A journey across America looks different when you go beyond the cities. Travelers can see one side of America in New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C.. But the rural way of America shows something else.
This was exactly the case with the road traveled.
The journey was not solely a mere drive to Cleveland. It was an opportunity to visit American towns, and quaint country roads. And more importantly, it was a wonderful time spent between a mother and son after a long separation since 2019.
And as usual, things went differently than planned.
The most unexpected part of the trip dealt with the rental car having a flat tire in the middle of the trip.
But before this unplanned incident, the trip began at Boston Airport by picking up a Chevrolet Equinox rented at one of the car rental services. The car had already been booked, and the very first problem was getting out of Boston.
Driving in the US required some adaptation from the driver. Automatic transmission was not unknown but was not used often while driving at home. Next came the speedometer that measured miles instead of kilometers.
Also, the system for collecting tolls differed from the one in Europe.
There was no need to stop for a toll at a booth built into the highway. Instead, the costs were automatically calculated, which was confusing at first for the inexperienced driver from abroad.
Then came another alarming moment.
The warning on the dashboard read “key absent,” but the key was right there! A brief research led to the conclusion that the battery of the key might be running low. Fortunately, the representative from Enterprise explained how to drive in case of the key’s malfunction, and the warning light disappeared.
Boston was finally left behind.
When the cityscape began to change.
Busy city roads turned into highways, then eventually the traveler entered the remote and sparsely populated areas of America. Long stretches of road lead through sparsely populated areas with hardly any houses, cars, or people. For someone used to the much denser population of Germany, this amount of open space was really surprising.
The open landscape appeared desolate at times.
And nonetheless, it was also a great thing to see.
One of the first stops along the way was a gigantic US truck stop. This truck stop was not just a location for refueling vehicles but rather a variety of options for the visitors, including places to eat and drink, apparel and travel goods, and even washing and showering areas.
It seemed more like a small mall but one located at a gas station.
Many people were amazed by the size of drinks. Everything seems to be larger than expected, even the food.
Besides the huge drinks, there was another good thing about the location.
The friendly atmosphere was what impressed the traveler the most. Many Americans seem to start small conversations with strangers. However, the conversation mostly starts with some pleasantries, and once Americans hear an accent, they start talking in a friendly way.
Such things can be pleasantly surprising for a visitor.
The road trip that followed included travels to Cooperstown, a town in the state of New York that had nothing in common with Boston.
Peaceful streets, fantastic properties, and lots of open areas characterized the town, which also had a deep connection with baseball. Almost everywhere you looked, there were stores offering people everything they need to know about baseball.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame was an exciting destination for someone who was not really into this game and knew nothing about it, although the $35 entrance fee may not seem justified for someone who is not interested in baseball.
Yet, the overall atmosphere was really impressive.
The small town was surprisingly busy near baseball attractions. It was a bit awkward to see all those stores about baseball in such a quiet town.
Another thing worth mentioning is a small diner.
The diner had a very small menu, especially compared to that of some big diners in New York City. Pancakes, omelettes, French toasts, hamburgers, grilled cheese, sandwiches, and some other popular dishes were present on the menu.
The pancakes were served with syrup, eggs, and some combination of sweet and salty flavors, which can be considered strange for a European visitor.
The meal cost around $35 with the tips included.
The genuine draw was experiencing an entirely new environment, as compared to the American metropolises that are typically presented to foreign visitors.
While the countryside was peaceful, expansive, and surprisingly attractive, Niagara Falls had its own share of pleasant moments; however, reaching it was far from straight-forward.
The journey turned complicated with heavy rain. The visibility was dreadful and a warning about low tire pressure suddenly appeared on the screen on the dashboard.
At first sight, filling up gas in the US seemed pretty much like any other routine at a gas station. However, what was unexpected was that one had to pay at the pump and only then was free to start using the hose, unlike in the case of Germany where one usually pays after filling their car.
Gasoline seemed remarkably cheap as compared to the prices back in the home country.
However, the most critical problem remained the tire. At first glance, the tire seemed fine, but upon hitting it with the hose, one could understand something was definitely off, and a bit later the tire was completely flat as it had lost a lot of air.
Staying with a flat tire in the middle of
A spare tire is not created to withstand speeds or travel very long distances.
Thereafter, the journey proceeded to Rochester, where they could switch their rental.
The Enterprise people did very well in the situation and supplied a replacement vehicle to the guests. They got a hybrid car that was another source of confusion for the guests since this vehicle is able to run on both electric energy and gasoline.
Luckily, there was no need to bother about its charging.
After getting a new vehicle and overcoming another delay, they continued their journey to the Niagara Falls.
Initially, they were to reach the location much earlier but because of the flat tire, it turned into a longer day than expected.
When they got there, it was already 9:15 PM.
There was nothing else to think about apart from finding food and a bed!
The next morning they saw what they had been waiting for. Niagara Falls – loud and impressive! The view was breathtaking. The visitors could come very close and even get a little wet!
Visitors at Cave of the Winds were given ponchos before going to the falls and spray increased as they moved toward the water. At last, they found themselves at Hurricane Deck. Water was falling down, the wind was blowing, and the spray got everyone wet. However, after a hot day this waterfall shower was very much appreciated.
Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The highest part of the waterfalls is almost 188 feet tall or about 57 meters high.
This waterfall system was created many years ago and now it is one of the most famous natural attractions in North America.
Interestingly, a disagreeing word can be said about the area. It is divided between two countries. People in the US and Canada have the same name of the city.
Being there with the mother made the trip very special for the traveler.
This trip included silent villages, country roads, small diners and a lot of hours of driving.
What it was all about was spending time together.
After visiting Niagara Falls, it was time to set out on the final leg of the journey, heading for Cleveland to meet the traveler’s uncle and aunt. The trip had begun in Boston and crossed parts of Massachusetts and New York before reaching Cleveland.
In retrospect, the most memorable aspect of the trip had little to do with renting a car, seeing the key sights, or even visiting Niagara Falls.
It was about the contrast.
Big cities had already been experienced. This time, however, the trip showed the traveler another side of America: tiny towns with much space between them, long distances, empty highways, roadside diners, and people willing to chat with a foreign traveler.
For a visitor from Europe, it is difficult to understand the size of rural America until you drive through the terrain.
The driver could go for miles and miles through the countryside and see almost nothing.
No supermarkets.
No busy streets.
Sometimes hardly any other cars at all.
This is precisely why a car is so important in some rural areas of the United States. Daily life is separated by miles of distance.
This road trip was also a great experience in terms of cultural differences. Americans experience different notions of speed on their roads. On the journey, many German drivers may notice that American highways seem slower than they are used to.
The country roads are perceived as more leisurely, and big trucks change lanes more actively than expected. However, that sense of relaxation is exactly the beauty of the process. Travelers feel no need to be busy all the time, doing things that require immediate responses.
And perhaps that is the main lesson of that trip in the United States. It is not very important to visit all the popular points, but to enjoy the journey as it goes.
The amazing experience of being at Niagara Falls together.
The trip which has begun as a casual road trip from Boston to Cleveland has turned into something much more emotional.
The beautiful view will fade eventually.
The exact roads will probably fade too but time spent together will be difficult to forget.
And this can join all the other reasons to go on a road trip across the USA – not only to see the country but also to explore the relationships that develop along the road.
