Things didn't go as planned too much. My daughter, who I hadn't seen in 18 years, got highly P.O.'d at me for showing up where she works. She wasn't there and I asked for someone to call her and tell her I was. To make a long story short, she said to just stay away. Some kid, well 36 year old kid. I recommend this club though for some really good food though if anyone ever visits Smyrna, De. It is called the 'Celtic Pub'. Today, I am checking out and moving on to a Hotel in downtown Philly for a couple of days. My girlfriend is flying in tomorrow to meet me and my brother is throwing a BBQ with about 20 of my relatives coming along to catch up with what I've been up to. I don't get out this way very often.

 

That sucks about your daughter.
Sounds like the rest of the crew is looking forward to seeing you.
A Big ol' B-B-Q should be a blast to catch up at too.



Just in case you have a few extra minutes...

from wikipedia:

"The Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, aka the Thomas Mill Road Covered Bridge, is a historic, single-span, wooden covered bridge across Wissahickon Creek in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The 86.5-foot-long (26.4 m), 18.66-foot-wide (5.69 m), Howe-truss bridge was built in 1855. It was renovated by the Works Progress Administration in 1939, and by the City of Philadelphia in 2000.

It is the only remaining covered bridge in Philadelphia and is the only covered bridge in a major US city. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The bridge is open to pedestrian traffic."


It's only a walking bridge now but Smurfinator sure would look good in front of it hint hint

 

son of a gun! i wish i would of read this thread earlier! i grew up & work in Smyrna..... saw your HHR at the hotel next to Dunkin Donuts the other day! we could of met up. i hope you enjoyed our little town, thanks for the recommendation for the Celtic Pub, i've been meaning to check it out.

 

So sorry to hear that things didn't work out with your daughter, but it sounds like you're still going to make the most of your trip. Travel safe and keep us posted on your wanderings.

 

Driving 800 mile per day is a feat. I'll do 600-650 in a 10 hour day at the max. I did just do 631 in ten hours on Tuesday driving from Raleigh to Palm Bay Fl. averaging 65 or so mph. I stopped for gas once, to fill car's tank and mine.

 

Yeah, Smyrna has grown since I was last by there about 18 years ago. I went up to New Castle a couple of times to eat at the Hooters Restaurant there. Good food with a view. Hey, I left a quarter on the on-ramp to the 1, I missed on the first try to pay the toll going North. I drove up today and it was still there.

 

I stayed in center city Philly for 4.5 days and did the normal tourist routine with Independence Hall & such. The hotel had Valet parking which I was not at all happy with. You had to call the front desk and wait 15-25 minutes for the car to arrive. The Garmin was useless with the tall buildings blocking satellite signals. Nearly wrecked a couple of times with the chaotic traffic and one way streets. My lady friend did some genealogical research and we visited a cemetery to find her relations buried there. I did the family reunion thing and caught up on family. Then hit the road back to Cali. We visited a cemetery in Tennessee & wouldn't ya know it, the lady is a distant relation to the Jeremiah Johnson. We spent a few hours there cleaning up tombstones & taking pictures. In Oklahoma we visited another cemetery. Anywho, my 3.5 day journey East tuned into a 6-day journey back West. I made it back yesterday & set up an appointment with my Chevy Dealer to do something with the stereo unit. That USB port problem has really got me PO'd. The total miles added to the car was about 6200 miles. I spent about $875 on gas. Went it is all said and done I spent about $3500 total. Next time I'm flying though. My oil life monitor started at 100% and is now at 53%.
Can't say what kind of gas mileage I had, different stations had different quality gas. But, it stayed between 26-29 MPG mostly. Lots of hill climbing and speeds over 70-75 mph. This heat wave we are going through didn't help, since I had the A/C on for most of the trip. It is actually cooler at home than it was nearly every place we went.

 

Enjoyed your updates and glad you made it safe and sound. Your MPG is the range I was at on my much shorter road trip of 1300miles. Hard to keep that car under 70.

Despite all the boring driving areas, I miss those car cross country trips.