Embedded Files
4/5/2022 We’ve moved to Delaware and specifically to Howell School Road (yeah, not joking about that one)!
4/5/2022 We’ve moved to Delaware and specifically to Howell School Road (yeah, not joking about that one)!
….and it’s in the town of BEAR Delaware! Not sure what the chances of being on Howell School Road, in a town that has the same name as our dog, but it’s got to be VERY low!
….and it’s in the town of BEAR Delaware! Not sure what the chances of being on Howell School Road, in a town that has the same name as our dog, but it’s got to be VERY low!
…and this is a first; a vending machine for live bait. NEVER seen that before!
…and this is a first; a vending machine for live bait. NEVER seen that before!
4/6/2022 Valley Forge National Historical Site.
4/6/2022 Valley Forge National Historical Site.
One of the highlights in all of Valley Forge was the Washington Memorial Chapel. Just a marvelous church with spectacular attention to detail.
One of the highlights in all of Valley Forge was the Washington Memorial Chapel. Just a marvelous church with spectacular attention to detail.
The volunteer that was on hand to talk about the history of the place was very chatty and full of information.
The volunteer that was on hand to talk about the history of the place was very chatty and full of information.
4/9/2022 I was not prepared for Gettysburg AT ALL. We have been to quite a few Civil War site at this point and I knew that Gettysburg was popular, but it was more popular than I think I was expecting. It is a busy place. We started our visit with the Park Film and the Cyclorama (which requires timed tickets purchased well in advance)….what is the Cyclorama? It’s a GIANT painting of the battle of Gettysburg that is mounted in a circular room so it becomes a 360 degree viewing experience. How giant is it? It is 42 feet high and 377 feet in circumference. It’s GIANT. This is a small segment of it taken as a pano picture with my camera.
4/9/2022 I was not prepared for Gettysburg AT ALL. We have been to quite a few Civil War site at this point and I knew that Gettysburg was popular, but it was more popular than I think I was expecting. It is a busy place. We started our visit with the Park Film and the Cyclorama (which requires timed tickets purchased well in advance)….what is the Cyclorama? It’s a GIANT painting of the battle of Gettysburg that is mounted in a circular room so it becomes a 360 degree viewing experience. How giant is it? It is 42 feet high and 377 feet in circumference. It’s GIANT. This is a small segment of it taken as a pano picture with my camera.
Here you can see the amazing attention to detail.
Here you can see the amazing attention to detail.
Here are some humans for size reference.
Here are some humans for size reference.
Seriously, what are the odds of this taking place?
Seriously, what are the odds of this taking place?
I’m pretty sure this was my favorite monument of the day. Really beautiful piece of work and the changing sky as we walked around just added to the experience.
I’m pretty sure this was my favorite monument of the day. Really beautiful piece of work and the changing sky as we walked around just added to the experience.
And there is an incredibly narrow spiral staircase that takes you to the top.
And there is an incredibly narrow spiral staircase that takes you to the top.
I’m guessing at this point, but I think this is the original entrance to the park.
I’m guessing at this point, but I think this is the original entrance to the park.
4/10/2022 Eisenhower National Historic Site.
4/10/2022 Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Who doesn’t love baby cows?!
Who doesn’t love baby cows?!
Grace, it’s not going to come to you no matter how many time you snap your fingers.
Grace, it’s not going to come to you no matter how many time you snap your fingers.
Spring is in the air for sure!
Spring is in the air for sure!
4/11/2022 Catoctin Mountain Park. This is not very well known as a national park site and it’s the ONLY one that doesn’t have the word “National” in the title. What it DOES have though, is Camp David. That’s right, the Presidential Retreat is within the borders of this national park site. We drove by it a couple times and there are MANY signs that warn you to NOT stop and NOT get out of your car and NOT take pictures. We did take this pretty awesome hike up to Chimney Rock where the Lady Bugs were holding their annual convention.
4/11/2022 Catoctin Mountain Park. This is not very well known as a national park site and it’s the ONLY one that doesn’t have the word “National” in the title. What it DOES have though, is Camp David. That’s right, the Presidential Retreat is within the borders of this national park site. We drove by it a couple times and there are MANY signs that warn you to NOT stop and NOT get out of your car and NOT take pictures. We did take this pretty awesome hike up to Chimney Rock where the Lady Bugs were holding their annual convention.
….Dylan and I ventured out onto the chimney a tad further than the rest of the clan. This is looking back at them.
….Dylan and I ventured out onto the chimney a tad further than the rest of the clan. This is looking back at them.
