Sheetz Gasoline for $1.99

The gas prices in our neighborhood have been around $3.60 and holding. Rather than wait for the tank to empty, we usually fill it up around the halfway point. That’s because we had a terrible incident a couple of years ago where the gas was empty but the gauge didn’t show that. It could have been a disaster. So ever since then we don’t trust the gauge and fill at half. The other advantage is that the price you pay isn’t as outlandish with a half tank fill! So last week when we were traveling to visit family in central Virginia we stopped for a fill at the halfway point. We usually stop at Sheetz because it is easier and has a clean facility. When my husband went to the pump we were having some difficulty trying to figure out which hose to use. The pump wouldn’t dispense the gas and we needed to start all over again. Usually we don’t get a receipt but this time we did. When I looked at it it seemed like something was amiss. The final amount billed was $17.42! Now that seemed really strange. Then we looked at it again and it said $1.99 per gallon. When was the last time that happened? So I looked up on line why Sheetz gas was so cheap. Apparently they were doing a giveaway of sorts for the Thanksgiving holiday at several of their stores and you could look up where the locations were. The reduced price would last through November 28. So we were happy we inadvertently stumbled across this pleasant surprise. Too bad we didn’t need a full tank! 

Travel John Disposable Urinal

It’s not exactly an appetizing subject. When we are on the road, we always make it a point to stop routinely at the rest stop or the restroom at the gas station. And luckily after all these years, we have never had an accident! Even when we traveled in Iran we stopped frequently - only because our tour guide needed to! But I never lose an opportunity to stop at a restroom even if I really don’t need to go. So before we took our cross country road trip last year to the Pacific Northwest and back to DC, I searched for traveling options in the event we really got stuck somewhere with no facilities in sight. Having been through Utah with no services or internet for very long stretches two years ago, it was worth the time to see what was out there. And there it was - travel John emergency toilet and urinal, plus throw in a couple of disposable seat covers for the ghastly places! Luckily we have not needed to use any of these items, but feel a lot more comfortable knowing that they are in the car and readily available. Now, we can move on to the next subject! 

Hampton Inn Digital Key

We like staying at Hampton Inn when we travel. It started a very long time ago whenever we took road trips across the US. A couple of years ago I got the Hilton Honors app and use it to book rooms on the day we are traveling to whatever destination seems feasible. I never used the digital key because it wasn't available at all sites and I didn't want to bother. So this time I thought we would give it a try. When you book your room you then have the option to confirm your reservation and select the room you prefer if you don't like the room they pick for you based on your preferences. After that, it asks if you want a digital key. That means you can walk right to your room number without having to stop at the front desk. Then you hold up your smartphone to the door knob where you would normally swipe your entry card, press a button, and the door opens. It worked really well, and then you have the option to change the name of the room number for security and safety issues. I always like to try all new digital gadgets and such so now I can add this to our list. Hopefully it will continue to work well. What they didn't have this time was chocolate chip cookies! We arrived a bit too late and they were all gone. 

From Florida to DC in Sixteen Hours

It's hard to believe we were in Florida yesterday morning and drove back to DC before midnight. We usually stop one night going down and coming back. But because the weather was perfect - after suffering two days from tropical storm Colin - we decided to do it all in one day. Once the sun starts to set it can be very pretty, and we definitely avoid a big traffic headache arriving later at night than any other time of  the day. There were only a couple work crews that caused a bit of a delay past Richmond and as we got closer to the city. It would be impossible to resurface roads and repaint lines during the day around here! Also big the way we only stopped  for a quick dinner in Lumberton, North Carolina and a couple times for gas and rest stops. It's probably not the best idea to drive almost 900 miles in one day. But as long as we are able to, and as long as we enjoy it, why not? This was the first trip we have taken since I retired in February.  I still have this nagging sense in the back of my mind that I still need to go back to work! Luckily it passes quickly. Maybe we need to change when and how we take these trips from now on. 

