2010-03-12T04:14:22Zhttp://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/atom.aspxQuick Blogcasttag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2009-05-21:37ac5f83-42b4-4109-ad67-450e942b8a76Traveller2009-05-21T15:59:00Z2009-05-21T15:59:00Zcome visit me at <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/">Wayfarers All.</a><div> </div><br>

come visit me at...

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-09-23:23bc8d13-bb9b-4cf4-971e-a6a6c59f2e30Traveller2008-09-23T21:21:00Z2008-09-23T21:21:00Z<p><br>Right after breakfast we were on the road to Faversham and its annual hop festival.&nbsp; Since I had also booked a tour of the Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham at 11 a.m., I was eager to get on the way and avoid searching for a parking space.&nbsp; Although I am quite often the subject of derision due to my habit of starting off quite early, this time it was a good idea (it usually is) as the parking lots near the town were already filling up with people from all over.&nbsp; I'm still not used to how Europe has become so easily travelled by residents of the EU countries who think hopping across the channel or across a border is all in a day's journey and most of these travellers speak several languages in a variety of beautiful accents.<br><br>Even though the streets of Faversham were already filling up with hop festival visitors, many of the vendors were just setting up shop.&nbsp; Setting up shop on this day meant decorating with hops - lots and lots and lots of hops.<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Hop_unloading_Fsham.jpg" border="0" width="400"><br><br>As the day wore on not only buildings, kiosks and outdoor stalls would be covered with hops but the local entertainers and visitors to the festival would&nbsp;be&nbsp;as well.&nbsp; While many vendors did not yet have their wares displayed, thankfully,&nbsp;Pawley Farm Cider&nbsp;not only had&nbsp;its table fully open&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Cider_Fsham.jpg" border="0" width="400"><br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pawley Farm<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Derek Macey<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Painters Forstal<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ospringe<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kent ME13 0EN<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Telephone&nbsp; 01795 532043<br>&nbsp;<br>but also laden with tasting samples of each of&nbsp;its ciders from sweet to dry and including&nbsp;the spiced cider - somewhat like that discovered at <a href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/12/10/chateau-buffalo--wine-and-hard-cider.aspx">Chateau Buffalo in New York State </a>but with its own distinct taste.&nbsp; Unable to carry any back on the plane to the States, we bought just one bottle for consumption at a later British date.&nbsp; We continued to amble round the town, watching various&nbsp;tables being set up and&nbsp;peekked at street entertainers doing their finally run throughs.&nbsp; In front of the town's Guildhall, a lively little band was getting people in the mood for traditional music to come later in the day.&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Guild_hall_Fsham_edit.jpg" border="0" width="300"><br><br>Faversham's Guildhall dates from&nbsp;1603 (and that's just when this one, the&nbsp;third and most recent, was built)&nbsp;and is the center of the town's marketplace.&nbsp; It is still in use and on this&nbsp;day a group of&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_M_Dancers_Prep_Fsham.jpg" border="0" width="400"><br><br>Morris Dancers using&nbsp;the open air mall underneath the rear of the building to practice their routine.&nbsp; You can look forward to another group of Morris Dancers performing their fertility dance in the next post.&nbsp; Being accompanied by a knowledgeable Brit can't be overrated when touring England.&nbsp; Had I not been with one I would have thought this mailbox to be just another charming British vessel for receiving&nbsp;cards and letters.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Qu_Vic_Postbox_Fham.jpg" border="0" width="300"><br><br>My friend, however, pointed out to me that these types of boxes have insignia on them (you can see&nbsp;one there in the middle of the box) that tells the period during which the box was installed.&nbsp; This mailbox dates from the days of Queen Victoria.&nbsp;&nbsp;Venturing down an alley (always check&nbsp;alleyways when travelling in England; many of them&nbsp;hold&nbsp;wonderful, unheralded treasures) we came upon the spire of <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Fsham_ChurchAlley_edit.jpg" border="0" width="330"><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Parish Church of Saint Mary of Charity.<br><br>Services were going on - and although we were warmly invited inside - we didn't want to disturb the service either by our entry or our departure.&nbsp; Noting that we were obviously tourists, the woman at the entrance to the church said with a trace of apology in her voice, "We're not a very old church , I'm afraid." I guess that's the kind of thing you say when Canterbury Cathedral is only a few miles away but, trust me, The Parish Church of Saint Mary of Charity is no slouch when it comes to being a house of worship.&nbsp; Like every place I've visited in England, Faversham is awash in history.&nbsp; Guess that's what&nbsp;happens when&nbsp;you have monarchs and noblemen and armies traipsing a small island for century upon century.&nbsp; Almost every building had some sort of historical marker telling of a king on the run who hid here or a prince who was sent to spend his summers there.&nbsp; Toward the edge of town sat this lovely public house (pub, to those of us in the know)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_The_Bull_QEI_Visit_Fsham.jpg" border="0" width="400"><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Bull Inn<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Tanners Street<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Faversham, Kent &nbsp;ME13 7JL <br><br>which has signage claiming a visit from Elizabeth I.&nbsp; Along with the history it seems in England there is always a bit of that somewhat odd and particularly British way of saying or doing things.&nbsp; Take for instance the hand lettered sign this gentleman used to advertise his wares:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Smelly_Balls_Fsham_crop.jpg" border="0" width="400"><br><br>Yes, I know&nbsp;the British having lots of phrases&nbsp;not commonly used in the United States but&nbsp;this guy had to have some inkling...</p> <p><a href="http://wayfarersall.net/?p=4">And now on to the Morris Dancers</a>....<br><br></p>

<br> Right after breakfast we were on the road to Faversham and its annual hop festival. Since I had also booked a tour of the Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham at 11 a.m., I was eager to get on the way and avoid searching for a parking space. Although I am quite often the subject of derision due to my habit of starting off quite early, this time it was a good idea (it usually is) as the parking lots near the town were already filling up with people from all over. I'm still not used to how Europe has become so easily travelled by residents of the EU countries who think hopping across the channel or across a border is all in a day's journey and most of these travellers speak several languages in a variety of beautiful accents.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-09-17:aa554a9c-b2f2-4144-8871-ae1a05798ba0Traveller2008-09-18T01:55:00Z2008-09-18T01:55:00Z<br>The&nbsp;trip from Snargate to Canterbury was the sort of&nbsp;pastoral England drive that I adore with long stretches of green, quick glimpses of pubs and the hop country addition of oast houses - big barn like structures where the hops are dried that&nbsp;can be&nbsp;easily identified by their&nbsp;cone shaped roofs&nbsp;topped with a bent tip.&nbsp; I&nbsp;recount these sights largely from the return trip though since I slept my way (hopefully not snored and drooled my way) to <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/2009/07/22/canterbury-cathedral/">Canterbury</a> waking only&nbsp;to&nbsp;act as the lookout for our B&amp;B.&nbsp;<br><br>Since I was still exhausted to the point of stupidity it's lucky that the Castle House Bed and Breakfast was easily located at the edge of what is left of the city walls and directly across the street from<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Castle_across_from_Castle_Hse_Cbury.JPG" width="400" border="0"><br><br>this castle wall.&nbsp; The castle of which it was once part was built during the reign of Henry I in the 12th century; however, within less than a&nbsp;hundred years&nbsp;it was no longer being used as a castle but as a <em>gaol</em> or jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><br>We arrived at&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Castle_hse_Cbury1.jpg" width="400" border="0"><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Castle House<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 28 Castle Street<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Canterbury, Kent&nbsp; CT1 2PT<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (01227) 761897<br><br>and found that it lived up to its business card appellation as a Superior Bed &amp; Breakfast.&nbsp; There was only one problem: our amiable host had no record of our reservation; although CH was fully booked for the night, he apologetically offered us the gardener's lodge for the evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_lodge_Castle_hse_Cbury.jpg" width="400" border="0">&nbsp;<br><br><br>The lodge - which appeared to be a renovated garage - was charming and outfitted much more completely than even an en suite B&amp;B room and we ended up spending both our Canterbury nights there.&nbsp; We had a kitchen sink, refrigerator and microwave plus our car was just outside the door.&nbsp; (The car park was another not always available B&amp;B amenity and included closed circuit TV coverage of the parking lot which could be viewed on the room's set.&nbsp; Like most B&amp;Bs&nbsp;there was very limited television reception.&nbsp; The closed circuit station was one of only four&nbsp;offered and turned out to be the most interesting&nbsp; programming but then&nbsp;I didn't&nbsp;go to England to watch TV.)<br><br>Next morning a full English breakfast was served in the main house.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since full English generally includes&nbsp;sliced pig (and I'm not talking&nbsp;an American slice, I'm talking a hunk), I&nbsp;opted for the graciously offered vegetarian breakfast.&nbsp; Cereal and juice were also available along with a large and varied selection of daily papers (for reading, not eating).&nbsp;We were surrounded by guests&nbsp;of varied origins and early morning temperaments.&nbsp; My son doesn't speak beyond&nbsp;absolutely necessary&nbsp;grunts in the a.m. but I'm&nbsp;still surprised to see people obviously&nbsp;travelling together and sitting at the same table who&nbsp;to all outward appearances would&nbsp;seem not to have met.&nbsp; <br><br>Sun poured in through the windows and&nbsp;light classical music played softly in the background.&nbsp; Breakfast finished, football scores surveyed, we were ready to head off to the <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/2009/04/20/morris-dancing-at-the-faversham-hop/">Faversham Hop Festival</a> and a tour of the <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/2009/04/23/shepherd-neame-hop-on-the-tour/">Shepherd Neame Brewery</a>.&nbsp;

