by CallieO on Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:53 pm
Sunday, 6/26/16 (Day 15), 11:30 a.m. Eastern:
We just got on the Pennsylania Turnpike. Pennsylvania was another state we didn't visit on the way out. Leavig the hotel, we were down to two bars of gas, and it took a few minutes down the road before I realized it. So we pulled off and refilled the tank shortly after arriving in PA. I hope that while we're here, we can stop and get some raisin-filled cookies and birch beer-- signature foods of Pennsylvania, which fill me with nostalgia for the summers spent here with Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop.
Sunday, 6/26/16, 2:12 p.m.:
We had to go seven miles out of our way and into the town of Everett, but we found some raisin-filled cookies and birch beer at the Foodliner there. Cookies are as good as I remember! Unfortunately they didn't have 12-packs of birch beer-- just glass bottles and 2-liters-- so I got a 2-liter which we'll consume later.
About 5 1/2 driving hours to home.
Sunday, 6/26/16, 4:36 p.m.:
Our course took us briefly back into West Virginia as we travel south towards home. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel in Martinsburg, and as always I got a chicken and dumpling platter. Tim declined to join us; his teeth are really bothering him. He had a banana and relaxed on the porch.
While we were at the restaurant, Dad's purse broke, so I got her a new one. I also picked out a card for Mom, whose birthday is on Wednesday.
Mom is driving now, for the first time on the entire return trip.
Sunday, 6/26/16, 5:21 p.m.:
For the last several days, Mom has been talking about visiting an ice cream parlor in Fredericksburg, VA, called Carl's. It takes cash only. Circumstances have conspired to keep us from getting cash back for a little while to allow us to prepare for it.
So I went into Food Lion to make a small purchase and get $40 cash back. No sooner had I completed a transaction for two candy bars thanI realized I'd forgotten to get cash back. So I went back through the line to get a couple bags of Doritos. Thankfully someone opened a new register, and I was put right in front. Got the forty bucks this time!
To add to the hilarity, I took long enough in the store that my family knew what I'd done. I couldn't tell most of the story myself!
Sunday, 6/26/16, 8:00 p.m.:
We stopped by Carl's, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the line was about 25 minutes long. Carl's sells only vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry-flavored frozen custard. Dad and I got half-pints of chocolate, while Mom got a hot fudge sundae.
When Mom asked me if it was worth the visit, I shrugged and said, "It was an ice cream place."
Sunday, 6/26/16, 9:40 p.m.:
We were in some heavily forested areas for awhile but we're making progress. We just entered Williamsburg. In Newport News, we'll cross the James River Bridge into Isle of Wight, and from there, we'll get into Suffolk.
Dad and Tim are booked for one night in the same Franklin hotel they stayed at upon first arriving, and then they'll head home tomorrow morning. I told them I'd be happy to pay for extra days at the hotel, but they're eager to get home as soon as possible.
Monday, 6/27/16, 12:12 p.m.:
We got home last night about 12:30 in the morning after getting to the hotel, unloading Dad and Tim's stuff from the back of Snowy, saying our fond goodbyes, and going to the Walmart for milk and sweet bratwurst. We had a fabulous trip, and far contrary to my concern about running out of money, we had a little under $2,000 left over. It's good to be home.
"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe."
--Dr. Beverly Crusher
Player of Callie Volopa, Viaa, Auric Lightwing, Brian Perano, Erin Tarcata and Aimee Sarasiné