“Welcome to Woodbridge,” the sign at the front desk says, and despite the sub-freezing temperatures outside, the welcome into Woodbridge’s Hampton Inn couldn’t be warmer.
Cayenne’s smiling face warmly welcomes us to Woodbridge’s Hampton Inn ~
Having received the message just a handful of days ago that I’d soon be approaching Woodbridge on foot, the local Hampton Inn staff enthusiastically invited Rocio and me to spend multiple nights at their cozy, luxurious highway-side hotel.
Rocio & I arrived after dark last night, later than expected, and the front desk staff nonetheless warmly welcomed us in from the dark evening’s freezing winds, having expected us all day.
After many hours on the road, keeping a steady pace to remain warm, and having stopped to speak to many passersby who wondered about the story of the signs (WALKING ACROSS AMERICA), Rocio and I retired early upon reaching our cozy room.
What a cozy accommodation!!
After a very recharging night’s sleep on the fifth floor (loving the view! 
), we descended to ground level for a very filling complimentary breakfast. I always love my oats–dressed up with tasty fixings and accompanied with yogurt, a bagel, omelette and potatoes. Rocio added an iron-fresh waffle to her plate.
It was then time to meet the staff. As we’d agreed to meet around 11 AM, I descended into the enthusiastic social embrace of Miguel, Besim, Sanielle, Teresa and Meghan, all of whom were kindly waiting in the lobby. Happy Hellos quickly graduated into fun questions, answer and stories about local life, the road behind, and the road ahead.
“Anything you need, please let us know,” they sincerely told me, promising to help me organize my upcoming New Jersey miles as I slowly inch closer to NYC. A blizzard is apparently on the way, and I’m going to see what they may recommend in the wake of any heavy snowfall…
What an awesome team!!
Sanielle, Besim, Miguel, Teresa and Meghan embrace a cross-country pedestrian pilgrim within these final hundred miles of his 4,800-mile, smiley-face route across America! 