On the way to Jupiter

For as long as I've known Beth, she'd tell stories of a magical island off the east coast of Florida where she spent her summers as a child. She hadn't been there in four years and I hadn't been to the Sunshine State since my Papa died in the late-80s. When Phish announced plans to play the Florida Everglades for New Year's Eve 2000, we agreed a vacation was in order.

Beth and I left the chilly northeast for sunny Florida two days before Christmas, seeking a few days of peace before the chaos of the Phish shows at the end of the month. We rented a car from Fort Lee, N.J., and sought out south.

We picked up fries in Dumfries, Virginia (Va.'s oldest town) and spotted a neat fire truck in Bowie, Md. It was nice to see the truckers living up the holiday spirit. We crashed at a Motel 6 in Florence, S.C. (foreshadowing Beth's semester in Italy & YEM) and scarfed breakfast at Denny's before heading out on Christmas Eve. We made it to Jupiter with three hours 'til midnight.

Motel 666

Click below for Jupiter.