Paul and Enola Royce

Visiting a Natural Gas Drilling Operation

2011-01-21T09:56:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning dispatch called and asked if we could help out and make a quick run out to Trout Run PA to deliver some freight to a natural gas drilling site. We have been under the weather all week but wanted to help so we said yes. I am glad we did- it was interesting! We drove to Pocono, picked up the truck, got it loaded and started out on our two and a half hour drive to Trout Run PA. Trout Run is a bit north of Williamsport PA, in Lycoming County. It was an easy drive out there, although we were hurrying as there was a snowstorm coming that evening. Once we turned off the highway, the drive became very scenic. Down through wooded valleys, then climbing into the mountains. We found our drill site located off of a dirt road- not really what we had expected. When we pulled off the dirt road next to a trailer (RV type) a young man came out with a clipboard. He was very nice, took our names, had us sign in and took the trucks number and license plate info. He told us to follow the dirt road up the hill, so we did - coming upon a large clearing lined with RV campers on two sides, woods on one side, and a large drilling platform against a huge agricultural type field on the last side. We parked and went into the first trailer (it seemed the most likely candidate to be an office) and gave our paperwork. A large forklift was sent out to unload us, a process that took about an hour. I asked the man inside if they lived nearby and he told me they live on site. They are there 24/7 in their RVs. Most have family far away- his was in Louisiana. It reminded me of the old traveling circuses. They finished the offload, we closed up the doors and headed back home- leaving this camp of gas drillers on the cold snowy mountain.

Jim Thorpe Lehigh Gorge Train Excursion

2010-11-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

Our friends Cari and Eric are in the Poconos this weekend with their kids and we all wanted to do something fun and outdoorsey on this beautiful fall day. Cari suggested the train ride through Lehigh Gorge that leaves (and returns to) Jim Thorpe. We decided to meet for the one o'clock departure. I went online to see what was in store for us and quickly noticed that pets were welcome on the train! Wonderful news as we try and take Bear everywhere we go!!

We arrived about noon, parked in the large community parking area , bought our tickets, shared a hot dog, and wandered the small park in front of the train station while we waited for the boarding whistle. I love Jim Thorpe- it is an absolutely adorable town. The town has been called the "Switzerland of America" due it's the beautiful scenery, mountainous location,and vast range of architectural styles: Federalist, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque. OK, back to the train...

By the time our friends arrived our coach was full so they had to sit in the next coach back. By the time the train pulled out the tickets had nearly sold out and all four coaches were full. The man across the aisle from us worked as our excursion tour guide and as we rode along he explained what we saw and gave us a bit of history about the area. He also made friends with Bear during his breaks. Bear seemed to enjoy the trip also, alternating between watching the scenery out the window and people watching on our coach. We passed many familiar spots in Lehigh Gorge- places we have spent happy hours geocaching. The mountains still had some leaf color, the sun shone, we spotted rafters, yakkers, hikers and bikers all enjoying this beautiful Saturday. The trip lasted about an hour and afterward we went to Antonio's for a slice of pizza. Antonio's is a favorite but we also noticed Pepper Jacks- a mexican restaurant that we will plan on coming back to for dinner. We walked up to the old prison, back down Broadway and along Race Street enjoying the myriad of interesting shops windows before heading for the car and journeying home. It was a great way to spend a beautiful fall day!

Pawtucket Rhode Island

2010-10-11T19:27:00.000-04:00

This morning, (Columbus Day) we left home early and started the five and a half hour trip to Warwick RI. We are delivering to Pawtucket on Tuesday morning and wanted to enjoy a leisurely holiday ride through the foliage. The weather channel promised leaves were peaking on our route however they were a bit mistaken as the leaves at home in PA were the prettiest we saw! Alot of the trip was still green. Traffice was very light and the ride was fun- to change it up a bit we took I84 to 9 to I95. We briefly considered hitting Mohegan Sun but decided against it. We arrived at LaQuinta Warwick, where we stay in this state, settled in and played with Bear until suppertime. We even found a life sized moose for a Bear photo op!

Soon it was dinner time and dinner in Warwick can only mean Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, a short walk from the motel. We knew in advance what we thought we would have, however when we arrived the special appetizer was bbq chicken nachos (good bye crab cake). We had also planned on trout for supper, until we caught wind of the mixed seafood special (bye bye trout). The special was called Seafood Trio: Crab stuffed haddock, cedar plank stuffed shrimp and a seared crab cake all served over a bed of wild rice! Plus a Bugaboo Wedge Salad. Oh my! I am embarrassed to admit we also ordered (to go) one slice of cheesecake covered in wild Maine blueberries. The portions were huge so I took most of my stuffed haddock back to the motel for Bears's supper. Back to the motel where we are now. All in all a very nice Columbus Day holiday for us!

Caching GC1T24K- Cracks Crevices Corners Cliffs Caves and Caverns

2010-07-24T20:00:00.003-04:00

Tuesday morning we woke early and decided to tackle a cache we had been eyeing up on 903- Cracks Crevices Corners Cliffs Caves and Caverns. First we stopped at Piggy’s in Lake Harmony for one of their amazing sandwiches. Everything at Piggy’s is huge so we were not surprised that the ham egg and cheese on kaisers were enough to share. Well fortified we headed for our cache. The pull off area came on us quickly so of course we passed it and had to turn around. Parked, put on our hiking boots, geared up Bear and headed across the street into the woods. The trail to the first part was well marked with blue and orange markings on the trees (apparently from an old trail where bird houses had been placed once upon a time). We got to the hinted “hallway” and I had to laugh. There was no way I was going down the hall but Paul, ever the good sport headed down for our clue.

