I was chased this morning by rain. Traffic and wind patterns kept me right on the leading edge for two hours. The weather plot would have no rain juuuuust a few miles ahead, but it would move as I moved. Got a little wet.
The rain didn’t get to Punxsutawney. No surprise: The town has an absolute fixation on the groundhog. Phil has his own quarters at the library, though his window needs some serious cleaning. Gobbler’s Knob is actually several miles outside of town (the movie used the war memorial park.) A guy gave me a “Happy Groundhog Day” coin. Fun.
Further south I had no rain. I very happily drove nearly all the way through Pennsylvania on local roads. Some twisties. Hills. Nice towns. At times there was a canopy of leaves over the road, other times a wide vista of green rolling landscape. Historical markers were in plain sight, but most didn’t really say much. Two confederate flags. Many Trump signs. One large yellow roadside sign: “Wear seat belts . . . for the next million miles!” Mercersburg (James Buchanan’s childhood home) was worthy of a stop, but I didn’t.
Hotel has laundry services. Clean cloths! No continental breakfast, but I’m 30 seconds away from a Waffle House. Thank goodness there aren’t any near my home. Nearly every time I visit one the server calls me darlin’ or dearie. We’ll see.
Sculptures of Phil Are everywhere.
There are many statues like this one. In the background is Phil’s picture window. Very dirty.
Hereeeeee’s Phil!!
The stage is about 3 miles from town (on Gobbler’s Knob, of course).
This was once the Cambria County(?) prison. It’s an impressive building, sitting in the middle of town and right next to the war memorial park. Now the Records Repository. It really ought to be something jazzier.
Restless house.
In a house’s front lawn. I’m thinking he doesn’t need to do much extra work to prepare for Halloween.