Willington, Connecticut
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Heading from home to northern MaineThe drive alone, according to Microsoft Streets & Trips is a good eleven hours - sixteen minutes, 672.2 miles. This depends on the traffic, weather, and how fast I drive. Of course each stop I make adds time to the trip. Since I can't make it straight through I factor in an additional hour and a half to that time. Since I have yet to leave first thing in the morning heading to northern Maine I need to factor in longer than usual rest stops. Most of the time I takes about fourteen hours after I stop for a break, meals, and rest. I will no longer drive tired. It is best to get there in one piece than not get there in two pieces. |
| The first main stop is at the TA Travel center on Ruby Road
in Wallington, CT. This facility is right next to a Sleep Inn. I say 'main
stop' because there will be a stop for gas in New Jersey. I fill tank in
NJ at 99¢ per gallon (January 2002). Here gas is 120¢ a gallon. There may also
be a stop to get a fountain soda (not bottled soda) before hitting the New Jersey
Turnpike.
In July of 2003 the price of gas here is $1.63 per gallon, while the New Jersey station I stop at was $1.39. My last two stops here were on Tuesday July 22, 2003 and Monday July 14, 2003. |
| This T/A stop in Connecticut, I-84, Exit 71 Ruby Rd.
Willington, CT is where I'll stop for about 45 minutes. It's a little more than four hours into the drive. A good point to refresh myself.  |
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I'll fill the tank at about $1.22 when heading to Maine and when returning home I'll get enough gas to get me to New Jersey's 99¢ gas prices. (January 2002) |
Behind me is the front entrance to the store. Straight ahead to the bathrooms. Left at the next aisle to B'King & D'Donuts. Right to Country Pride. Left and then a right to the fountain soda machine for a 99¢ refill on a non T/A 44 ounce soda cup. (79¢ if I reuse their cup.) |
Dunkin' Donuts, Burger King and a Country Pride restaurant are on location. This day the Burger King, to the left of Dunkin Donuts, did not open on time at six o'clock. I took my business next door to the D'Donuts. They King wasn't even open by my departure at 6:20 a.m. |
This is where I parked during my very first stop at this travel plaza on Thursday 1/17/2002. Those are my tire tracks. Wow! |
Sandwich, Corn Nuts, Jelly Beans and a fountain soda. I think the bottom cup is holding liquid butter. If you believe that I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. |
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Stay Awake, legal pep pills, to give me a little pep until the next rest stop. 5 pack of Cigars, emergency tobacco, until I get some real cigars at a Tobacconist. |
| They also have full services for the truckers on the road. This includes a clean private shower for $6.00. This can come in handy if you have trouble holding in a number 2 while on the road. Relieving a number 1 is never a problem for the well prepared traveler. |
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Visit the official TA Travel Center web page for this facility. |
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TravelCenters of America locations across the country, they've designed
products and services specifically to meet the needs of their over-the-road
traveling customers. They're glad to see you any time of day or night, and
you'll be glad to see the smiles and hear the friendly greetings that welcome
you at all of our locations.
As a full-service travel center, they offer truck repair and maintenance services for professional truck drivers, with ASE-certified mechanics and D.O.T. inspections available. You can even reserve an appointment ahead of time by calling 1-800-TA4-SHOP. Their ProntoPay diesel fuel island automation system cuts fueling time in half and moves you to the special ProntoPay window to sign for your fuel. To get highway travelers back on the road fast, most locations offer quality branded gasoline. When you're hungry on the road, stop in at the Country Pride restaurant, or one of their Quick Serve restaurants if you're in a hurry. The TA Store has handy items for professional drivers and travelers, from work gloves to electronics to snacks. And for professional drivers, their showers, phone room and drivers' lounge make those hours out on the road a little easier.
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