<br>The trip from Snargate to Canterbury was the sort of pastoral England drive that I adore with long stretches of green, quick glimpses of pubs and the hop country addition of oast houses - big barn like structures where the hops are dried that can be easily identified by their cone shaped roofs topped with a bent tip. I recount these sights largely from the return trip though since I slept my way (hopefully not snored and drooled my way) to Canterbury waking only to act as the lookout for our B&B.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-09-13:1f16286a-0f31-40c7-a595-010b995f09f5Traveller2008-09-14T03:03:00Z2008-09-14T03:03:00Z<BR>After a long day in the Cleveland Airport and a long night on a plane (broken up by an excellent vegetarian in flight meal, I highly recommend choosing veg when flying as it arrives sooner and is most always tasty), I arrived in Gatwick and was pleased to find it not to be the <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2008/09/10/gatwick-airport.aspx">bugaboo I had feared.</A>&nbsp; Still, as my chauffeur pulled into Tunbridge Wells I found myself lagging far behind, even the sight of a functioning&nbsp;train station (usually one of my favorites) did nothing to reengergize me.&nbsp; So, we searched for a coffee shop where I could get a double shot of green tea, a banana and an energy drink laced with vitamin B.&nbsp; It is a sign of how low I was that I took pictures of neither the train station nor the very agreeable coffee shop.&nbsp; Feeling better the search was on for an adapter for my laptop power cord (found at Curry's, thanks to an extremely helpful young man) and a charger for my UK side cellphone (found at a Car Phone Warehouse).&nbsp; Despite the fact that we were in a decidely retail oriented section of Tunbridge Wells (the Car Phone Warehouse was inside a mall), what I saw of the burg was enough to make me think I wouldn't mind going back plus it gave me two of my favorite pictures of the trip...<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Humped_Z_Sign.jpg" width=300 border=0>&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Elderly_People_Sign.jpg" width=300 border=0><BR><BR>and then it was on to find Snargate in Kent, home to the Red Lion and its owner, Doris.<BR><BR>A banana will only hold you so long plus we needed directions&nbsp;- besides, any reason to stop at a true British pub - so we found ourselves taking a break at&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Lunch_b4_Snargate.jpg" width=400 border=0>&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Railway Hotel<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Appledore, Ashford, Kent TN26 2DF, UK<BR><BR>While it did have a TV (made palatable by the fact that it was showing a short retrospective of British rowing at the Olympics) there was no music (although there may have been later).&nbsp; Two of the most sought after and - to my mind&nbsp;- authentic attributes of a pub are the lack of a television and the lack of loud, piped in music.&nbsp; It's becoming more and more difficult to find&nbsp;pubs without a TV but as long as it's on sports or news, that can be accommodated.<BR><BR>We had a delicious meal consisting of a ploughman's lunch for my friend and fish and chips for me which we rotated between us, along with a beer for him and a cider for me.&nbsp; Our meal was had at a picnic table in the hotel's garden from where we could hear a slight row going on in the kitchen.&nbsp; The tiff did nothing to take away from our dining, it was in fact a delightfully <EM>Fawlty Towers </EM>moment.&nbsp; The service was quick and hospitable so whatever was going on in the kitchen was just an added dollop of atmosphere.&nbsp; We inquired from the manager about the location of the Red Lion and were pleased to find that it was just over the railroad tracks - which meant we had a drive of less than two miles before we could once again stop for a pint.<BR><BR>Doris and the Red Lion are a legend locally and amongst those looking for&nbsp;<A href="http://www.camra.org.uk/">real ale served in distinctive, traditional settings.</A>&nbsp; The Red Lion dates back to the 16th century and has been owned by Doris's family for almost one hundred years.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_Red_Lion_Sngate.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Red Lion<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Snargate, Romney Marsh, Kent, TN29 9UQ<BR><BR>Ale is pumped from casks, a jar of pickled eggs sits on the bar and&nbsp;the interior is&nbsp;dark and low ceiling, just like a pub should be.&nbsp; The front room was full of people who obviously weren't strangers to one another, Doris sat on a stool to the side while a younger woman served up our drinks.&nbsp; We sat in a room to the back, full of what appeared to be authentic memorabilia from the war to end all wars and the war that followed it.&nbsp; My friend and I were able to identify an air raid siren and a case for&nbsp;keeping your gas mask handy.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_RL_Int_Snargate.jpg" width=300 border=0><BR><BR>There is also a room with a dart board to the right hand side of the front door.&nbsp; We emerged some thirty minutes after entering ready to find Canterbury and our bed &amp; breakfast for the night, Castle House.

<br>After a long day in the Cleveland Airport and a long night on a plane (broken up by an excellent vegetarian in flight meal, I highly recommend choosing veg when flying as it arrives sooner and is most always tasty), I arrived in Gatwick and was pleased to find it not to be the bugaboo I had feared. Still, as my chauffeur pulled into Tunbridge Wells I found myself lagging far behind, even the sight of a functioning train station (usually one of my favorites) did nothing to reengergize me. So, we searched for a coffee shop where I could get a double shot of green tea, a banana and an energy drink laced with vitamin B. It is a sign of how low I was that I took pictures of neither the train station nor the very agreeable coffee shop. Feeling better the search was on for an adapter for my laptop power cord (found at Curry's, thanks to an extremely helpful young man) and a charger for my UK side cellphone (found at a Car Phone Warehouse). Despite the fact that we were in a decidely retail oriented section of Tunbridge Wells (the Car Phone Warehouse was inside a mall), what I saw of the burg was enough to make me think I wouldn't mind going back plus it gave me two of my favorite pictures of the trip...

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-09-10:e29e10dc-d06f-4e5e-9a2f-0275f2ce6584Traveller2008-09-10T18:35:00Z2008-09-10T18:35:00Z<BR>On my previous trips to England I've flown into Bristol International Airport.&nbsp; It's smaller (by a lot) than either Heathrow or Gatwick which makes getting through customs going both ways somewhat faster.&nbsp; Plus, despite&nbsp;the Bristol Airport's&nbsp;small size at 10 a.m. you can still get a final warm beer at its restaurant&nbsp;before leaving the country.&nbsp; Still, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Gatwick on a Saturday morning was not nearly the woolly bear I had been told to expect.&nbsp; From all accounts I had feared that I would still be standing in the customs line to get into England six days later when it was time to leave but a scant 90 minutes after getting off the plane I was meeting my host and his car.<BR><BR>Coming back through Gatwick the following Friday was a little less carefree but a lot of that had to do with the choices I made.&nbsp; No matter what country I'm in I don't sleep much the night before I have to head to the airport, always afraid I'll wake up and discover it's the day after my scheduled departure.&nbsp; This was particularly true the night before I headed to Gatwick.&nbsp; I was staying in&nbsp;Oxford and taking the train back to Gatwick.&nbsp; Having never made the journey&nbsp;toward London by train, I&nbsp;elected not to spend an additional night at Central Backpackers Hostel but rather&nbsp;take the&nbsp;early train&nbsp;back to the airport.&nbsp; I did much the same thing the following night when I decided not to take a hotel room for&nbsp;12 hours in Cleveland (which also would have&nbsp;meant going through security a second time) but to find a comfy chair&nbsp;for a snoozle in the airport.<BR><BR>Gatwick, I was surprised to&nbsp;discover, closes its security pass through from&nbsp;late evening until five in the a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;Downstairs from&nbsp;customs, security and the airline check in stations a Costa coffee house and an all night Marks &amp; Spencer Simply Food market stay open.&nbsp; There is also internet access available although if you choose to use their terminals rather than unpacking your laptop the fee is a steep 1 GBP per ten minutes.&nbsp; I chose to skip that option.&nbsp; With close to&nbsp;100&nbsp;people staying up with me and only upright seats to sleep on (although they didn't have arm dividers so you could stretch out) there wasn't much rest to be had.&nbsp; In the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport the following night I slept like a baby log in an overstuffed chair next to Starbucks and just down the way from the open all night Great American Bagel.&nbsp; <BR><BR>Having spent the night repacking my bags and waiting for the Continental service desk to open at 5:30 a.m., I was slightly on edge when it stretched beyond six before even the self service kiosk was available.&nbsp; I'm a big fan of Continental Airlines.&nbsp; In all the time I have flown with them I have had only one bad experience and it was with customer service, not the flight or the flight crew.&nbsp; I really didn't have a bad experience this time either, just an annoying one.&nbsp; About ten customer service folks showed up at five and then half of them spent the next hour blithely arranging and rearranging the&nbsp;crowd control&nbsp;barriers&nbsp;marking the check in aisles.&nbsp; It was like they were planning the Allied invasion of Normandy.&nbsp; They would move the poles and all step back and appraise the arrangement, move them again, appraise, move them yet again and appraise.&nbsp; Meanwhile, a herd and a half of people taking easyJet to Europe were piling into the innumerable already open customer service desks for that airline.&nbsp; When I pointed out to the Continental desk agent in charge of mounting the assault on the service desk that their sign said the self service kiosk would open at 5:30 a.m. his reply left me with little way to respond.&nbsp; He said, "Yes, but we never open until after six."&nbsp; So, the sign is just there to annoy us?<BR><BR>Once I actually had my boarding pass in hand the trip through customs was&nbsp;again a breeze, despite the fact that I was behind a wedding party of ten all of whom were carrying&nbsp;wedding frocks through security by hand.&nbsp; Once on the boarding side of customs, Gatwick rivals - no surpasses - Newark as the wonderland of airline terminals.&nbsp; There are multiple restaurants from quick serve to high end.&nbsp; You can buy duty free alcohol and tobacco from an enormous selection.&nbsp; There is a Harrod's, a Hugo Boss store, upscale cosmetic stores, a sushi bar (and that same damn 1GBP for ten minutes internet service).&nbsp; The one drawback is there are also an awful lot of people.&nbsp; By 6:30 the sit down breakfast restaurants had lines twenty people or more long as did the Starbucks.&nbsp; Thinking for some odd reason that my flight was leaving from Gate 111, I headed off to find something to eat in that direction.&nbsp; Be forewarned, many of the gates at Gatwick are as much as fifteen minutes away from the central boarding area.&nbsp; <BR><BR>After a long walk and a ride up an escalator so tall it made me dizzy I arrived at the Gate 111 area and found both an open news stand and a JD Wetherspoon pub that were virtually empty.&nbsp; The pub also served tea, milk, light breakfast items and delicious fresh squeezed orange juice.&nbsp; I was able to enjoy my breakfast in solitude while watching the morning news.&nbsp; (The broadcast featured a delightful man who was signing the spoken conversation.&nbsp; He was so artful and humorous in his hand signs that I soon found myself watching him rather than the regular news crew.)&nbsp; After about an hour it occurred to me that I was nowhere near a Continental gate so I made my way back to the central boarding area.&nbsp; Once I arrived, I discovered that my flight - although only 90 minutes from boarding - still had not been assigned a gate (this might have something to do with the fact that Gatwick is "the busiest single runway airport in the world").&nbsp; That's when I noticed that travellers were watching the departures board much like the people who wait for <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2006/11/30/finding-our-way-back-to-penn-station.aspx">trains at Penn Station in New York City.</A>&nbsp; Up until an hour before my flight there was no gate assignment, then suddenly it appeared and a small school of passengers made a dash for Gate 57.&nbsp; I was headed back to Newark and my comfy chair in Cleveland.

