21 Mar 2011
10.06.08
New Jersey
This morning started with a close encounter with a member of the local wildlife. I got stung on the butt by a bloody wasp! Ouch, ouch, ouch!
I’ve never before seen such a mean looking bug. Didn’t look anything like our wasps.
(P.S. I was wrong! Saw one in the garden the other day. It's what we call a paper wasp. I still think the one that stung me was way huger and way meaner!)
I’ve never before seen such a mean looking bug. Didn’t look anything like our wasps.
(P.S. I was wrong! Saw one in the garden the other day. It's what we call a paper wasp. I still think the one that stung me was way huger and way meaner!)
This is what it looked like ....
.... and this was where it was hiding, ready to attack.
The campground shower block!
Said goodbye to the groundhogs and of course I didn’t have my camera with me when I went to check out the burrow. Missed out on a good photo as one of them was sitting right in the entrance looking at me. Bugga!
I loved the forest around our camp site.
Traveled through Pennsylvania’s very picturesque countryside into New Jersey.
The freeways quite often are made from concrete and in places can become quite ‘rough’ with the sound of the tyres on the road sounding more like the wheels of a train. The ‘clicketty, click’ is transformed into a very uncomfortable ‘bumpety, bump’. I’m certain we were travelling on the freeway that has the bumpiest bumps in America and I was cursing that blasted wasp by the time we gotten to our days’ destination.
Finding the State Park camping area at Voorhees was accomplished just in time for us to settle in before a storm hit.
The temperatures have been quite oppressive during this trip, most days in the 90s, so the thunder and lightening was a welcome sign that a rainstorm was approaching. Despite not lasting all that long it did manage to cool the evening to a comfortable temperature.
We had the whole place to ourselves ....
.... I wonder why?
The freeways quite often are made from concrete and in places can become quite ‘rough’ with the sound of the tyres on the road sounding more like the wheels of a train. The ‘clicketty, click’ is transformed into a very uncomfortable ‘bumpety, bump’. I’m certain we were travelling on the freeway that has the bumpiest bumps in America and I was cursing that blasted wasp by the time we gotten to our days’ destination.
Finding the State Park camping area at Voorhees was accomplished just in time for us to settle in before a storm hit.
The temperatures have been quite oppressive during this trip, most days in the 90s, so the thunder and lightening was a welcome sign that a rainstorm was approaching. Despite not lasting all that long it did manage to cool the evening to a comfortable temperature.
We had the whole place to ourselves ....
The campground was really lovely but seemed completely deserted. There wasn’t even an office to book into. I decided that the signs posted saying we were in bear country must have had something to do with it.
The bears had eaten everyone!!!
The bears had eaten everyone!!!
.... I wonder why?
Bears were forgotten about when Dad called me out to see my first fireflies. What a gorgeous sight. They just looked like hundreds of ‘Tinkerbelles’; the trees were full of fairies!
13.06.08 New York
Ellis Island
I’m most definitely a country girl. New York was the most amazing, scary, ginormous, dirty, busy, beautiful, ugly, mind-blowing place I have ever been in my life!!
Dad and I drove to the town of Dover, about 8 miles from where we are staying. Here we bought our round trip tickets for the hour and a quarter trip to New York.
Imagine Richmond being 50 miles wide. That’s the scenery I could see from the window. Malls, plazas, housing, car dealers, businesses, it just went on and on.
It wasn’t long after I saw the first tall building that the surroundings began to change dramatically. We began to drive under a few overpasses and then all of a sudden we were in a huge tunnel. This was the Lincoln Tunnel UNDER the Hudson River. About 2 miles of what seemed to me to be totally unnatural road travel …… under a river. Sheesh, I’m glad there were no leaks!
Enter here to drive UNDER the river!
Once out of the tunnel we were travelling on what looked like the worst tangle of concrete and asphalt I had ever seen. Roads were going in all directions and worst of all, they were all at different levels. You really needed to put all your faith in that bus driver sitting up front.
Through the concrete spaghetti and then we were in the NY Port Authority Bus Terminal. Imagine a huge parking building full of buses coming and going then put that all on top of the Subway.
Once off the bus you walk with masses of other people who unlike you actually know where they are going and how to get there. This is all done in tunnels around and under the bus station. I was beginning to feel like a lost and bewildered bunny rabbit!!
We had to find the right subway train to take us to Ellis Island. Subway No. 1 to the end of Manhattan Island.....sounds simple. Once we had figured out exactly which direction to head (thanks to a very helpful fellow traveller. The metro employees are not at all happy to be asked directions of!) we then had to battle an extremely unhelpful revolving gate. The swipe tickets we had been issued were faulty so we then had to ask help of that extremely unhelpful employee again. The whole "I'm lost in an enormous city on the other side of the world" feeling was put firmly into perspective as I watch two new guide dog owners being shown how to navigate the stupid revolving gates with their dogs in order to get to the platforms. And we thought we had problems!
looking across the tracks to the opposite platform
Subway walls are beautifully tiled like this.
