 On May 26, 2016, I set out on the first road trip I ever chronicled in eBook form. That five month, 15,000 mile trek took me to all 48 contiguous US states and saw me welcomed as a guest in over 50 homes. Fast forward to June 11, 2026, almost 10 years to the day, and I started my tenth road trip to parts known and unknown. What follows are some of those stories from the road Les traveled. :-)
As for the eBook title, I chose "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" for several reasons. First, as shown here, I named all of my free travel eBooks after great songs, so I'm keeping with that musical tradition. Secondly, the timeless hit is sung by a legendary artist, Glen Campbell, who called Arizona home. Thirdly, I moved from scenic Arizona to beautiful New Jersey in 2024 to be with family, and I really miss the warm desert in the winter. Fourthly, the song name fits with my goal to visit that wonderful place I called home for over 40 years. Finally, let's just say that the lyrics about a guy who misses out on the girl because of his great love of travel certainly resonates. However, while the lyrics may be pensive, my mood is what it always is when I'm planning to see Amazing Places and Faces - ecstatic, expectant and grateful. Glen Campbell, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" < link to song Table Of Contents 01. By The Time I Get To Phoenix. Part 1: NJ 2026. 02. The Cold, Hard Truth About New Jersey. 03. New Jersey Gallery 1. 04. New Jersey Gallery 2. 05. New Jersey Gallery 3. 06. New Jersey Gallery 4. 07. New Jersey Gallery 5. 08. New Jersey Gallery 6. 09. New Jersey Gallery 7. 10. New Jersey Gallery 8. 11. Pren, Chester, NJ. 12. Jolie, New Vernon, NJ. 13. Bar Cilento, Stirling, NJ. Part 2: NJ/MI/NY/NJ Jun 11-Jul 27, '26. Map here. 2000 miles. 14. Welcome To The Motor City. 15. Epic Eagles At Clio Amphitheater, Clio, MI. 16. The Agitated Grape, Davison, MI. 17. Octopus' Garden, Mount Clemens, MI. 18. The Basement Bar, Mount Clemens, MI. 19. Leslie, MI. 20. Holly, MI. 21. Grand Ledge, MI. Part 1. 22. Grand Ledge, MI. Part 2. 23. Golden Harvest, Lansing, MI. 24. Clare, MI. 25. Howell, MI. 26. Dow Gardens, Midland, MI. 27. Main’s Treat Coffeehouse, Utica, MI. 28. Sofra Malsorit, Utica, MI. 29. The Garage Cuts And Coffee, Plymoth, MI. 30. Plymouth, MI. 31. Belleville, MI. 32. Road Less Traveled Books, Farmington, MI. 33. Photo Op With A Huge "Rock" Star. :-) 34. Once Upon A Time... 35. Covered Bridges, Ashtabula County, OH. 36. Time To Get Yolked. :-) 37. Sunrise On The Lake. 38. Nightfall On The Lake. 39. Woodstock. 40. Happy Avenue. 41. Good Morning New Jersey. To be continued Contents Books Home Hire Stories  The first two winters we lived in New Jersey were pretty mild. But when real winter hit in 2026, we learned the cold, hard truth. The snow came a foot at a time, then froze soiid, and then snowed another foot or more. I'd like to say I weathered it well, but I'd be lying. Every bone chilling day was another reminder that I wasn't in Arizona anymore - so I better adapt. That led me to start capturing some images that show why NJ is called The Garden State.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories       One of the many reasons I like visiting my boyhood home state of Michigan is that it has one of the most vibrant summer music scenes in America. It seems like every little - or big - city hosts some killer concerts for free or cheap. A case in point is the tiny town of Clio, Michigan that built this incredible amphitheater to showcase top touring bands. And on this perfect summer night, we got to see the tribute band Epic Eagles absolutely Take It To The Limit.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  When I was google mapping our route to see the Epic Eagles At Clio Amphitheater, I spotted this oddly named restaurant The Agitated Grape in Davison, MI. I looked it up and saw that it featured Michigan beverages and had a solid reputation for great food. My friend and I decided to take a chance on it and boy were we pleasantly surprised. Everything was prepared perfectly, the service was excellent and the prices were fair.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  In my two previous posts I spoke of hearing incredible live music and enjoying exceptional dining. Well, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Octopus' Garden in Mount Clemens, MI. because it combines both. I've written about this Beatles themed restaurant before, but here's something new I saw this time - life imitating art. The band shell sits on a river barge. So, when other boats passed by, the rock and roll bands were literally rocking and rolling. :-)
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  My friends know I love quirky places, so they recommended we meet up at The Basement Bar (AKA Frank's Eastside Tavern) in Mount Clemens, MI. It was originally a speakeasy during Prohibition and its low ceiling underground location made it an ideal hideout. Today this popular dive bar attracts people who appreciate its authentic charm, naughty history, live music, and famed burgers and fried bologna sandwiches.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  When I spotted Leslie, Michigan on Google Maps I wondered if it would have one town sign bearing my full first name that I could photograph. What I discovered when I got there was that this charming village has my name written all over it! :-) Many thanks to the kind and gracious local people who made this visitor feel so welcome.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories   Grand Ledge, Michigan was a pleasant surprise for me for two reasons. First, the downtown area is very quaint and has shops and restaurants, and a theater and opera house too. Secondly, it has the impressive Grand River running right through it, and the park setting it creates is a visual treat.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  The city of Grand Ledge, Michigan was named after the impressive sandstone cliffs that run alongside Grand River. A lush, shaded trail is located in Fitzgerald Park and is an ideal hike for anyone who appreciates the wonder of this natural phenomenon.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  The Golden Harvest restaurant in Lansing, Michigan is wacky, tacky and wild. The exterior looks like a junk yard on hallucinogens. The interior looks like a garage sale had a baby with a psychedelic art store. But...oh...the...food! So delicious. So unique. So much. So reasonable. And so well worth your drive to get there before it opens so you don't have to stand in a long line of absolute fans.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Clare, Michigan is a prime example of why life is better in small towns. Downtown Clare hosts the timeless Doherty hotel, the vintage Ideal Theater and excellent restaurants and shops. And it would be a crime to miss the baked goods at Cops and Doughnuts.
Contents Books Home Hire Stories  Apparently, the reviews are in. One writer described Howell as "The Most Welcoming Town In Michigan". Another author called Howell "The Friendliest Town In Michigan". And yet another writer praised the city saying "This Overlooked Michigan Town Has a Storybook Downtown..." So, I couldn't wait to see if everything I heard about this hidden gem in the heart of the state was true. And I am glad to report that this colorful, classy, historic city lives up to its glowing reviews.
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