Hi Gram,
I got up early and hit the road, next stop: Philadelphia! Well, technically not the very next stop. I spent the day meandering before actually arriving in Philly. My first stop was Coffee Bel Air, a coffee shop to get some WiFi and do my morning brain exercises.

It was a cute little independent place with barely anyone in there when I arrived. By the time I left, though, I had barely stood up when someone swooped into my still warm chair. I had been so focused on my computer that I didn’t even notice the throngs who had entered and livened the place up.

I drove down the street a little to YogaFresh, another independent breakfast spot in a converted house. I parked around back, then headed in to check out their menu. A hippy/ hipster place, they had a variety of smoothies, bowls, and other crunchy granola options along with incense, candles, and handmade purses and plant hangers. I chose an acai yogurt bowl with berries and honey mixed in and pineapple, coconut, and granola on top. Very delicious and filling, not to mention entertaining as I watched the stream of very busy people flow through, grabbing their supplements and healthy food on their way to their very busy jobs.

After breakfast, I found a trailhead not too far away for a little morning hike. It even had a cute name, the “Ma and Pa Heritage Trail”, which made me think maybe it was land donated by a family or had some sort of campy story. I found out, though, that it was named after a railroad that ran from Baltimore, Maryland to York, Pennsylvania. It carried milk, produce, and minerals and was vital to the development of the many canneries, mines, and quarries in the area. In fact, it carried so much milk on the morning run that locals dubbed it the “Milky Way”. The railroad had its last run in the 1950’s, after which the land became a trail and parkway. I walked along the trail, which was well maintained, and saw some remnants of the old rails and buildings. There were even benches scattered along the route to rest and take in the view of birds, trees, and flowers. I ended up on a spur that led up to an old mansion that has been preserved as a reception hall and museum before doubling back and continuing along more of the trail. It was a nice stroll, passing plenty of joggers, walkers, and a few bicyclists. When I got back to my car, the sun had warmed things up a little and I drove through town slowly with my windows down, taking in the architecture and old shops.

I wound my way down local and state roads, enjoying the drive along roads that dipped, swayed, and climbed to make my steering wheel smile. Podcasts filled me ears, the blue sky peaked through the canopy of old growth trees, and I couldn’t help just smiling.

I got into Philadelphia around 6pm, anxious with the tight streets, tall buildings, and clatter and bang of a major city. It’s been a while since I was in such a congested cityscape, and my nerves needed a little time to get used to it. Then, Annie answered the door and all my nerves and anxiety disappeared in a flash. We hugged and said our hellos before she directed me where to park my car so I wouldn’t get ticketed or towed right away. I found a spot a block or two away down her street, unloaded my bags and bike, and put the bike rack inside the car to keep hooligans from breaking or stealing it. Back at Annie’s, we put the bike in her backyard then she gave me a tour of the house and showed me to my guest suite in the lower level. Her house is tall and narrow, with the kitchen, living and dining rooms on the main floor, bedrooms and laundry on the second floor, and the master suite on the third floor. Downstairs, there’s a guest bedroom, rec room area, and bathroom along with the mechanical room. The effect is that Annie, her roommate Katie, and any guests they have each have their own floor and bathroom. After the tour, she took me on a short tour of the surrounding neighborhood, past the Italian market, and down restaurant row. I noted a few spots that I might want to check out another day, then we headed back to the house. Both tired from our days, we chatted for a bit, then went to our separate floors for the evening. I’ll tell you all about the adventures I had around town in my next letter.