Sycamore's "Shit, that was alive, wasn't it?" Roadtrip/Tour 2003

[elSicomoro]

A couple of weeks ago, I vaguely mentioned that I might be buying a car.

The car in question is a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird with 108K miles. My brother knows the owners of said car, and it is apparently a very nice car. The owners bought a new van this winter, and so the Sunbird is no longer needed. Apparently it only needs a water pump, though I sent my brother to do further investigation (he works on cars on the side).

Apparently, it's good to go. So, the plan is to head out to St. Louis next month to pick it up and drive it back to Philadelphia.

Of course, this means road trip. I'm not going to fly (not b/c I'm scared, but quite frankly, I don't feel like going through all the security b.s.) Because renting a car is going to be about the same as buying a one-way ticket to St. Louis, that is the main game plan.

And I can't wait. Me and the open road. I haven't been on a real road trip since Rho and I went to Coney Island last summer. This is going to rock the fuck out, quite frankly.

I'm thinking of taking the long way home. So, I'll probably head up the NE Extension of the PA Tpk., then take I-80. I'll stop overnight in Cleveland, then head onto Chicago before heading south to St. Louis. Or, I'll take the PA Tpk. towards Pittsburgh, then swing up to I-80. Or, just take I-76 all the way to Youngstown, OH, then hit I-80. I'll have to look at my budget, and plan accordingly.

Then, I'll spend a few days in St. Louis with the 'rents and my peeps. I need to hit my favorite restaurants and all that fun stuff. Then, the shortest way back to Philadelphia with my new car. This all has to be done in the span of 10 or 11 days.

So, the only real problem is...when? The car probably won't be good to go for another couple of weeks, and my current job assignment is scheduled to last another month or so. (And I figure that's the best time to go--in between jobs. That way, when I come back, if my agency has nothing for me, I can just pop open that unemployment claim I have...therefore, still having income.) So, it's looking like maybe mid-April or so.

I'll take lots of pictures, and post them to Sycamoreland when I get back. If there's anything you all would like a picture of, kindly submit the request here, and I'll see what I can do.