Driving to Maine

[dilettante]

So I'll be driving up to Maine tomorrow to attend the Canadian-American Center's Conference on "Loyalism in the Revolutionary Atlantic World" (http://www.umaine.edu/canam/loyalism.htm). It's 9-10 hours of driving between here and there.

Anyone have any suggestions of ways not to go crazy in the car by myself? Or know of any "must see!" sights between Philadelphia and Orono that are worth stopping for?

[drgoodtrips]

For not going crazy, I'd get books on CD. I always do that for any 8+ hour round trip in the car.

As for scenic roads, the only thing I can recall off the top of my head is A1A (or whatever it's called up there) as opposed to 95.

[Americano]

The thought of 8+ hours in a car makes me cringe.

[Margot]

Get a Stephen King book on tape. They're entertaining and the only thing other than trees I can actually think of to associate with Maine.

[dilettante]

For not going crazy, I'd get books on CD. I always do that for any 8+ hour round trip in the car.


'found a couple in the library that look promising. Here's hoping.

Get a Stephen King book on tape. They're entertaining and the only thing other than trees I can actually think of to associate with Maine.

I think of lobster, which will make an appearance at some point during my visit if I'm lucky.

[drgoodtrips]

'found a couple in the library that look promising. Here's hoping.



I think of lobster, which will make an appearance at some point during my visit if I'm lucky.

I seem to recall from a trip some years back that there is a stretch of beach along the coast as you're leaving New Hampshire where there are little towns all along. I stopped in a restaurant that overlooked the beach and the seafood was terrific. The beach was kind of weird though - I remember it not seeming very beach like, but I can't put my finger on how.

[The Drunk Guy]

I seem to recall from a trip some years back that there is a stretch of beach along the coast as you're leaving New Hampshire where there are little towns all along. I stopped in a restaurant that overlooked the beach and the seafood was terrific. The beach was kind of weird though - I remember it not seeming very beach like, but I can't put my finger on how.
Lobstrosities and a gunslinger?

[SMadsen]

I just saw this on the main page:

Driving to Maine (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=586)
by The Drunk Guy (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/member.php?find=lastposter&f=31)

And just had to click it to see from where this guy drove to Maine drunk.

[The Drunk Guy]

I just saw this on the main page:

Driving to Maine (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=586)
by The Drunk Guy (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/member.php?find=lastposter&f=31)

And just had to click it to see from where this guy drove to Maine drunk.
:D I was the guy driving the van that clipped Stephen King.

[drgoodtrips]

Lobstrosities and a gunslinger?

What are lobstrosities? That sounds familiar. Is that from the Gunslinger series?

[Margot]

What are lobstrosities? That sounds familiar. Is that from the Gunslinger series?

Yes. They're the guys who eat off half of the Gunslinger's hand.

[dilettante]

Made it safely to Maine (what a beautiful state!).

I can also strongly recommend The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton which I listened to on the way up here. I'm not really a fan of Crichton, but this was stunningly different from anything of his that I've seen before (I think it was from his pre-Jurassic Park days).

[partofme]

Made it safely to Maine (what a beautiful state!).

I can also strongly recommend The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton which I listened to on the way up here. I'm not really a fan of Crichton, but this was stunningly different from anything of his that I've seen before (I think it was from his pre-Jurassic Park days).

I've only listened to one book on tape years ago on a trip with my mother. Is it as enjoyable as reading?

[dilettante]

I've only listened to one book on tape years ago on a trip with my mother. Is it as enjoyable as reading?

Depends on the book and who's reading it. Generally I prefer doing my own reading (though obviously not while driving), and a lousy reader can really ruin a good book.
On the other hand, I've read a number of Bill Bryson's books and then later listened to the audio version (Bryson does his own readings), and I have to say that the listening is actually better since he knows just what tone he meant to have and just where he meant to pause for dramatic effect.

[The Drunk Guy]

I've only listened to one book on tape years ago on a trip with my mother. Is it as enjoyable as reading?
Coincidentally, the only audio-book I've ever tried was Jurassic Park when I was in middle school. I didn't care for it because I had just read the book and realized that they cut out sections for time.

[drgoodtrips]

Made it safely to Maine (what a beautiful state!).

I can also strongly recommend The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton which I listened to on the way up here. I'm not really a fan of Crichton, but this was stunningly different from anything of his that I've seen before (I think it was from his pre-Jurassic Park days).

Yeah, that's a good one. I actually listened to it on CD as well, some years back. I spent what would have been my final semester of college just driving around the country (I graduated early). I loaded up with a whole bunch of books on CD, including that and The Old Man and the Sea.

I remember enjoying that book because it painted such a vivid picture of 1800's London. I particularly enjoyed the description about being on a moving train, since at that time, people were unfamiliar with those kinds of speeds and how strong the wind would get... having no concept of it since it was unprecedented.

[drgoodtrips]

I've only listened to one book on tape years ago on a trip with my mother. Is it as enjoyable as reading?

It's kind of weird because you don't know if you should describe your action regarding the book as "I've read...". :ummm:

[partofme]

It's kind of weird because you don't know if you should describe your action regarding the book as "I've read...". :ummm:

I knew a guy that downloaded a bunch of audio books and offered to let me have them but I declined. I think it would be great for a solo road trip but as far as me just sitting in a room and listening I can't imagine doing that.

[drgoodtrips]

I knew a guy that downloaded a bunch of audio books and offered to let me have them but I declined. I think it would be great for a solo road trip but as far as me just sitting in a room and listening I can't imagine doing that.

I often have occasion to take car trips on business. This is when I "read" books on CD most often these days. An interesting (annoying) effect of this is that I'm often halfway through a book when I get home. I find that I have to make a concerted effort to bother listening to the rest of it, even though I want to. The only time I'm ever naturally inclined to "read" in this fashion is when I'm on a car trip.

[dilettante]

I often have occasion to take car trips on business. This is when I "read" books on CD most often these days. An interesting (annoying) effect of this is that I'm often halfway through a book when I get home. I find that I have to make a concerted effort to bother listening to the rest of it, even though I want to. The only time I'm ever naturally inclined to "read" in this fashion is when I'm on a car trip.

My mother throws pots as a hobby/side-business, and when she has a bunch of orders come in she can spend all week down in her studio making piece after piece on the wheel. Those weeks she just burns through audio books like crazy. I think she's listened to just about everything her local library has to offer (the extensive section of self-help books excepted).

[Lily]

Depends on the book and who's reading it. Generally I prefer doing my own reading (though obviously not while driving), and a lousy reader can really ruin a good book.
On the other hand, I've read a number of Bill Bryson's books and then later listened to the audio version (Bryson does his own readings), and I have to say that the listening is actually better since he knows just what tone he meant to have and just where he meant to pause for dramatic effect.

I love Bill Bryson's books. A Walk in the Woods just plain cracks me up. I've listened to a couple of books on CD -- Tony Bourdain does a great job and Maureen Dowd is enjoyable. Now, that you've mentioned Mr. Bryson, I think I'll have to give his audio versions a listen. Thanks! :)

[dilettante]

I love Bill Bryson's books. A Walk in the Woods just plain cracks me up. I've listened to a couple of books on CD -- Tony Bourdain does a great job and Maureen Dowd is enjoyable. Now, that you've mentioned Mr. Bryson, I think I'll have to give his audio versions a listen. Thanks! :)

I'd recommend I'm a Stranger Here Myself; it's good stuff. :)

[Lily]

Wonderful read! I'll give it a listen. Thanks. :)