<br>On my previous trips to England I've flown into Bristol International Airport. It's smaller (by a lot) than either Heathrow or Gatwick which makes getting through customs going both ways somewhat faster. Plus, despite the Bristol Airport's small size at 10 a.m. you can still get a final warm beer at its restaurant before leaving the country. Still, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Gatwick on a Saturday morning was not nearly the woolly bear I had been told to expect. From all accounts I had feared that I would still be standing in the customs line to get into England six days later when it was time to leave but a scant 90 minutes after getting off the plane I was meeting my host and his car.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-07-13:cf1d1cd2-dd0c-42e5-a4c9-c2dc3ddca493Traveller2008-07-14T01:33:00Z2008-07-14T01:33:00Z<BR>"Stop it, you're giving me the blues."&nbsp; I don't remember the story that goes with that Dick Shawn punch line but I do know even if you're not a devotee of the blues (which I am not) visiting the Lafayette Tap Room in Buffalo, New York is a fun way to wind up a Saturday night.<BR><BR>I actually found the <A href="http://www.lafayettetaproombbq.com/sites/home.html">Lafayette Tap Room</A>&nbsp;because I was looking for sweet potato pie.&nbsp; Mmmm, pie.&nbsp; When it turned out to have not&nbsp;just pie but blues (which my&nbsp;Buffalo guide likes) and was open late enough to fit well into our schedule, we decided to take a look.&nbsp; When 11 p.m. Saturday night rolled around we almost blew it off.&nbsp; We were tired, one of us had worn inappropriate shoes and&nbsp;- since the other of us had insisted on a long walk&nbsp;from the delightful and interesting&nbsp;Allen Street to the almost equally delightful and interesting Elmwood - blisters had ensued.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the blisters we decided&nbsp;to stop by, stay for a song or so and&nbsp;return to the hotel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two hours and more later as the band packed up their instruments, we were leaving.&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn1.jpg" width=296 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lafayette Tap Room<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 391 Washington Street<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Buffalo, New York 14203<BR><BR>Since one of us was walking impaired we took a cab.&nbsp; From the address and our&nbsp;excursions around the&nbsp;city earlier in the day, there was a little concern about the neighborhood; there needn't&nbsp;have been.&nbsp; The Tap Room is located next to the Lafayette Hotel.&nbsp; The hotel is a residential hotel which for many brings to mind all sorts of seedy characters but&nbsp;a quick inspection proved it to be both well maintained and architecturally interesting.&nbsp; I thought I had pictures of its interior murals but alas, such appears not&nbsp;to be the case.<BR><BR>The Lafayette Tap Room is anything but seedy.&nbsp; When we arrived several&nbsp;motorcycles&nbsp;were parked out front - true to its "Blues, Bikes&nbsp;&amp; BBQ" motto.&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="http://www.jw-jones.com/">JW Jones</A>&nbsp;- the name of the lead guitarist and vocalist but apparently also used to refer to&nbsp;the entirety of whomever is playing with him - was already well into a very loud set when we made our entrance.&nbsp;&nbsp;The inventory of sweet potato pie had already run out (probably means it was pretty good pie) so I settled for a slice of southern pecan&nbsp;which was good except for the fact that I don't eat pecans.&nbsp; Love that sweet goo underneath though.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>Our fifteen minutes and we're out of here game plan soon evaporated in the face of the friendly venue and the&nbsp;great music.&nbsp; The crowd was far too sparse for the&nbsp;quality of the music being played.&nbsp; I don't know if it hadn't been advertised well enough or if there was something else going on in Buffalo that night.&nbsp;&nbsp;(Buffalo - in addition to being a great place for Frank Lloyd Wright and other architecture - has a lively music, bar and restaurant scene.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Lack of an&nbsp;audience didn't diminish the energy of the musicians.&nbsp; They gave it their all through two, long lively sets.&nbsp; We purchased a CD and I highly recommend both the music and the venue, particularly for those like me who are kind of "blues-frightened".&nbsp;&nbsp;I enjoyed every minute of&nbsp;the evening and would go out of my way to&nbsp;see&nbsp;JWJ again and&nbsp;when (not if) I'm in downtown Buffalo again late some weekend night I'll be back at the Tap Room&nbsp;in search of sweet potato&nbsp;pie.&nbsp; Mmmmm, pie.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<br> "Stop it, you're giving me the blues." I don't remember the story that goes with that Dick Shawn punch line but I do know even if you're not a devotee of the blues (which I am not) visiting the Lafayette Tap Room in Buffalo, New York is a fun way to wind up a Saturday night.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-06-20:330f2567-da3f-4ba9-bbdb-fca96c0aef2bTraveller2008-06-20T20:59:00Z2008-06-20T20:59:00Z<br>I love England but I don't drive while I'm there and don't think I ever would.&nbsp; No matter what my British acquaintances say, their traffic signs make no sense and the roads are all bendy and narrow which makes for&nbsp;great passenger side travelling (if you're with a good driver) but doesn't appeal to me all as a skill to learn while on holiday.&nbsp; Thus, when I visited Stonehenge I was&nbsp;the navigator and the designated "Stonehenge lookout" - which led&nbsp;to&nbsp;what will be a lifelong misunderstanding between me and the person who was driving.&nbsp; He thinks I was disappointed with Stonehenge, I wasn't disappointed at all -&nbsp;it is&nbsp;my all time favorite place made out&nbsp;of great big rocks, I just thought one would be able to spot it from the road. <br><br>(I've moved to <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/">Wayfarers All.)</a><div> </div><div> </div><br><br>One of the things I most like about travelling in England is the way in which the British approach their historical treasures which is - unsurprisingly - in a most British way and Stonehenge is no exception.&nbsp; If this site were in the United States&nbsp;beginning about 100 miles away from the actual location there would be signs reading, "See Stonehenge."&nbsp; There are - that I saw - no such signs.&nbsp; As a child I lived in Tennessee and let me tell you, if you get anywhere near Rock City (a somewhat tacky but "awe inspiring when you are six" local attraction that has amongst its many "natural" splendors a narrow rock opening called&nbsp;"Fat Man's Squeeze") there will be not just billboards advertising the fact that you are nearing Rock City, there will be barns painted red and black saying "See Rock City", there will be yard placards saying "See Rock City", there will be Burma Shave like crawls of signs saying "See"&nbsp;"Rock" "City", there will be bumper stickers reading "I saw Rock City."&nbsp; To be honest I'm not sure&nbsp;it&nbsp;exists anymore&nbsp;but I do know at tourist centers along the Tennessee interstate you can still buy&nbsp;red bird houses&nbsp;with "See Rock City" stencilled on their black roofs.&nbsp; So, in my previously mentioned position as "Stonehenge lookout" I expected to see something that gave me some small hint that Stonehenge was somewhere on our horizon - and that is how my friend and I drove past Stonehenge.<br><br>The person I was riding with that day is an amazingly good humored chap who rarely gets angry or even outright testy but on this day he went right past annoyed, skittered beyond testy and arrived first stop at angry when he realized that I had not recognized the turnoff to Stonehenge.&nbsp; It probably didn't help that I went the opposite direction of angry and was all but consumed in giggles and insisted upon making remarks like, "Let me see if I can find it in the rear view mirror,&nbsp;after all&nbsp;objects there are larger than they may appear."&nbsp; At first I wasn't even sure if he was going to turn around and go back but he did - although even knowing that we were right on it, finding it wasn't a given.&nbsp; There isn't any neon if you're coming at the place from the opposite direction either, just a discreet little notice amongst the other road markers (oh, alright, there may also be a couple of equally discreet historical signs.)&nbsp; Although I must say, once you find it Stonehenge it&nbsp;is everything one has been led to believe that it will be - <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_sh1.jpg" width="400" border="0"><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.16465">Stonehenge</a><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wiltshire,&nbsp;United Kingdom<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; about two miles from Amesbury on the A303<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; let someone else drive<br><br>The low key, "don't get too excited, we're British and this isn't football" atmosphere continues once you pull into the parking lot.&nbsp; By parking lot I mean a gravelled yard not a Disneyesque paved lot from which you&nbsp;will catch a tram to&nbsp;buy your ticket.&nbsp; Get out and walk&nbsp;to a set of tables where you will&nbsp;purchase a very reasonably priced entry (about thirteen bucks).&nbsp; From there it's a&nbsp;short&nbsp;walk via tunnel&nbsp;to the other side of the highway.&nbsp; You will emerge on the path that leads you around Stonehenge.&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_sh4,path.jpg" width="400" border="0"><br><br>On certain days, like the Summer Solstice -&nbsp;hey, that&nbsp;was today - and by pre-arrangement you may sometimes be&nbsp;allowed to explore inside the rings but not on a general basis.&nbsp; An audio taped tour is available but it's also a lot of fun to get a basic feel for the place and its history just by reading the available pamphlets and walking around on your own.&nbsp; (Plus, with earphones&nbsp;on you can't spend&nbsp;time&nbsp;irritating those around you by saying things like, "How the hell did these things get here?" and "Wouldn't you hate to be the guy who had to tell the workers that&nbsp;all the&nbsp;stones needed to be moved&nbsp;about six inches to the right?")&nbsp; As you can see the day of our visit it was dark and cold (well, maybe you can't see that it was cold but, trust me,&nbsp;it was incredibly cold) which - as always for me - made it easier to&nbsp;imagine in someway the feelings of those to whom this location and these stones were apparently sacred.&nbsp;&nbsp;Once&nbsp;I had&nbsp;run out of&nbsp;jokes about "this is probably just where they got tired" and allowed myself to stand back and look at it, Stonehenge moved&nbsp;me in a sort of pagan, mythical, Joseph Campbell way.<br><br>Almost as amazing as Stonehenge itself is the fact that until the 1980s the site was pretty much open to anyone to do just about anything.&nbsp; As a result much of the rockwork disappeared to find its way onto someone's shelf as a souvenir.&nbsp; Can you imagine, "Hey, Harry, what's that rock?"&nbsp; "Oh that, I chipped it off of Stonehenge, thought it would look a lot better on my mantle."&nbsp; Fortunately, it has since come under the perview of the British government and has&nbsp;also been named a <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.4193">World Heritage Site</a>.&nbsp; Once you have completed your circumnavigation of the stones, there is a small gift shop and a cafe for drinks and snacks.&nbsp; <br><br>So, that's it: Stonehenge.&nbsp; No mascots, no rides, no ears to bring back but it's a true wonder and a must visit, even if that means you have to turn around and go back to find it.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would go back tomorrow.&nbsp; I'll never be able to convince my friend but it in no way disappointed me nor will it you.<br><br>I've moved to <a href="http://wayfarersall.net/">Wayfarers All.</a><div> </div><br><br><br>

