Day 24 - Travel Day...

Wednesday, August 13 - From PA to Indiana...

We left Bedford this morning knowing that we would travel most of the day as we head towards Belleville, Illinois to see Frank and Kathy. We passed through three mountains, the Blue Mountain, the (I can't remember the name) Mountain, and then finally the Allegheny Mountain, the longest of the three very long tunnels.

We passed briefly through West Virginia...

into Ohio...

Out of Ohio... (The "Zoomie, Zoomie, Thingy" zoomed this time)...

Does anyone ever stop in Ohio?

and into Indiana for the evening.

It is nice to get into the motel early for a change (before sundown) so we could eat and chill, watching a little Olympics while we blog. We have an easy six hours to Belleville tomorrow.

Day 23 - Mmmmm... Chooooocolate!

Tuesday, August 12th - Hershey, Pennsylvania

We started out in the Amish back country this morning... we passed this covered bridge on Conestoga River just outside Bird-In-Hand. This is the same river that flows through the farm in Ephrata that was owned by my ancestors around the turn of the 1900's. (See last year's road trip blog).

On the way to Hershey, we passed this sign and thought Joy may get a kick out of it... not everyone has their own mountain!

As we entered Hershey, the most amazing aroma filled the air... imagine a town that smells like a chocolate shop!

This sign tells a little about the amazing man that created this town...

On the way to the visitor center for Chocolate World, we passed this street...

...and this street... notice the Hershey Kiss street lights...

Debbie points out some of the attractions in heaven...

I mean Chocolate World...

Some of the 20 million Hershey Kisses they make every 24 hours...

We took this "Disney-style" ride through the factory then Debbie walked around the park while I took a chocolate tasting seminar. I paid to learn many very interesting facts about the art of chocolate and to "experience" chocolate like I have never before experienced it (no chewing allowed). The seminar focused mainly on the dark chocolates (this is why Deb did not participate) and it was wonderful. The chocolatier was quite surprised when I told her that I had experienced 90% cocao chocolate (Thank you Craig)... the most she had ever experienced was 70%. After the class, I bought samples of each of the chocolates so I could host my own chocolate tasting experience when I get to Utah with the kids... ( I bought a selection for you too, Craig).

After leaving Hershey (hard to do), we headed for Bedford for the night. When we arrived, the Quality Inn had messed up our advance reservation... we had no room when we got there! They "honored" the guarantee by paying for a night in a competitors motel. However, today I discovered that they also charged the first room against our award points even though we did not stay in the hotel... so for the second time this trip, we have had to file complaints with Choice Hotels... It can take up to 10 days for the complaint to be resolved... I am taking wagers...

Day 22 - The Constitution and Philadelphia's Favorite Son...

Independence Square...

This morning, we returned to the west wing of Independence Hall, which was not on the tour last night...

...to see an original copy of the Declaration Of Independence... This copy was read on the lawn right outside the door of this building on July 5th, 1776.


Then we visited Benjamin Franklin's Homesite... Deb is standing in the opening of the alley that he walked each time he entered his property... It is right next to the Franklin Post Office where we sent postcards with the only hand cancelling available in the US!

Then it was on to the Ben Franklin gravesite where we tossed a penny onto his headstone (it is supposed to be good luck)...

Then we spent most of the afternoon in the Constitutional Museum... I listened in on a very important event...

Then I answered an important question... look close!

I got my photo taken with the next President Of The United States!

Next, we visited the Betsy Ross home and burial site...

On the way back to our car, Philadelphia's finest drove past...

On the way back to their station... the one established by the first fire fighter, Benjamin Franklin.

There are ghosts of the past on these streets...

Finally, I took Deb to the 2nd most famous site in Philly... (on the way we passed the City Hall building...)

We found this guy in front of the Philadelphia Museum Of Art... His name is Rocky Balboa, or something like that...

All of a sudden, Deb took off running up the steps of the Museum...

When she got to the top, she started doing some kind of ceremonial war dance... It stirred something inside of me and before I knew what was happening, I found myself running to the top... yes this short, fat, old guy made it to the top without stopping!

This is the view of the city from the top...

This is where Rocky's feet got stuck in the rock...

Deb had to call everyone and tell them about my miracle feat...

Can you see the resemblance?

Hint: The six-pack...

Deb finally found her moose...

One parting shot as we headed to Lancaster, PA for the evening!

Quote of the day: "This was a lot more exciting and fun than the Constitution Museum!" as I met Deb at the top of the Museum steps... (I have to admit, the Constitution Museum did not live up to the admission fee... it was kind of slow, but informative).

Tomorrow, we are going to Hershey!

Day 21 - Birthplace of America

Sunday, August 10 - Philadelphia - Independence Square

After attending Church with Amy and the kids, we went to Independence Square to get our bearings for Monday's visit...

We were able to find parking across from the visitor's center so we decided stop and walk around the square... it was late in the evening, but there was a late closing for the Liberty Bell exhibit...

and Independence Hall...


We were able to get into a special evening "Open House" Tour... While we waited, George watched over the square...

Inside, I finally got to see Signer's Hall...

This is the famous and actual Sunrise Chair that George Washington sat in during the Constitutional Congress...

The other side...

The building on the left is where George Washington was sworn in as President.

Ben Franklin Library.

After visiting Independence Square,

we visited another famous corner... On one corner, Pat's Steak...

for an original Philadelphia Cheese SteakThe only store and here since 1932...

On the corner, Geno's for Cheese Fries!

I really liked these folks... All American and proud of it! Note the "Freedom Fries". On the way back to Jorgenson's for the evening, we got another regional favorite... a Gelati & Water Ice... I told Deb it is a good thing these places are over 2000 miles away!