How boring has the trip been so far? Just west of Hagerstown, around 1:30 p.m., Gailor decided to call the motel where we had a reservation in Newton Falls to ask about places for dinner. And she was driving.

She got hold of Trina at the motel desk, and she could not get Trina off the phone because Trina wanted to give her exact directions to Roby Lee's Italian Pub & Grill, the Covered Bridge -- as close as Newton Falls comes to fine dining -- and Faces, which has a "great lounge atmosphere" (pictured).

When we got here at about 6:15 p.m. -- we finally left Baltimore at 12:15 p.m. -- I wanted to go to the Chophouse in Warren, which had been recommended; but the desk clerk said it was half an hour away, and no way we were getting back in the car for that long.

We had dinner at the Covered Bridge, where it was all-you-could eat sirloin steak night for $11.95, with salad bar and vegetable. The "Italian Specialties" included country fried pork.

The bad thing about mom-and-pop restaurants in small towns: The butter was Tastee Gold Spread. The good thing: homemade cavatelli. The radio was broadcasting the Brockfield-Liberty high school football game.

The check, with steak dinner, a half-order of cavatelli, and two glasses of chardonnay ($3), the only white wine choice, came to $22.

While we were waiting for our meal, Gailor noticed an ad for "Brenda L. Lane, L.M.T., massages and facials"  (along with two funeral homes and a welder) on our place mats. Before I could stop her, she whipped out her phone to make an appointment. Luckily no one answered.

I'm going to have to take away her cell phone.