MILE 6493

Day 25. We start our morning in Doylestown at the Mercer Museum. It is a large cement building full of Americana. From the vampire killing kit to the wooden cigar store figures, it's just about got it all.



















Although western PA is a beautiful place, anything short of an interstate freeway is a traffic nightmare. We escape along the river, skirting Philadelphia as we dip into Delaware (just to say we've been there.) Another stop and go crawl back into PA on a road that looked much bigger on the map. We then head east through Lancaster County where we encounter no Amish, at least in uniform. We arrive in Gettysburg and settle into a yet again overpriced motel where, apparently, the mice have better access to the toilet paper than we do.


We then supper at, yes, the local brew pub.

Day 26. Our plan to be up and doing the walking tour of town before the apple-seeking hoards (it IS the 44th apple harvest festival here!) falls short of it's goal. But we pick up an auto tour cd and begin the journey through the battlefield.














After a very thorough tour of this area, I am thoroughly depressed. We decide to cheer ourselves up by heading straight for the capitol of this fine country. On the road again, and in no time we are circling the Potomac River looking for a place to park. It's Sunday and we stumble upon a very good place that a Dept. of the Interior employee assures us is a great find. She also directs us to a nearby hotel and restaurant across the bridge in Arlington that serve us very well.
The memorials large and inspiring. Brian takes my hand and starts to lead me up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to tell him what we want for Christmas!
Brian is able to locate the White House and the men in black strolling on the roof.












Patty turns her back on the Washington Monument.









Day 27. The next morning, fresh and ready to go we take the metro into DC. Hop off at the Museum of Natural History where one of the exhibits allows me my live butterfly experience.
Totally cool.





This is followed by a visit to the Hope Diamond and other illustrious rocks and some playful interaction with heat.





















After a few more museum stops, we head back across the Potomac, grab the car and begin our journey south. We wind up in Front Royal,VA, a comfortable little town at the foot of the Appalachians, about 80 miles west of DC. We visit an odd little local pub featuring trivia AND a local musician. We found the meth-induced behavior of the staff far more entertaining.