2018 04 30 - 05 05 Philadelphia Area then to North Central PA

Downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 30 April 2018

O-M-freaking-G! Our adventure into downtown Philly...such a disaster. With Kristen's Honda out of commission, we decided to drive our truck with the plan of parking halfway between the Liberty Bell Plaza and the Reading Terminal Market. Should have thought that through because we were within less than one inch of being totally wedged into a parking garage ramp with walls on both sides. So, lesson learned. Don't take a Ram 3500 with an 8 foot bed into an old parking garage. Bob managed to finagle back and forth until we just barely escaped and gratefully exited into the gridlocked traffic, blocked off streets and narrow one way, parking on both sides, streets. We were all very frustrated and wasted most of our time driving in circles.

What we needed was some sustenance. A Philly cheesesteak sandwich and Coke lunch would go down smoothly. This establishment was rated highly and was on the North side away from the general madness of downtown traffic. The interior has one lunch counter with no more than 12 seats. The solution to that almost standing room only situation is to jam folding tables and chairs against the windows which allows for a very congested walkway. The mound of chopped meat had to be about one foot tall and as deep as a grill, about 2 feet.   

Delassandro's cheesesteaks mix the cheese with the meat while some other places pour the cheese sauce over the meat. Although Kristen and Dave have lived outside of Philly for 4 years, they had not partaken in this traditional meal. We wanted to try one before we left the area and we all agreed this was worth driving around town.

Grounds for Sculpture, Seward Johnson Center for the Arts, Trenton, New Jersey - 1 May 2018

This is an interesting and unique outdoor adventure. Seward Johnson (of the Johnson & Johnson family) was not destined to join the family business but he used his family money to establish sculpture park and museum to promote and understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture open to the public since 1992. The road leading to the park is American and international artists. The collection of sculptures, indoors and outdoors, continues to change and grow.  

The "painter" is actually another sculpture. The Grounds is home to many recreations of Impressionist paintings.  

Pictures of paintings are blown up so every detail can be recreated, such as the folds and layers of the ladies dresses and details of their hair. 

Karen and I listen to the docent explaining the details in the newspaper which reproduced the actual articles for the dated paper. 

Some installations were prominently displayed while others were hidden among the park plantings. 

Bob and I, my brother, Bob and his wife, Karen joined the lunch crowd.

A few "painter" sculptures were painting a scene of other sculptures. 

This is the scene from the prior painting. The children are not part of the sculpture. The lake in the background was built as a backdrop for the park. 

This lifelike installation even has a real I-phone next to the man's hand. 

The iconic "American Gothic", one of the larger than life offerings, complete with giant cows and a crop of seasonal rows of corn.

If we had missed the Cherry Blossoms in DC, we would have been very happy with the number of trees on the grounds in full bloom. These appear to be crabapple trees  but still quite a beautiful sight.  

And a half dozen giant pumpkins. 

Barclay Friends, West Chester, Pennsylvania - 2 May 2018

My mom is back at the Skilled Care Facility in her old room. While she does not remember the fire, her kids are glad she has returned. She was in Physical Therapy to address her leg weakness when we arrived. When she finished, we took her outside for some fresh air, sunshine and conversation. Kristen even made time for a visit. 

While we waited for PT to finish our dogs were a popular distraction for other residents and staff members walking past. Dakota is very friendly while Tori is more timid and lays under the furniture, only to emerge when head pats are being passed out. 

Woodland Campground, Woodland, Pennsylvania - 5 May 2018

Our walk around the campground lake this morning was the first opportunity since arriving two days ago. Groceries and rain yesterday but at least there is grass between the sites instead of all gravel. A nice hiking trail around the entire campground, playground, large sandbox, paddleboat rentals, basketball, volleyball, frisbee golf and horseshoes add to the fun of a family camping trip. 

Spring is arriving in leaps and bounds. Red bud trees blooming among the evergreens and still leafless deciduous trees. 

Good long pull through sites without obstructions. To the left are back-in sites under the trees. Around the perimeter are back-in, full-time sites and beyond those are tents sites and a few cabins.