Dad and I had maps and a GPS and we did very well, except for the rain , lightning , trucks, construction on the N.Jersey Turnpike , the trip ( Megan had to talk us in) through rush hour downtown traffic in Philly and the continued rain to State College PA, and the 4+ hour wait to get through to the GW bridge on the way home it was smooth sailing....I am going to put the rest of the pics. ( taken with Dad's camera, I brought my Canon, but I didn't drag it out much .) When G-Pa is up to it ask him about the trip! The wedding required a trip from the hotel ( Thanks , Mike .. the rooms were great!) via a Trailways bus up into a mountain a bit, then a van up the driveway to the house and field, where the wedding was..
here's a list of some of our activities:
~I experienced the Cross Bronx expressway as an adult driver! It smells like I remember!
~Dad and I found our way through the rain and construction to Philly pretty well and then made a wrong turn and called Megan!
~ We saw Megan and Dan's apt. in Philly, Dan watched our car in the bus lane so we could pee and get Megan in the car and off on our way to State College.
~ We found a great diner and Dad was very happy with his turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing special!
~ The last hour and a half to State College was in the dark and rain and thunder and the exit for the Hampton Inn was a welcome site indeed!
~ A little wine and scotch and we were off to bed, I brought Megan lovely purple earplugs but alas I was not sure she would sleep through my alleged snoring...
~ Morning and breakfast with Inge, Al, cousin Alfred and daughter Kirsty at Eat and Park!
~girls and boys divided up after breakfast , we had a few hours before we had to put on better clothes for the weddding and I took Lydia, Inge ( here's where she lost her camera,under the seat in my car) and Megan set off to find Penn State campus, to see the stadium and whatever. We found a botanical garden area that was new and got out to have a walk in the sun and Karen called Inge back becasue she was panicked about wedding stuff, we returned Lydia and Inge and Megan and I went back to the gardens and enjoyed them and I "lifted" some seeds and I have yet to plant those...
~ We didn't leave much time to get ready but we managed, I had left my wedding clothes home and had to wear some quick choices from NY , but I lived through the aggravation of that!
~ So then we got on a Trailways bus, rode for 40 minutes ( I kid you not!) and when we arrived at the base of a hill and an old farm property, we got in vans to get up the driveway, where the parents of the groom had built a "cabin" for family vacations. Suffice it to say, it was more of a giant log lodge with 5 bathrooms and ...yes, well ...
~ The wedding was in a field, rain threatened but the sky opened mid way and we all started frying in the intense sun and heat, the mud factor was a bit trying for those in heels and the chairs in the field sank in a lot when everyone sat down. As I waited for the wedding to begin, I amused myself with watching others "sit and sink" Funny ...Megan also noticed they spelled "Canon in D" on the program wrong , the word Canon was spelled like the boom boom ~cannon.
~ I took some pics http://thegirouxsstuff.shutterfly.com/
~the heat and flies were pretty unnerving and the food was plentiful but unshielded from flies and dinner was just plain forgettable...the company was good ( Aunt Inge , Uncle Al, Karen, cousin Alfred and daughter Kirsty)...at our table but the music was so loud we all were shouting...good times...
~ We said our goodbyes on Saturday night and hit the road Sunday.
~Megan took the first leg back to Philly ( Thank You Megan!) and with her driving we got back to Megan and Dan's place a lot easier! our exit ( a different route) was also much easier, so If anyone goes to Philly by car , ask me or Dad , because there definately is a right way to approach from the east and a wrong way, we experienced both...yay!
~Megan took us to the foodchannellfamous Philly cheese steak corner for Gino's and (what the heck wa the other one called...see photos) and on her advice we ate at Gino's, FUN and Tasty! Gino's theme is patriotism. so Dad was a happy camper!
~after that a quick trip down the road to the Italian neighborhood where I insisted we had time to shop for some goodies like provolone, olives and salami...
~dropped off Megan's and headed back on the roads, which were good until we had to rudely stop in NY and fight out way through 4+ hours of trucks and stop and go traffic ( mostly stop) GOOD THING WE HAD OLIVES ,AND PROVOLONE...had I known I would have gotten some bread!
~ We made it! ...definately a memorable trip! It was great to see all the Dingler's ~ a very special reunion for me. We should do it again sometime soon.
Go see the photos ...http://thegirouxsstuff.shutterfly.com/
LOVE BEAMS TO BECK AND DAD TODAY>>>>
Talk to me soon, Marion