Riding the subway is quite an experience. I watched a woman opposite me standing and crocheting. We reached her stop and the last I saw of her, she was walking down the platform still crocheting!
Our stop and we emerged from the building into sweltering heat and hundreds of people. I then had my very first sight of the Statue of Liberty as we walked towards the bank of the Hudson River. A short walk past street venders to Battery Point where we were to buy the ferry tickets that would get us to Ellis Island.
Our stop and we emerged from the building into sweltering heat and hundreds of people. I then had my very first sight of the Statue of Liberty as we walked towards the bank of the Hudson River. A short walk past street venders to Battery Point where we were to buy the ferry tickets that would get us to Ellis Island.
My first sight of the Statue of Liberty
Not sure what this statue's about
but it looked nice and heaps of
people were photographing it so
I thought I should too!
I thought the 20 minute queue for tickets was bad enough. Try lining up for 1 ¼ hours in the sweltering heat with hundreds of other people to actually get on the ferry. Dad and I devised the plan of one of us standing in the line while the other sat in the shade. Very clever I thought!
‘Old and New’
This sight took my interest as we waited to board the ferry.
I have no idea what the building is but, thought this showed the American fascination with flag flying rather well. I don't think you'd ever see this many NZ flags flying all at the same time at home!
Dad, the famous lady and another flag!
I have never thought 'I really want to see the Statue of Liberty' but I felt a bit obligated in taking photographs since it was right there in front of me!
‘Old and New’
This sight took my interest as we waited to board the ferry.
I have no idea what the building is but, thought this showed the American fascination with flag flying rather well. I don't think you'd ever see this many NZ flags flying all at the same time at home!
Dad, the famous lady and another flag!
I have never thought 'I really want to see the Statue of Liberty' but I felt a bit obligated in taking photographs since it was right there in front of me!
The ferry crossing took us to the feet of the famous statue where the majority of passengers disembarked and we continued on the short distance to Ellis Island.
Ellis Island is where some 12 million immigrants arrived to settle in the USA from 1892 to when it finally closed in the early 1900s.
The island is now a museum. I rented and took an audio tour through the restored Main Building where we spent 3 hours exploring the incredible history of the place.
I loved every minute of it.
We finally left the Island at about 6 o’clock and took the return ferry back to Battery Point.
I can now say I've seen the Statue of Liberty
and the Staten Island ferry!
Ferries making the trip back to the city
Many of the street vendors were still working and I was stunned to realize that one man was offering to take my photo with the huge snake he had draped around his neck! It was really beautiful and I wish now I had worked up a bit more courage and said yes.
Street artists
- The Sphere -
For three decades this sculpture stood in the plaza of The World Trade Centre. Entitled 'The Sphere,' it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country. The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Centre.
This eternal flame was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of of all those who were lost. Their spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
(copied from the plaque beside The Sphere and eternal flame)
As well as the Statue of Liberty and the
Staten Island ferry, I've also seen Wall St!
- St. Paul's Chapel -
We walked a short distance to the Trinity Church, St. Paul's Chapel which stands next to the Twin Towers site.
On September 11th when the towers were destroyed the church escaped practically undamaged. It’s a truly beautiful building and seems quite out of place in its city setting. I would expect to see such a church in an English countryside.
The English countryside in the middle of New York city
- the Trinity Root -
From a nearby sign:
"Trinity Root, 2005.
Steve Tobin, b. 1957.
Patinated bronze,
12-1/2 feet high x 20 feet wide.
Gift of the artist.
This sculpture is cast from the roots of the sycamore tree that was stricken by flying debris on September 11, 2001 in the churchyard behind St. Paul's Chapel at Broadway and Fulton Street. Tobin created the bronze sculpture from 300 individual casting of the tree's roots to commemorate the events of September 11. The sculpture was dedicated here on this site on September 11, 2005. The original sycamore roots, painstakingly preserved by Tobin with the help of tree experts, now rest permanently in the St. Paul's Chapel churchyard."
On to the towers site itself, a big hole in the ground surrounded by a fence, and the strange sudden lack of tall buildings in the sky. Construction is underway on the new building and I could see the subway trains passing underneath the foundations that were being built.
Right opposite is the fire station where the entire crew of six was killed when the towers collapsed. I found it quite surreal to be standing where such a horrific thing happened.
The plaque on the wall of Co. 10's building remembers the first firefighters that entered the World Trade Centre on the day of the attacks.