Having plugged the new coords into the Garmin we plunged across the rocks- cracks and crevices and all. It can be unsettling walking through the deep woods stepping over hundreds of big crevices and wondering who lives in them. Bear was his usual mighty self, hopping from rock to rock. Eventually we came to an area that confused us and we chose to go up. Up the cliff. Now only in geocaching can you walk through dense woods, struggle across rock fields, climb a cliff and then realize that someone before you has not only come here but carried an extension ladder and put it down into a hole in the ground that leads to a maze. You know which one of us climbed down the ladder. :)

There were explicit directions for Paul once he entered the maze- unfortunately we had entered at the rear not the entry so it took us awhile (Paul in the maze with creepy crawlies, me sitting on top calling down directions) to find the final clue. Apparently it involved sticking your hand into a dark and spooky place above your head. Paul was so excited.

The final clue in hand, he emerged from the maze.

Of course you cannot keep the clue so he had to climb back down, stick his hand up over his head and plunge it into a creepy hole he could not see into. In a cave in the woods. Apparently the thrill does not wear off the second time you have to do it as he expressed that he was just as thrilled. :) :)

The final came easily for us- Paul hopped about across the boulders while Bear and I opted for the slower safer route of climbing up the side of the cliff area and across the top. Cache found, log signed, time to leave. Now you have to realize that the whole time we are not all that far in from 903- just a several minute walk. Back the way we came or- hold on- a SHORT CUT up the giant hill to the road. Yes, we decided to bushwack the shortcut. What were we thinking. Back down our cliff, across a rock field, through the pickers headed for the hill. Then up the hill, not to bad if you dont mind crawling up a hill on all fours, clawing at the dirt and hanging onto roots. Almost to the top, covered in dirt, (Bear by the way had scampered along as though chihuahuas were part mountain goat) we had fifty feet to go. Then we spotted them. The pickers. Fifty feet of dense picker bushes. Now Bear had to be picked up and held over our heads like we were on safari and he was a basket. A position that made trying to cross the picker field just that much more enjoyable.

Did you know you can actually get stuck to a picker bush? I mean stuck unable to move. Trust us, it is possible. Well that took awhile. We took turns freeing ourselves, passing off Bear, (still over our heads) and then pulling the other person out. You would think we may have decided to turn back but we truly are a stubborn pair and the road was SO CLOSE! I think it took longer to cross that final fifty then the whole trek in. Finally we were near the edge, we made a final push, Paul emerging first, me a minute later. We had never laughed so hard in our life. As odd as it sounds we laughed the entire time. Just watching each other was enough to send you into a fit of hysterics. We climbed the final twenty feet of ninety degree incline to the guardrail and pulled ourselves over it. That is when we realized how we must look- covered in mud and blood streaming down our legs- (nothing serious but a hundred scratches), climbing over a guardrail while clutching a chihuahua. A short walk down the road to the subaru and we cleaned up, rehashed our trek and headed off to see what adventures lie ahead. We truly thank Team Getz for this hide and bringing so much fun into our lives on this hunt.

Aloft Richmond VA

2010-07-18T20:14:00.001-04:00

Monday found us taking a small load to Richmond VA. While searching Orbitz for a motel, I spotted an Aloft. Aloft is a Starwood property, a division of W. A funky fun motel that while being more upscale definitely does love pets. That is actually what made me reserve here- I knew Bear would be treated like a star. As we got to our room on the third floor, we noticed a nest, fancy doggie dinner service, placemat and bag of treats in the hall by our door. Bear was in awe. After settling in we ordered dinner sent up, (a large selection of appetizers), and explored the motel. It was so hot in VA that we waited until dusk to take our walk. The area we stayed in was called West Broad Village and it is like a whole town being built. Expensive apartments and townhomes (designed to look like brownstones) , high end storefronts waiting for occupants, and a Whole Foods. The weird part was that it was like a ghost town since nothing was occupied yet except for Whole Foods. We enjoyed our walk for about an hour, then headed back to the Aloft to watch some tv before sleep and let Bear enjoy a treat.

First mobile blogging attempt

2010-06-14T19:41:00.001-04:00

This is our first try at blogging from the blackberry. Tomorrow when we get home we will see how it turns out.

Today we loaded in Jim Thorpe PA, a town we always love to come to. Jim Thorpe has great little shops, restaurants and whitewater rafting!! ( Did I mention there are also several caches here?) The load went well, then a nice traffic free drive to Edison NJ to the Red Roof so we are close to our Staten Island delivery in the morning. Here we always enjoy a really good indian dinner from Tawa, and tonight was no exception. Chicken curry for Paul, tikka masala for me, and a nice appetizer of shrimp done in traditional spices, then fried. Basmati rice and naan complete our meal.

Bear had a busy day today too- he was funny- he started out fussy. Put him on shippers deck, he fussed. Put him on the truck, he fussed. Put him in the yard and more fussing. Brought him closer to the truck and he decided that today he wanted to be in the center of things so he laid ON the ramp all day. How convenient for us! I am attaching a picture of our supervising Bear.

That's all for today. Now it is time to shower and get ready to watch Little People Big World- one of our favorite shows.

I miss my blog

2010-04-15T19:22:00.003-04:00

My blog was fun for me but for a few reasons it became unfun. I let someone take the joy out of my blog. Its been a couple of months now and you know what? I want my blog back. I miss my blog. I am taking ownership of my blog and I am not going to let anyone make it unfun. There. I said it, I am doing it. I feel better already! Blog on!!!

