Escape to (or from) RI

If you notice even more cars with New York license plates than usual tearing up the asphalt in South County this weekend, you can thank today's New York Times. The "Escapes" section of the paper includes a backcountry southern New England road trip under the headline, "134 Miles of Yankee Charm." Mile 105 stops at Kenyon's Grist Mill in Usequepaugh, but makes no mention of johnnycakes. ("Pick up a bag of fresh cornmeal - the muffins or pancakes you make with it later will be a revelation.") Mile 110 stops in Kingston, accompanied with a note on the Allison B. Goodsell Rare Books shop. What Times readers miss about the local roads this weekend: Hot air balloons filling the skies at the South County Balloon Festival, actors going the "Full Monty" in West Kingston and roots rock reggae playing en route at the Ocean State Reggae Festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown. With gas above $4 a gallon, drivers might like to know that they have a few more options than picking up a bag of cornmeal and a $4000 copy of Capt. James Cook's memoir about his voyages on the H.M.S. Resolution.