<br>I love England but I don't drive while I'm there and don't think I ever would. No matter what my British acquaintances say, their traffic signs make no sense and the roads are all bendy and narrow which makes for great passenger side travelling (if you're with a good driver) but doesn't appeal to me all as a skill to learn while on holiday. Thus, when I visited Stonehenge I was the navigator and the designated "Stonehenge lookout" - which led to what will be a lifelong misunderstanding between me and the person who was driving. He thinks I was disappointed with Stonehenge, I wasn't disappointed at all - it is my all time favorite place made out of great big rocks, I just thought one would be able to spot it from the road.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-06-15:37effa63-ad9b-478b-ac6a-6dda4eedc0d9Traveller2008-06-15T22:24:00Z2008-06-15T22:24:00Z<P><BR>I'm always looking for pubs, restaurants, bars, people's houses - whatever you will - with steel tip darts but&nbsp;my new favorite place for watching football (when you watch soccer in a restaurant&nbsp;with a British flag on the front door, it's football) and playing darts totally snuck up on me.&nbsp; I had asked the concierge at a Cleveland hotel for the best scenic drive to Sandusky and she had guided me toward Rocky River Road.&nbsp; With Friday afternoon traffic to wade through The Pub almost slipped by us.&nbsp; We actually had to circle back and hunt for what we thought we saw but, boy howdy, are we glad we did.&nbsp; Now no matter where I'm travelling in the area, I find a reason to drop by, have an ale and beat my friend in darts.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_thepub,rear.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The back entrance to <A href="http://luvthepub.com/pub_rocky_river.html">The Pub</A>&nbsp;in the parking lot to the<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; left of the bank with which it shares its building -&nbsp;<BR><BR>here's the&nbsp;<A href="http://dartsamerica.com/2008/06/15/the-pub.aspx">front entrance</A> you need to watch for when driving down the street.<BR><BR>There&nbsp;is so much to love about The Pub.&nbsp; First,&nbsp;the parent company has done a wonderful job of preserving the&nbsp;facade from the theatre which used to make its home here.&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_thepub_neon.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>Second, in a time when so many places are taking their steel tip dart boards out, The Pub has&nbsp;taken a chance on having steel tip boards.&nbsp; Not only have they actually put&nbsp;the boards up&nbsp;but they have given them the appropriate amount of room which means losing space for at least two four top tables.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>Third, The Pub&nbsp;has somewhat&nbsp;of an authentic&nbsp;British public house feel.&nbsp; It is separated into several "rooms"&nbsp;like you might find in&nbsp;real pub and&nbsp;the pub grub it serves&nbsp;is reasonably in line with what you might find in a pub as well.&nbsp; I haven't&nbsp;made my mind up yet whether&nbsp;outfitting the servers in modified kilts is a good idea but with so much that is just right about this place,&nbsp;the clothing isn't a deal breaker.<BR><BR>Fourth, they serve Lambic Belgian Beer - a deliciously fruity ale - in both apple and raspberry.&nbsp; Funny how much better&nbsp;my dart game becomes as I drain a glass of apple ale.<BR><BR>The two dart boards are&nbsp;found on&nbsp;a patio&nbsp;to the far right&nbsp;side of the restaurant.&nbsp; During the cool months ceiling to floor doors enclose the patio.&nbsp; On our initial visit the weather wasn't quite warm enough to have them open as evening approached nor were they open on our return visit later that same weekend.&nbsp; Business was so slow on both of those visits that I feared the down turn&nbsp;in casual dining might close&nbsp;The Pub down before it had a decent shot at succeeding.&nbsp; Ah,&nbsp;but&nbsp;our&nbsp;third visit not only proved our fears unwarranted, it provided me with one of those&nbsp;evenings that lingers in the memory long after the&nbsp;apple ale buzz has faded.<BR><BR>We&nbsp;and a sky full of black storm clouds blew into Rocky River late on a Sunday afternoon heavy with humidity.&nbsp; The&nbsp;patio doors were open and all the tall tables just beyond the patio roof had&nbsp;their umbrellas up and guests perched on the tables' stools.&nbsp;&nbsp;Barely beating the rain inside we found ourselves helping the servers to close the umbrellas and&nbsp;save the glasses and cutlery from playing their own game of darts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Within&nbsp;minutes though the storm had&nbsp;passed,&nbsp;replaced by&nbsp;a cool grey early evening.&nbsp; We&nbsp;settled into a table&nbsp;that gave us both access to a dart board and a view of the "friendly"&nbsp;between the&nbsp;Argentine and United States national football teams.&nbsp; Argentina being the&nbsp;number one ranked&nbsp;team in the world at the moment and the U. S. being the 92nd, we&nbsp;were just hoping for a&nbsp;competitive game, not a drubbing.&nbsp; Well, that evening two underdogs had their days.<BR><BR>We ordered shrimp tempura and stuffed mushroom caps off the appetizer&nbsp;menu&nbsp; (both delicious), an apple ale for me and&nbsp;a good&nbsp;strong&nbsp;beer for my companion.&nbsp; Before long we had&nbsp;settled into alternately playing for the&nbsp;title of World Champion of Steel Tip Darts and watching the&nbsp;game on TV.&nbsp; Two hours later&nbsp;our boys had held the Argentine team to a 0-0 tie and I had emerged - after three hard fought games - the triumphant but gracious World Champion of Steel Tip Darts (not to brag but I did hit a double bull to end the last game, okay maybe to brag just a little).<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_thepub_diners_night.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Patio of The Pub with its doors open,&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dart boards and TV&nbsp;faintly visible at the back.<BR><BR>Were I a resident of Rocky River or any place within&nbsp;reasonable driving distance of it, I would be back&nbsp;at The Pub on a weekly basis defending my world title.&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </P> <P>&nbsp;</P>

<br>I'm always looking for pubs, restaurants, bars, people's houses - whatever you will - with steel tip darts but my new favorite place for watching football (when you watch soccer in a restaurant with a British flag on the front door, it's football) and playing darts totally snuck up on me. I had asked the concierge at a Cleveland hotel for the best scenic drive to Sandusky and she had guided me toward Rocky River Road. With Friday afternoon traffic to wade through The Pub almost slipped by us. We actually had to circle back and hunt for what we thought we saw but, boy howdy, are we glad we did. Now no matter where I'm travelling in the area, I find a reason to drop by, have an ale and beat my friend in darts.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-05-22:954b06cd-b3eb-47cb-8538-4bbc2fd6c8b5Traveller2008-05-22T21:15:00Z2008-05-22T21:15:00Z<BR>It was easier to spot Shakespeare's Restaurant &amp; Pub on the rural landscape of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania than it was to pick out Stonehenge from the highway on my first visit to England.&nbsp; <BR><BR>"Hmmm" is the first reaction one might have upon discovering the website for Shakespeare's Restaurant and Pub; that "hmmm" turns to "what the.." when discovering it in all its stone encircled glory while driving down a country road in Pennsylvania.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_shakesout.jpg" width=500 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="http://shakespearesrestaurant.com/">Shakespeare's Restaurant &amp; Pub</A><BR><BR>I purposely cropped this picture to show the telephone lines and utility house which give some indication of the area in which the restaurant is located.&nbsp; Further down the road a smaller stone gate with a gorilla statue on either side marks the entrance to the sister golf facility.<BR><BR>According to the locals at a bar in nearby Zelienople the enormous rocks which encompass the grounds were man made at a cost of between three and four million dollars.&nbsp; The restaurant's literature writes of the boulders being quarried from Medusa Aggregates without mentioning either their cost or how many of them are actual rocks; either way the rockworks were for me even more impressive than the castle they "protect".&nbsp; <BR><BR>On the evening we visited Shakespeare's two wedding parties were in the process of arriving for receptions upstairs.&nbsp; I can imagine that the banquet facilities provided a lasting and festive memory for both the newly married couples and their guests.&nbsp; Up close the castle itself is obviously a new building - no, I wasn't expecting an authentic castle in the middle of Pennsylvania - but despite that fact&nbsp;the result of the owner's efforts is no less fun for the visitor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/tn_shakesdoor.jpg" width=315 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shakespeare's main entrance<BR><BR>The "let's have a good time" feel of Shakespeare's continues with its dark interior complete with suits of armour and cutesy names for the restrooms (Queen's Throne Room and King's Throne Room,&nbsp;I would suggest&nbsp;after those names&nbsp;a little more theatrical flair for the bathrooms themselves, actual - I'm not kidding - thrones for comode seats would have been a kick).&nbsp;&nbsp;The enormous main bar&nbsp;behind the host's station&nbsp;provides a breathtaking view of the grounds behind the restaurant.&nbsp; Patrons can eat in the bar, although due to the&nbsp;light from the sunset the window shades were drawn shortly after our arrival which understandably but disappointingly eliminated most of the view.<BR><BR>Our reservation had been for seven but we arrived shortly after six and were immediately seated.&nbsp; Within fifteen minutes after our arrival the waiting area was full and remained that way throughout our stay so an early evening&nbsp;meal on the weekends might be the best bet.&nbsp; The service was prompt, efficient and pleasant; the food - particularly my companion's steak&nbsp;- was very good in a&nbsp;1970s Steak &amp; Ale sort of way.&nbsp; The menu was&nbsp;vast and varied&nbsp;-&nbsp;probably to accomodate the&nbsp;wide range of patrons from small&nbsp;child to senior adults - and most of the items were heavily sauced.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was a substantial and mostly pleasing selection of wines and beer; on the whole a pleasant&nbsp;meal in interesting surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>When we&nbsp;drove past Shakespeare's Restaurant&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Pub, when we entered Shakespeare's Restaurant &amp; Pub&nbsp;both my friend and I had the same question, "Why?"&nbsp;&nbsp;And I must admit, the queston still lingers: did Richard Hvizdak - owner of&nbsp;the establishment - wake up one night&nbsp;with a start and a&nbsp;half remembered dream that called to him to build a castle in&nbsp;a field in&nbsp;western Pennsylvania? But that seems a rather arrogant and condescending question when one considers that Mr. Hvizdak risked quite a lot - many millions - to see his vision become a reality and he made that investment in a place and time when many people and industries were moving away. Judging by the overflow number of guests Shakespeare's had the night of our visit, folks from miles around find the restaurant to be a great night out for the entire family. I know that it was worth our drive off the beaten path just to see the rocks and have a view of the castle from the road. If we're in the area again, I wouldn't mind spending a half an hour or so&nbsp;at the bar with a beer watching for some knights to arrive back from battle.