We retraced our morning’s steps taking the subway and bus back to Dover. What an exhausting day. We were both rather tired and extremely pleased to have gotten back safely to our campsite even though it was after 10o’clock.
Guess what we’re all doing tomorrow? Another huge trip into New York, this time to visit the convent in the Bronx and catch up with Sandra.
Ellis Island is where some 12 million immigrants arrived to settle in the USA from 1892 to when it finally closed in the early 1900s.
The island is now a museum. I rented and took an audio tour through the restored Main Building where we spent 3 hours exploring the incredible history of the place.
I loved every minute of it.
We finally left the Island at about 6 o’clock and took the return ferry back to Battery Point.
I can now say I've seen the Statue of Liberty
and the Staten Island ferry!
Ferries making the trip back to the city
Many of the street vendors were still working and I was stunned to realize that one man was offering to take my photo with the huge snake he had draped around his neck! It was really beautiful and I wish now I had worked up a bit more courage and said yes.
Street artists
- The Sphere -
For three decades this sculpture stood in the plaza of The World Trade Centre. Entitled 'The Sphere,' it was conceived by artist Fritz Koenig as a symbol of world peace. It was damaged during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but endures as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of this country. The Sphere was placed here on March 11, 2002 as a temporary memorial to all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Centre.
This eternal flame was ignited on September 11, 2002 in honor of of all those who were lost. Their spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
(copied from the plaque beside The Sphere and eternal flame)
As well as the Statue of Liberty and the
Staten Island ferry, I've also seen Wall St!
- St. Paul's Chapel -
On September 11th when the towers were destroyed the church escaped practically undamaged. It’s a truly beautiful building and seems quite out of place in its city setting. I would expect to see such a church in an English countryside.
The English countryside in the middle of New York city
- the Trinity Root -
From a nearby sign:
"Trinity Root, 2005.
Steve Tobin, b. 1957.
Patinated bronze,
12-1/2 feet high x 20 feet wide.
Gift of the artist.
This sculpture is cast from the roots of the sycamore tree that was stricken by flying debris on September 11, 2001 in the churchyard behind St. Paul's Chapel at Broadway and Fulton Street. Tobin created the bronze sculpture from 300 individual casting of the tree's roots to commemorate the events of September 11. The sculpture was dedicated here on this site on September 11, 2005. The original sycamore roots, painstakingly preserved by Tobin with the help of tree experts, now rest permanently in the St. Paul's Chapel churchyard."
On to the towers site itself, a big hole in the ground surrounded by a fence, and the strange sudden lack of tall buildings in the sky. Construction is underway on the new building and I could see the subway trains passing underneath the foundations that were being built.
The large 'mirrored' building behind the site has been built since 9.11. It was through that opening that the planes were able to reach the World Trade Centre from the Hudson River.
The subway visible under the construction site.
These beautiful old building were visible across the other side of the site.
Real OLD New York.
Real OLD New York.
Right opposite is the fire station where the entire crew of six was killed when the towers collapsed. I found it quite surreal to be standing where such a horrific thing happened.
The plaque on the wall of Co. 10's building remembers the first firefighters that entered the World Trade Centre on the day of the attacks.
We retraced our morning’s steps taking the subway and bus back to Dover. What an exhausting day. We were both rather tired and extremely pleased to have gotten back safely to our campsite even though it was after 10o’clock.
Guess what we’re all doing tomorrow? Another huge trip into New York, this time to visit the convent in the Bronx and catch up with Sandra.
12.06.08 New Jersey - Fal-Net Park -
A short trip from the car park to where we will be staying for the remainder of my trip, a camp ground called Fal-Net Park.
It’s approximately a 50-mile trip by bus or train to New York City and as no sane person would drive in New York, this is where we will be based until I am put on the plane for the first leg of that long trip home.
The lake and wishing well at Fal-Net Park
Those of you from work who remember Sandra will be interested to know that I have spoken to her on the phone and we will be visiting her at the convent in New York on Saturday afternoon. She now wears a habit and also has a new name, Sister Catherine Peter.
It will be good to see her again.
It’s approximately a 50-mile trip by bus or train to New York City and as no sane person would drive in New York, this is where we will be based until I am put on the plane for the first leg of that long trip home.
The lake and wishing well at Fal-Net Park
Those of you from work who remember Sandra will be interested to know that I have spoken to her on the phone and we will be visiting her at the convent in New York on Saturday afternoon. She now wears a habit and also has a new name, Sister Catherine Peter.
It will be good to see her again.
11.06.08 New Jersey - Ledgewood -
Today was a much cooler morning to wake up to. We were sitting eating our breakfast when the mornings ‘wild life encounter’ turned out to be way more enjoyable than the day before. A head appeared out of the undergrowth beside our window closely followed by the rest of the fox. He was beautiful. After spending a few seconds checking us out he trotted off across the road into the forest. Of course I didn’t have my camera close!! Bugga again!!