South Of The Border

2010-01-18T16:00:00.005-05:00

What can I say- I am a FOOL for South Of The Border on I95 in Dillon SC. My earliest memory of this wonderland starts when I was in grade school and some lucky kids would come back from vacation with South Of The Border bumperstickers proudly stuck to their notebooks. I never knew quite what it was, but I knew it was good. Jump ahead 40 years to our first roadtrip to Florida and as we drove down 95, the billboards started. Pedro is the campy resort mascot. He is on their 175 billboards. Billboards that delight and entertain with sayings like "you never sausage a place" written over a giant sausage link, or Pedro's weather forecast- "chili today and hot tamale". They are wonderful. When we pulled into South Of The Border for the first time it is sensory overload. There is a 9 story Pedro to greet you. An amusement park. Six restaurants. Drug store, Pantry, Mexico Sop East and Mexico Shop West. Rocket City and Fort Pedro. Gas stations, a truck stop, and the South Of The Border Motor Inn, under the Pleasure Dome which also covers their indoor pool. Statues of all sorts of fun animals, real and imaginary abound. Neon, neon and more neon. Did I mention that it is campy? :)

Over the years we have had the opportunity to stay at our beloved South Of The Border and the one thing I cannot resist is photo- oping the dogs here with the statues. As we now only have our wonderful Bear, and he is a recent family member, this past year he had his first trip to Florida and consequently to South Of The Border. He is far less enthused looking then he felt I am sure- I mean, who wouldnt be thrilled to have daddy stick them under a giant ape, or onto a dinosaur!

And by the way, there is geocaching to be done here, the rooms are reasonable and really nice, the Sombrero Restaurant had wonderful mexican food, the amusement park rides were fun and just browsing the ten plus stores was enough to keep you busy! We can't wait to get back to see Pedro. To visit the website: http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/

A beautiful winter day to cache!

2010-01-17T14:46:00.006-05:00

Saturday was just beautiful out - not cold and very sunny! We decided to try and get the house bound blues from our minds and go geocaching up at the state game lands in Tobyhanna. One cache in particular caught our attention because a gate that normally blocks the access road was now open (hunting season) and thus the hike much shorter so we bundled up and headed for Beeches of SGL127. ( Actually credit for knowing about the gate goes to our friend Allison).

We arrived at the parking area after a wonderful ride through the game lands. Paul drove very slow so the window could roll down and Bear could get some wind surfing in. This was his first winter hike to cache with us and I was afraid he may not enjoy it and insist on being carried but he was a trooper!

We arrived at GZ and spent awhile searching. This was our first snow cache and we did not know if it would be buried or if we could find it. After passing it by several times Paul spotted it. I really think that Bear should be able to help us a bit more- he could sniff them out? I don't understand why he will not cooperate on that but I can see that in the spring when we get out more that is something we will work on. So we signed the log, returned it to it's hide and headed back to the car. By this time Bear's feet had gotten cold and he gave Daddy the "up" sign ( he reaches up with both paws over his head) and Paul obliged with a ride.

Back at the car we decided it was just so nice out that we would stay on the game lands road and take it to Gouldsboro, then head for their state park.

At Gouldsboro we found ice fishermen! They looked to be having a good time, they were very far out on the lake though- to far to try and go chat with! It made us remember going through Minnesota in winter and up there the lakes freeze so hard that the ice fishermen actually put up structures with heat in them! As you drive along the lakes you see the smoke coming out of little chimneys! Not here though, and on we went, walking along the shoreline on the frozen lake just for the novelty of doing it.

Alas by now it was getting late and the sun goes down early so we three headed home. We had a good day however and dreamed of our next snowy cache!

September 2009 Trip to Maine

2009-09-20T17:19:00.007-04:00

Early September brought us two loads going to Maine. The first we went to our own agency in Stockertown PA to load out of a SAM. Bear was with us and being eager to help, we had him run the forklift.

Well OK, he didn't run the forklift by himself- but we were very proud of him anyway! From Stockertown we drove up 209 through the NPS to Dingmans Ferry. Same day but they were both estimated to be smaller loads and we figured heck, lets give it the old college try. That load could not have gone smoother either and we found ourselves settled into our Super 8 in Middletown NY by 2pm. Orange County Choppers is only three miles from the motel and it was our intention to go visit but there was a great deal of road construction off the exit ramps so we decided to check them out next time. Our motel stays are always fun (usually :) )and this was no exception. I am careful to book in advance online and always check out the properties for safety ahead of time. Still some are great and fancy and others are just basic no frills stays. This Super 8 was in a large parking lot, bordered by a deli, a chrome shop and a freight yard. No pool, no restaurants, really a trucker motel but the people inside were very friendly, the room clean, and pizza delivery was a phone call away. After a very early dinner and walk we turned in by 6pm.

The thing with going to sleep at 6 is that you are up and at em at three and that is exactly what happened. We decided to walk across the lot to the small deli and were so surprised. The super friendly woman at the counter was more then happy to brew us fresh coffee and make us egg sandwiches. The place was hopping- a Fed Ex driver reading the paper, several other drivers stopping in for a quick cup of coffee to go. Fortified, we headed for Maine and being so early we made it through that special hell that is Connecticut traffic and sailed through Mass. By 10 we were photo -oping little Bear at the Maine border and realizing that we could very well start deliveries same day! First up was Corinna where shipper had requested we deliver to their drop cleared lot down a dirt lane. We followed the directions , easily spotting the "missing sign" and "big rock" that all signified our progress was positive! When we arrived at the clearing in the woods it turns out they really wanted the truck backed up the hill where they planned on having the trailer delivered once electricity was run. You cant make this up. The boys ran free while we delivered their load , hand shakes and hugs and we were on the road again. Still feeling good we decided to head to Mariaville which is about 45 minutes east of Bangor for our second delivery. Wound our way through the tiny wooded roads, found the dirt path that lead us into his "community" and eventually found his house. Nice house on a nice lake. He has been building it for 22 years. Its about half done. Plumbing is provided bu a garden hose run from a faucet in the left side yard, no steps up to porch, no kitchen, I said earlier it was on a nice lake. Lakefront. Great view. Did I mention NO windows in house? You really cannot make this up. I asked how he gets around in the winter. He said you cant. The road closes. He laughed and said no cars, fire trucks or ambulances can get through. He seemed very happy about that too. Said he hates people. We did not let the dogs out of the truck at this delivery and were very happy ourselves to leave. A nice full day found us checking in to the Motel 6 Bangor, one of our usual Maine stays.

