New Jersey
To get to the cruise we had to go through New Jersey.
The visit to this state started with bang. We pulled into visitor centre and almost hit a deer sauntering over the exit ramp. We arrived about 4:30PM and found that the visitor centre and rest area were closed. They graciously left some porta potties if you were desperate. While the actual visitor centres usually are only open business hours (8-5 or 9-5 most states), the rest area and the bathrooms are left open. The PA centre also leaves out some maps and pamplets for example. This visitor centre is only open 7-3:30 which is a bizarre set of hours.
Traffic in New Jersey was nuts. We were heading east on 4 lanes (I80) and it was very busy but we were moving about 65-70. The other way was 4 lanes stopped all the way. Now this was Friday evening on an American long weekend. I think most of those people were heading to the Pocinoes from New York City likely.
It was confusing about when you were allowed to turn left and when you weren't. I thought there were no left turns but there were some.
Getting to the ferry port, I discovered they do take EZ-Pass. However, ours died. In outher EZ-Pass states, they just take a picture of the license plate and bill you. Not New Jersey. You need to stop and pay cash. Also only some lanes. And if your GPS says keep left and the cash lane is to the right, you have to go across and New Jersey drivers are rude and obnoxious and it is not a pleasant experience.
I did avoid getting gas in NJ. I heard they had some weird shit about full service.
Overall, I despise NJ. I didn't going in. But all it took was one visit. If I can avoid it again, I will. A couple of factoids. The Statue Of Liberty is actually in New Jersey. Most of the state does look pretty but that parts that don't look really ugly. Some parts of New Jersey also smell. The roads are rougher than PA and NY which says a lot.