<br> It was easier to spot Shakespeare's Restaurant & Pub on the rural landscape of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania than it was to pick out Stonehenge from the highway on my first visit to England.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-05-03:868ee25f-ecb3-41b5-a831-092596353c6fTraveller2008-05-04T03:20:00Z2008-05-04T03:20:00Z<P><BR>There are - to my knowledge - two restaurants in downtown&nbsp;Sandusky, Ohio that serve dinner (other than the members only Sandusky Yacht Club); that one of the two should be a top notch French restaurant speaks of both the&nbsp;potential Sandusky has and the problems Sandusky faces.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/zincuseit.jpg" width=235 border=0><BR><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://www.zincbrasserie.net/">ZINC Brasserie</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 142 Columbus Avenue<BR><BR>Last year, as part of a condominium open house, we took a guided tour of Sandusky.&nbsp; At the time we were told that a French restaurant was slated to open soon on one of Sandusky's main streets.&nbsp; This year we inquired about the restaurant upon checking in to our B&amp;B and were delighted to find that it&nbsp;had opened and seemed to be doing well.&nbsp; Although we had already eaten, we decided to stroll down the street and perhaps have a glass of wine and some dessert.&nbsp; <BR><BR>We had been told that it was just a couple of blocks away on Columbus Avenue - and since sadly there is very little open in downtown&nbsp;Sandusky after dark or anytime for that matter - didn't think we would have any trouble finding it; such was not the case, in fact, we had to cross the street and ask the folks at the State Theatre where it was.&nbsp; To our surprise, we had walked right by it but once we entered the small establishment (about a dozen tables plus bar seating and the next night a couple of outdoor tables) it was quickly apparent that our short search was going to be well rewarded. </P> <P>We sat at the bar and were waited upon by the house manager, Mike.&nbsp; Mike was friendly, astute and not shy about offering his opinion when we inquired about a dessert wine; although the wine was a little sweet for our tastes, it's nice to find a bar man who knows his stock well enough to make an intelligent suggestion.&nbsp; I would far rather have a difference of opinion about a wine than be left to feel my way through the wine menu or worse to think that the server either didn't know his wine or didn't care to take the time to make a recommendation.&nbsp; I also had to have some chocolate and even my "not too big on dessert" friend was pulled in once my mousse arrived.<BR><BR>We knew we wanted to come back the following night and (since we really wanted ZINC to be doing well) were pleased to find out that a Saturday booking definitely required a reservation.&nbsp; Carlos, the restaurant's chef, came out from the back and called his wife who handles the bookings to ensure that we would have a table.&nbsp; It was a good thing we had thought to ask because on Saturday night every table was full and people were eating at the bar when we arrived; since we were a few minutes early, we too took spots at the bar where we ordered a shared glass of chardonnay.<BR><BR>On the dot at 7:30 we were guided to our table by our server, Jerry.&nbsp; I firmly believe that the tone of a restaurant - any business for that matter - comes from the top down and Jerry certainly reinforced that view.&nbsp; Like Carlos and Mike, he was friendly, knew the menu and the specials well and - most important of all - he was obviously proud of ZINC and the fare it served.&nbsp; I had the lobster bisque en croute (lobster bisque is always on the menu,&nbsp; it being en croute was a special that evening) followed by a salad with the unusual combination of blood oranges and&nbsp; ruby red beets.&nbsp; My friend had a bowl full - let me reiterate full - of mussels and chose halibut cheeks for his main course.&nbsp; <BR><BR>While we were waiting, plate after plate passed by with a bowl topped by an extraordinary puff pastry.&nbsp; Just as I was about to ask Jerry what that was and could I get one, my lobster bisque arrived; much to my delight, it turned out that the puff pastry was the "en croute".</P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/en_crouteuseit.jpg" width=229 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lobster bisque en croute<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the picture is a little dark (hell, a lot dark)<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; but you can tell how much I enjoyed the bisque by the fact that&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;this picture&nbsp;is about the same size as the picture of ZINC itself<BR><BR>The pastry was amazing: light, flaky and -&nbsp;as my friend took great delight in pointing out to one who has to have skim milk and "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" (can anyone tell me what it is since it has no calories and no nutritional value whatsoever?) - was most assuredly made out of whole milk and&nbsp;lots and lots of real butter.&nbsp; Had the bisque beneath it been just average, I still would have been quite happy.&nbsp; The lobster bisque, however, equaled its cover in every way: thick, creamy, (again full of&nbsp;whole milk&nbsp;and&nbsp;butter)&nbsp;with generous bites of lobster.&nbsp; Not being a mussel eater, I was assured by my companion that his first course was as tasty and satisfying as mine.&nbsp; <BR><BR>Our next plates, although not extraordinary like the lobster bisque and the mussels, were delicious, well served and paired with more wine from ZINC's healthy list.&nbsp; We ended the evening with a very tasty apple crumble and were surprised to find the bill to be&nbsp;only a tad over $100 including the gratuity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Were I an Ohio resident, ZINC would be a monthly treat.&nbsp; I&nbsp;fervently hope it&nbsp;(and the lobster bisque en croute) are there when&nbsp;I most likely return to Sandusky next year.<BR><BR>Therein lies the question mark: will ZINC with its&nbsp;talented chef, excellent food, intimate ambience and knowledgeable staff survive another year?&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>Sandusky - like so many small downtowns - has&nbsp;so much to offer.&nbsp;&nbsp;A couple of businesses have found ways to exploit&nbsp;themselves.&nbsp; The weekend we were there the State Theatre had&nbsp;a sell out on Friday and a near sell out on Saturday.&nbsp; Daly's and another bar down Columbus&nbsp;Avenue were hopping both nights as well.&nbsp; Down the block and around the corner a young entrepeneur&nbsp;runs <A href="http://www.theherozone.com/">The Hero Zone</A>, hands down the best comic and games store I have ever been in (we went there&nbsp;and found cheap, exceedingly fast internet access).&nbsp; <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/02/27/sandusky-ohio--a-quick-cold-time-out.aspx">The Merry-Go-Round Museum</A>&nbsp;is a perfect marriage of building and theme but, since last we were there, little&nbsp;if anything else has found its way to Sandusky.&nbsp; Are these businesses the building blocks upon which a&nbsp;Sandusky downtown revival will be built - or are they just specific destinations which are building their own clienteles but don't&nbsp;imply future growth?<BR><BR>Block after block of downtown Sandusky is boarded up and only a few miles away&nbsp;sets suburban, franchise laden Sandusky for those who flock to nearby Cedar Point in the summer months.&nbsp;&nbsp;A year ago there was hope&nbsp;that a couple of condo complexes in conjunction with a redevelopment of the far end of downtown would&nbsp;jump start a revival,&nbsp;this year there&nbsp;appeared to have been little movement on either of the projects&nbsp;at which we looked.&nbsp;&nbsp;The lack of momentum is, no doubt, related to the national real estate down turn but high end condominiums in a downtown where we saw not one grocery store&nbsp;and very little other retail must be a hard sell.&nbsp; Still,&nbsp;if&nbsp;I were retiring and looking for a place&nbsp;to take a chance on, Sandusky - with its friendly residents,&nbsp;access to Lake Erie and ZINC - might very well be that place.&nbsp;</P>

