Category Archives: On the road

Long trips, On the road, Pix, Places to eat

Fried pickles, no condiments for me, thanks

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Fried pickle, anyone? All right, so I’m not exactly a connoisseur of fine food at every stop that I make. This time, I noticed fried pickles on the menu, and I just had to try them. Let it be known that at least once, you have to have fried pickles – even if fried, thin-sliced zucchini is on the menu.

The strawberry shake was pretty good too. It jammed up the straw on every intake.

Not to be a sourpuss, but I sorely missed the fried, thin-sliced zucchini at the DuBois Diner in DuBois, PA. I should have had both.

Oh well.

On the other hand, I did get to see an old-style Harley-Davidson® dealership in the same town. These are becoming fewer and fewer as the company forces the dealers to upgrade to the new boutiques so favored by the RUBs.

Long trips, On the road, Politics

Convention for the masses

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I’m in Huntingdon, and I’m checked into a hotel where there’s a Democratic “revival” of sorts going on. When I saw the banners and signs I thought I’d be out of luck for a room. Wrong.

Several times, while strolling between floors, I made some inane elevator comments about candidates and electioneering slogans, but there were only half-hearted responses, sans smiles.

These Democrats don’t appear to have much of a sense of humor. No surprise, I guess, given the tone of the times and how much their elected representatives have been kissing Republican ass in Congress since 2004.

Perhaps they thought I was a Republican stooge. Again, no surprise, given the times.

Long trips, On the road

Eating it

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New territory today – civil war-era homes and towns and cemeteries spread across the area. Old roads with treed canopies stretching out for miles, winding and weaving across hill and dale. The riding is so much better on these back roads, or blue highways as they were known, because of the color of the roads criss-crossing the old maps. Now the routes are colored red, of course, but “red highways” just doesn’t have the same connotation.

Many of those old roads and the places found on them have been replaced by the interstate highway system, but you can still find simple mom and pop food if you take the time to look. I discovered such a spot for a very late lunch on 522 in Pennsylvania. On my way by I spied a bike parked in the lot, which is why I u-turned and pulled in.

I am usually never disappointed by these places out in the middle of nowhere that pop up and are gone in an instant in the rear-view mirror. I wasn’t disappointed with the chicken stew.

Once again, I didn’t let the place just disappear.

Long trips, On the road, Pix

Final destination

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The SacklerAfter doing my duty, I was off to see the sights one more time. Let it be known that Washington, D.C. is a great place for walking and seeing those sights — and might I add that one’s most comfortable pair of walking shoes are a necessity! If you think you’re wearing them, think again, and bring an even more comfortable pair.

I was able to plan my route to pass by the Aviation & Space Museum, greatly air-conditioned and almost cool to the touch. In the heat of the day it proved to be a grand respite, complete with cafeteria for a noon-time pick-me-up. Nothing extravagant, mind you, but not bad, nevertheless. And did I say air conditioned?

Security was at a minimum and was mostly concerned with some street work in the vicinity of the Capitol Building. Of course, there was the usual Capitol Police presence in vehicles parked at intersections and bike patrols, but mostly it presented itself as being invisible — which is what it needs to do.

The Rotunda

I had a great time walking around mid-week in what I would consider prime vacation time and not being surrounded by huge crowds of tourists – which is what I was on this day. Even the tour buses were half-empty.

The VRE did a great job of getting me to and from Union Station, on time and without delay. I even enjoyed people-watching from a comfortable chair while awaiting my train back south.