Passing the Time - Tick Tock on the Clock

7/20/11- Question: What do you do when you are surrounded by an abundance of clocks? Do you: a) Start to get paranoid about the time on your watch and so decide to set it to the hour, minute and second of those around you? b) look for the Mad Hatter because by some fluke of synchronicity you believe you were brought to this place to have tea, then fight an evil queen and slay her dragon? or c) expect that a party is about to take place complete with the swagger of Mick Jagger, and drink until the po-po shut it down?

At the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA, I had the time of my life (dot dot dot)... *Silence* (Insert applause and a chorus of laughter now) *Crickets chirping*. Tough crowd. Tough crowd.

What can I say about the National Watch and Clock Museum? Well there's a bunch of clocks. Over 12,000 of them to be exact. Big, small, old, etc. Did you know that in previous times, sundials were used to tell time? Oh, you did? Well, how about hour glasses? Uh-huh, I see. Well, I bet you've never heard of a clepsydra, have you? Not to be confused with Cleopatra. A clepsydra is a bowl in which water drips. When the water reaches a line, it marks the passing of time. By 1088 A.D., Su Song had his own clock in China - a water-driven astronomical clock tower. Quite fascinating, but not very accurate at telling time.

Further into my adventure, I got to see the inside workings of a clock along with many fine grandfather clocks, watches and other time-keepers. All joking aside, the museum is quite stunning, and well worth the $8 admission for adults. I even had the opportunity to make my own clock from a blank cd, and a few clock supplies. Yes I can say horology is a very interesting study. Besides the clocks, I watched a short movie on the progression of time-keeping through the ages; I learned how our own time today is actually about 11 seconds off. So, if I'm ever late, don't blame me. It's not my fault.

Check out the website to learn more. http://www.nawcc.org/index.php/museumlibrary.

A Spontaneous Trip to Baltimore

7/17/11 - Traveling through the York countryside looking for an adventure, I eventually ended up on 83 going south toward Baltimore. I looked at the clock - 4 pm. Ok, so I have a couple hours to grab dinner at Inner Harbor. What the hell, I thought. It's fun to be spontaneous.

The Light Rail is my favorite way to go into Inner Harbor. At $3.20 round trip, you can't go wrong. And there's also the colorful people you sometimes run into on the train... A group of high school kids boarded the empty vessel followed by a man thanking them for some miscellaneous info. The kids appeared indifferent--choosing seats where he wouldn't be able to sit next to them. I hate to use the words "on crack," but in this case I think it's appropriate. The man appeared to be on crack. The seat next to me was empty. I saw him approaching me. I kept my eyes shielded with my sunglasses and gently moved my knee over into the next seat thereby sending him the subtle message "Sorry but this seat is taken...by my knee."

Yes, these people make life more interesting, but in this case I was glad I followed my intuition. As the train was moving the man shouted from the back, "Hey anyone ever read the Da Vinci Code? This is just like the Da Vinci Code!" I wasn't sure what he meant by that and yes I have read the book, but I kept my hand down. The air was filled with a chorus of nearly inaudible grumbles and "Oh god." A smirk crossed my face as I enjoyed a chuckle. I nearly wanted to turn around and see what he was doing, but my inner voice said, "No, don't turn around or you will be acknowledging him."

The train unloaded me at Camdem Yards. Hallelujah! The Harbor was full of people enjoying the sunshine, pirate cruises for kids and a band playing "Sweet Caroline." I really wanted to grab some chicken wings at Hooters, and sit outside over looking the crowd, but the moldy money in my wallet said, "Get some pizza and save on the cost of tipping." Two slices of pizza and one medium soda for $8.55. Ouch! Not as cheap as I thought it would be.

I found myself searching for books on travel over at Barnes & Noble. My find: A House in Fez, by Suzanna Clarke. In this true life adventure, Australian photo-journalist Clarke and her husband decide to buy a house in Fez, Morocco. She recounts the joys of remodeling her new home in a country where she couldn't speak the language. It's synchronicity! I thought. Morocco is on my list of places to visit. Also, the story reminds me of one of my favorite movies "Under the Tuscan Sun!" If this were Oprah's Book Club, I'd have a copy for everyone, but the moldy money in my wallet says, "Get your own!"

As I was searching through the teen section at BN, I encountered a very ridiculous man. His girlfriend was searching for a teen book. "These books are for teenage girls! Why do you want to read these books? You have five minutes," he declared.

Wow. So many things wrong with that statement. I guess I'm a teenage girl then, because I like to read teen books.

