OAFS Photo |
Waze made a couple of route suggestions, which I rejected outright. The first was "Hey, let's go down the Merritt Parkway." Which I ignored. During COVID days that was a great ride, pretty with lots of trees. Now that the maroons have been released from their quarantine, it's a horrible trip. I'd rather go down the Cross-Bronx Expressway. No, seriously.
Waze did take us over the Tappenzee (which I approved of), the body of water, I'm not naming the bridge renamed for a politician. Don't care for politicians, especially those for whom that was their sole employment.
Waze's second suggestion was to go down the Palisades Parkway which leads you right back down into the hell which is the environs of NYC. I opted to stay on the interstate until it met the Garden State Parkway. Which got me deep into New Jersey, well past the Mad Max landscape which is northern New Jersey.
There are parts of New Jersey which are gorgeous, the environs of Newark, not so much.
But we're here, my grandsons are happy to see us, our grand dogs are happy (might I say ecstatic) to see us and The Nuke and Tuttle seem okay with our being here. Just kidding, they are, and have always been, gracious and generous hosts. (The Missus Herself is concerned that they overfeed us [me], but I'm okay with that.)
The opening picture was taken on Saturday from Robbie's room (I was hanging out with him helping him to take a nap), note just how beautiful it is here.
OAFS Photo |
But you can see how nicely green everything is, I love the trees on this spit of land betwixt the South and Severn Rivers. In reality, there is much to like in this place. If they ever kick me out of New England, then it's Maryland or Virginia for me!
Caught a few brief moments of the coronation, my favorite part was seeing the Welsh Guards. For the enlisted have a stylized leek upon their collars in their dress kit. I shared that tidbit with The Missus Herself, as she is something of a wizard in the kitchen, she enjoyed that bit o' trivia.
As for the rest of it, meh. Parade the Guards and I'm happy.
Robbie did doubt that I have actually been to Buckingham Palace, in fact, he was vociferous in his denials of belief. Apparently he thought I had been on the balcony, waving to the crowd. When I pointed to the crowd and said, "I was in the crowd," then he believed me.
He knows grandpa is no sycophant to royalty. Well, unless maybe the name ends in "the Bruce," or maybe the original Bonaparte.
Nah, not even them, I'll choose who to follow based on their talents, not who their family is.
I might have something for Tuesday, I might not. Monday is my birthday, Precious, and I'll do what I want.
😎
Ciao!
Just remember Sarge, on birthdays there is NO overfeeding. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHad some outstanding BBQ on Saturday, I think I'm going to OD on good food down here!
DeleteMany happy and healthy returns of the day, Sarge!. To celebrate among family always makes it special.
ReplyDeleteIf you were to move south; I'd recommend VA over MD, especially now with Youngkin. The MD governance has been bad at all levels for decades and those folks show no signs of wanting to throw off the shackles as they did in VA. Few places anywhere are as pretty as the Tidewater or the Shenandoah.
Boat Guu
The Tidewater is pretty, as is the Shenandoah.
DeleteI would never let the politics of an American place keep me away. How else are we going to take it back?
Eventually they'll wake up, usually when the money runs out.
Um, yeah, about that. I love the environs of Gainesville but am trapped in a socialist hellscape with no ability short of an armored brigade coming to rescue me of leaving this place physically. Seriously, even in the Free State of Florida, there are hell-holes. This is one of them. And there's no voting it away. Only after I've been here 20 years did I find out that this place was named "Berkeley of the South" even back in the 1960's. How left is G-ville? They protested Lurch Kerry for being too rightwing. That's how left they are.
DeleteNow if I had just moved to north Marion County when I had the chance, they are decent folk down there and aren't too afflicted by Big Blue yet.
In this country there's always a chance to vote your way out of a mess. But not if all the conservatives go elsewhere. Eventually the progs will run out of other people's money. Don't feed the progs!
DeleteVirginia has my vote. Specifically, Franklin County-Henry County near Ferrum, Virginia. On the road from Ferrum to Henry, found a small mountaintop community that has unobstructed views because it's the highest spot!
DeleteNo ocean, I gotta have salt water. But I'll bet it's pretty there.
DeleteSarge, glad the trip was endurable.
ReplyDeleteIn our trip to Pennsylvania last Summer, I was very surprised at how green and lush everything was. Growing up in and living now in a place where we have distinct "Rain/Non-rain" seasons, lushness in the Summer months is a treat (although not so much the humidity, I imagine).
+1 on not letting politics keep one away. The money will eventually run out and change will be in the air (not that I am moving to the East Coast. Far too far away from home).
Enjoy your Birthday!
Colorado was like that, the rain/no rain seasons. The humidity can be a bear in the summer here, especially in VA/MD.
Delete"Grandpa is no sycophant to royalty." Yeah, thanks to some rebellious patriots 250 years ago.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteDid you take the ferry to Cape May?
ReplyDeleteNo, but I definitely want to do that some day.
DeleteAyup. What you said about diverting around hell-spots. It's a must. And it's nice seeing green and leafy things from inside a screen room. Especially if there's enough breeze to keep the air moving. And there's not a lot of traffic sounds or annoying blaring music or people screeching at each other. (Last night, full moon, walking dog at 5am and there were 3 very loud arguments within a 10 block radius. Full moon. Lunacy. It is a thing, contrary to what mental health professionals think.)
ReplyDeleteApartment buildings can be, shall we say, exciting?
DeleteAh, but these were from single-family homes nearby. Rentals, yes, but supposedly single-family homes.
DeleteNot good!
DeleteRecipe for Potato Leek Soup:
ReplyDeleteFirst, you take a leek ....
OK, I'm sorr ... no I'm not.
🤣🤣🤣
Delete