Sat, Jan 17 2009 - Yes We Can! Obama Inauguration Road Trip via Boston and Philadelphia (View Original Event Details)
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How do I begin to put this trip into words? Four dedicated road trippers set out early saturday morning from Toronto to Boston, not really knowing exactly what lied ahead. The group quickly bonded over movie trivia, this was Ron's department and the girls peppered him with questions essentially all trip.
Being the old city that it is, it was fitting that our Inn in Boston was quite "well worn", if an Inn can be such. A lack of heat, a shorted out lamp that stole the rest of our electricity and a cot that collapsed upon me in the middle of the night welcomed us to Boston the first night. Let's just say this place had character.
We spent a couple days exploring Boston, including a Toronto vs Boston snowball fight in Boston Common and an epic TOC battle in Harvard Yard complete with body slams and double teaming. I'm certain we livened up this city, despite the everpresence of students, we fit in!
The drive to Philly was quite painful, the influx of Obamaniacs (to steal El rey's phrase) plus the regular traffic around NYC made for a long, long 300 km. Needless to say we only saw the inside of the Quality Inn in Philadelphia our stopover and point of attack for the Inauguration.
Waking at 5am and departing at 6ish snuck is in behind the crazy crowds and allowed us to avoid standing in the bitter cold for several hours like most had to. We arrived at the national mall area at about 11am, fashionably late for the big party. Alas the party seemed to start when we arrived, with the swearing in and the much awaited and anticipated inaug. speech.
The drive home took us through the Allegheny Nattional forest, a stunning drive even for tired eyes. Tired TOC troops were all home in their beds by early Wed morning. A great experience for all of us and one we will surely tell our children and grandchildren.
Thanks to Kate, Jo and Ron for committing and being such good sports about everything and shout out to Nick whose Red eye trip gave me the idea for this roadie.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.