Reporting from Wilkes-Barre, PA (Latitude 41.22, Longitude -75.88)
This was another day of hopscotching all over the Northeast.
It started at the hotel, where we caught a glimpse of Catwoman driving away.
Our first stop was the Avery Soda Co. There were hundreds of small independent soda pop companies a hundred years ago—this is one of the few remaining still in business. We got to see where they make the soda, and then picked out a selection of their flavors.
We then stopped for a sentimental lunch at Friendly’s. The chain used to be all over the midwest, but it has shrunk to a tiny presence on the coast. Of course, I had to have a Fribble.
An old friend worked at Friendly’s, and met his future wife there.
We then journeyed to the Holy Land—an abandoned “educational” park in a bad section of town.
Then it was two displays—a giant Santa at a storage facility and a statue of P.T. Barnum in his hometown (Bethel, CT).
It took us a while to find thge next oddity—a rock that balances on some smaller rocks, which allegedly happened naturally. I call shenanigans.
Finally, it took a half-mile walk thru a graveyard to find the border of NY, NJ, and PA (actually out in the river near this stone).
Then we found a hotel and a place to eat—an Italian restaurant where we were underdressed. The food was good, though.
More to come.