Here we are getting our first taste of East Coast covered bridges. Yet another thing we NEVER see back home.
Here we are getting our first taste of East Coast covered bridges. Yet another thing we NEVER see back home.
4/15/2022 Hershey Chocolate World. I’m all for fun stuff, but I REALLY wanted this to be an ACTUAL factory tour and not just some silly song and dance made up to kind of demonstrate the factory process. Oh well, it was fun.
4/15/2022 Hershey Chocolate World. I’m all for fun stuff, but I REALLY wanted this to be an ACTUAL factory tour and not just some silly song and dance made up to kind of demonstrate the factory process. Oh well, it was fun.
3D movie anyone? Why yes, we shall partake…..I guess they call it a 4D movie because the add in the sensation of having your seat shake and they blow air on you.
3D movie anyone? Why yes, we shall partake…..I guess they call it a 4D movie because the add in the sensation of having your seat shake and they blow air on you.
Oh boy, looks who’s own personal candy bars are in the queue!!!
Oh boy, looks who’s own personal candy bars are in the queue!!!
Here’s a “fun” story for you: We have elected to take the “Trolly Tour” through town. This tour is on a modified bus that is designed to look like an old trolley and there is a person at the front doing the narration through the entire ride. About 6 minutes into the tour, the narrator’s mic stops working and we can’t hear a single word he’s saying. Literally, not one…..so, now we’re just on a bus ride. Then it turns out that one of the stops is in front of Milton Hershey’s home (but you don’t get out and the tour inside the home is a separate ticket). The bus driver elects to turn off the engine at the Milton Home so we can finally hear the narrator. Alas, the bus would never start again. This also means no air conditioning. So, now we are roasting in the back of a bus…..sorry, “trolly” and they have called for a replacement trolley to come collect us. I ask if we can disembark because I am tired to sweating in a box with a bunch of strangers. Thankfully the answer was ‘Yes’. At least I can now take pictures of the Milton house.
Here’s a “fun” story for you: We have elected to take the “Trolly Tour” through town. This tour is on a modified bus that is designed to look like an old trolley and there is a person at the front doing the narration through the entire ride. About 6 minutes into the tour, the narrator’s mic stops working and we can’t hear a single word he’s saying. Literally, not one…..so, now we’re just on a bus ride. Then it turns out that one of the stops is in front of Milton Hershey’s home (but you don’t get out and the tour inside the home is a separate ticket). The bus driver elects to turn off the engine at the Milton Home so we can finally hear the narrator. Alas, the bus would never start again. This also means no air conditioning. So, now we are roasting in the back of a bus…..sorry, “trolly” and they have called for a replacement trolley to come collect us. I ask if we can disembark because I am tired to sweating in a box with a bunch of strangers. Thankfully the answer was ‘Yes’. At least I can now take pictures of the Milton house.
….and we learned that these sculptures were bought from a Sears and Roebuck catalog! Is there anything they didn’t sell back in the day?
….and we learned that these sculptures were bought from a Sears and Roebuck catalog! Is there anything they didn’t sell back in the day?
4/16/2022 Somehow….and I promise it was an accident….we have managed to make our stay in Hershey fall on the Easter Holiday. Oh, and the campground we are staying in is a Hershey property. So yeah, there is going to be an Easter Egg hunt!
4/16/2022 Somehow….and I promise it was an accident….we have managed to make our stay in Hershey fall on the Easter Holiday. Oh, and the campground we are staying in is a Hershey property. So yeah, there is going to be an Easter Egg hunt!
….and Grace got first place in the coloring contest and won “some” candy……like an entire easter egg basket worth of candy…. including the basket.
….and Grace got first place in the coloring contest and won “some” candy……like an entire easter egg basket worth of candy…. including the basket.
Later in the day we are in the “Chocolate Lab” learning how chocolate bars are made from the beginning as a cacao bean to becoming a chocolate bar.
Later in the day we are in the “Chocolate Lab” learning how chocolate bars are made from the beginning as a cacao bean to becoming a chocolate bar.
Here grant is trying to show how big he thinks all Hershey Kisses should be. Hint: it’s not the small one in his left hand.
Here grant is trying to show how big he thinks all Hershey Kisses should be. Hint: it’s not the small one in his left hand.
4/17/2022 We spent the entire day at Hershey Park, which is the amusement park at Hershey World. I didn’t take any pictures at all. Not one! They seemed ultra-vigilant about people pulling out their cell phones while rides were in motion and I didn’t feel like trying to “sneak” in some pictures. Just know that we had a great time on some great rides and we really, REALLY pushed the envelope with what Grant would tolerate. We made him a tad “upset” a few times.
