Birthday Ride Exravaganza

*Editors Note: There are two entries today. I suggest you read the one below this first*

The Bogucki family has a ton of traditions. Setting a place for the Christ Child at the Christmas Eve dinner table, singing the Jack-O-Lantern song immediately after lighting our Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns, etc. The most honored tradition, however, is Mom's birthday ride. Every year, usually Superbowl Sunday, Mom picks a location that she would like for us all to go to. The birthday ride has strict and specific rules that are not to be broken. They are as follow.

1) Location must be out of state

2) Highways may be used to exit the state however once out of said state only backroads may be taken

3) Lunch will be in the form of an in-the-car picnic

4) Dinner must be something local or representative of the culture that we are visiting

5) Roads must twist and turn so as to make Marianna as nauseous as possible

Rule number 5 is unspoken, but I know its there. Past locations have included the Crayola Factory, West Point (I was 8, my parents threatened to leave me there...scarring), the Hopewell Iron Furnace, the Glassboro Glass Works (blatent disregard for rule number 1 on this one) and the Epharta Cloister (something about a cult) among other fabulous spots. We moved the birthday ride up to a Saturday this year for various reasons that I can't remember. Mom announced Lewes, DE as our destination and all was well. At 1 am this morning I opened my e-mail to find an urgent message that our location had changed and we would now be going to Strasborg, PA, to the Railroad Museum. Good choice, good choice. 

If you read the entry below this first, you'll see that waking up this morning was a bit difficult. I was up early, though, as I had to try and get Red Sox tickets which were going on sale at exactly 10. I pulled myself out of bed and made my way to my desk. I logged onto the Red Sox website, plugged in my iPod and spent a glorious hour just staring at my computer screen in a complete trance. I never made it out of the "virtual waiting room" and was unable to procure tickets. After failing at this task, I made my way downstairs as my parents had arrived and hopped in the car to begin our adventure. I now present a photo essay, 

"Birthday Ride: Views from the Backseat"

Let's start this off by looking at a map. We're off to a good start. I'm trying to prolong the inevitable plugging in of the GPS system as long as I can. I hate that thing so, so much.
A stop at the Chester County Visitors Center turns into our in the car picnic. Note that the GPS system has been put in place. 
Delicious sandwich if I do say so myself
Please.Turn.In.One.Point.Four.Miles. 
BLATANT DISREGARD OF RULE NUMBER TWO! 
That's better, this fits both rule number 2 and rule number 5
Well that's something you don't see in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area!
Farm. In case you can't tell
The Strasborg Train Museum
OMP paced up and down between the museum and the car a couple times. Mom and I couldn't figure out what he was doing, I can only assume he was getting himself pumped for what would be the most epic adventure of his life.
This mannequin scared the hell out of me and actually caused me to duck and cover when I saw him.
OMP never refuses a good lecture opportunity. 
This looks like it would be nice, heated and cozy. It was two hours of bone chilling cold in there.
Mom drives model trains. The two nerdy men running this exhibit thought she was the coolest thing ever. One of them tried to fight my dad for her love. No lie, they got into a one upping contest about who owns more model trains. It was adorable. 
SEPTA, take note. I want velvet seats
If you thought it was cold INSIDE the museum....well outside was even colder. I guess that's not surprising, really that's to be expected.
It was one of the most beautiful days I've seen in awhile
I like to think that this photo is symbolic of my track to the future. 
BLATANT DISREGARD OF RULE NUMBER 2! AGAIN! You're on thin ice, OMP. Better study up on those rules for next year
And the sun sets on another Bogucki Birthday Ride