The morning of September 11 dawned and found us well on our way home. We listened to the radio as we drove and listened as the names of everyone killed that fateful day eight years ago were read. Kind of reminded you to take advantage of all the good things life has to offer because you just never know. 2966 people went to work that morning fully expecting to go home that night. They never did.

We did make it home in great time- this entire trip was flawless as far as time was concerned. Looking back it was flawless in all respects. Shippers were happy, moves went well, everything rode nicely in the truck, and the four of us had some enjoyable moments. What more could we ask for? OH Yes! Lobster Rolls! For those who may not know what they are about, Lobster Rolls are all over Maine. They are basically lobster meat, with mayo on a hot dog bun (bun grilled). Unbeatable food fun! Over the years we have eaten lobster rolls in a tree house at LL Bean in Freeport ME, eaten them in many many small fishing villages in local diners and bars, even eaten them on a ferry! Of course we had to buy three so the boys could have one to share. On the crew of 39 we are all equal!!

Bear goes boating!

2009-08-09T19:34:00.004-04:00

Thankfully we have started to get busier at work. Of course, it is just human nature that when you are busy you want time off and when you have time, you want to work. After this economic slump though, we will take work 7 days a week and no complaints from us. This Saturday though we managed that rare combination this summer- a day off AND nice weather! (will the rain ever end?) We headed down to the dock to take a few hours out in the boat with Bear and his new yellow floatie. Bear isn't all that excited about walking on the dock because it moves and he thinks that is odd. I managed to get him into the boat, then had to convince him that wearing the floatie was cool. He spent the first few minutes frozen like a small statue, acting as though he couldn't walk or breathe. Fortunately that passed quickly, and he accepted the floatie. We went out to Blueberry Island, then Comfort Island, stopping midway so he could take a dip with daddy. After that we lay in the sun and dried before returning to shore. It was such a relaxing afternoon after a very hectic 10 days and Bear really seemed to enjoy himself. Next we will try canoeing?

BEAR'S TRIP TO KNOXVILLE TN

2009-06-21T17:07:00.008-04:00

Bear has been rather busy lately....he has traveled to NH NY NJ MA and CT . Yesterday he made his way to one of our favorite states for the first time- TENNESSEE !! We left the cold and rainy Poconos we call home at dawn and headed down 81. Talk about rain!! By the time we crossed into MD it was giving us a break and at the WV border (another favorite state) we had a quick photo op.

We continued through VA through the Shenandoah Valley- this is a fabulous ride and the scenery is just breathtaking. I hoped to stop off at x180 and hike around Natural Bridge which all our other canine crew members have done, but the weather had other plans . We did get a break again so we stopped to breathe in the wonderful post rain air and Bear really seemed to find it exquisite!

Paul realized that Bear's map reading skills may need a brush up so they spent quite a bit of time navigating together!

All that navigating paid off as we managed to get Bear to the Big Guitar in Bristol before continuing on into Knoxville.

Tennessee holds so many special memories for us. Great vacation last year in Gatlinburg, so many great memories in Nashville- even line dancing at the White Horse Saloon. Then Memphis with Graceland AND Beale Street, and you cant leave out Chattanooga and Ruby Falls. Tennessee just has so much energy, beauty and history. And did I mention the barbecue? To DIE for! Before travelling to Memphis I never knew that BBQ Memphis style is having the cole slaw right ON your pulled pork sandwich! So it is also an educational state! :)

Bear had a wonderful trip- he is becoming a true trucker dog- he gets so embarrassed when we carry him to the grass at truck stops but I tell him he cannot walk in diesel drips!

He still barks a bit in the motels at night if the neighbors try and check into their room, but the rest of his manners are impeccable and this trip he also decided he loves watermelon!! Tomorrow it is on to NJ......

DOLLYWOOD

2009-04-06T13:48:00.007-04:00

Back in August during our vacation to Gatlinburg TN we stopped our blog on Sunday, promising that Monday would be Dollywood. Somehow it was never written about though so on this rainy April day I can take myself back to that beautiful August day......

For as many years as I can remember I have wanted to go to Dollywood. We got close several times, but the trip always changed up a bit and we missed it. Not this time!! We had spent several great days in Gatlinburg which is next to Pigeon Forge where Dollywood is. Tour guides advised waiting until Monday so the crowds would be easier and we usually take their advice. Monday morning we took Tigger for a nice walk, got him settled and then we walked downtown to Ripleys where the trolleys gather. We hopped on the Pink trolley (of course)which was bound for Dollywood. There was about 20 of us on board and no one else had ever been there either.
After a half hour ride, there it was- DOLLYWOOD and it was almost like the first time you see the Disney Castle in Orlando- kind of like " I cant believe I made it!!"

We were both starving when we got there, having skipped breakfast so we could indulge in the park. Of course the first eatery you come upon is a pastry shop with this huge selection of goodies. Paul is always watching his sugar so we opted for coffee and sat and watched the people coming in. The we started our day, riding every water ride they had- Beaver Creek Boat Float, Blazing Fury, Daredevil Falls, Mountain Slidewinder, Timber Tower, Smoky Mountain River Rampage. We toured Dolly's tour bus. We rode the 5 mile excursion on Dollywood Express an actual coal fired steam locomotive. We battled in River Battle. We rode the carousel! And we ate.
Ham and Beans, funnel cake with strawberries, barbecue, kettle corn, corn dogs, flat bread sandwiches.....I am surprised we didn't burst.

We also explored the little shops- so many hand made crafts made by local artists. Dollywood has brought prosperity to Pigeon Forge and allowed traditional artisans to maintain their lifestyle. We ordered a hand forged name plate sign for our house and had it shipped back to the Poconos. The weather was sunny and very warm but not awfully hot, we really could not have asked for a nicer day to go. Finally it was time to catch a trolley home to Gatlinburg, to walk Tigger along a stream bordered trail at the Smoky Mountain National Forest and finally sit on our deck on our rocking chairs and watch the sun set over the Smokies. It was another of those days where you just feel truly blessed.

