September 17, 2006

September 17, 2006

We got to the Philadelphia KOA just before 7pm last night. On checking in we are told that Graham Kerr, “The Galloping Gourmet” is talking in the pavilion from 7-9 tonight. We park, eat a quick soup and sandwich, and walk to the meeting room. I was expecting a talk on cooking but instead Graham talks about lifestyle changes for healthier living. Aimee is more interested than I am. I already have made my lifestyle change and I am more surprised that he is hitting the campground circuit.

This morning, we get a late start. We head into downtown Philadelphia close to noon. We find parking for the RV at Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River. I have to pay $30, double the normal because I am taking up two parking spots. We walk the six blocks to the Independence National Historical Park to get a timed ticket for Independence Hall. Our 2:30 time slot requires us to be there by 2pm for security screening. We kill time by looking at the exhibits and watching a film at the Visitors Center. Unfortunately our inept government was having problems with their clocks and we only saw the last half of the film. The worst part is that the Visitor Center rangers weren’t concerned enough to fix the problem.

At 2pm we run through the airport-like scanners at Independence Hall. We spend the next 29 minutes, sitting, waiting for our 2:30 tour. The tour lasts 30 minutes and shows us the two rooms in the Pennsylvania State House. It is nicknamed Independence Hall because the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both debated and signed here.

Afterwards we walk across the street to see the Liberty Bell and its exhibits. The Liberty Bell used to be in the Independence Hall bell tower. Even though it was cracked it came to be the symbol of our country and used to travel throughout the land.

We walk to the US Mint but it is closed on weekends. Across the street we see Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite. Since it is now 4pm and most everything is closed, we walk back to Penn’s Landing. Instead of driving we take a tourist bus to Philadelphia’s Museum of Art. Along the way we are able to see some of Philly’s prettier sections. We walk to the far side of the Museum and take a picture of the “Rocky” statue and the famous steps from the movie. We plan to commemorate the visit by watching “Rocky” in the RV tonight.

We head out of town south and plan on staying at a campsite north of Baltimore. Traffic is fierce as the Eagles game just let out. It loosens up but in the middle of Delaware it comes to a crawl again. Very surprising for a Sunday night. It is 7pm, we are tired and far from a campground so we pull off at the next exit and stay at a hotel, our first since traveling by RV.