New Sparky Chronicle Logo, Said to Impart More of a Masculine Look Photo of Sparky with a Frosty Fizz Cola and Crunchy Critters Candy Bar A Website Chronicling the Day to Day Struggles of a Stuffed Animal Who Believes He's Alive!
Previous Home About Sparky

FAQ's

Contact Sparky

Next Page

Hurricane Isabel 

For over a week we had been staying several days ahead of the approaching hurricane, so we kept tabs on it via the evening and morning news reports every day.

It got pretty serious when they were boarding up some of the casinos in Atlantic City, but we were hundreds of miles away by then, so we jest had a lot of trubble getting good pictures cuz the sky was normally overcast and gray.

We were surprised at a lot of the precautions people took in preparation for the hurricane to their area.  Things we normally take for granted became very important.

People were stocking up on batteries and bottled water, cans of food, plywood for boarding up homes, sand bags, etc.

They also talked about preparation at a local Zoo, where they had to keep all the animals inside during the worst part of the storm.  They did say, however, that the polar bears and dolphins could take care of themselves, by staying in the water.

We kinda wondered about all the people buying portable generators.  In Colorado, whenever that happens, as soon as the blizzard or other weather related situation is over, everybuddy wants to take the generators back and get a refund.

 

Sparky's New York Trip, September, 2003, Page 8
by Sparky

Heading West

September 16, 2003.  We blasted off from Secaucus, New Jersey and headed fer some where else in New Jersey, to meet up with Jim's nephew, Keith and his wife Brenda.  Keith's mom is Jim's sister, Helen, who loves the crooked roads, but Keith seems to be able to make things a whole lot easier when it comes to finding him.

He told Gloria, "Go 3 traffic lights, then turn into the Diner on the left side of the road, I'll meet you there in 5 minutes."  When we got there, he was already there, waiting, so they went inside and sat down, and were joined by Brenda within another few minutes, and had a wonderful brunch.  Us guys ate some candy out of the goody bag in the van.

After the brunch they came outside and Gloria took the picturKeith, Brenda, Jim and Keith's pickup "Bill," in front of the dinere of Keith, Brenda, Jim, and Keith's truck, named "Bill," cuz that's what he gets every time he takes it in for repairs.  Keith gets thirsty a lot, that's why there's a ton of bottles of water and Gatorade in the back of the pickup.  He tried to tell us he bought it to sell at their gas station and store they have jest up the road, but we don't totally believe that story.

Their store was "three traffic lights north" on a certain road...no turns or curves or any other confusing things like that, so it sounded reel boring, and we were running late and they both had to get back to work, so everybuddy said goodbye, and we took off for Pennsylvania again.

Then to make things even better, Keith gave Gloria directions to get back onto the Freeway, Expressway, Turnpike or Parkway, whichever it is that they call it around there, and in we made it without even getting lost!!!!!!


The Crayola Factory

The next stop was the Crayola Factory, in Easton, Pennsylvania, which is a little town about 40 miles north of Philadelphia as a crow flies, and we got there after about 60 miles and 2 hours, cuz we weren't flying a crow.  That little town would probably make Jim's sister Helen happy, cuz we got lost about 8 or 7 times finding that Crayola Factory, cuz it was located up one street, around a couple of corners and curves, then down another street into the town square traffic circle.  I didn't think you could have a circle in a square, but there it was!

Traffic circles are normally reely scary, but this one was even Confusing traffic circle in Easton, Pennsylvaniaworse.  They had added traffic lights to it to assist in the confusion.  The traffic lights and pedestrian walk/don't walk signals seemed to fight each other.  And nobuddy seemed to know what the rules were.  On top of all that, the light turned from green to yellow to red, then back to yellow then green again.  A truly one-of-a-kind landmark that will help to remember that town.

Jim finally decided to jest drive down the alley and get out on another street after witnessing 8 or 7 near misses between cars and pedestrians.  He figured they should also put in a trolley car track to complete the project.  He did finally find a parking spot when somebuddy left.

The Crayola Factory was kinda cool.  A guy showed a demonstration of how they make the Crayolas in another factory nearby, and the gift shop was reel cool.  The ice cream cone from the McDonald's in the front of the building was also reel good.  Easton's website is almost as confusing as their traffic circle, but here it is:  City of Easton, Pennsylvania 

After leaving Easton, we headed fer Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where we checked into a motel fer the night.