MEET BEAR ROYCE

2009-04-04T18:34:00.004-04:00

On March 20 we found our newest family member at Friends of Pep Border Collie Rescue in Gouldsboro PA. I had seen little Bear on the petfinder site for over a week and kept coming back to his picture to look at him.Two years old, chihuahua -boston terrier mix, owner surrender from Kentucky. His picture was really not all that flattering and I was afraid no one would want him. I had been reading petfinder for months looking for a new family member- since the loss of Cato and Niels the house has had a big empty hole that just loomed larger everyday. We have so much love to give but the problem was that we had to find the perfect match. We have met several great dogs, which will make great family additions but they just did not click with us and it would never have been fair to them to not have their perfect forever home. I filled out the online app, called the rescue and was told to come right up. Bear met me at the gate and I knew he was the one. Before I left to see him Paul told me to listen to my heart and it was screaming Bear. A few formalities later and Bear was in his new ride on his way to his new home. We have only been with Bear two weeks now but he has blended in seamlessly and we cant wait to spend a lifetime loving him and making him happy. Let the adventure begin.....

St. Patricks Day, NYC 2009

2009-04-04T17:29:00.007-04:00

St. Patricks Day is always fun to be in NY. Everywhere you look you see green and this year was to be no exception. We started our day at Cosmos, walked Tigger and headed up to the parade. The sun was shining and it was really a beautiful day. (Last year we had a big snow right before and we spent the parade wearing snow sneakers and trying to avoid slush. ) One of the first people we saw was this man who was drawing as much attention as the parade. Bagpipes filled the air, Irish flags, hats, scarves and banners. The marchers made their way up Fifth drawing huge applause from the crowds. Back in 1762 the first parade was held in NY when Irish soldiers organized the routes, with marchers gathering at their own churches and marching up to the old St. Patricks Cathedral where the Archbishop would address the crowds. When St. Pats moved uptown, the parade came with it. It remains a marchers parade allowing NO cars, floats or vehicles.

After the parade we took the subway down to the village to walk about and enjoy the sunshine. We followed Bleecker over and passed Johns Pizzeria. Johns was established in 1929 and has consistently been voted "The Best in New York City." Pizza is available in small and large sizes only — No Slices.

We continued our walk uptown now, passing so many restaurants all gaily decorated in green and white, many offering outdoor seating! Woo-hoo winter is over!!! At one point we stopped in at a small shop and had a cup of coffee just to sit and people watch. That is the fun of NY- there is always something or someone to look at!

We ended up walking all the way uptown to Times Square which was still a sea of green tourists and growing crowds outside of the Irish pubs. (The smoking ban in bars has them all smoking outside now). Starting to tire we walked back to our neighborhood, found some corned beef and retired early!

Katz's Deli

2009-03-08T18:49:00.004-04:00

It all began while watching the Travel Channel. We really enjoy Adam Richman's show, Man v. Food. What makes it even more fun for us is that we have been to many of the cities he travels to and have seen many of the places. This past week we watched him in NYC and he visited three places we have never been. Katz's Deli is one of them. You will have to stay tuned to find out the others!

It was a mild spring afternoon and a walk was definately in order. We decided to head for Katz's Deli in the East Village for a pastrami sandwich. We headed down 2nd crossed over to 1st at 6th and then followed that to Houston where we made a left. There it was.... since 1888 NY landmark Katz's Deli, 205 Houston St. We looked in the windows and it was so crowded we almost backed out but decided to go on in and eat- after all, we had come this far! Well you walk in the door and a friendly man hands each of us a ticket. We asked him what we do next and he was happy to explain that if we sit at a table against a wall, we would get a waitress. Since the chances of getting a wall table were next to none, we opted for the second choice which was just go anywhere along the counter and place your order, get your food and sit anywhere not against a wall. When I approached the counter I read the big signs advertising various foods and saw the one we were after- Pastrami on Rye $15.00. $15.00!! That is when I decided we would share one sandwich. Before you get the sandwich, you hand the man behind the counter your ticket and he writes on it. Then we went off to eat it - sitting next to a table of New York's finest all enjoying big fat sandwiches too. Sharing was a great idea because the sandwich was huge. The pastrami was just wonderful -melt in your mouth wonderful. Piled high and served with mustard on top, fresh pickles on the side. It is easy to see why Katz's is the place to be. We finished up, enjoyed a few more minutes of people watching, went to the cash register, (cash only)turned in both tickets and paid our tab. After that we were glad to have the long walk home to make up for that pile of pastrami!! Of course we had also smuggled out a few choice pieces in my purse for Tigger. He thought it was wonderful .

SUBARU

2009-02-03T16:34:00.003-05:00

February is the month that the lease was up on our little Chevy Cobalt. For four years it has served us faithfully and we have memories of happy days and very sad days in that little car. I turned it back in with 25,000 miles on it. It will make someone very happy I hope. We had two problems that kept us from buying it- first off, we outgrew it. The car was good on gas but to small to carry much of anything in or on. Secondly, and most major, it did not go in snow. The car was just to light I have been told, but for whatever reason we were so so tired of being stuck. Stuck in the driveway, stuck on a hill, stuck in a parking lot, you get the idea. We got stuck everywhere. So two months ago we began the great car search. We looked at everything from mini Coopers to mini vans. My mom thought smart cars were cute. I thought Amy Roloff's mini van was neat. Paul wanted a sporty car. Paul wanted a pickup truck. Paul wanted a snow plowing pickup truck. I wanted a Nissan. I wanted a Beetle. I wanted an SUV. I read so many car reports on Consumer Reports I could probably be an advisor. So we narrowed it down. Paul wants cargo room. I want ground clearance. We both want all wheel drive. Gas mileage is important, but not a deciding factor. Four doors are a must. A five star safety rating is a must. Eventually it all led to one place- Minooka Subaru in Moosic PA On January 26th we became the proud owners of a silver Subaru Outback 2.5 Special Edition. Its a wonderful car and we have driven it in the snow daily. We have even gone back to FE Walter Dam and Brady's Lake with it. The car handles like a dream, navigates the snow like a seal , and now having the five star safety rating is very comforting. It is automatic so I hope my mom drives this one more often, even though she enjoyed the stick shift. So that is today's blog- sharing our joy with all of our friends. If anyone wants to go looking for yeti in the snow, give us a call- the Subaru will undoubtedly get us there!!!