4/17/2022 We spent the entire day at Hershey Park, which is the amusement park at Hershey World. I didn’t take any pictures at all. Not one! They seemed ultra-vigilant about people pulling out their cell phones while rides were in motion and I didn’t feel like trying to “sneak” in some pictures. Just know that we had a great time on some great rides and we really, REALLY pushed the envelope with what Grant would tolerate. We made him a tad “upset” a few times.
Val did manage to get this picture of me thinking about Grace having a driver’s license and driving a real car out in the real world!!!
Val did manage to get this picture of me thinking about Grace having a driver’s license and driving a real car out in the real world!!!
….and this was Grant’s favorite ride, “Reese’s Cupfusion”. You ride on a track through this indoor ride and shoot at bad guys with a laser tag type of gun. He loved it…..A LOT!
….and this was Grant’s favorite ride, “Reese’s Cupfusion”. You ride on a track through this indoor ride and shoot at bad guys with a laser tag type of gun. He loved it…..A LOT!
4/19/2022 Day one at Independence National Historical Park. Obviously, this is ground zero for what we know today as the United States of America.
4/19/2022 Day one at Independence National Historical Park. Obviously, this is ground zero for what we know today as the United States of America.
We have this little family living in the campground with us. VERY cute!
We have this little family living in the campground with us. VERY cute!
4/19/2022 Day two at Independence National Historical Park. We managed to get a timed entry ticket for actually entering Independence Hall. Lucky day for us for sure!
4/19/2022 Day two at Independence National Historical Park. We managed to get a timed entry ticket for actually entering Independence Hall. Lucky day for us for sure!
4/21/2022 Thomas Edison National Historic Site….okay, you’ve caught me, you’re in the Pennsylvania section of our trip and this stop is in New Jersey. We stopped here on moving day and I didn’t feel like creating another page JUST for this stop…..and I really didn’t want to admit to being in New Jersey!
4/21/2022 Thomas Edison National Historic Site….okay, you’ve caught me, you’re in the Pennsylvania section of our trip and this stop is in New Jersey. We stopped here on moving day and I didn’t feel like creating another page JUST for this stop…..and I really didn’t want to admit to being in New Jersey!
Anyway, Edison was a genius, full stop. What an amazing person and historic site.
Anyway, Edison was a genius, full stop. What an amazing person and historic site.
One of the more remarkable things about this site is that Edison’s heirs that held ownership of this place after he passed handed the entire place over to the National Park Service, lock stock and barrel. Nothing was sold at auction. Nothing was taken by banks. Nothing was lost to looters. Everything down to the books in the library and the inventory in the stock rooms is just like it was. It just might be the most complete and historically accurate historic site in the National Park system. Really amazing to see.
One of the more remarkable things about this site is that Edison’s heirs that held ownership of this place after he passed handed the entire place over to the National Park Service, lock stock and barrel. Nothing was sold at auction. Nothing was taken by banks. Nothing was lost to looters. Everything down to the books in the library and the inventory in the stock rooms is just like it was. It just might be the most complete and historically accurate historic site in the National Park system. Really amazing to see.
Ever wonder what a cubic foot of solid copper looks like? Well, wonder no more!!!
Ever wonder what a cubic foot of solid copper looks like? Well, wonder no more!!!
I love old belt driven machine rooms. In my head I can hear them operating and it’s a glorious noise.
I love old belt driven machine rooms. In my head I can hear them operating and it’s a glorious noise.
This ranger…oh man, he got a good laugh out of me. Here’s how: He asks, like most rangers do, “where are you visiting from?”
This ranger…oh man, he got a good laugh out of me. Here’s how: He asks, like most rangers do, “where are you visiting from?”
As usual, we respond with, “We are from Colorado”
As usual, we respond with, “We are from Colorado”
The typical response to that is either A) “wow, that’s great, we’re happy you are here” or B) “Wow, you’re a long way from home, what brings you here?” or C) “I’ve been to Colorado and love it, can’t wait to go back again” ….or some variation of that. NOT this ranger! His response? “Colorado? ……..What the heck are you doing in New Jersey” Classic, just classic.
The typical response to that is either A) “wow, that’s great, we’re happy you are here” or B) “Wow, you’re a long way from home, what brings you here?” or C) “I’ve been to Colorado and love it, can’t wait to go back again” ….or some variation of that. NOT this ranger! His response? “Colorado? ……..What the heck are you doing in New Jersey” Classic, just classic.
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