Old Barcelona

This is the first year we have not been home at Thanksgiving time. So I did not have to worry about making a turkey and planning for guests. This year we decided to visit our English friends, and all meet our French friends in Spain. I probably would not have ever gone to Spain otherwise. Yesterday we walked though the old section of Barcelona - this is the favorite spot for my husband as he loves the crowd and the action, and the markets, and the walk. The day before we meandered through the modern section of town, and then took the train to the Mediterranean Sea. The best part of any of it is that I don't need to think about how to get from point a to point b, because there are seasoned travelers in this group that really want to see and do specific things. We just tag along. By the end of the day, we went for a late lunch at the top of a department store complex. So we saw the view of the city at dusk. It's hard to believe there were Olympic Games played here a while back. The city must have been congested! But even this time of year it seemed very crowded. Now we are back in London for a few days. I need a vacation! 

From London to Barcelona on British Airways

I am not much of a traveler, international or otherwise. But since Thursday, we flew from Washington DC to London, and this morning from London to Barcelona. I am also not someone who likes to get up early in the morning. And to make a 7:55 AM flight at Heathrow airport, we had to be ready for a cab to pick us up at 5:45 AM - which meant getting up by 5:00 AM. Of course I did not sleep a wink last night because I am still on Washington DC time, and we ate dinner at 8 PM. But for this leg of the journey our friends in England made all the arrangements so I didn't have to think about anything but the passports. When we were dropped off at terminal 3 at Heathrow it was already abuzz on a Sunday morning. My husband found a cell phone lying on the street in front of the cab and had to drop it off at security so they could reach the poor soul who lost it. We were on British Airways once again, and once again enjoyed the flight - if you can do such a thing. However, when we went through passport check, our English friends had no line, but ours wound well past the queuing lines filled with at least 1000 people. If that wasn't bad enough, a plane filled with young males decided they could just cut in front of us and took over the place. Luckily our friends were able to convince the authorities to find us and dragged us out of the hellhole. It was really dreadful with these folks surrounding us and pushing our backs... It doesn't appear they understood what a line and order was. Thankfully we got out of there soon enough but it was a very unpleasant experience. Then we jumped into the cab and got to our hotel in downtown Barcelona. Our English friend's son lives here, and he met us at the hotel, along with our friends from France, who flew in yesterday. I never thought I would ever visit Spain. Let's see how this goes after a very unusual start! 

New Jersey It Is

Aside from Maryland and Virginia license plates, the most frequently seen state seen around DC is New Jersey. I don't know why it is but whenever we are out and about it is very noticeable - and even parked around our neighborhood. So as we were traveling to Florida last week and are now on our way back this week - guess what? New Jersey is still the most frequently seen license plate. Massachusetts was giving it a run for the money on the way down, but Jersey handily came up in front. I'm not sure why that is - it's just an observation. Got any ideas? Or do you think we're making it up? Regardless, it reminds me of our family trips growing up and was a subject that kept us occupied. 

NYDJ Jeans

I really haven't had a good pair of jeans for quite some time. Since we were going to England and France we thought it would be a good time to invest in some pants for travel. I am very short waisted and have difficulty finding slacks that fit well, particularly around the hips and thighs. There is always more room than I need and I am too lazy to get every day wear altered. So I ended up getting NYDJ jeans, based on the recommendation of the salesperson we know and trust. I'm not used to a snug fit anymore,  but was assured these would do the trick. One pair was a lighter color grey and the other dark. I didn't notice at the time the sticker that was placed inside the garment that read "NYDJ cannot be held responsible for any positive consequence that may arise due to your fabulous appearance when wearing our jeans." I can only say that they felt good enough, but I did not sense any particular reaction about a fabulous appearance! Just as well. When we flew home yesterday from London on United, I successfully ended up spilling my dinner on my new pants. Hopefully the stain will wash out. Then I will really know how fabulous they are.