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Jul 30, 2000 Sat. Jaunt with Vel and Vi Well yesterday was supposed to be a rainy day but it turned out to be very warm and sunny. I left Marmora around 1:15pm and headed over to Vel's house in Linwood. It was sort of hazy and cloudy. I went over the Great Egg Harbor Bay and it was very low tide. Oh boy, the air was so strong from the smell of the mud. I don't know if any of you know what low tide smells like, but it is like dead clams or crabs. Whoosh! could not wait till I got over the bridge. Went into Vel's and we went into her web room and just looked in on the grannies etc. I had not checked it before I left. We talked about Branson and our plans, what to wear, if we were going to take snacks, and all that stuff. Then we thought we better get going as the time goes by so fast. We started up the road, in the opposite direction of where we decided to go, Vel's says, "Why are we going this way?" and me being the navigator on occasion, says brilliantly, duh! I don't know, We laughed and went on a few miles till we could make the right turn to get out to where we wanted to in the first place. Finally after several miles we got on route 40 which will take us to Pennsville, NJ. Now Vel had said she read or heard that there was going to be a Tall Ship come up the Deleware River, so that was where we were headed, only about 50 miles from here. It is a beautiful drive out that way, not a lot of traffic and we go through some nice towns, and see a lot of lakes. We went to the Riverview Park area, which seems to be our stamping grounds when we have no definite plans. It is a beautiful park and as I told you there are nice swings all along the water front.  We sat there talking and hashing things over,you know, kids, Albie, some of our past trips, and of course the upcoming one. We hope to come home via the Smokey Mountains if we have enough time. Never been there. I must say it was really very warm, could feel the sun on our faces and it was a little humid. We watch some speed boats and a few tug boats going by. We thought maybe they were going to meet the tall ship. But no, it never did come by. After several hours of sitting, our butts were really getting sore so we decided we would take off, plus it was getting near 5pm. Gosh time goes by so fast. We got into the car and headed south. Well let me tell you, we zig-zagged up and down roads. never realized there were so many dead ends, and being the inquisitive ladies we are, just had to drive to the end to see what was there. Oh yea, houses, haha, couple of times we were really in tight spots, or had to go into someones drive way. Oh well, at least we find some pretty nice areas/ We went down one street,(no outlet) but it was quite a ways and there was an empty lot that had a foundation built but also a really nice walkway facing the river. We stopped there and looked at the map just to figure where we were.We could see a hugh bridge spand, but it did not show on the map. All the places we had driven were not on the map. So many quaint towns, and so many little homes all on the river. Right next to this vacant lot was a beautiful big house, four stories high, with lots of oblong windows. It looked like there were stairs leading from inside all the way to the top and the window were placed so as you would get to a landing you could look out of these windows. It had double oak doors at the entrance, It sure was neat looking and of course it overlooked the river. We had to laugh because when we were heading back out we noticed all the houses in the area were very small and all on the same side of the street. Really run down, a couple of garages that looked so old and almost laying on the ground. Maybe the people who were building that big house decided it wasn't the right area because we noticed a for sale sign on it. Oh well, we continuted on and got back on the county road. Now which way? Had no idea where we were other than in Salem County. We drove through country that has beautiful farms, GOOLLY, I felt like a country girl. I really don't know a thing about farming, oh yea I know corn when I see it. Vel always tell me what is growing just by looking. We saw miles and miles of soybeans, and corn. Saw a man with a tractor, he was very close to the road, no sidewalks of course. Vel says to me, "What is he doing?" haha, I said "I guess driving the tractor." How would I know, we laughed of course, dumb question, dumb answer. This happen so often on our rides. She will say "where are we?" and my answer is always " I don't know". We could make up a skit, We saw a lot of little towns, Oakwood. Elsniberg, Hammlerville, never even heard of these places. Some of them even had fire companies. We did see the Salem Nuclear Plant again so we know we did not want to turn in that direction. Had been there before and they have big gates up. Not allowed. haha, but what else is new, we have been in parks where there are signs 'No Trespassing" Haha, Vel can't read!! Usually nothing important, most of the time it is where the maintanence dept employees are, but it is fun to us, just ot see if someone comes after us or yells. i guess they see these two old ladies and just think to themselves that we are lost or nuts. Well, by now it is after 6pm and still haven't went to a bathroom, we are both ready to explode, or have an accident, No depends here, hehe, Decide it is time to get a bite to eat. Head south and east, just wanted to find a place, of course when you want a restaurant there aren't any, lots of grocery stores. no picnic lunch today. We had been on this road many times, and Vel remembered a diner. So finally after another 10 miles we come to it. Not many cars. Vel had said we ate there before and the food was good, and place clean, that was not my recollection, but we went in, mostly to pee. Well I have to say that this was the worse dinner and service we have ever had in all the years of traveling. The waitress was a real ding a ling. We ordered our dinner, Vel had a taste for meatloaf, (something we do not cook at home, too much trouble for 1) and I decided on broiled flounder. soup was included, some kind of chicken, canned I am sure, never did understand the name of it. but it was the worse. Never had chicken soup with bacon drippings in it. Talk about greasy. But being the type we are we ate it. It was not good, but we were hungry from all the wandering. That took our waitress at least 20 min. to bring that. After the soup we sat there and waited for out dinner figuring it would be out shortly, WRONG, she came out to tell me they were out of flounder. Should have told us something by this time. but no we are gloutons for punishment., so I just said give me the meatloaf too. Well kids lit me tell you, Never in my life have I had meatloaf like that. It tasted like cornmeal, bread, somekind of gristle with lots and lots of galic, the mashed potatoes were cold and the gravy was canned. Vel had apple sauce, hooray that was good, I had cole slaw, not too bad but had to pick around it cause there were brown spots all through it. My coffee was like mud, even two creamers did not help, looked gray. Apparently the chef also helped serve the tables. he had brought our dinner, then came back to refill Vel's ice tea and i got a diet soda, no coffee. He could hardly speak english and had on an apron all full of maybe tomato sauce, what a sloppy looking person to be out in the dining room, which by the way wasnt that bad. It had been added on and had skylights in the ceiing and lots of windows to look out of, if you enjoy looking at a parking lot. When we were finsihed eating, he came back to see if we wanted desert, of course we didn't and he asked " Was everything alright?" I could not answer, and Vel said, "Yes, very good" I almost chocked. she looked at me, and said, Why did I say that?" Ha, I said I don't know but YOU LIE!!! of course I was laughing and kidding her. but I continued on with how could you say that with a straight face, didn't know you told stories/ LOL. Well we left there with the thought that We will never go there again. Wow,what a disappointment, it was very funny though, cause we could have sent it back, but neither of us are like that. we would rather get sick than hurt someones feelings. Well it is now nearing 8PM and I have to be home by 9pm, we are close to 40 miles from home. so we had to hurry. the fact that I had to go to Vels house and pick up the car, We got home around 8:50, the drawbridge was open so that held us back a little, I had to go to an ATM to get money to pay the aide and so I didn't make it on time. Got here around 9:20. Then when I went to pay her. she told me I had paid her the day before because she was running late and was going somewhere and I offered to pay her then. CRS. Good thing she is honest, cause I completely forgot. Wouldn't have went to the ATM. So my friends, this was another episode in Vel and Vi's travels to nowhere, See you all next week. Lots of hugs to all, and thank you for taking the times to read about nothing. Love you all. Vi P.S /we actually drove 150 miles but was only 50 miles from home. I wonder why!! 
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