Travels in the 2nd half

  Last week I started a road trip, traveling on U.S. 30, west bound, across Pennsylvania. The route covers a section of the Lincoln Highway, the countries oldest coast-to-coast highway. This week I will continue that trip, through the center of the state. Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium   I started this leg heading west out of Gettysburg, PA. Twelve miles along I found Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium. In 1975 Ed and Pat Gotwalt opened general store along Route 30, selling a wide variety of food and souvenirs. When that store closed in 1983, Ed, Pat, and their son Michael, found a nearby property, and opened a new business. This time they concentrated on two things. One was Ed’s elephant collection, which had grown to over 2000 pieces. They also decided to limit their inventory to candy. Today these have created a wonderful place for families to enjoy both visually, and to stock up on snacks for the road. Chambersburg PA My trip continued west along U.S....

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge   Route U.S. 30 is the third longest road in the United States. It spans the country from Atlantic City, NJ in the east to Astoria, OR in the west, a distance of 3112 miles (5008 Km). I recently posted a story of U.S. 30 in New Jersey , and for the next three weeks I will explore its journey through Pennsylvania. Philadelphia   Route U.S. 30 enters Pennsylvania by crossing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge across the Delaware River. The bridge opened in 1926, and at the time it was the world’s longest suspension bridge. It was the first bridge across the Delaware this far south. Once in Philadelphia the route joins I-676, bypassing Center City, before hopping on the I-95 north. Cherry Street Pier Route 30 exits the interstate at Girard Ave, near the Philadelphia Zoo, and my drive took me through the Overbrook neighborhood, along Girard Ave and then Lancaster Ave. The area is poor, working class. It has seen better days, but it soldiers on.  Philede...