In a word: Family.
We chose a week in Elkton, MD because we love our family and extended family and we have them in this area. We also needed an airport for Kimberly to fly out and back from and the Philadelphia airport was within our hour rule. I was her UBER driver because I wanted the car. We were situated in Maryland yet very near Delaware and Philly.
I will start by backing up to the day before we left Old Fort. I should have shared this story then but I totally forgot. We had been there a month and had tried and failed to see our cousins Judith and Paul about 3 times. We just couldn’t make it work. So, the day before departure, with a very short window of time, we met at a great restaurant in Waynesville, NC. The place was called The Sweet Onion. Kimberly and I were quite proud of our lunch choice, which turned out to be delicious and cozy/quaint right in the little town square. Judith and Paul pull up, a tad frazzled, with 2 GIANT dogs and some story about a renovated motel and a lost wallet. Paul begins roaming through the town of Waynesville practically begging anyone to keep his dogs while we ate. NOT HAPPENING. So Judith and Paul just took turns ”driving the dogs around” or moving the car. We still had a wonderful meal even though Paul and Judith had no wallet and two GIANT DOGS. We strolled around Waynesville a bit before heading back to breakdown camp.
Best part…wallet was in the car the whole time…
A few pics from our visit:
So, back to Elkton, MD. (2 stops after previous story).
Elkton is located on the colonial highway of America. Our forefathers navigated its waterways and traveled its roads when heading north to Philadelphia, or south to Virginia. Once known as Head of Elk, named by Captain John Smith, it sits at the northern headwaters of Chesapeake Bay. Elkton played a significant role in both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Today, many of the town’s beautiful colonial structures remain, yet they’re surrounded by buildings that reflect an active business community. Office buildings, courthouses, a hospital, and retail establishments share space with history in Elkton, which has been the County Seat since 1787.
The Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is a 14-mile-long, 450-foot-wide and 35-foot-deep ship canal that connects the Delaware River with the Chesapeake Bay in the states of Delaware and Maryland in the United States. The C&D Canal is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District. It was built in 1829. The canal saves approximately 300 miles on the route between Wilmington and Philadelphia on the Delaware River, and the major Chesapeake Bay ports such as Baltimore, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads, avoiding a course around the Delmarva Peninsula.
Catherine and MaryLou had already scoped out the area and were all smiles when we arrived to the area. Since the next day was Labor Day, we had a cookout complete with fresh corn and tomatoes…and gas station ”world famous” fried chicken. Tuesday, I took Kimberly to the Philly airport bright and early. My cousin Pam and her handsome beau, Rob, picked me up at the campground where we headed for a nice walk on the canal followed by a tasty draft beer and some tasty vittles as we watched the freighters go through the canal.
Elkton also turned out to be a great spot for an oil change and front brakes on the TOAD, since Kimberly had used it on 3 or 4 business road trips. One day Mollie and I headed to my cousins house for the day and DID THE LAUNDRY! I never quite understood the importance of doing laundry until this chapter of our lives. Kimberly tries to do her ”scrubs” at her work locations while I usually do house laundry at laundromats. When someone says ”bring your laundry” I squeal with excitement. Those that know me well actually know that I have never ever squealed about doing laundry. We even did the sheets and towels before we left! Cousin Pam wins then”best laundromat ever” contest. She even tried to give us quarters. A laundry service that hands out quarters.
Catherine and Marylou had found and enjoyed Blue Elk Vinyards before we arrived so we went with Rob and Pam before we left the area. It was delicious and beautiful and everything you’d want in a sunset with your cousins.
Elkton was a one week stay so on Friday I had to drive back into Philly to pick up Kimberly. I could hear my Dad in my ear saying ”lets find the best cheesesteak”. So I did some research and picked my spot…right in the streets of Philadelphia. I drove 15 minutes past the airport, into the hood, for the best cheesesteak. I parked on the street and walked a few blocks to find the walk up window at “Joes steaks and sodas” established in 1949. I walk up to the window, hearing Pop in one ear saying ”onions on mine”. So I order 2; one with onions. I proudly walked back to my car, past the massage parlor and the gun shop, to devour the best cheesesteak ever with Pops sandwich sitting in the passenger seat next to me. And then I went to the airport.
Our visit to Elkton was filled with family and fun and laughter. One week in a chapter of many, we’ll never forget.
CoBro + 1 with Yolo and the TOAD 