All our bags are packed...

Wednesday, August 26. Day 1 of trip 1. One of the challenges in traveling with Penny will be how much space we will have to bring things. Things like clothes, toiletries, electronics. I have to confess that I am not a light packer. I admire my brother-in-law, Tom, who is able to take a single suitcase on a trip to anywhere for any length of time, but I have not mastered that skill. I not only have to bring an assortment of clothes, but several pairs of shoes, a fan, my pillow...you know, stuff. So this first trip, which will last a week, is our maiden voyage effort to learn to pack light. I have joked that Bob and I will have to wear all our underwear to travel in Penny, perhaps tossing the worn ones out on the road like Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumbs, leaving a trail across the US.

The mid-engine Corvette markets that the trunk and frunk (front trunk) leave plenty of room to throw in two sets of golf clubs. And we were surprised to discover that there really is lots of room. I was able to pack a medium roller suitcase, a medium duffel bag, and a stuffed-to-the-gills backpack. Bob brought a medium duffel bag and a backpack. So I am optimistic that as long as we can hit the occasional laundromat, we will have plenty of space.

This first trip is to Carlisle Pennsylvania, where the annual Corvettes at Carlisle show takes place at the fairgrounds. Bob and I come to this every year, staying at a variety of places. Reservations to stay in Carlisle for this show must be made well in advance as Corvette enthusiasts from all over attend. To Bob this is heaven. To me, it is a huge field with car parts and flea market wares strewn on the ground or on tables for what looks like miles. The best part (in my opinion) is the show field where people display their well-cared-for Corvettes. But that is only a small part of the real estate. And if you have ever shopped with Bob, you know that he looks at EVERYTHING! So I have adopted a strategy of following him for enough distance to get my 10,000 steps in, then claiming that I have a rock in my shoe, I retire to whatever hotel, airbnb or bed and breakfast we have booked. It works for both of us. I am exceptionally good at amusing myself and I read, explore and sometimes visit my aunt who lives nearby. If you've never been to Carlisle, it is worth a trip. The town has several great restaurants, interesting shops and friendly people.

The drive takes about 5 hours from our home, and the trip was uneventful. I have been a little reluctant to drive Penny. The drivers seat and dash is a veritable cockpit of complicated electronics, buttons and paddles, and apparently there are places on the key fob and dash that when touched, can open the frunk accidentally. But I was able to bond with her and found her to be very comfortable. The seats can be adjusted to embrace you, there is plenty of leg room, and while the car is low on the road, it doesn't seem to be as threatening as I thought it would be to be so much below all the huge SUV's and trucks competing for drive space. It is certainly true that you can accelerate decisively around the trucks on Interstate 81. My only complaint was that the seatbelt on the driver's side rests across my carotid, but that is really my fault for being so short. I was concerned that having the engine right in back of the seats would be loud and hot, but neither is the case. We did discover, however, that anything packed in the trunk would be toasty after the trip. Our clothes were as warm as any coming out of the dryer, and I mistakenly packed some chocolate in my suitcase that was fully liquid once we unpacked. We didn't have any problems with our electronics, but we will probably be sure to put them in the frunk from now on. Lesson learned. The Bose sound system is excellent and easily paired with my phone so I could curate the music.

I was curious as to how the corona virus would impact this trip. So the day before we left I checked several hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in Carlisle for availability. Everything was open and able to be booked. This never happens, so it seems that corona has had a significant impact on the popularity of the event. One of the things Bob was so looking forward to was to be able to have Penny in the annual Corvette parade through downtown Carlisle. The entire town turns out for this, setting up lawn chairs on the streets in advance. After the parade, the cars are displayed while a local cover band plays near the courthouse. Sadly, the parade was cancelled this year, so I guess Bob and Penny will have to wait until we get a vaccine, herd immunity, or some other solution yet to be determined.

So Day 1 of trip 1 completed. The airbnb we reserved is right downtown, clean and comfortable and provides off street parking for Penny. After a quick trip to Target to get breakfast items for the morning, and an excellent dark beer at Cafe Bruges, we turned in.