JB's Warehouse & Curio Emporium

Day 5: Lancaster, PA to Pittsburgh, PA I had spent the night at a Quality Inn that looked like it was an old roadside motel in a previous incarnation (outdoor entrances to both ends of the room, long parking lot, etc). Various stages of renovation were evident, though my bathroom was definitely from another era. If my bathroom tile was pink, would there have been matching flamingos by the back courtyard? Anyone want to guess the age? Tiring of continental breakfasts, I grabbed my morning meal in Mount Joy, just west of Lancaster. One menu item at the Country Table caught my eye: scrapple . While I had heard of this mush-like dish, I had never seen it on a menu until now. It was the first and last time I'll order scrapple. My plate came with three large pieces, of which I got through most of one before deciding the taste and texture weren't to my liking. This wasn't going to be an item that improved with each bite, which was too bad, since the accompanying pan...

Day 4: Newark, NJ to Lancaster, PA Getting out of Newark did not prove a problem, except for filling up the car. Since 1949, self-serve gas stations have been illegal in the Garden State , with proposals to relieve pump jockeys of their duties never having gone very far. I pulled into a Hess not far from downtown and failed to convey to the attendant that I wanted the car to be filled, not just a strict dollar amount. My guess is that with current prices, a few drivers have raced away without paying. I drove west on I-78, which quickly turned into a tree-surrounded route. Once I hit Pennsylvania, construction reduced traffic to lanes so narrow, my knuckles barely stayed within my skin. Needless to say, I was happy to hop off at Reading and head into Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Goodbye tailgaters, hello winding roads and oddball town names. I stopped for lunch outside of Lititz at Oregon Dairy , a combination grocery store/family attraction/sit-down restaurant. I had the lunch ...