<br> There are - to my knowledge - two restaurants in downtown Sandusky, Ohio that serve dinner (other than the members only Sandusky Yacht Club); that one of the two should be a top notch French restaurant speaks of both the potential Sandusky has and the problems Sandusky faces.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-03-29:24e248c0-12dd-409e-b354-409b53c9a012Traveller2008-03-30T04:35:00Z2008-03-30T04:35:00Z<BR>The Merrick Art Gallery - unlike many of the attractions in and around New Brighton, Pennsylvania - keeps winter&nbsp; hours that make a visit easily accomplished even on a cold Sunday afternoon.&nbsp; It is also conveniently located near at least two fine&nbsp;<A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2008/02/26/flaminios-soupys-and-mcdowells-inn--good-folks-good-service-good-times.aspx">pubs with darts</A>.&nbsp; From the look of the town and the talk of several bartenders, New Brighton is in the midst of difficult times; a fact which makes the presence of The Merrick Art Gallery both surprising and laudable.&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/merrickuseit.jpg" width=375 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<A href="http://merrickartgallery.org/home">The Merrick Art Gallery</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1100 Fifth Avenue&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;New Brighton, Pennsylvania<BR><BR>Endowed in 1880 by Edward Dempster Merrick, the gallery&nbsp;holds a large but not particularly first rate collection gathered by Mr. Merrick on his extensive travels throughout the United States and Europe.&nbsp; The most interesting facet of the gallery is&nbsp;actually not its artwork but the way in which the artwork is displayed: very much in the European tradition with paintings&nbsp;clustered in multiples all along its long, high&nbsp;walls.&nbsp; The collection also benefits from the natural lighting available through the ceiling skylights&nbsp;of the second floor, although more could be done with that asset.&nbsp;<BR><BR>What is more than first rate is the gallery's contribution to arts education in the New Brighton area.&nbsp; The Merrick Art Gallery offers a wide range of classes for adults and children as young as five.&nbsp; In addition, the museum has an ongoing program to support local artists and to bring travelling art shows to the Merrick.&nbsp; During a time when many economically challenged communities have had to cut back or totally eliminate arts funding, The Merrick Art Gallery has stepped up and provided a much needed way for people to have access to the arts.&nbsp; I highly recommend that when in Brighton you make The Merrick Art Gallery one of your stops.<BR><BR>The Merrick family fortune was built on the manufacture of horseshoe&nbsp;nails.&nbsp; Charles Merrick brought the Standard Horse Nail Corporation to New Brighton in 1882 and in New Brighton it has remained ever since.&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/standardhorsenailuseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://www.stanho.com/index.php">Standard Horse Nail Corporation</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1415 Fifth Avenue<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; New Brighton, Pennsylvania<BR><BR>In 1914 Standard Horse Nail&nbsp;sent the largest shipment of horse nails in history to Bethlehem Steel, a record that number that still stands and, at least as far as Bethlehem Steel goes, will stand&nbsp;in perpetuity.&nbsp; Adapting to change Standard Horse Nail began manufacturing keys in addition to nails&nbsp;in the early 1900s and continued to do so until the 1960s when it stopped making nails.&nbsp; Now,&nbsp;in addition to keys, Standard Horse Nail makes pins of all sorts as well as other fasteners.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/stanhocloseuseit.jpg" width=300 border=0><BR><BR>The current factory&nbsp;stands on the same land and uses some of the same buildings that the original Standard Horse&nbsp;Nail Corporation&nbsp;used in the late 1880s.&nbsp; Together&nbsp;Standard Horse Nail and The Merrick Art Gallery&nbsp;speak to the difference the commitment of one company and one family can mean to a town like New Brighton.

<br> The Merrick Art Gallery - unlike many of the attractions in and around New Brighton, Pennsylvania - keeps winter hours that make a visit easily accomplished even on a cold Sunday afternoon.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-03-15:be9253eb-0bab-4003-aedb-f373597f4988Traveller2008-03-16T01:14:00Z2008-03-16T01:14:00Z<BR>Beaver, Pennsylvania - sitting tidily between Rochester and Industry - resides in a&nbsp;zip code&nbsp;very close to Bill Bryson's "perfect" town but still in the same metaphorical&nbsp;state as Garrison Keillor's slightly off kilter Lake Woebegone.&nbsp; It is a friendly, enjoyable, seemingly prosperous burg but one wonders how it maintains its momentum in the face of the challenges and downturns that have beset its faltering nearby neighbors.<BR><BR>We didn't go to Pennsylvania looking for Beaver&nbsp;but were&nbsp;pleasantly surprised when&nbsp;we&nbsp;stumbled across it (go ahead,&nbsp;get it out of your system now).&nbsp; Having spent the evening in the&nbsp;inhospitable, down on its luck town of&nbsp;<A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2008/02/25/lost-opportunities-on-the-ohio-river-pennsylvania.aspx">Industry</A>, Beaver&nbsp;couldn't have been more unexpected.&nbsp;&nbsp;We landed there looking for&nbsp;a place to eat breakfast that didn't&nbsp;have smorgasbord or Mac in its name (although let me say that the&nbsp;invention of the MacMuffin is a landmark in breakfast history).&nbsp; So there&nbsp;we were&nbsp;on&nbsp;Third Street in Beaver, only miles away from Industry but seemingly in another world.&nbsp; Breakfast was had at&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/KolacheBeaveruseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://www.cafekolache.com/">Cafe Kolache</A><BR><BR>which although busy on this Saturday morning provided fast, efficient service.&nbsp; Kolache was brought to Pennsylvania by the Czechs; it's a sweet bread filled with any number of fillings and&nbsp;perfect for just about any meal.&nbsp; We were surprised when without prompting&nbsp;the man behind the counter offered us "one day less fresh" kolache for half off.&nbsp; Now I'm not a consumer that has any problem with day old bakery goods, particularly when they were visible in the counter and looked no less delicious for their one day's wear.&nbsp; I come from a long line of frozen bread eaters, so day old is like straight out of the oven to me.&nbsp; The kolache plus juice and coffee made for a filling breakfast and we enjoyed it at a table by the window that gave us a view of the street.<BR><BR>Our first visit to Beaver was in the early fall and a craft festival was going on at the town square just down the street, so we meandered that direction looking in store windows as we walked.&nbsp; Nary a chain store was in sight and each of the storefronts we peered into seemed to reveal a healthy, generally family oriented business.&nbsp; As I recall there was only one empty store on our entire stroll.&nbsp; <BR><BR>With Halloween only a few days away, Christmas fast approaching&nbsp;and football season in full swing, the crafts had readily recognizable themes.&nbsp; Very few of the&nbsp;stalls appeared to occupied by professional fair vendors but rather locals with genuine articles for sale.&nbsp; My favorite stand though was the one that sold large cups of sweet ice tea for a dollar and that included a refill.&nbsp; I was tickled to find this treat in PA as I thought it belonged solely to the southern states.&nbsp; When I moved to California several years back I hadn't realized it was a regional drink and have had to content myself with the occasional glass found at&nbsp;soul food restaurants as I cannot get the hang of making it myself.&nbsp; (Yes, I know, pour the hot tea over a whole lot of sugar but I am congenitally handicapped when faced with even the simplest kitchen task.)<BR><BR>Diversity was the only thing I found lacking in our stroll around town, with the exception of the Troy Polamalu bowling pin dolls in the line-up at a crafts fair vendor, I didn't see a face of color all day; which isn't to say that Beaver isn't a diverse community but its ethnic mix wasn't readily&nbsp;apparent on this particular afternoon.&nbsp; Still, every place we went we were met with smiles and hospitality, nowhere more so than at the Beaver Healthmart Pharmacy (okay, that's kind of a chain but it didn't have the look or feel of a chain) at 457 Third Street.&nbsp; For some reason that morning we were talking about our blood pressure (Must be a feature of age, I don't recall being too interested in my blood pressure ten years ago.&nbsp; Lord only knows what is next, my sainted father spent the last ten years of his life inordinately concerned with his and everyone else's bowel habits.&nbsp; Constipation was his true foe.)<BR><BR>A sign in the window announced free BP screenings that day so it became the one and only store that we actually entered other than Cafe Kolache (another sign of impending age I guess, a morning made sweeter by half price breakfast and free blood pressure screenings).&nbsp; After being assured that our BP left us well in range of living through the day, we attempted to find something we needed to buy - the readings having been so professionally and cheerfully delivered we hated to leave empty handed.&nbsp; Unable to come up with anything we needed, we offered the pharmacist a&nbsp;ten&nbsp;for his services.&nbsp; He demurred, slightly embarrassed so the conversation quickly turned to a good place to eat that evening.&nbsp; <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2008/03/09/a-night-out-at-wooden-angel.aspx">Wooden Angel</A>&nbsp;was his quick reply and&nbsp;later that evening we discovered that his&nbsp;recommendation was as&nbsp;spot on as his BP readings.<BR><BR>So taken were we with the Beaver community that&nbsp;once back in the car we wandered through its residential neighborhoods looking for open houses to visit.&nbsp; We found a rather disappointing, overpriced condo building on the north side of the street but virtually nothing on the south side.&nbsp; (There was one exquisite, enormous Victorian for sale a couple of streets up from the Ohio river but the low six figure asking price would probably have only been the beginning of the investment&nbsp;needed to rehab it.)&nbsp; The homes overlooking the river looked like their residents had been there awhile and were in no hurry to move.&nbsp; Who could blame them with the mature trees, large lots and easy access to the river?&nbsp; We made several turns through the area but found nothing open to visit.&nbsp; <BR><BR>On our last swing through one of the mid-priced looking neighborhoods though we did find an incredible treasure.&nbsp; At the corner of Van&nbsp; Street and Lake Street a tree gnome -&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/treefaceuseit.jpg" width=293 border=0><BR><BR>As you can see by the fact that he is rooted in snow,&nbsp;the gnome&nbsp;was such a hit that we searched it out on our return trip.&nbsp; Can you imagine how many times this corner has been photographed?<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/treefacetwouseit.jpg" width=329 border=0><BR><BR>I offer two views so you can see how it sets on the corner of the street and also see the detail and expression of&nbsp;his face.&nbsp;&nbsp;For my money, this tree adds about $10,000 dollars to the value of the property; if you're ever in Beaver, remember he lives on&nbsp;the corner of Van and Lake.&nbsp;