4 Below, The Warmth Of Friends

2009-01-18T16:44:00.006-05:00

If you had told me three months ago that we would work an agency move on a guaranteed day in January I would have told you we would have two feet of snow or it would be below zero. Friday morning we woke to negative four in Pocono Pines - the day that Smithfield Township was eagerly waiting to move into their beautiful new building. We let our car warm for half an hour and then braved our way down the mountain. It was cold and dark but we were happy to be going....because we were working with our friends. We met up with Kirk, our close friend and partner in moving, at an Exxon station. Kirk is a continental driver who goes away for weeks at a time, but is always in our heart. From the Exxon we headed for Smithfield Township's old building, where we met up with Iz and his partner Vic. Iz and Paul go back many years. We both remember Iz learning to drive the big truck and spending countless hours backing up. He has become such a great mover and great driver. It seems like yesterday. As soon as we started the move everything fell into place and went so smoothly. There was no ego, no bickering, no waiting to see what to do next. Long haul truckers, as with others who live on the road, share a common bond. It is as though it is a badge of honor, a club with select membership, a relationship with yourself, your partner and your truck that no one else will ever experience. When you put a few of us together that are long friends, there is a warmth and love that transcends the frigid temperature and keeps you warm. That was how our Friday felt.

NYC Christmas 2008

2009-01-15T13:10:00.004-05:00

Every year we head into NYC to "see the tree". I often wonder if you said that to someone from somewhere else, would they even know what you mean? This year was no exception. We headed in on Sunday afternoon, 4 days before Christmas. There was a homegame at the Meadowlands so I thought the Lincoln would be a poor choice. Instead we went through the Holland - the first time for us! It was a bit longer but we hit no traffic snarls at all so timewise it worked out about the same, minus the aggravation of stop and go on 3. As we pulled to the tollbooth we noted that even the tunnel entrance was decorated! That is the wonder of Christmas- everyone seems happier, decorations abound, there is a hustle and bustle in the air, an unseen excitement!

After we got through the Holland we were down in the financial district and had to make our way to the apartment so just kept heading north. Eventually we came to 23rd street and from there we knew we were almost home! After having the car parked and getting our bags up the elevator we made our traditional 'first night in" dinner walk down to Mike's Pizza for some great NYC pizza. Next morning it was off to Cosmos for breakfast, then uptown via the bus for some Christmas!!

First stop is always FAO Schwarz to see the live toy soldiers, the newest toys- which this year seem based on the upcoming "Hotel For Dogs" movie and paly with anything we can get our hands on. Then we start our leisurely stroll down 5th avenue, window shopping at Gucci, Feragamo, Prada and all the other big designer stores. We duck into Trump to see the five story gold waterfall , into Tiffanys's to browse, and finally into St.Pats to light a candle for those we have loved and lost. It is another cold day and people are lining up to buy pashminas and gloves from the street vendorrs. Finally we see the tree, every year looking prettier then the year before. There are people smiling and speaking languages we have never even heard before taking pictures and hugging, the children so excited! Skaters abound at Rockefellar Center and this is NY Christmas magic.

We finished our stroll heading over to Broadway to see the lights, admiring Times Square, and finally into Macys to see Santa Land. By now we are very cold so we catch a crosstown bus over to 2nd and then transfer to the bus going down 2nd. Tonight it will be Noodles On 28 for dinner where I can never get enough shrimp and asparagus cellophane dumplings! Another Christmas visit behind us, and a year to wait till next year to see another tree and another round of happy folks. I wish us all a happy, healthy and hopefully better 2009.

2008 NY Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2009-01-15T12:15:00.005-05:00

Found these photos on my Canon PowerShot and figured it was time to blog!

I remember being a kid and calling the NYC Thanksgiving Parade "the Macy's Day Parade". It seems life forever since I went there- maybe almost 40 years? Well this year Paul and I decided it was our year to go and it was so great! First though I must say that there were a whole lot more people there then I remembered! :)

We woke up early and walked down to Cosmos Diner for our new favorite breakfast of coffee and ham egg and cheese on hard roll sandwiches. Back to the apartment and then we headed uptown on a very cold day. We settled in at Broadway and 37 Street, surrounded by folks having a great time in the cold. The line at Starbucks was a half block long and I decided I did not want a hot chocolate that badly!! We found a spot right against the building to lean on that kept us out of the wind. There were four or five teens next to us, having so much fun taking pictures of each other with their cell phones and trying to keep warm! After waiting about an hour we could hear the buzz from the crowd that the parade was coming! By now we were no longer cold as we were just sandwiched between people. There was no way one could walk or barely move! I had forgotten how big the balloons were! But the excitement was just as great as I remembered, if not more! The bands, the costumes, the floats, the balloons, we even saw Miley Cyrus! Then it was time for Santa, who has always signalled the start of the Christmas season! Well it was a chilly walk home, peeking in different restaurant windows to read menus and Turkey Day specials. Every place sounded so good, but some were awfully pricey. We ended up back in the neighborhood at Cosmos where we had a full Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all the fixings and pumpkin pie all for $14.95! After that long day we were definitely ready for bed!

