Just to bring everyone up to date, we had a rather uneventful day driving through 4 states but a mystery has been finally cleared up. I am at the southern terminus of the Chesapeak Bay Bridge. I can't say more then that without giving away the identity of this well known person.
Over a very enjoyable dinner, it was slipped that this person's personal wealth came from the film industry. It seems he was a porn star. No kidding, his wife actually said this. I was both shocked and saddened by this revelation.
His image is forever tarnished in my eyes.