World Famous "Horseshoe Curve"

September 17, 2003.  Harrisburg--we checked out of our motel and the old folks headed back downtown and went fer another bike ride, as detailed on page 2.  After the bike ride we blasted off for Altoona, Pennsylvania, where we checked out the World Famous Horseshoe Curve, which takes the main line of the railroad over the mountains.  The most dramatic pictures are available on their website, so be sure to click above to see them.

Photo #1 shows the sign at the entrance to the parking lot, announcing the presence of yet another "World Famous" landmark.

Photo #2 shows some of the 194 steps that take you to the observation area.

Photo #3 shows the tracks that take the "Funicular" cars up and down.

Photo #4 shows the 2 "Funicular" cars passing each other while Jim took the stairs down so he could take this picture.

Sparky's Photo Album of Horseshoe Curve

Sign pointing out that it is the "World Famous" Horseshoe Curve!
1. Horseshoe Curve sign

194 steps to the top if you choose to go that way
2. Just 194 steps to the top

"Funicular" tracks
3. "Funicular" tracks

"Funicular" cars passing each other
4. "Funicular" cars passing

"Altoona" is a Native American word that means, "Land of many motels with ugly wallpaper and tile." 

"Funicular" is an Altoona word that means, "Give it a funny name and they'll pay to ride it."

We spent the night in Altoona, then blasted off for Pittsburgh the next morning.


Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

September 18, 2003.  We left Altoona after eating the free breakfast at our motel and headed fer Pittsburgh.  We had heard that Pittsburgh at one time was a very dirty city, but they had cleaned it up in recent years.  It's not exactly on the Interstate highways that we usually take when going to the east coast or coming home again, so we never had been there before.  We also had heard that it was known for the incredible number of bridges that crossed the various rivers there, so, of course, the old folks jest natcherally had to go and check it out.

We drove downtown and parked in a parking garage, then caught the subway that took the old folks across the river so they could take the Monongahela Inclined Plane to the observation platforms atop Mount Washington, where they could get a superb view of the city.

Photo #1 shows the subway train that brought us across the river to the foot of Mount Washington.

Photo #2 shows a view of the Monongahela Inclined Plane from a distance.

Photo #3 shows the plaque commemorating the landmark.

Photo #4 shows one car going up as the other one is on its way down.

Photo #5 shows Jim standing on the overlook after looking over the side.

Photo #6 shows a very long train and lots of bridges, from an observation deck atop Mount Washington.

Photo #7 shows another view of still more bridges, while photo #8 shows yet another bridge that spans the river between downtown and Mount Washington.

Sparky's Photo Album of Pittsburgh
Subway that took us from downtown parking garage to across the river
1. Pittsburgh subway train
Monongahela Inclined Plane that takes you to the top of the hill
2. Monongahela Inclined Plane
Monongahela Inclined Plane Sign
3. World Famous Sign
View of the Inclined Plane looking up
4. View looking up the hill
Jim standing on the overlook after looking over
5. Jim on the overlook
A very long train and lots of bridges
6. Long train & lots of bridges
More bridges
7. Lots more bridges
Another bridge looking toward downtown
8. And yet another bridge

You ken find out a lot more about the bridges in the area by clicking on this website:  Pittsburgh Bridges 

Well, we're off again.  The hurricane is headed our way, so we'reDrawing of hurricane blowing trees over gonna head up the road and avoid it as much as possible.  We don't want to be on the train when they board up the subway entrances.

We was gonna spend another day in Pittsburgh, but we'll save that for the next time. Be sure to follow our adventures on the next page!

 

Famous Pennsylvanians

Louisa May Alcott author, Germantown
John Barrymore actor, Philadelphia
Daniel Boone frontiersman, Reading
Bill Cosby actor, Philadelphia
Jimmy Dorsey band leader, Shenandoah
Tommy Dorsey band leader, Mahanoy Plane
W. C. Fields comedian, Philadelphia
Stephen Foster composer, Pittsburgh
Robert Fulton inventor, Lancaster County
Lee Iacocca auto executive, Allentown
S. S. Kresge merchant, Bald Mount
Tom Mix actor, Mix Run
Arnold Palmer golfer, Youngstown
Robert E. Peary explorer, Cresson
Betsy Ross flagmaker, Philadelphia
James Stewart actor, Indiana
George R. Stibitz inventor, York
John Updike author, Shillington

 

Previous

This is page 8      Click here for page   1   2    3    4    5   6   7   --   9

Next Page

 

Home

All Travel

Train & Yard

Adventures

Accidents

Inventions

Bike Stories

Photos

About Sparky

D-I-Y Page

Contact Me

FAQ's

Copyright (C) 2004 by James J. Meagher