Off to somewhere: a hybrid road trip

We made sure we were all packed and negotiated a late checkout, then headed for breakfast over at Reading Terminal Market.

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/PhillyRTM1.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

The interior of this former railroad station has been coverted to a series of food stalls, and we had our pick of several interesting options.

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/PhillyRTM2.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

I lined up to get latte's, while Linda and Kris negotiated the food portion. We then headed for the central portion of the market, which is set up with tables so folk can consume their purchases on the spot

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/PhillyRTM3.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Suitably fortified, we headed down to the Independence Hall area, where we had pre-reserved tickets for the tour. You can just show up and get tickets free, but we were on a tight schedule and wanted to ensure we could get in without needing to wait, so the modest processing fee ($1.50/ticket) was worth the peace of mind knowing we wouldn't have to wait hours and hours. (We used this facility again later on this trip; coming up in a few posts).

As it turns out, when we arrived early to pick up the tickets we were able to get tickets for an earlier tour (still out the processing fee though), and when we showed up at the spot the tour starts, they squeezed us into the tour ahead of the one we had tickets for! Ah, the joys of touring on a weekday after Labor Day! (This was Tuesday). No crowds, no fuss... heaven.

Here's the two major sights:

First: the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both debated and signed...

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...igningRoom.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Second: the Liberty Bell (with Independence Hall in the background)
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...ibertyBell.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

This last sight does not require a ticket; all you have to do is pass through security and wait for the crowd to thin. In our case; no crowd!

From here we moved down to Fourth and South, where we'd been the first night we arrived. Here we split for a bit: Linda down Fourth to Fabric Row (more on that in a bit), Kris and I to wander South Street in the daylight. Here's what some of it looks like after the crowds go away... the modern brick building on the corner is the hat shop where Kris got his hat, around that corner is the cigar shop; my current target.

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...outhStreet.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Now armed with demon weed, we walked to the end of South, where there's an overlook allowing one to see both New Jerseys across the river: the state, and the battleship (moored directly opposite South Street). After taking in the view, we headed back to Fourth Street to hook up with Linda.

The first several blocks of Fourth Street south of South is known as Fabric Row; there are numerous textile outlets along this stretch, and Linda wanted to hit as many as she could. She ended up picking up a lot less fabric than she did in Amish country (thankfully).

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/PhillyFabricRow.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

From here we headed west to Ninth Street, then turned down it to walk to and through the Italian Market area (lots of great food outlets), to the intersection of Ninth and Passyunk; the Mecca of Cheese Steak Sandwiches.

Facing each other across this intersection are two of the major purveyors of Philadelphia steak sandwiches: Geno's and Pat's:

Pat's as seen from Geno's / Geno's as seen from Pat's
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...sFromGenos.jpg http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...osFromPats.jpg
Photos: Don Casey

And, of course, the Holy Grail itself:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/P...heeseSteak.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Final ballots having been tabulated; we had consensus: Geno's was our prefered sandwich. Not that we'd turn down any of the other three, and there are several famed sandwich joints we still haven't gotten to yet. I'm just going to add this quest to my existing quest: seeking the perfect Mai Tai.

Anyway, lunch now well under control, we returned to the hotel, collected car and baggage and headed off for our next stop. And yes, at this point Linda is still driving.

Note to husbands: when driving with The Wife in strange locations, it really doesn't matter who is The Pilot and who is The Navigator... Discouraging Words are certain to be heard in either situation.

I selected the "scenic" (i.e. non-freeway) route out of The City of Brotherly Love; so after crossing the Schuykill River and sliding past Drexel University and U of Penn staring at each other across the street, we made our way to Baltimore Avenue/Baltimore Pike/US13 heading west to a link-up with US1.

An interesting and eclectic set of neighborhoods; some nice

View from Navigator's seat: Baltimore Pike:
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Photo: Don Casey

some others resulting in Hard Stares at stop lights from Pilot's seat directed at the humble Navigator, as we were in places deemed to be unacceptable by Pilot.

Emerging finally into the countryside unscarred (physically if not emotionally), Baltimore Pike finally merged with US1 on the far side of Media (which, as far as we could tell from within the confines of the Kia, looked like a really cute little town).

We stopped for gas, and I reclaimed the role of Driver; not to relinquish for the remainder of this trip.

Being the Northern California wine snobs we are, we HAD to stop at Chaddsford Winery, in Chadds Ford where US1 crosses the Brandywine. We sampled some delightful wine, and bought a few bottles to take to our soon-to-be hostess.

Chaddsford Winery:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/ChaddsfordWinery.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

A bit further down the Pike we visited Longwood Gardens, a 1,000+ acre preserve created by Pierre DuPont (yes, of THOSE DuPonts). We only had a couple hours, but that was enough to get a nice overview of the place. Here's a few shots:

Linda being eaten by a topiary chicken:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/Longwood1.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Water garden from terrace:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/LongwoodGardens.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Lily pond outside of the Conservatory:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/MysteryLilyPond.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

Inside the Conservatory:
http://donandlindacasey.com/images/L...nservatory.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

From here, it was a straight shot down to Karen's in Rockville; marred only by a polite discussion between Pilot and Navigator (in their new role reversal) whether the logical route out I70 from Baltimore to the intersection of Georgia Pike would be taken (Pilot), or the madly insane option of continuing to the Beltway, navigating around it to I270 then up to MD28 was the way to go (Navigator).

Navigator pulled rank; and we eventually pulled into Rockville; Karen's home and our home for the remainder of the trip.

Avoid the Beltway at all cost
Avoid the Beltway at all cost
Avoid the Beltway at all cost

And, if that method fails, take any route other than the Beltway.

Yeah, I've gotta go with the Pilot on this one. Sorry, Linda.

Foy

... and to shorten my sentence once she reads this part of the thread:

It was past commute hour, midweek (the Tuesday after Labor Day).

Linda has been to the area a number of times, and was concerned that the Georgia Pike, being a surface artery with stop lights, etc., might be more clogged than the Beltway.

I still think it would have been quicker my way, but as we DIDN'T hit any Beltway backups we'll never know.

Coming up: DC and surrounds.

......I tend to suffer a form of "RoadTripper claustrophobia" which causes me to always need have an alternative route available. I despise the feeling of being stuck in a back-up with no ready way to bushwhack around it.

I must admit it: I'd never make it in a large urban area. Heavy traffic drives me completely batty.

Foy

My fault; I haven't had time to edit photos, so I've held off posting for a bit.

I'll try to get something real done this weekend; for now, where we left our tale....

Got to Karen's place in Rockville and settled in for a 10-day stay. Karen's job was nuts, so she could only take one day off to spend with us while we were there and that wasn't going to be for a few days (more on that day later).

Early early the next morning, Linda and I got up to go pick up my son Sean at IAD, who arrived on the same red-eye we had taken a week earlier. We all took the rest of the day off.

Next morning, suitably refreshed we headed for the Metro and The Museum of American History.

A necessary pilgrimage for Linda each time she's in town is to see Julia Child's Cambridge kitchen, lovingly restored in the museum. If you saw the film "Julie and Julia", you'll recognize this:

http://donandlindacasey.com/images/MysteryKitchen.jpg
Photo: Don Casey

In the movie, the shot is taken from the doorway to the left.

After lunch in the cafe downstairs, and poking around a large part of the museum (seeing things ranging from Kermit the Frog to the remains of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired F.S. Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner", we headed back to the Metro and Rockville.

Time for a scotch and an icebag (the latter for my foot).