Stopped in with a couple of friends today to see Marilyn and check out the rearranged space in the store. We met two very nice ladies who, unfortunately, were just in the process of closing up at 2:00 PM, so we didn't get anything to eat. They've made good use of the space, and we'll definitely stop back in for a bite next time. The menu seemed to consist of breakfast foods, hoagies, sandwiches, and some soups. Before we left they insisted we visit the men's room and view the charred two-seater outhouse plank hung on the wall there.
Marilyn seemed quite content in the back space, and said the cafe was doing well, although not boosting her business much. We bought a couple of books, as usual. My friend Jack picked up the paperback edition of McPhee's "The Pine Barrens," and I bought "Brotherton," a history of the reservation at Tabernacle. I had hoped to pick up "Iron in the Pines" but she was sold out of it.
Afterward we wandered south with the idea of getting over toward Washington Field. No big plans other than a nice drive on a really nice day. We went through Speedwell and then took Hawkins Speedwell Rd. south, casting an eye on Frank's Ford Rd. as we passed (we have some plans for that later in the spring when the kayaks come out). Back on 563 the GPS was off a little and I missed Iron Pipe at Maxwell, so we continued down to Hayes Rd. There was some big to-do at the gun club there, maybe a hundred cars or more and shots going off all around.
We worked our way up Hayes and got going south on Old Greenbank Mill Washington Rd., and basically for the next couple of hours we wandered around down in there. Tried to make it down Hayes Crossway at one point, but had to turn back. Don't take your trucks anywhere down in that area if you value the paint. Toughest going I think I have had in the pines so far, and if it hadn't dried out some in the last few weeks it would have been tougher still.
The day left me with a couple of questions: Who was Eleanor Adams and why does she have a road in her name? Why was Lance running in the first place? And which of the many bends on South Bend Rd. is the one it is named after?
Coming back about 7 PM we passed through Medford Lakes on Tuckerton Rd. and then took Elmwood north through a section that is marked to be closed soon (presumably so the temporary bridge can be replaced). Off to the left (the west side of the road) we spotted a huge old, somewhat decrepit, manor house right by where the bridge is. Anyone know anything about it?
Marilyn seemed quite content in the back space, and said the cafe was doing well, although not boosting her business much. We bought a couple of books, as usual. My friend Jack picked up the paperback edition of McPhee's "The Pine Barrens," and I bought "Brotherton," a history of the reservation at Tabernacle. I had hoped to pick up "Iron in the Pines" but she was sold out of it.
Afterward we wandered south with the idea of getting over toward Washington Field. No big plans other than a nice drive on a really nice day. We went through Speedwell and then took Hawkins Speedwell Rd. south, casting an eye on Frank's Ford Rd. as we passed (we have some plans for that later in the spring when the kayaks come out). Back on 563 the GPS was off a little and I missed Iron Pipe at Maxwell, so we continued down to Hayes Rd. There was some big to-do at the gun club there, maybe a hundred cars or more and shots going off all around.
We worked our way up Hayes and got going south on Old Greenbank Mill Washington Rd., and basically for the next couple of hours we wandered around down in there. Tried to make it down Hayes Crossway at one point, but had to turn back. Don't take your trucks anywhere down in that area if you value the paint. Toughest going I think I have had in the pines so far, and if it hadn't dried out some in the last few weeks it would have been tougher still.
The day left me with a couple of questions: Who was Eleanor Adams and why does she have a road in her name? Why was Lance running in the first place? And which of the many bends on South Bend Rd. is the one it is named after?
Coming back about 7 PM we passed through Medford Lakes on Tuckerton Rd. and then took Elmwood north through a section that is marked to be closed soon (presumably so the temporary bridge can be replaced). Off to the left (the west side of the road) we spotted a huge old, somewhat decrepit, manor house right by where the bridge is. Anyone know anything about it?