Scene on the Road

Oh, on my last post, did I say I don't shoot signs? That's usually one of my general "Rules of the Road Trip" (stay tuned, more to come).

This sign was on Ferry Road, not Route 611, but I would never have even seen it, except for another sign that made me detour: "National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa." I'd passed it many times over the years, but I'd never taken the exit. So on this trip, I made the decision ahead of time to skip downtown Doylestown and take the divided highway Bypass (breaking another Rule of the Road -- stay off the freeway). The shrine was created in 1955 as "a religious and cultural center which would be able to attract everybody. Its aim: to keep the Polish spirit alive; to show the richness and depth of Polish culture through the centuries." There will be lots more in my next post on some of the more famous visitors, including:

The Polish Pope who visited a couple of times when he was the Polish Cardinal...

...and an American nicknamed "Dutch."

Before the shrine though, I passed through Willow Grove.

The Chance Vought F7U-3 "Cutlass," the first production tail-less military aircraft. According their brochure, the "Gutless Cutlass", as it came to be called, had its share of problems. It's at the Harold F. Pitcairn Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum maintained by the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association at Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base. It's only open on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesdays.

Fossil fuel: Regular unleaded was $1.38 per gallon the last time it was pumped at this station in Warrington.

I pulled into a parking space at the Turkey Hill Minit Market in Ottsville, and looked to my right just as John Howland and his brand new puppy enjoyed a simultaneous yawn in his front seat. I didn't get the picture. My camera was right next to me on the front seat, but the moment was over before I could pick it up.

Then his girlfriend Lindsay Naunczek returned to the car, and I jumped out to talk with them. They'd just picked up the 9-1/2 week old golden retriever from a nearby breeder. It was Lindsay's surprise for John's birthday. He'll turn 22 on June 20th. "I knew it was either this...or a Pat Burrell jersey," he said. He even had the name picked out -- Marley -- from John Grogan's book, Marley & Me. They're from Cheltenham and were driving south, headed back home from college at Bloomsburg University. I was going north on Route 611 when I 'd passed the dog sign earlier, so I wondered. And yes, it was for same reason I stopped. Clean restrooms.

Trauger's Farm Market near Kintnersville this week is featuring strawberries, scallions, rhubarb, lettuce, asparagus and "Pick Your Own" strawberries.

The Delaware River near Coffeetown.

Downtown Easton's Great Square on the site of the old courthouse, where the Declaration of Independence was read on July 8, 1776. The 75 foot tall obelisk named the Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument, was dedicated in 1900 as a memorial to local Civil War veterans. At Christmas time it's covered with a hundred foot Peace Candle.