<br>Beaver, Pennsylvania - sitting tidily between Rochester and Industry - resides in a zip code very close to Bill Bryson's "perfect" town but still in the same metaphorical state as Garrison Keillor's slightly off kilter Lake Woebegone. It is a friendly, enjoyable, seemingly prosperous burg but one wonders how it maintains its momentum in the face of the challenges and downturns that have beset its faltering nearby neighbors.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-03-09:30c6c9de-e1a8-48f5-a674-f90d1658aa43Traveller2008-03-10T01:30:00Z2008-03-10T01:30:00Z<P>After discovering Wooden Angel on our first visit to Beaver, there was no way we were going to be in the area and not visit it again.<BR><BR>Wooden Angel is the&nbsp;fine dining&nbsp;half of a two restaurant complex located not far from the main street (which actually&nbsp;happens to be 3rd Street) in Beaver, Pennsylvania.&nbsp;&nbsp;Its sister restaurant - Wooden Indian - may have&nbsp;food and ambience to equal the Angel but it's a family restaurant&nbsp;so I haven't&nbsp;yet made its acquaintance.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our first visit to the Wooden Angel&nbsp;was back in the fall and at that time we were seated in the&nbsp;Cafe&nbsp;in the center of the restaurant (be aware that smoking is permitted at the bar and the bar is&nbsp;only a plate throw from any table in the Cafe).&nbsp; At the time we were told that the restaurant's less experienced servers&nbsp;worked the tables in the Cafe but&nbsp;our service that evening was well informed and friendly; the&nbsp;menu is identical to the menu in the&nbsp;somewhat darker and more private area to the left, so if you visit don't be&nbsp;afraid to be seated in either area.&nbsp; Both evenings we had reservations and the restaurant was full both nights, so always call ahead.<BR><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/angeluseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><!-- Start of StatCounter Code --> <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var sc_project=3508112; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_partition=33; var sc_security="747948c5"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT> </P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A href="http://www.amazon.com/rsvp-y?c=cuyuqeua3469480941">Wooden Angel</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; on the bright, cold morning&nbsp;following our evening visit<BR><BR>Being a few minutes early we&nbsp;began our&nbsp;evening sitting on a comfortable couch next to the bar sharing a&nbsp;glass of zinfandel.&nbsp; The Wooden Angel has an extensive and much honored wine cellar stocked entirely with American wine.&nbsp;&nbsp;To the right of us and the bar&nbsp;a&nbsp;party was going on in one of the Wooden Angel's private rooms.&nbsp; Across from us&nbsp;another couple was enjoying a&nbsp;before meal drink.&nbsp;&nbsp;Given the bitterly cold weather that evening&nbsp;I'm pretty sure the&nbsp;female half of the couple probably woke the next day with&nbsp;quite a chest cold, as most of hers&nbsp;was&nbsp;amply exposed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR><BR>After only a brief wait we were led to our table.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's always a pleasure to find a restaurant where both the clientele and the layout of the&nbsp;dining room lend themselves to a quiet, private meal.&nbsp;&nbsp;The atmosphere in the Cafe&nbsp;while not loud is a more open, on display feel.&nbsp; In the main&nbsp;room the booths and tables are&nbsp;laid out with ample space&nbsp;amongst all of them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Having a booth is especially intimate as the booths are wide, their backs are tall and the lighting is low.&nbsp; We were almost immediately greeted by our bubbly yet not intrusive server with menus and a loaf of warm bread.<BR><BR>Many of the meals I eat on the road are a sampling of the appetizers or side dishes that a restaurant serves.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wooden Angel has an extensive selection of entrees but it certainly doesn't slack on the smaller plates.&nbsp;&nbsp;On this&nbsp;particular evening we&nbsp;started with five onion soup - which comes on like a standard onion soup but&nbsp;opens up to be a truly different take with not only a variety of onions in the broth but a&nbsp;variety of cheeses in the crust as well; that was folllowed by&nbsp;delicious scallops&nbsp;and truffles in a rich cream sauce.&nbsp; The third plate - garlic shrimp - was a little dry but&nbsp;disappointed only&nbsp;by its comparison to the other dishes we had that evening.&nbsp; As the dishes were served we changed&nbsp;our&nbsp;glass to sauvignon blanc, a little bit of an extravagance but it lived up to its price.&nbsp; Crab cakes finished the meal&nbsp;on a high note; pleasantly full we did without dessert.<BR><BR>Our meal was never rushed, the&nbsp;bill was in keeping with the atmosphere, service and food.&nbsp; Wooden Angel is another of the many&nbsp;pleasures of spending a day in Beaver.&nbsp; We'll do it again.&nbsp;<NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- End of StatCounter Code --></P>

<br>After discovering Wooden Angel on our first visit to Beaver, there was no way we were going to be in the area and not visit it again.<br>

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-02-26:ace75c38-4076-444e-9d0c-8043c7357b3bTraveller2008-02-26T21:09:00Z2008-02-26T21:09:00Z<br>We&nbsp;had been to New Brighton before and now planned to revisit a bar that had been discovered on&nbsp;our last visit: <a href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/09/25/a-waterfall-scrumpy-and-french-fries--new-brighton-pennsylvania.aspx">Blue Marble</a>&nbsp;, which would be considered hip even in Los Angeles.&nbsp; We did drop in there to see if the kitchen addition had been finished but found that the owner's trip to Dubai had put further building on hold.&nbsp; While we were the only customers there at just a few minutes past six on a Saturday, the friendly female bartender told us that the bar was hopping from 11 p.m. 'til 2 a.m. -&nbsp;which was mighty good news because when a man comes home specifically to spend his money on building a business in an economically depressed community, you want him to succeed.<br><br>The owner of the Blue Marble is not the only person putting himself on the line in New Brighton and the other&nbsp;small towns that dot the hills of western Philadelphia.&nbsp; During our forty-eight hours in the area we found three other bars that offered friendly service, good beer and darts - not steel tip but still a lot of fun.&nbsp; While these bars didn't have the expensive, cutting edge feel of the Marble they had something equally as good: the confident, unbowed feel of working class PA.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/flamuseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flaminio's Pit &amp; Pub<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 911 11th Avenue, New Brighton, PA<br><br>Burning a few hours waiting for the Blue Marble to open, we discovered Flaminio's on&nbsp;a drive&nbsp;up a New Brighton hill&nbsp;searching for NB residential neighborhoods.&nbsp; Inside&nbsp; Flaminio's we found a lady behind the bar who served up a beer and taught us the intricacies of the soft tip dart machine.&nbsp; Later as I tossed the final darts in my successful quest to become the World Champion of Soft Tip Darts Forever and For Always, she cheered me on.&nbsp; The inside of the bar was dark at above five in the p.m. but not cold and a karaoke DJ was setting up for later that evening.&nbsp; From the moment we first walked in, until the moment we left, the visit was a pleasure.&nbsp; <br><br>Later the next day we came back to look at the Merrick Art Gallery and - being early - we&nbsp;dropped by Flaminio's again (there is never a wrong time for a beer and darts) but alas it was not open so we ended up at Soupy's Bar &amp; Restaurant located on the main drag as my mother would say at 517 3rd Avenue.&nbsp; I forgot to take a picture of Soupy's&nbsp; which I deeply regret because it was a high point of our trip.&nbsp; From the outside just a non descript location with high windows illuminated by the "every bar has them" array of&nbsp;neon beer signs and a standard push front door.&nbsp;&nbsp;Inside it was dark with only one other customer when we first arrived and a handy man working on - damn, I don't know what he what he was working on.&nbsp;&nbsp;We bought a beer and a bag of popcorn and found to our dismay that the soft tip machine in the far back reaches of the&nbsp;building wasn't working, so we settled in&nbsp;with our high priced food and drink (three bucks including the tip) at the&nbsp;front end of the bar.&nbsp; <br><br>In just a couple of minutes the bartender announced that the handy man had gotten the darts machine up and running and if some darts could be found we were welcome to play; we didn't need a second invitation.&nbsp; The bartender accompanied us to the back room which was dominated by a pool table.&nbsp; This area of the bar not being in use at noon on a Sunday, it was pretty cold - and believe me if a room is pretty cold, I am pretty damn cold.&nbsp; Without being asked the bartender popped on the gas logs in the room's fireplace before getting on his hands and knees to retrieve darts from the crevices inside the wall pocket where the machine resided.&nbsp; Most of the darts he rescued were in pretty bad shape but - never fear - he soon found parts that made them almost like new.&nbsp; While I was unable to repeat my astonishing victory of the previous day at Flaminio's, the hour we spent there was nonetheless fun and warm, warmth emanating not just from the fire but from the hospitality of the barkeep.&nbsp; If I'm ever in New Brighton again, Soupy's is on my list.<br><br>After our visit to the Merrick Gallery, we decided to look for open houses in Chippewa which - according to the real estate brochure we had picked up - was much in demand for its excellent school system.&nbsp; Now I'm all for education but I found Chippewa - if indeed we&nbsp;actually did find Chippewa as all we saw in several loops around town were a couple of malls populated mostly by local and national chain stores and restaurants - to be singularly without character.&nbsp; I realize that some amazing "only in Chippewa" establishment or neighborhood might have been just over the ridge not taken but the open houses we could find were mainly brand new floor plans that could be found in any neighborhood in any state in the union.&nbsp; <br><br>Just following the road we soon found ourselves tracking the magnificent Ohio River - at least I think it was the Ohio, I know for sure it was magnificent - through a deep gorge that gave the river a number of navigable but still impressive stretches of white water.&nbsp; Just turning where we would our car soon found itself along with us in Wampum.&nbsp; As I recall Wampum advertised itself on its name sign as having been settled in1796 but there was very little of Wampum left in 2008, this was a village on its last legs with one small grocery store, a diner, a closed bar and as far as we could find after driving every street virtually nothing else.&nbsp; We left Wampum headed back to the highway but were lured in to Ellwood City for reasons that now escape me.<br><br>Once again, as often happens, quite by accident we found a charming small town that while not a vibrant hub of industry obviously had a lot more going for it than the sad little burg of Wampum.&nbsp; On our last swing down one of the streets we found ourselves turning around in front of McDowell's Inn which from the name we took to be a B&amp;B but from the sign we found it to be - what? - a bar and, of course, if you pass a bar you must see if it has darts.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/darkmacuseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; McDowell's Inn<br><br>I would generally lighten a picture like this up a little but this shot I think gives you a feel for why we stopped at McDowell's late on a cold Sunday afternoon and while the building may have been dark, the bar inside was as inviting as the sign outside.&nbsp; Once again we found a soft tip darts machine, a good beer and - by this late in the day and after several beers - a Coke.&nbsp; Hockey was on the big screen but no one seemed to mind that we blocked part of the view going back and forth to pull darts out of the board.&nbsp; <br><br>After we finished another game that started slowly but ended in a dead heat of bullseyes, we had a nice conversation with the female bartender who told us that both her father and her boyfriend were employed full time at the plant down the street and up the hill.&nbsp; In fact, with her steady employment, she and her boyfriend had felt confident enough to buy a home.&nbsp; "Nothing big," she hastened to add but you could tell that it was a happy purchase.&nbsp; She agreed that Wampum was indeed on extremely hard times but still there was some good economic news for the whole area.&nbsp; She told us that the abundance of hotels on the highway to the south of Ellwood City and Wampum were kept pretty busy with traffic visiting the <a href="http://www.beaverun.com/">BeaveRun Motorsports Complex</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.minesandmeadows.com/">Mines and Meadows</a>, an ATV and dirtbike riding complex built in an abandoned limestone quarry.<br><br>So, we ended our meandering through the hills of western PA on an up note, full of beer, having played our fill of darts and witness to the ways small towns all over America are finding ways to stay alive.<br><br> <!-- Start of StatCounter Code --> <script type="text/javascript"> var sc_project=3508112; 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We hadd been to New Brighton before and now planned to revisit a bar that had been discovered on our last visit -

