NJ Trip

Amy and I spent an eventful weekend up in NJ to visit her parents, whom we hadn’t seen since the wedding last month. The train ride from Washington was quick. We watched Groundhog Day en route (Amy had never seen it before), and later found upon arrival that track work at Metropark meant that Amtrak passengers had to detrain at track level, cross the tracks, and climb the steps to the platform, which was an adventure in itself.

Saturday was spent with Amy and her dad on the waters of Spruce Run, a reservoir and recreation area (kind of a New Jersey version of Caliraya) popular for camping, fishing, boating, and windsurfing. We were on kayaks, and spent many hours rowing about the artificial lake, exploring the shoreline and coming as close to the spillway as was allowed, all the while getting marvelously sunburnt. This was my third time to kayak at Spruce Run, but I forgot my camera, so you will just have to imagine how mind-bogglingly marvelous and amazing the whole experience was.

After kayaking, we had a delightful dinner at Chestnut Chateau, the restaurant at which we had our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding. I ordered filet of sole, eaten to the tune of live music of the “Blues” variety — I will skip the obvious sole/soul witticism.

Sunday morning worship was at Amy’s church and we were witness to the sad announcement that Pastor Keith, one of our own wedding co-officiants, will be leaving to pursue God’s call to pastorship at another church down in MD. I’m sure he’ll be greatly missed in that church and in that town, and we wish him well.

That night our train home was delayed an hour, and we arrived in DC well after 2AM. We still haven’t fully recovered.

Burger.jpg

Burger.jpg This is a ‘Union Pacific’ burger, topped with avocado and a fried egg. It is very good.

(Burger.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

Skylight.jpg

Skylight.jpg Eating lunch at Garrett’s, a railroad-themed tavern and restaurant in Georgetown. Blue sky and hot sun outside, but this is a covered terrace.

(Skylight.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

Detrain.jpg

Detrain.jpg Passengers getting off the train at Metropark northbound have to detrain at track level because of platform and rail construction work.

(Detrain.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

SprRun.jpg

SprRun.jpg At Spruce Run, a reservoir and state park near Clinton, NJ. We’re going kayaking.

(SprRun.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

RearRail.jpg

RearRail.jpg View out the back window of the train as we head up the Northeast Corridor, off to NJ with my luv.

(RearRail.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

DrinkCar.jpg

DrinkCar.jpg Oh look! The car is advertising an alcoholic beverage, so its roof has been set up to look like said beverage, complete with straw and lime wedge! It is very clever!

(DrinkCar.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

mo_138_.jpg

mo_138_.jpg Dear Union Station Au Bon Pain, thanks so much for moving the pastry tissues down to these baskets jutting out from the lowest rack, well below eye level but at the perfect height for knees and shins to bang into. This bruised cut on my leg is testament to your brilliant scheme. Bravo.

(mo_138_.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)

Fallen.jpg

Fallen.jpg

A fallen muffin sits, lost and forlorn, on a metro station platform. Somewhere in DC, someone has missed breakfast. Weep for the poor muffins!

(Fallen.jpg uploaded by brownpau.)