My First Traffic Jam!

This morning things were going well. I woke early (for me), picked up the rental car and loaded 'er up. In no time at all I was out of northern Manhattan and on Route 4 near Paramus, NJ. It was a breeze. That is until I hit a patch of road construction. Suddenly traffic stopped dead! I sat there and stared at a mall for a bit... then an Applebee's looking restaurant... and I think an electronics store. There's something brutally frustrating about highways that double as parking lots. I worried it was a bad omen for my journey... and only 20 or so miles into it. Eventually, the gods showed mercy, the logjam loosened and I was on my way... thank goodness!

I arrived at my friends house in Passaic County a bit frazzled and weary but with renewed enthusiasm for adventure. It was time to start eating hot dogs. Right around the corner was just the right place... Hawthorne, NJ's Goffle Grill. At the Goffle Grill they call them Texas Wieners. One might also hear them referred to as rippers. I call them awesome!

I hung out with my friends for a few hours and had an amazing home cooked, old-school, North Jersey Italian dinner of spaghetti and meatballs. I love my friends!

Later in the evening I was back in the car heading south to Union, NJ where I'm spending the night with my buddies Mark and Robin. After a good night's sleep I'm hoping to chase down a few more hot dogs before heading to Pennsylvania for the next leg of Al's US Tour.


Mmmmmm... Deep fried heaven!