Yes, that’s a ton of mileage in a short time. Add to that, there were stops in 12 fairly large American cities. Luckily, it was over a summer weekend and most south of the border seem to vacate their downtown cores for a few days each week.
Is this a trip for everyone? No. Is this a trip for ANYONE? For most, not. For my specific goal of grabbing a great amount of video footage for the YouTube Channel, it worked. However, I could have taken five more days to grab much more quality video and do a lot more photography.
With Niagara Falls, New York, all the videos from this August, 2019 trip are now on the channel. All the videos, except New York City (that’s coming in a separate article), are included below with some photos from each city.
I did use the DSLR a bit, mostly to capture road shots. The photos below are a bit of an experiment for me. They are all snapshots taken from the GoPro footage, using Corel VideoStudio 2019. This is the software I use to edit all my videos. However, until this article, I’ve never used the ‘Snapshot’ function.
Not DSLR quality, I am still really impressed with the clarity of the snapshots. It really opens up a new frontier in the media world for me. Suddenly, I have an infinite amount of photo possibilities just waiting for me in the digital world.
Are the shots good enough to submit for stock photography? My quality standards for my submissions to Dreamstime are a little above this level. But, I tested with one photo from the Hartford, Connecticut gallery below. And, it was accepted. It is too soon to tell if it will actual get any sales. But, cell phone shots sell, so why not?
By the way, I’m sure you’re wondering about the costs. I travelled 2,375 kilometres, starting from and ending at my home in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. I spent $50.55 on gas in Canada and $123.80 in the U.S. The last fill-up was in Syracuse, New York and I still had plenty in the tank when I got home.
As far as food and drink, I took a few shopping bags with me from home. I bought food at Burger King, just outside of Rochester, New York and Subway along I95 somewhere around the CT/NY border. Some road tolls I paid cash, probably less than $10. There were others that were supposed to be automatically billed to my license plate. Three months have gone by and I’ve yet to see a bill…
As for accommodations, I stayed for free both nights as a guest of the New York State Transportation Department (or whatever their official name is). The minivan is perfect for a single person to actually get a comfortable sleep. The interstate rest stops are well maintained and welcoming to sleepy drivers.
Northeastern U.S. Videos and Photos
We’ll start from the beginning and follow the route in order. The one city that was missed from the original plan was Scranton, Pennsylvania. I rolled in at 11PM, hoping to sleep in a Walmart parking lot and film at the crack of dawn. However, Walmart is not so welcoming as it used to be and I found myself heading north toward Binghamton to spend the night.
Rochester, New York
Rochester was touch and go. I was delayed at the Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo, New York due to power outages from thunderstorms. I then followed the storms to Rochester. As darkness approached on the Friday evening, I was given a short time of light between the rain and darkness.
Rochester, NY Downtown Driving Tour
Rochester, New York Image Gallery
Albany, New York
After leaving Rochester, I drove through darkness on I90 and found a rest stop not far out of Albany. This is where I made a terrible mistake. I didn’t trust sleeping in the parking lot for some reason. So, I ended up just staying in the driver’s seat and not moving to the back of the van.
I slept okay but later in the day, my ankle started swelling up at an alarming level due to being in that seated position for so long. This issue plagued me for the rest of the trip.
I got to Albany right at sunrise. However, the skies were overcast so it may as well have been still night. There were no vehicles on the roads of the downtown. But, still, I got lost. The video is not the route I had planned…
Albany, NY Downtown Driving Tour
Albany, New York Image Gallery
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield was a fairly simple stop for me. However, I recall getting out of town was a bit difficult. I believe this is where I got on the wrong interstate and lost time going in the completely wrong direction…
Springfield, MA Downtown Driving Tour
Springfield, Massachusetts Image Gallery
Worcester, Massachusetts
With the historic buildings and the rail history, I could have spent a lot more time exploring and photographing downtown Worcester. Yes, I did get lost a bit while doing the video tour. Yes, I got lost trying to get out of town, heading toward Providence. Yes, my brain ached about not slipping over to Boston for an unplanned visit.
Worcester, MA Downtown Driving Tour
Worcester, Massachusetts Image Gallery
Providence, Rhode Island
After the peace and quiet in the downtown’s of the day’s previous cities, Providence was a stark contrast. A college town, getting into the later part of August meant students were moving to their new digs for the school year. It was the same later in the day when I got to New Haven, CT, home of Yale University.
This was a city I’d long wanted to visit. It’s sort of forgotten city, tucked between Boston and New York City. But, the skyline is unique and its position behind the Griffin’s house on Spooner Street in Quahog is intriguing.
It’s a shame that the ‘Superman Building’, shown prominently in the downtown skyline, has been empty for a few years. The real shame is that demolition of this historic landmark is a real possibility.
Providence, RI Downtown Driving Tour
Providence, Rhode Island Image Gallery
Hartford, Connecticut
There was an old Saturday Night Live skit (before they spent all their time on Trump) with two old guys trying to give directions from city to city in New England. It might have been a comedy skit but it was entirely true. Getting from Providence to Hartford seemed so close and so simple. I got lost.
Hartford, CT Downtown Driving Tour
Hartford, Connecticut Image Gallery
New Haven, Connecticut
I found out later, the streets I drove on through Yale University and downtown New Haven were featured in the last Indiana Jones Movie: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
As seen in the video, the streets were full of Yale students and their families. There also seemed to be a police car for every civilian vehicle. If you’re looking for a drinking game, take a shot for every police car or walking officer you see in the video!
New Haven, CT Downtown Driving Tour
New Haven, Connecticut Image Gallery
Bridgeport, Connecticut
I almost passed Bridgeport by. As the day wore on, the possibility of driving around Manhattan before the sun went down was becoming real. It wasn’t in the initial plan but as I got closer to one of most favourite spots in the world, I couldn’t resist.
Add to that, by the time I approached Bridgeport, I was tired and the skies were threatening rain. But, in the end, I made the stop. And, I was able to get my tour around Manhattan before the sun went down. Win – win.
Bridgeport, CT Downtown Driving Tour
Bridgeport, Connecticut Image Gallery
Binghamton, New York
The whole time I was in downtown Binghamton, for some reason I thought I was in the city where the class hockey movie ‘Slapshot’ was filmed. It was, in fact, filmed in Johnstown, PA but I’m pretty sure the arena in Binghamton might have been used for a scene or two.
Downtown Binghamton, NY Driving Tour
Binghamton, New York Image Gallery
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse was a ‘flex-stop’ on the trip, in that it was either going to come near the start or near the end. With the delay in Buffalo and the sun setting while I was leaving Rochester, it got pushed to the end. The conditions were outstanding and it worked out for the best.
Another college town, we took a detour in the video to make an excursion around the main campus of Syracuse University.
Downtown Syracuse, NY Driving Tour
Syracuse, New York Image Gallery
Niagara Falls, New York
This was an optional. I could go through Buffalo or Niagara Falls on the way back home. It didn’t matter. There was a few airplanes I thought about photographing at the Buffalo International Airport but would have had to wait around for a few hours.
Truth was, I was tired. I wanted to get home. So, I went for one quick jaunt around Niagara Falls, NY before calling it a weekend. Funny thing was, I’d planned to do this video months before while staying on the Canadian side of the border. We went across to the U.S. just for lunch at Olive Garden – a restaurant we now longer have in Canada. I had a route all mapped out to video on our way back. But, it was raining cats and dogs, so it didn’t happen.
Niagara Falls, NY Downtown Driving Tour
Niagara Falls, New York Image Gallery
