Looking around

I've never been in a charming rest area before.

Most of them are strictly utilitarian. I've been in a few that were nice. One or two that were scenic, after a fashion.* And a few that were downright impressive. But this one is...well, kind of cute.

The drive was tree-lined, with streetlights rigged to look like old gas lamps (with wreaths, candy canes, etc., at this time of year, of course). Until I saw the standard slab o'asphalt in the back I thought I'd made a wrong turn.

Once I'd parked,it was a bit more ordinary. But still pleasant.

Of course, it's in the middle of a small down in Delaware** and doubles as a park-and-ride for the commuter buses (lots of big cities around here), but still. A nice place to rest.

I can use it. I should sleep well tonight.

I spent eleven hours behind the wheel today. The legal limit. It would have been ten or so, but I had to take the Beltway around Washington, D. C. at 5:00 pm. By the time I'd dropped my trailer I had exactly enough driving time to get here.

Fortunately, "on duty" time isn't the same as "driving time." I don't lose driving time when I'm fueling. Or cleaning the windshield. Or the mirrors and side windows.

The windshield is important, of course. Even in the summer. But the other night I remembered how important the other glass is.

I was backing into a truck-stop parking space. At a certain point, one of the parking-lot lights suddenly backlit the thin layer of dried road salt, etc., on the right side window. Just like that, I could see where every droop of dirty water had tried on that window. And the back corner of my trailer simply disappeared. Marker lights and all.

Disconcerting.

I got it parked safely, but it was a waker-upper. These things are blind enough already. When I fueled today I spent some extra time on the glass. Closing the barn door after ONE of the horses got out isn't quite as dumb...
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*Most of the scenic ones aren't set up to welcome 18-wheelers, for some reason...
**Smyrna, Delaware, if you're interested.