Beautiful Sight

2009-01-04T18:48:00.006-05:00

Wow how could so much time have elapsed since I last blogged? I guess I sort of developed a "funk". It seems you cannot turn on the news or open a paper without seeing all the bad news that surrounds all of us nowadays. Even work, which has been a source of joy for us for years has been hit hard and we see friends laid off or let go and the remaining ones nervous. Nothing seems the same anymore. But time goes on, and life goes on and the sun comes up in the morning, and all we can do is hope for a better tomorrow for us all. It is time for a change.

Today we went for a ride- it was a beautiful sunny afternoon and we ended up with myself, Paul, mom and Tigger driving in Jonas PA. I happened to glance up at a tree and could not believe my luck! A beautiful bald eagle, just sitting in a tree. Breathtaking!! So that is our blog today- a beautiful creature enjoying a sunny day, just as we were.

First Annual Halloween Pet Parade Clymer Library

2008-10-26T19:17:00.004-04:00

Saturday the 25th was the first annual Halloween pet parade at the Clymer Library in Pocono Pines, PA. It was a day of fierce weather, pounding rains and gusty winds. A few of us brave souls attended and were not at all disappointed! Tigger of course was participating, dressed as a pumpkin and flanked by his entourage: mommy Nola, Grandmother Nola and Grandma Ruth. We were the third to arrive, greeted in the community room by a black lab youngster in training for seeing eye dressed as a lifesaver roll, and an adorable little girl in ruffled army fatigues. Right before the start we were joined by a wonderful little terrier, or should I say bumble bee? We all got to sniff and play, many pictures were taken and all the participants were awarded medals! Then the "parents" were treated to spooky dirt and worm pudding cups, popcorn balls and pumpkin painting. It was truly a very bright spot in an otherwise dismal day!!

St. Francis Blessing

2008-10-05T17:52:00.004-04:00

Today was the St. Francis Blessing of the Animals at Trinity Church, Mount Pocono PA. At 9:15 we headed off to the service- myself, Tigger, Ruth, Pumpkin, Meg, Carly and Charlie. I had never been to Trinity before and it is a beautiful peaceful church off of route 611. We enjoyed a stroll around the building, admiring the garden before heading inside. The inside was as cute as the outside, all wood, beautiful stained glass and just a feeling of peace. Carly was a very good girl, enjoying meeting anyone who wanted to say hello. Pumpkin, being the youngest was a bit more enthusiastic, eventually retiring to the car to rest. Tigger seemed to take it all in stride although by the Communion part of the service he was growing bored and woofed now and again. He had dressed in his finest, a pastel blue t, a yellow plaid sweater in keeping with autumn colors, and topped off his ensamble with his favorite neckware from Salty Dog Cafe, Hilton Head SC. It was very exciting for all of us. When the blessing started, we were near the end of the line and enjoyed watching everyone ahead of us. There were many dogs, a cat, two chickens, a bird and a habitrail of mice. Goldens seemed to be everyones favorite and Carly was admired by all. Tigger was admired by his mom and the rest of his "posse" at the church. He was a very good boy meeting the minister and I asked the minister for an extra strong dose of blessing as he has cancer. Next up was Carly who looked like an angel. Then the congregation sang " All Things Bright and Beautiful" as the service wound down. Tigger stood at the end of his pew and watched everyone leave. Next it was off to the coffee social where he and I shared a slice of cake, said our good byes, and finally home by way of McDonalds for a dollar double cheeseburger for being such a good boy. It was a truly nice event and I will always be greatful Ruth invited us to share in it with her family.

The Great Flamingo

2008-09-01T19:17:00.003-04:00

An amazing and exciting event has occurred in Pocono Pines. We got in from a Labor Day Weekend run to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine last night. As we backed the truck in there it was...... two pink flamingos in the front garden standing guard over a nest with a single pink egg. Now I have always heard of the Legend of the Great Flamingo and its second coming, but I will admit I have had my doubts. No longer. This cannot be a fluke, a mistake or an accident. This can only mean one thing. Our front garden has miraculously been chosen as the site of the Great Flamingos Second Coming. This is big. Huge. McCain and Obama are going to want to be a part of this. Tour buses may come. Paparazzi will circle in helicopters. I am in such a quandary- a moral and ethical dilemma even- should I make this known in a press conference now? Or do I keep this to my loyal blog followers for a short time longer. Oh it is indeed hard to be me. The fate of the Great Flamingo lies in my decision. I think perhaps I will keep it to my blog followers only for a little longer. I don't want to ruin this wonderful magical town, I do not want to jeopardize the nesting site, and I dare not interfere with history. I did sneak outside while they were silently guarding the nest and asked (with the utmost respect) if I could be the first to photograph the miracle egg. They did not make a sound, just silently consented. I will continue to pass along all I can.

TIGGER'S SUNDAY STROLL

2008-08-17T18:38:00.004-04:00

Tigger started his Sunday stroll by running into a few black bears outside of the lodge. Next he found ducklings out for a morning swim with mom in Pigeon River. We passed the Haunted Mansion, which has been voted one of the top five funhouses in America. It is so scary they have a hearse parked out front incase you die. It is also so scary that Paul will not take me in there. He says his ears are still ringing from all my screaming at the Halloween Haunted House we visited in Natural Bridge Virginia over a year ago. We found Tigger an alleyway full of more bears downtown. Bears are abundant here. The pizza man said last time he delivered to our motel there was a bear in the parking lot. At least they are black bears and not grizzlies!! If you can't easily see the ducklings, click on the picture because they really are so small and way too cute!!!!

