LEG 1 DAY 1
ELK RIDGE, MD TO
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
190 MILES TODAY - 190 MILES TOTAL

After little internal debate I decided to make the run to the Atlantic Ocean. It only seems fitting on a cross country trip to dip the rear wheel in the Right Coast's Pond...

All Packed - Ready to Roll

...Packing went really well since I took an extra day to prepare, as can be seen in the photo - I don't travel light. I stopped off at my credit union in Upper Marlboro to stash the money from selling off most of my life and at a previous employer, RPG Diffusor Systems. The town of Upper Marlboro, where these two places are located is somewhat on the way to Asseteague. I saw a few friends at RPG but "Dr. Diffusor" was not in. AKA Dr. Peter D'Antonio, the founder of RPG Diffusor Systems and a well respected acoustician in my field (as well as one hell of a guy).

Heading east again on RT 50, I see the sign for Cape St. Claire where my friend and former bandmate Mike Kelly takes up residence. It was a real chance that he might be home since it was a Monday afternoon, but I decided to take a chance. I pull into his neighborhood and find myself in a major traffic jam on account of road construction. I came real close to bagging it since I really did not think he was home. To my (and Mike's) surprise I see Mike in his driveway. As I pull in Mike asks "Can I help you" with an anstonished look on his face not recognizing me at first. I flip up my face mask and his atonishment turns to a smile "Maniac!" as they used to call me in the band. Luckily Mike is off today to supervise a new well drilling for his little bay cottage. We inspect the features of his new Honda Element, strange but I kinda like it. We talk for a little while and Mike temps me with a beer (no beer while on the bike I have to keep repeating) as I looked up camping options at Assateague Island National Seashore. I am anxious to get back on the road as it is well into afternoon by this point.

Mom Looks Doubtful?

Mike suggested an alternate route that follows a mainly easterly track out to Rehobeth, DE, which I take, glad to be off of Route 50. Great weather for my first day of travel, warm and sunny with that great salt air smell of Maryland's Eastern Shore. I have always been drawn to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Since I was a baby, we would make the summer pilgrimage out to Ocean Titty as my father liked to call it, Ocean City for non-family. Later it would be friends that made that trip and thinking back on those trips - I am lucky to be alive!

Assateague's effect is immediate. A beach that feels completely isolated. The calming roar of the surf, the smell of salt air. At once connected to the world by the large body of water and at the same time isolated. I camped right on the dunes not far from the surf under a canopy of stars.

Looking East