I didn't take this photo but this is what he looked like.
We spent the next couple of hours trying to find a ranger headquarters to pay the camping fee but that turned out to be way more trouble than being stung on the butt by a wasp. After having driven about 10 very picturesque miles into a dead end, poor Dad had to back the 55 feet of truck and trailer for nearly a mile before we could get out.
Today we’re traveling closer to our final destination of New York and the traffic is getting rather more congested.
The areas that we are traveling through are very pretty with forests right down to the freeway edge. Nice to travel through although obviously not nice for the poor deer that have been killed by the passing traffic.
Another uncomfortably hot day and we are staying over night at another Wal-Mart car park, this time in Ledgewood which means no power hook up which also means no air-conditioner in the trailer. There’s only one thing to do to stay cool. You go shopping of course.
All the shops around the car park are air-conditioned and don’t close until late (in some places they don’t close at all!) so shopping is the best way to beat the heat. I hate being hot!
There's a Pets Mart here so I'm having a ball. I even got to play with a Nanday conure. He was so cool. I would have been bringing him home with me if I could. Strangely enough they don't sell kittens or puppies but they do sell reptiles, including snakes. I wasn't about to ask to play with one of those though!
I nearly choked to see the price they were asking for Zebra Finches. In NZ we can hardly give them away, here you're paying $16.99 each!!!!
I parted with quite a few dollars while shopping for toys for the birds, the dogs and of course the very spoilt cats. They better not destroy them all at once. It would be nice to have them last for a week or so after I get home.
I met Connor who was out shopping
with his 'bird lady'. Needless to say sheand I had lots to talk about!
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10.06.08 New Jersey
This morning started with a close encounter with a member of the local wildlife. I got stung on the butt by a bloody wasp! Ouch, ouch, ouch!
I’ve never before seen such a mean looking bug. Didn’t look anything like our wasps.
(P.S. I was wrong! Saw one in the garden the other day. It's what we call a paper wasp. I still think the one that stung me was way huger and way meaner!)
I’ve never before seen such a mean looking bug. Didn’t look anything like our wasps.
(P.S. I was wrong! Saw one in the garden the other day. It's what we call a paper wasp. I still think the one that stung me was way huger and way meaner!)
This is what it looked like ....
.... and this was where it was hiding, ready to attack.
The campground shower block!
Said goodbye to the groundhogs and of course I didn’t have my camera with me when I went to check out the burrow. Missed out on a good photo as one of them was sitting right in the entrance looking at me. Bugga!
I loved the forest around our camp site.
Traveled through Pennsylvania’s very picturesque countryside into New Jersey.
The freeways quite often are made from concrete and in places can become quite ‘rough’ with the sound of the tyres on the road sounding more like the wheels of a train. The ‘clicketty, click’ is transformed into a very uncomfortable ‘bumpety, bump’. I’m certain we were travelling on the freeway that has the bumpiest bumps in America and I was cursing that blasted wasp by the time we gotten to our days’ destination.
Finding the State Park camping area at Voorhees was accomplished just in time for us to settle in before a storm hit.
The temperatures have been quite oppressive during this trip, most days in the 90s, so the thunder and lightening was a welcome sign that a rainstorm was approaching. Despite not lasting all that long it did manage to cool the evening to a comfortable temperature.
We had the whole place to ourselves ....
.... I wonder why?
Bears were forgotten about when Dad called me out to see my first fireflies. What a gorgeous sight. They just looked like hundreds of ‘Tinkerbelles’; the trees were full of fairies!
next page
The freeways quite often are made from concrete and in places can become quite ‘rough’ with the sound of the tyres on the road sounding more like the wheels of a train. The ‘clicketty, click’ is transformed into a very uncomfortable ‘bumpety, bump’. I’m certain we were travelling on the freeway that has the bumpiest bumps in America and I was cursing that blasted wasp by the time we gotten to our days’ destination.
Finding the State Park camping area at Voorhees was accomplished just in time for us to settle in before a storm hit.
The temperatures have been quite oppressive during this trip, most days in the 90s, so the thunder and lightening was a welcome sign that a rainstorm was approaching. Despite not lasting all that long it did manage to cool the evening to a comfortable temperature.
We had the whole place to ourselves ....
The campground was really lovely but seemed completely deserted. There wasn’t even an office to book into. I decided that the signs posted saying we were in bear country must have had something to do with it.
The bears had eaten everyone!!!
The bears had eaten everyone!!!
.... I wonder why?
Bears were forgotten about when Dad called me out to see my first fireflies. What a gorgeous sight. They just looked like hundreds of ‘Tinkerbelles’; the trees were full of fairies!
next page
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