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-02-25:15cd7b87-39be-4a88-a54a-dc865ed03725Traveller2008-02-25T21:27:00Z2008-02-25T21:27:00Z<P><BR>Last fall on a visit to western Pennsylvania, I stopped by a restaurant/bar called Bad Frogs on my way to my motel.&nbsp; With a breathtaking view of the Ohio River (even if part of it included the industrial portion down river), I was looking forward to a good meal&nbsp;on the patio looking out to the river.&nbsp; <BR><BR>Boy, was I ever wrong.&nbsp; The table was - as we say in the south - sticky dirty and our server gave new meaning to the word "ditzy".&nbsp; She didn't know the available beers and still got them wrong after returning to the kitchen to ask what they were.&nbsp; The meal - although reasonably priced - was awful.&nbsp; I like regional takes on different dishes but if you are going to serve pink slaw, it better be damn good; it wasn't.&nbsp; <BR><BR>Not far from where I sat, a small band was trying to set up for&nbsp;late night entertainment; unfortunately, the restaurant's management had apparently not taken care of any of the technical support the band needed.&nbsp; The band members left disgruntled while I was still eating.&nbsp; I don't know if they ever returned.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/100_1689useit.jpg" width=450 border=0><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bad Frogs&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; taken the morning after my disagreeable evening meal<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Could there be a better setting for a restaurant?<BR><BR></P> <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/riverviewuseit.jpg" width=450 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the view up river from a portion of the Bad Frogs outdoor seating area</P> <P>When I returned last week - mid February - the restaurant had closed, not a surprise at all but a great disappointment.&nbsp; I had hoped that the owners would&nbsp;realize what a&nbsp;splendid location they had and give&nbsp;it the staff, presentation, food and drink that it deserved.&nbsp;&nbsp;The restaurant building itself&nbsp;was formerly&nbsp;part of the lock and dam system on the river.&nbsp;&nbsp;Combine the&nbsp;building's story with its incredible view and the obvious sports fervor of the area and it should be possible to&nbsp;create a truly rocking blue collar sports bar with all kinds of links to lively entertainment and sporting events both on the tube and on the river.&nbsp; <BR><BR>Imagine working with the nearby <A href="http://beavercountyrowing.org/">Beaver County Rowing Association</A>&nbsp;to have a race commencing at the restaurant; or televising baseball and football or enormous HDTV screens followed by a live band.&nbsp; There aren't any neighbors to complain about the noise and not only is there ample car parking, people could cruise in by boat.&nbsp; Here's hoping that someone with money, imagination, money, knowledge of running a restaurant, money and a better name (Bad Frogs??) will give this location the chance it deserves to become not just a successful sports bar but a needed employer in an economically depressed community.</P>Down the road the accomodations were just as bad as the dining was at Bad Frogs.&nbsp; If I am going to a city to do something very specific - say Las Vegas to gamble - I like to stay in posh digs but when I am travelling to learn about the area, I always try to stay at inexpensive, local establishments.&nbsp; Quite often these hotels, motels, B&amp;Bs are <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/11/27/two-nights-at-the-beau-fleuve-bed-and-breakfast-inn-and-a-meal-at-mode.aspx">gems of service</A> with rooms sparked by individuality.&nbsp; No such luck in Industry - I am in fact not even going to mention the name of the motel.&nbsp; Unlike Bad Frogs, however, it was almost full on the evening I was there and the advertised smorgasbord was jammed pack with locals.&nbsp; The same appeared to be true when I drove by it again in February.&nbsp; While the room was agreeable, the service was downward hostile down to the small placards in the room announcing that if you stole anything the cost would be added to your bill.&nbsp; Also, the advertised free Internet access applied to a small area in the very public and busy motel lobby.&nbsp; I am glad the motel was there as it apparently served a need but I would sleep in my car before I would stay there again.<BR><BR>The same cannot be said of the restaurants, bars and B&amp;B I visited on my second&nbsp;trek to the area.&nbsp; In those establishments I am happy to report that I received not just <A href="http://traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2008/02/26/flaminios-soupys-and-mcdowells-inn--good-folks-good-service-good-times.aspx">good food</A> and drink but estimable service as well.<BR><BR>

Last fall on a visit to western Pennsylvania, I stopped by a restaurant/bar called Bad Frogs on my way to my motel. With a breathtaking view of the Ohio River (even if part of it included the industrial portion down river), I was looking forward to a good meal out on the patio looking out to the river.

tag:traveller.uncommontraveller.com,2008-01-18:e78642aa-5f4e-4c53-a488-02c20716cf47Traveller2008-01-19T04:00:00Z2008-01-19T04:00:00ZInteresting people and places lie in wait all around Beaver County, Pennsylvania, like the <A href="http://www.airheritage.org/">Air Heritage Museum</A>&nbsp;which sits at the back of a gravel parking lot in an umpromising metal building. Inside the non-descript building is a close knit community of airplane enthusiasts who volunteer their time and efforts to keep this small, authentic air museum open six days a week.<BR><BR>A&nbsp;collection of artifacts (with a nice small exhibit on the Womens Air Force) is on display immediately inside the front door but the guts of the operation are in the warehouse/hangar beyond the exhibit room. On the day we made the drive to the Beaver County Airport&nbsp;in Beaver Falls, the&nbsp;volunteers were in the hangar space&nbsp;having a pot luck lunch and birthday cake for one of their&nbsp;members. The unforced conviviality of people laboring together on work they love was apparent in the easy way the group interacted.&nbsp;A couple of children and a few people slightly older than young adult were present but most were men (and some women) who had fallen in love with airplanes during their Viet Nam era service or before. As one of them said, "We work for a couple of hours or until we get sleepy."&nbsp; I'm in my early fifties - a trifle younger than most Viet Nam era vets - but I would imagine that all of them (like my sainted father) would last longer on a day spent rehabbing a plane than I would.<BR><BR>The hangar is a working airplane refit shop with a number of&nbsp;aircraft&nbsp;in various stages of assembly. Bart Farzati was kind enough to break away from the goings on and act as tour guide&nbsp;for the facility. At the time of our visit the wing ribs of Maggie's Pride, a Fairchild 24, were being painstakingly reconstructed. Not far away a <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/clutteruseit.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; North American T-28 Trojan<BR><BR>was being refurbished after a trip in from Fort Bliss, Texas.<BR><BR>On the tarmac outside the hangar a number of beauties were parked in varying states of flyability. Two stood out for me, the first being an aviation ready and available for air shows<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/mysplaneuseit.jpg" width=400 border=0>&nbsp;<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grumman OV-1D Mohawk<BR><BR>Quick test question - in the picture below, what is the apparatus&nbsp;hanging from the wing of the OV-1D?<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/notadepthchargeuseit.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>Someone please say bomb so I won't feel so stupid (although Bart took my answer with a surprising lack of condescension and no laughter whatsoever;&nbsp;please believe me when I&nbsp;write that&nbsp;as the words escaped my lips I realized the stupidity of thinking a plane was standing on an open airfield in the middle of eastern Pennsylvania with&nbsp;bombs nonchalantly strapped to its wings).<BR><BR>Correct answer: a camera. The Mohawk was a photographic observation and reconnaissance aircraft (I&nbsp;think it also could be used to scare people who might not know that those weren't&nbsp;bombs hanging off its wings.)<BR><BR>The second plane that lingers in my memory was&nbsp;obviously close to Bart's heart: a Fairchild C123-K, also lovingly referred to as<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <IMG src="http://images.quickblogcast.com/31870-30008/bartemergestwouseit.jpg" width=400 border=0><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Thunder Pig - that's Bart coming out the front<BR><BR>The C-123, hereafter referred to as the Pig,&nbsp;is a highly manueverable transport plane with a big rear end that allows for easy on loading and off loading. Even one such as I with very limited technical understanding of airplanes (like I had to tell you that) could appreciate not just the utilitarian aspect of the Pig but a little bit of the fun of flying it as well; especially after Bart pointed out the window above the cockpit which allowed for sextant navigation.&nbsp; Plotting your course by the stars is one of those feats&nbsp;that seems totally out of the realm of possibility for me. Imagine being Captain Bligh - yes, that Captain Bligh - using a sextant to find his way back from the waters off Tahiti to an oupost more the 3,500 miles away. He made it&nbsp;to that friendly habor&nbsp;in 47 days with all but one of those who had been put off of the Bounty with him. Had I been the captain there would have been no knowledge of the mutiny on the Bounty because no one would have survived the trip back to tell the tale.<BR><BR>The Pig has flown but when we were there it was ground bound due to engine problems; the crew at the museum was staying at work on it while awaiting its overhauled heart.<BR><BR>Airplanes - much like trains - seem to call out to us from an early age. Who doesn't stop to look up when the sound of an engine growls overhead or peer expectantly down the tracks at the&nbsp;click clack of train wheels? I will forever see in my heart's eye my father pointing out to my son the track of a plane across the sky or the two of them hanging out the car window at the sound of an approaching train. Memories like those cannot be made without the hard work of people like the volunteers at the Air Heritage Museum. Most of us can't put a plane back together but we can stop by for a visit at the Air Heritage Museum and leave a little&nbsp;something that's green and folds so that Bart and people like him and his friends can continue their important contributions to living history.<BR><BR><BR>

Interesting people and places lie in wait all around Beaver County, Pennsylvania ...