Family, Philadelphia and Tennessee

June was a big month here in America.  My Dad visited, and I added Pennsylvania to my list of States visited.

I haven't seen my Dad since I emigrated last year so it was a thrill when I heard he had booked a flight.

I work opposite the airport so I was able to leave early and pick him up.

After a few days of him settling in we spend the weekend together and on the Saturday we visited Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.  The area was huge and reminded me of Beamish.

The next day we visited Arlington Cemetery.  I do not think people realise how big this place is.  Dad enquired about a specific grave for Audie L Murphy, and with Vickys help, we found it!

Audie L Murphy is widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the second world war.

Philadelphia

Visiting Philadelphia was exciting as we had tickets to see rock band Tenacious D, and I would meet up with a long time online friend from an old Horror Movie message board.

We saw the Liberty Bell, Independance Hall and, MOST famous of all, the Rocky steps ...

However, the weekend in Philadelphia did not start out quite so well.

Friday night brought warnings of a severe thunderstorm in the area.  We heard warnings on the local news, and by the emergency system on the television too.  Whenever bad weather is in the area, the local authority have the means to add a scrolling message to all televisions, but this also comes with a very loud buzzing noise.  Great if you want to record something.  This Friday night we also had my Sister-in-Laws kids over for the night, we were all lounging on the sofa watching Tintin, when the rain started, and the temperature jumped to 100'.  Checking the weather channel, we were informed of a dangerous storm approaching.  This was confirmed when the power went out for a few seconds.

Sadly, the storm also brought damage to our garden, one of our tree's was struck by lightning and it could have caused damage to a neighbours car if she had been home that night.  Phew!

This does not look too bad, but the tree is in danger of falling on our house!

With the branch blocking the path, we had to drive around the school out back just to get onto the main road.  Liz's current boyfriend has a chainsaw, so he helped cut it down whilst we were away.

This was the view from our room!

This is Independance Hall and the Liberty Bell.  The queues were huge to go inside, but we sneaked a photograph from a side window!

 Visiting the area where the film Rocky was filmed was a lot of fun.  Here's me running up the steps, and a picture of me next to the statue.  There were maybe 10 - 15 people queuing up for a photo, and Vicky went onto youtube on her phone for the VERY appropriate music!

Here's me at the concert later that night:

Being at a concert in the open was fun, and even better that I was able to see someone who I'd only seen in the movies.


Elreth's Alley:

Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country, was created in 1703 when two property owners on Front Street made a cartway to the rear of their lots to subdivide their land. By the end of the 18th Century, Elfreth's Alley had assumed its present character as a street of modest row homes. The oldest homes are simple two-and-a-half-story structures with parlors entered directly from the street. Some have pent eaves. Exterior woodwork is simple, as are doorways and transom lights. Most of the houses were built for rent and lived in by craftsmen. The Museum House at 126 is typical of these early homes. It was occupied by a dressmaker who had her shop on the first floor and living quarters above. The three-and-a-half-story houses were built after the Revolutionary War and show the influence of the Federal style in the classically framed doorways with pilasters and pediments.

 Notice the difference in the Union Flag!  I want one of these!



A week later Tennessee.  We stayed in a town called Pigeon Forge, and in an area called The Strip.  Think a redneck version of Las Vegas, and you get the idea!

We stayed in Tennessee to see a very good friend of ours from Cumberland Gap, she is responsible for Vicky and I being together!  One of the highlights was the Titanic Museum.  We had our reservations about this attraction, considering the rest of the area!, but we were VERY happy that it was just awesome.  The museum may look tacky from the outside, but inside was a different story.  They had a few original artifacts from the wreck, and a lot of original photo's that Vicky had never seen.  But it became even better inside the gift shop later.  Vicky bought a few things, and then I sent her to the car, and did my own shopping.  I've probably got enough to last the next few Birthdays and Christmas'.

We also went on a little adventure and found the birthplace of Davy Crockett.  The 'Tavern 'was closed, but didn't stop us from enjoying this.

In other news, I have now found and enjoyed!, 5 different Newcastle Brown Ales, all found here in Northern Virginia.

And the tree was finally cut down as you can see here:

This will help supply us with a lot of firewood for the Winter.