NY to Florida
Feb. 24th 2022
It is something like an 18 hour drive from my home in Liverpool NY to Melbourne Florida. That is a long drive. To make it a little bit less tedious, Mark and I broke it up with a few side trips and on his bucket list were two horse race tracks. My bucket list includes National Parks his happens to be race courses. I'm okay with this. It works for us both. Our first racecourse stop was at Pimlico in Maryland. Located just outside of Baltimore. We didn't really do much here as we were not allowed in without our masks, so Mark was content just to get a picture in front of the signs. It looks like it is located in a bad area of town, and when we tried to find a bathroom at a nearby gas station we were denied such.
Luckily, McDonalds was open and there were no toilet or mask restrictions. I don't care if I have to wear a mask, but it is so confusing on what places demand such and what ones don't have a policy. At any rate, bathroom crisis avoided we were back on the road and soon on to Laurel Park.
This was an interesting place. The interior was very beautiful with nice furniture throughout. Big soft couch's and chairs along with elegant chess sets to openly play as you overlook the race. We got there just as the first races were about to go off and decided to take in lunch trackside.
I was not overly impressed with my meal, but welcomed the environment and the much needed food. Burgers and fries win everytime.
We watched the race from our seats by the window. I somehow feel like one of those rich people when I dine by the track window. I am sure in the days of when a trip to the race course was an actual event, (Yes, there were those days) and not just a place where degenerate (absolutely no judgement here) gamblers hung out, a seat by the window meant you had some $. today sadly most of the tracks are worn down, underappreciated and lack the historical appeal. I love hearing the stories of being invited to the gentlemen's club. The people who would dress up and watch eagerly as their horses won big money, or not, but it didn't matter, a day at the track was a full on event and social status whose who. It appears that Laurel Park is attempting to bring back such with it's beautifully decorated bathrooms and statues.
During our race watching, I witness, a horse that was just NOT about it today.
He/she tossed his jockey. Who was okay, by the way. and made a be line for anywhere away from the race course he was expected to run. He ran for a while too. We watched as other horses and men tried to chase him down. My horse (although I did not officially bet) actually won the race. His name was, "No More Mask". gotta love it.
Nice little break from the road, now onward we went. We were routed past Washington DC and into Virgina this time. I got pictures as we drove by.
Hello Capitol. (I will NOT mention Jan. 6th)
Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.
And....there we are into Virginia.
I believe this is the Pentagon.
The United States Air Force Memorial- near Arlington national cemetery.
Good day so far. No better way to break up a long road trip then a little side stops. Up next, we head for one of my Bucket List items- one of the National Park units. Maggie Walker's home. TTFN
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