The predictions, news and reports on the aftermath of Hurricane Irene have been impossible to miss.  They are everywhere online; from Twitter and blogs, to the front page of every news website.  (Recall, we are traveling without television, but we are sure Irene is still dominating most TV news outlets as well).  Like many people who have been planning to visit New England for its world-famous fall foliage, festivals and hospitality, we had to pause to consider whether or not it would be worth the trip.

We are currently leaving Yellowstone National Park, quite a fair distance from the winding roads, iconic maple trees and proud lighthouses of the east coast.  Driving from the Montana/Wyoming border is going to cost a lot of money – gas doesn’t exactly come cheap these days.  It is also going to be a haul for us to get east in time to spend a significant amount of time exploring all that the region has to offer.  And, who knows if the changing colors will even reach their full potential after the beating the trees took from Irene’s rains and winds?

Yet, despite all these things, today begins our 10-day drive to Portland, Maine.  We have decided that despite the many “what ifs?” and the cost of the travel, we are heading out east, or bust!  It has been our plan all along, and has been one of the pieces of our grand road trip that we have been the most excited for.  So, screw Irene!  We already cashed in all of our chips and struck out in this risky journey; we don’t need to start playing it safe now.

Those are the selfish reasons why we are still heading out to New England as autumn draws near.  But there are also some less selfish ones.  For one thing, the communities of New England are hurting.  Many of their farms, roads, and much of their infrastructure has been washed away in a violent torrent.  This is not a place accustomed to hurricanes, (honestly, I’m not sure anyplace is), and Irene came at a time when the economy is already hurting, not to mention she came directly preceding the major tourism season. There are surely hundreds of people who are cancelling or postponing their trips, a choice that will only further cripple the region.  So, we go not only to fulfill our own selfish desires, but also with a hope that whatever little money we have to inject into the economy will help these communities get back on their feet.

Even if Irene did huff and puff some leaves and branches from the trees, and blow some gorgeous covered bridges down, it’s all the more reason for us to visit.  So, away we go – saying goodbye to our familiar West.  We are happy and steadfast in our decision and hope that other travelers will follow suit.  Follow us as we make our way east, and click here to donate to the Irene relief effort.  Say it with us: “Screw you, Irene!”