The night ended with much less excitement, but the train ride gave me some time to gain ground on my new reading treasure.

WWKD?

So I drove the 5 1/2 hours to Assateague. It was spectacular... It was marvelous... It was a moonlit vision... It was... closed! "Park Full" the sign read. I guess it was my fault since I didn't leave from York until 4 pm.

I pulled up to the sign and I asked myself, "Self? WWKD? What would Ke$ha do?" I thought for a moment what that meant and then realized it was time to go home. I had no intentions of brushing my teeth with a bottle of jack or seeing unicorns. To really get inside the head of Ke-dollar sign-ha, you have to withhold taking a bath/shower for at least a week. So I turned around and sped off like a madman cackling into the wind, "The end is near! The end is near!"

I decided to try my luck at Assateague later in the summer--perhaps for the next full moon.

The Echo of Indians at Indian Echo Caverns (Hummelstown, PA)

Today, I went deep into the heart of the earth. Before I could plunge her depths, I stood creek-level with the waterways used by the Susquehannocks gazing upon a fantastic entrance. I pondered the secret incantation that would allow me passage through these mines (created possibly by Dwarves from Middle Earth, or not). "Speak friend and enter," were the words that came to mind. I imagined the air around me beginning to swirl as I stood with my wizard's cap. Then, the tour guide opened the door and allowed me passage... Perhaps an incantation was not necessary, or was it???!!!

The mines were deep and filled with rock-like protrusions that may have flitted about behind my back. It was dark; I couldn't really tell. I feared for my life, praying that the descent wouldn't take me to a lair full of blind, vampiric subterranean cave dwellers. Fortunately, I was not taken to their lair or I would not be sharing this adventure with you now. Nor did I find a certain caped-crusader hanging out with his butler.

Alas, my gang was led to the most beautiful, pristine pool of water that even old Indian(a) Jones could appreciate. I knew it had to be the fountain of youth. Walking beneath the rock-shaped bridge, I was baptized with two drops of cave-blood. It is said that each drop represents one year of good luck. Had I a cup with me, perhaps I could have collected some to share with you all.

T'was a good adventure and kid-friendly with many mythological accounts that will excite and entice fresh bloods deeper into the dark... For more information about location, directions, gift shop and pricing, check out the website at http://www.indianechocaverns.com/.

From the Edge of Glory to the Edge of Madness

Hi All,

So this is my first post on this new blog which will be primarily about my travel experiences. I hope you will find much joy, humor and excitement in this blog that will spur you to go create your own adventures. Please feel free to leave comments.

I revved up the engine of my trusty Ford Focus to set out on adventure into the wilderness of Adams County, PA today. Brian and I went on our yearly pilgrimage to Fuller Lake, an old quarry with a man-made beach. The Appalachian Mountains guard this exotic, little gem as the Secret Service guard the President. The cool air from the nearby creek and the shade of tall evergreens create a relaxing breath of fresh air and an "aaaahh" moment. The water, though not as clear and blue as what you might expect from a quarry, is nevertheless refreshing. I swam out into the deep parts, away from the splashing kiddies to find my own "aaaahhh" moment. At 26 feet deep, it's a little hard to not be afraid of the water. I had that nagging fear that we all sometimes get--that a snapping turtle would surface only to bite me where the sun doesn't shine. Suddenly, I found my mind wandering from snapping turtles to sharks and alligators. Hey, I know it sounds ridiculous, but it could theoretically happen, right? What happens when people find them growing too big for their aquariums? They have to be set loose somewhere...

Next, Brian wanted to show me Kings Gap--a view of the South Mountain (Cumberland Valley) between Shippensburg and Carlisle, PA. It's about 15 minutes along 34 (I wasn't really paying attention to cardinal directions, but I think it was North). At the top of the sprawling landscape was a mansion where, according to him, the state park rangers meet for conferences. Throughout the summer and fall, events are held, some free and some at a cost. We decided to return later in the summer for the guided historical kayak trip. For info, check out the state department of conservation and natural resources at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/kingsgap.aspx.

As always we decided to rock out to the latest Lady Gaga hit on our way home. It's kind of like a closing ritual for a day of fun. Her new single, The Edge of Glory, describes the kind of day we had. I always like to do a little karaoke along with the music in my best opera voice. I think for Brian, I took the Edge of Glory to the Edge of... Awful! I don't have that rendition, but you can close your eyes and imagine. Until next time... Peace out, girl scout!