Day 10-Groundhogs, Gratitude and Plenty of Other Stuff

Our day started with a backtrack. (Yes, we're still doubling back!) Because of the timing, we decided to postpone our next stop as it wasn't too far away, and get to the hotel. I'm glad we did, because Punxsutawney (P) needed to be a daytime experience. Getting there was a rollercoaster of hills that reminded me of those in Glasgow and Wien, MO but it only took about 45 minutes.

When we first rolled in to town, I thought they had one heck of a gimmick going on because it sure didn't look like much. But then the groundhog-ness began. Like the cow statues of KC, P has groundhogs. We sighted a few as we turned the corner and started down the street.

Mom, Frankie and the Wizard of Weather GH

There's Work to be Done GH

As I returned to the van after taking the above pic, a local lady told me that the GH museum is at the local library and gave me directions so off we went. Spotted these GHs on the way:

It's Springtime for Phantastic Phylli

Presby MacPhil

Phil'd with Service GH

One Dollar Phil

A Philnomenal Place GH

Look at the View GH

Phillage

Freedom Phil

After finding parking, wandering through the park and finding a few more GHs, we found the library. And yup, there he was in the window. Big dude hiding in the hole with his butt towards us.

We thought it remarkable how much this guy looks like Dave.

There is a viewing window inside the library as well, so we all headed in there. The librarian was very helpful and gave me a map to locate the Phantastic Phils, said the Groundhog Day tradition is more than 100 years old (121 to be exact-I had to look it up), and asked if we'd been to Gobbler's Knob.  How could we not go to the actual location of the Groundhog Day?

'Phil's chair in the library

He came out of his hole!

Phil seemed to have a real connection to Luke. I think it was because of Luke taking pics of him in all of his various moods - happy, sad, etc.

Mom, Molly and Abby with the dweeb face.

There were actually two in the hole. Didn't go back to ask why.

Mark and Dave trying to decide if a groundhog comes out when the clock strikes.

There is a tree clock across from the park, so Mark and Dave stood there a while to see if a ground hog came out. We finally gave up and headed for the vans. Just about the time we got there, the clock chimed and three GHs came out and circled the tree. I raced to get the picture but wasn't there in time. (Ha - another pun!)

Off we went to Gobbler's Knob, and after a double-back, found it in the hills in the woods. As we walked down to the stage, there were pink and white rose silk rose petals which looked like there had been a wedding there. What a hoot!

Frankie in the ground hog's hole at Gobbler's Knob

David and Nikki at the stand

Returning back to town, we made a pit stop at a gas station and decided that since there are 10 of us, we waste too much time on 'one-hole' toilets. (I crack myself up on puns!) 

Philatelic Phil - across the street from the gas station

Our time in Punxustawney ended with having sighted 11 of the 33 ground hogs. (I could have happily went in search of them all, but we had to move on.)

We returned to I-80 and headed to Hermitage, PA and the Hillcrest Memorial Park which is the location of the Avenue of Flags. While this started out being a light-hearted stop along the way, once more information was learned, it truly became an amazing site. This collection of flags was featured on the cover of Time and is symbolic of the Iran Hostage Crisis. There are 444 flags- one for each day Americans were held hostage, and an eternal flame burns before the monument to eight servicemen who lost their lives in the mission. There was a second monument that I didn't know about. the War on Terror monument which was started in 2006 to honor those who lost their lives in the war on terror.  Each monument stands 12 feet tall with five, dark, glass panels on each side, mounted to a steel base. Diamond-etched names are engraved in chronological order three panels high, permitting rubbings and other personal transfer means. The memorial is round, with the monuments surrounding a fountain, further encircled by United States flags.The memorial is updated weekly.Here's the link with more information. http://www.waronterror.org/code/monument_default.asp

Eternal flame

monument to the war on terror

 

Chris, who was working on the pool, told me a little about the monument and said his cousin was added to the memorial in April. He died in Afghanistan when a mortar struck as he was walking from his barrack to the clinic where he worked as a nurse.

To all who served in our military, and their families for so generously sharing them, the Gouldings cannot express the extent of our gratitude in keeping every American safe and providing the freedom which allows a GGLT to happen!

We moved on to the adjoining town of Sharon, PA which is a location of the Duffin's Chocolate Kingdom. The store housed a 400-pound chocolate turtle, a 700-pound chocolate rabbit and several other creative carvings. There were also candy case, about 48 feet long that had about a hundred different kinds of chocolate dipped candies, a case of 54 types of Jelly Bellys and another case that held 16 kinds of fudge. What a kids paradise!

Wall of candy that greets you at the door

The lady positioning Frankie among the chocolate

Frankie at the train

Frankie riding the turtle

Original chocolate Easter bunny molds

Chocolate covered row

I didn't even ask the lady to put Frankie in with the molded chocolate. She glanced at him as asked - said she did that often. After the kids selected their candy, we moved on to the 'World's Largest Shoe Store' down the street.

We all agree that this was NOT the largest any of us had ever seen, but they did have an interesting selection and maybe the world's highest prices. Mark said they had a pair (almost exact) that he just bought for double the price that he paid. This one is a bust except for Abby and Emily trying on the highest heels they could find in the store!

DD gave us a list of local restaurants, and Quaker Steak and Lube came up on the list. I remembered that we were supposed to eat there because they touted the world's best wings.

Abby and Emily

tv in the entry floor

Mark looking at the motorcycle/view from our table

Molly & Frankie

cones marking motorcycle parking

Lisa and I disagree and think those we had yesterday were the greatest. They did have really great loaded fries though. They also had sauces rated from 90 to 500,000 shu (Schovile Heat Units), funky colored twisted straws and wing wags (slang for rags, warmed cloths to wash the sauce off your fingers.) Their highest SHU rated sauce is the Triple Atomic. Needless to say, none of us wanted to have the tastebuds burned off of our tongues, so we didn't try that one! The McCoskeys became known as the 'hat people' for restaurant bills as Nikki, Dave and Luke where them and Lisa just points them out for the order and bill.

We were then off to see the Blessed Garden Hose Water located in Euclid, OH. This is the National Shrine and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, and is maintained by the Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity. It was pretty cool. There were testimonials in one location telling about blessings that were received. Mom and I (that I know of) used some of the water to make the sign of the cross on us. I can use all the help I can get - especially with the 'borrowed' pen that I ended up with from the Steak and Lube. There was also an awesome rosary along a path surrounding the shrine.

Stone rosary

We had another cruise through 'East St. Louis' and Clarke (Mark) decided to pull in to get gas before we headed to downtown Cleveland.

Frankie and our drive by of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (too late to visit)

Guitar on a street corner

World's Largest Rubber Stamp

Frankie and the Rabbit

We stopped to get a pic of the rubber stamp and I saw the above bunny. Cleveland's gimmick is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit so you can drive around looking at the 20-something they have on display.

Drive by of the baseball field

The Christmas Story house!

Frankie and the sign

We did a drive-by of the house because it wasn't open for tours until the next day then headed to our motel in Sandusky. We are staying the next three days at the Best Western, and it is a good one (rooms, breakfast, etc.)

Bought Cedar Point tickets for all of us then crashed for the night.
As a side note - I am really glad that I'm doing this blog because there is no way I would remember the details of our numerous stops otherwise. (Did I mention this already?)