Celebrating the 4th Inner Harbor Style!

Eric and I hit up Baltimore for the 4th this year. Our first stop when we got into town was http://chapspitbeef.com/ which was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The food was so good and totally worth getting "lost" over. We headed towards the Harbor to check into our hotel and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. We ordered in dinner and then headed out to enjoy a beautiful yet rainy fireworks display on the Inner Harbor. The hotel we stayed at had a 5th floor observation deck which gave us a very nice view of the fireworks.

Here we are waiting for the fireworks to begin with the Harbor behind us (don't mind the blur....a really nice and HAPPY stranger offered to take our picture).

From 4th of July

Fireworks are definitely one of the hardest things to photograph when you don't have a tripod to keep the camera still....but I ended up with a few nice shots.

From 4th of July

From 4th of July

Saturday we met up with our friends Adrian and Christie for breakfast and then some shopping as they were just getting back from the cruise to Bermuda. We had a great day together and were disappointed to see it come to an end.

** Backdated to July on 9/30/2008 **

The 3 state tour.

Our first road trip of the year took us in search of a train museum I remember seeing multiple times on US - 11. For some reason I thought that is was in Pennsylvania, but lo and behold it was in Maryland. We hit the road late that day but made the best of our time (and what little day light we would have left). We headed up US - 15 to US - 340 and then to US - 40 before jumping on the interstate (our last resort of travel).




We got into Hagerstown and found a Sheets to grab a bite to eat before we headed over to the museum. When we pulled into the parking lot at the museum there was a lot of train activity in the yard.



We headed into the museum and were a little disappointed to find that it is mostly geared towards model railroads.


(click on picture to see full view...for some reason it is getting cut off)

While we don't mind watching the model trains for a few minutes we were hoping to find a museum along the likes of New York Central depot in Elkhart, Indiana. Though we were met with disappointment we talked with some of the gentlemen there and they gave us some pointers on places that are decent for railfanning.

We headed back to the car and back down US - 11 to Shenandoah Junction, WV to locate and mark on our GPS a possible railfanning spot. It is usually pretty quiet in our neck of the woods as far as train travel goes (on the weekends that is) so we hope to make it out there on a week day at some point.

After we got the place marked we headed towards home with a stop in Brunswick, Maryland as we heard some chatter on the scanner of a possible west bounder. Not to long after we heard whistles and the arms went down and we were met with Amtrak 29. Though it was a train it is never as exciting as your old freighters.

After the Amtrak went through we went full steam ourselves towards home.

Another good day on the road, another 3 state tour* and a couple trains to boot.

It is not down in any map; true places never are. ~Herman Melville

*editors note: The 3 state tour is when you hit Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland all in one trip. ;)

'Tis the season....

For 55 degree nights in December, dinner with great friends and Christmas carols with the Santa band.



Eric and I spent the weekend leading up to Christmas in Virginia Beach with his mom and sister. We got to have dinner with our dear friends Bryan and Meredith (and soon to be babygirl Lewis). We met them for dinner at Bravo Italian (http://www.bravoitalian.com/) which is located at the Virginia Beach Towne Center. We had a wonderful dinner filled with lots of conversation, laughter and my opportunity to give them the gifts I made for babygirl. We gave them the crocheted blanket that I made an a breast feeding reminder bracelet. They were both totally blown away by the thoughtfulness of the gifts and the fact that they were all hand crafted.

After we ate we headed outside and were greeted by this 4 man Santa band.



They filled the warm (but breezy) night air with sounds of Christmas. It was so fun listening to them play (and made me want to dance).

The court yard that we were in had all of these fun sculptures of reindeer. They were all shaped differently and some were holding shopping bags from various stores there.



It was such a good evening and one that I didn't want to end. It is so hard being a good distance away from those that you want to surround yourself with. Eric and I are blessed to have Bryan and Meredith as friends. I love the friendship that we have with them because it is more like being with family with them and that to me means so much.

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures." -- Kahil Gibran

Reflections on the Ohio Turnpike

** backdated entry **



I love how the sun breaks the clouds both in the early morning and during a storm. This is a shot of the sky and the traffic behind us along the Ohio turnpike. I've always seemed to have a love/hate relationship with the Ohio turnpike, but today I have a love for it as it is taking me home. Though our journeys this weekend will have some good times the purpose of our trip is to join my family in a celebration of my Uncle Tod's life. When we went to Michigan in September it was to visit with my Uncle who was battling cancer. Little did we know it would be our last time with him. On the morning we were to head home he passed away. So today we are on our way to be with my family and to have a memorial service for him and celebrate his life.


But before we get to Michigan we are making a pit stop in our new found spot for some serious railfanning, Deschler, Ohio. We'll be meeting my parents there for some train watching and who knows what else.