SATURDAY IN GATLINBURG

2008-08-17T18:02:00.004-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful day in the Smoky Mountains. We started the day at Ripley's Aquarium (which is nicer here in Gatlinburg then the one in Myrtle Beach SC). We saw so many beautiful fish, got up close and personal with sharks, petted horseshoe crabs and stingrays too. The stingrays have their stingers clipped for our safety- a painless procedure like fingernail clipping and yes, the stingers grow back. There were also beautiful little seahorses which are my personal favorite. We walked along the parkway where I met up with a big gorilla. Fudge was everywhere but as we swore off of it after Mackinac Island, we did not indulge. We had not sworn off bbq however and we were more then happy to take advantage of some of Tennessee's finest ribs at a place called Bennetts for dinner. A rack of baby back ribs, cole slaw, potato salad and iced tea made for a dinner of southern heaven. After dinner we took a tram ride to the top of Ski Mountain for some breathtaking sight seeing. We have decided to do DOLLYWOOD on Monday so the crowds might be smaller. Sunday is relaxation day and spend time with Tigger day.

GATLINBURG TENNESSEE

2008-08-17T17:44:00.004-04:00

Friday night we rolled into Gatlinburg TN about 8pm. It was an awesome ride in from the interstate through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and then Gatlinburg. The Smokies are one of my favorite places, the weather was great, and excitement was in the air!

NEW BLOG HOST!!

2008-08-17T17:37:00.003-04:00

Just a quick welcome to our new place on the web. AOL is a great place, but we quickly realized it would not accomodate us in what we are wanting to do with ourselves so we have moved to blogspot. This changes only our blog- our email is still the same, but if you subscribed to the old blog you will need to subscribe to this one. Here you will also be able to leave comments and interact with us more easily. Enjoy!

Our Previous Blogs

2008-06-20T17:31:00.000-04:00

Return to Mackinac Island Today we caught the first ferry over again to Mackinac Island! The shuttle from Arnold Line was prompt and we boarded at 7:25. The morning air is cool so we thought we would sit on the second level, behind the indoor area for less wind. There was an adorable older woman in the same area. In her 70s, very petite, wearing a red dress, red stockings, red shoes (all with a white print) and matching accessories. She was wiping off her seat and called over to us that we had choosen a lovely seat- out of the wind. She was right. Getting off the ferry we were again back in time, to a simpler, gentler, more peaceful place where horses are worked in lieu of machinery, the homes are old fashion elegant and life is like a movie. Perhaps 'Somewhere In Time' . Breakfast was bacon and eggs again, (tomorrow it is back to oatmeal before our arteries seal shut) then off for a walk. Well the walk ended up being eight miles around the entire island. We took pictures and video along the way and passed hundreds of people biking walking and travelling via horse and carriage. Everyone was very genial always quick with a "good morning" and friendly smile. Not many dogs were spotted - I had thought of bringing Iggy today but changed my mind thank heavens. We would have been carrying him for sure. The walk took us three hours and by then it was time for lunch, today at the Pink Pony- an organic gorgonzola salad for Paul bruschetta for me. Another hour long walk to window shop all the little stores again and then time to catch the ferry back to the mainland and Tigger. Back at the hotel Tigger had had a busy day sleeping and was ready for a self guided walk on the beach. New neighbors had checked in next door and Tig (who hopes to be hired as a greeter at walmart someday) went out for a hello and luggage check to see if they were carrying food. After feeding him, we went across the street to the Hill House's buffet which was pretty good, very reasonable ($12.00 allinclusive) but the best part is you eat on the large deck overlooking the lake. Peanut butter sandwiches would taste wonderful with that view!! We had planned on attending the fish feast but were warned off by several locals that it has changed over the years and become very overpriced with a lack of quality. So we will be content to sit on the patio tonight and watch the fireworks from our own space. OH! Nearly forgot- Paul bought a hat on Mackinac today which is noteworthy as he has never had a hat. Apparently his hair needs cutting and sticks up and he wants to cover it, but I am just happy because I always think about skin cancer. So that was our day- another day in paradise, even though it is way off of the usual latitude I prefer to call paradise! I think Mackinac Island has won us over and a trip that started out as a once in a lifetime visit has turned into something we anticipate doing again- only next time we will stay on the island itself. aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_4 Written by enolaroyce Permalink \| Blog about this entry \| Add to del.icio.us \| digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own Friday, July 25, 2008 7:28:50 PM EDT Feeling Happy Edit Entry Delete Entry Sault Ste.Marie Wow! Another great day! Got up at 5 in the morning at Pauls insistence and watched the sunrise over Lake Huron. What a great way to start the day! Sat out on our own patio huddled under a blanket (its chilly in the U.P.) and watched as the sky grew more orange. We watched the ducks and gulls waking up, listened to their early morning cries. We decided to head to Sault Ste.Marie, about 45 miles north of St. Ignace and visit the famous locks. We stopped in at Studebakers and had Heavy Chevys for breakfast, (bacon eggs homefries and biscuits) then made it to the locks. As we walked in we were told there were no boats coming through for many hours. Boo. :( So we saw the exhibits, went into the theatre and watched the movie, came out and guess what? A freighter was now scheduled in half an hour. We walked out and around the government owned park. enjoyed the fountain, then climbed the observation towers. First a small sight seeing boat came through and that was great fun! The folks aboard all smiled and waved, the older man next to us got so excited he dropped his hat to the pavement below! (He got it back- a nice man who works there retreived it for him). So we watched the boats head through, then stayed and watched traffic on the bridge to Canada and eventually left for a walk down Main Street to window shop the souvenier shops. A forty five minute ride home and we were back at the motel with Iggy. Since we have decided to return to the island tomorrow, we had a cup of noodles for lunch, sat at the lakes edge, relaxed, went swimming at the pool and finished our day with a walk to the local pastie stand for supper. Now as the eastern sky grows dark, we say goodnight to the island across the lake and head to bed- anxious to wake up and revisit it! and aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_8 Written by enolaroyce Permalink \| Blog about this entry \| Add to del.icio.us \| digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

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