Education, like life, is much more about the people you meet and learn from than the "greatness" of the environment around you.
I had to buy these potato chips. I mean, c'mon, they're called "Dirty" Potato Chips. They were actually quite good. I'll buy them again next time I see them.
This may be the best picture of me, ever.
The level of talent at the open mic in Hamden, CT is impressive. I certainly wasn't the most talented person there that night. The sound quality is outstanding as well, and the audience is quite and appreciative, and they really listen. If you're a musician, and you're looking to fill dates, look into the Space, on Tuesday nights (as of Nov 2006) and bring your originals, because at the Space, they don't accept covers (except the $5 to get in that is). I decided to go back the following Tuesday.
I also sold my first CD of the trip! Woo-hoo! That $10 definitely helped a ton.
Onto Day 6