Can I just say that one thing I love about my parents (and one of the things I love that they taught me) is that it is never too cold to do anything. That's right my friends...we had a cookout in the park right along the tracks.



This park is for all railfans and you will find people camping and just hanging out at all hours of the day to catch some trains. It was windy and cold at times but it was so worth it. We built ourselves a perfect fire and it kept us very toasty.

We had some good train action and even caught some engines and trains from lines/companies we've never seen before. I think my favorite (behind Norfolk Southern and BNSF) is Union Pacific. I can't give you a real reason as to why they are one of my favorites but they just are. :) Here is a shot of 3 UP engines heading East through Deschler.



After a full day of train watching we headed towards Michigan to my parents to get ready for Saturday and my Uncle's memorial service.

"We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way." - unknown

Amish Country, train watching and some soft serve to go.

Shipshewana buggies September 2007
Originally uploaded by jobean98

We woke up early this morning and got a start on the day. Holy cow was it chilly. I was beginning to think I should have packed differently. :) We headed out to Indiana today - Shipshewana and Elkhart to be exact. The road took us first to Shipshewana were we stopped in at Bread Box Bakery & Cafe for some homemade goodies. Everything is so good and just like I remembered when we visited as kids. We strolled around town a bit and then piled back in the car to drive over to Elkhart and the New York Central Railroad Museum.



As soon as we pulled into the parking lot we saw a train sitting on the tracks and then realized that he was actually moving along at a snail's pace. We waited for it to go through and then headed into the musuem. This is a very good museum for families as they have some interactive areas for kids (of all ages) and a playroom with toys and train videos. After strolling through the museum we headed out to the train yard to take a look around.



Not to long after we got into the train yard a few more trains came rolling through for us to see. I always find it interesting to see the various graffeti on the train cars. Some will say that it is defacing someone's property, which yes it is, but I like artistic side of it and wish that those that did the defacing had a place where they could do it in a legal way to display their talents.

After awhile we headed to Middlebury, Indiana and Das Dutch Essenhause for an Amish style family dinner. This is very similar to the Bavarian Inn or Zehender's in Frankenmuth (for you Michigan folk). the food was so good and well worth the trip. After we filled our bellies with some seriously delicious and homemade goodness we headed back towards home.

On our way back through Jonesville, Michigan we stopped in to the Udder Side for some soft serve ice cream which I think is hands down the best I've ever had.



Stay tuned as we take on Ohio.

"One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." –- Henry Miller

Home again.

Chick Inn
Originally uploaded by jobean98

Nothing says home like a trip to a Michigan classic, the Chick-Inn Drive-In in Ypsilanti (Ypsi for you locals). This has to be by far one of the best drive-in restaurants around. We stopped in to eat after my parents picked us up from the airport. Yes, sometimes the road best traveled is by air so technically it is the air best traveled. ;) We had a good flight back to the mitten state and will full stomachs we headed to my parents to rest up for the travels ahead.

Check out the prices on the menu!!!!



You can't beat those prices. Let me tell you.

Stay tuned as more trips from Michigan are to follow.

Cheesesteaks and pit stops.

eric jo philly
Originally uploaded by jobean98

My partner in crime and I decided we needed to get away for the day so we headed up to Philadelphia to take the plunge in checking out Geno's and Pat's Cheese steaks in South Philly. The drive up was nice, not a lot of traffic but man did we not plan well. We hit 3 different toll plazas on the way up which we didn't expect but once we got through them we made it to Philly. We came in on this awesome bridge where the in bound traffic is on the lower level and the out bound traffic is on the upper level.

We passed the stadiums where the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, the 76ers, the Flyers and the Soul play. They are all on the same huge lot of land which I thought was pretty cool.

We finally arrived to the intersection where Geno's and Pat's battle it out 24/7. I got in line at Geno's and ordered a steak with whiz and onions and Eric got in line at Pat's where he got a steak with provolone and onions. We found a spot to sit and dove in to the steaks. We each ate half of our sandwhiches and then switched. I liked the one from Geno's the best and Eric agreed. After eating and taking some pictures we headed back to the car for a drive through the city.

We wound up in some not so friendly areas and quickly found our way to US - 30. We jumped on US - 30 and headed west towards home. We passed through quite a few interesting towns on the way and might make trips back out to check them out a little more in depth.

We made a stop in Lancaster to pick up a world famous Shoo-Fly pie from our favorite bakery and then a quick stop in York for some very awesome donuts from Maple Donuts.

I guess you could say this was a culinary tour of Pennsylavania. ;)

After many miles and a lot of fun we finally made it home. More pictures to come and a lot more stories from the road.

Where will you find us next?!? Maybe in a town near you. :D