The Dlog: Williamsport PA, 9/16/24 - 10/15/24
Max spent the morning catching up on bike work. Listing parts for sale, bleeding brakes, etc. We headed to the Backhouse cafe to catch up on computer work and plan the next few weeks. Jesse posted Vanovations: the Interior today! Some thoughts/comments/reflections on the last week or so as I sit in the coffee shop updating the Dlog: Last night we finished Season 1 of LOST the TV show; wow, it’s fantastic. It’s been a while since Jesse and I have been really “in to” a TV show.
Monday, October 7th:
TRAVEL DAY!!
Our main TO-DO was get ourselves back to Williamsport from Delaware (see map), but there were many minor tasks included.
We fetched a few dozen bagels from Surf Bagel to bring home and freeze, as well as a BEC,SPK for me (IYKYK).
Then headed to Cape Henlopen beach with the dogs (see photo).
Then we stopped at REI on the way (there aren’t any near Williamsport)
AND we stopped at Trader Joe’s (also none near Williamsport)
*Look, we’re simple people; we just need TJ’s and an REI to be happy…
Then we stopped at the Bus Depot warehouse to pick up some van parts. Max ended up finding some much-needed table mounting hardware in their scrap parts bin
Then we stopped at Tractor Supply, Lowes and Walmart before finally arriving at home…
PHYEW. Time for an episode of Lost, or two.
Sunday, October 6th:
Saturday, October 5th:
We headed down to Delaware for the weekend to visit Jesse’s grandparents.
Lots of wrapping up projects in the morning then hopped in the car.
We loaded up on fresh crabs for dinner.
Friday, October 4th:
Max logged some time on the computer job and did some Strava KOM scouting. It’s been a while since I got a long effort in, so I went for a 25mi Strava segment which includes 3 x 1200ft climbs over the ridge:
https://www.strava.com/segments/5542042
No, I didn’t get the KOM. I’m on a gravel bike with 45mm tires, give me a break… 😛
About 45min into a 87min tempo/threshold effort, just crested ridge 2 of 3
Thursday, October 3rd:
Easy gravel ride, chasing the sun home…
Wednesday, October 2nd:
Jesse finished the van-curtain project today. As always, the project took longer than expected, but we are super pleased with the result! Will post an update story with photos soon!
We discussed our plan for this blog, and are excited to announce a twice-weekly (Tuesday and Thursday) article release beginning Oct 8th.
Jesse introduced Max to the TV show Lost and we are already 8 episodes in. It remains to be seen if this is a sustainable habit while van-lifing.
Tuesday, October 1st:
Monday, September 30th:
Sunday, September 29th:
This morning we all (Jesse, Max and Lola) ran together and had a somewhat slow start to the day. Around 11AM we drove the van back to Jesse's parents house. This evening we visited the local brewery called New Trail for a traditional weekly family friends get together. Then we went to Jesse's Aunt and Uncle's house for dinner and did a photo slideshow of all the van work we've completed. Super fun evening and we were so happy to connect with some hometown friends.
Jesse's phone was picked up by our dear friend Eric who lives on Long Island and was shipped today. Thank you Eric <3
Saturday September 28th:
After a peaceful sleep, we woke up for our morning sauna reservation which was in a barrel styled sauna located on-site at the hotel.
Somehow we'd worked on the van for 3 years (on and off) and travelled for 3 months without Max's parents ever seeing the van in person. And it's hard to communicate the ethos and experience of this lifestyle and some of the choices we've made without sitting in the van, or so we'd like to think. About 15min of driving forest roads later, they'd experienced the van in it's natural habitat, message delivered. :)
We then drove to another friends house and met Jesse's parents there. We ended up staying overnight at our frineds house to avoid driving the van in the dark.
Friday, September 27th:
We drove the van (we need to come up with a name for the van soon) from Williamsport to Greentown PA. Max's parents rented a beautiful hotel room at The Rex hotel located just outside The Promised Land state park. The story behind this place is that a family who moved from Philly to Greentown in 2020 to renovate an old motor lodge into a modern boutique hotel type of place. We ate dinner with Max's parents and watched the final minutes of the movie Fitzcarraldo which we had started, but not yet finished, the previous day. We were then obliged to watch a few random youtube videos about Werner Herzog and his crazy escapades and semi-psychotic thought processes.
Thursday, September 26th:
Jesse did some work on finishing up the blog and an instagram post announcement and published everything! Max spent half the day fixing his bike and the other half riding it (AND got the KOM on his favorite local road, Bobst Mt. Road; IYKYK.)
Eli's theater performance group "Penguin Project" invited Jesse to attend as a guest theater assistant. They are currently working on a production of Lion King. Eli read the lines of Scar and Young Simba with Jesse's help.
Wednesday, September 25th:
We went to BuzzSaw coffee in the morning which is a new coffee shop in Williamsport. The coffee was good and we were both able to get work done on the computer. Jesse picked up a book from Otto's bookshop. It is one of the oldest independently owned bookshops in the country!
The second half of he day was allocated to taking Charlie and Molly to the airport for their flight back to Madrid. We stopped at a Japanese restaurant and Sake Brewery in Delaware Water Gap called Sango Kura. We and Jesse's dad discovered this spot in 2021 while at a falconry meet and we were delighted to see that it has blossomed as a business since then! They've spruced the place up and added some more seating, a stage, and outdoor sitting area. All these changes are fantastic, but luckily the food remains just as amazing as it was the first time we visited! Highly recommended stop if you are ever passing through this area.
Shortly after our meal, Jesse realized that she had left her phone in a rest stop bathroom stall about a half an hour before we stopped for food. Strangely, the icloud tracking had not been turned off and the phone was moving towards New York City. There was nothing to be done and we thought the phone was a goner.
We drove into Newark and dropped off Molly and Charlie at the airport with little issue. Saying goodbye was bittersweet. We are super grateful to have been able to spend some time with them before they returned to Spain. With our hearts quieted, we began the drive home. Suddenly, around 11PM we received a phone call from Jesse's phone and a woman with a heavy accent explained to us that she had picked up the phone while on a group tour and couldn't think of a safe place to leave it. She carried the phone with her through the heart of NYC all the way back to her hotel on Long Island. She was leaving early the next morning and would leave it with the hotel staff. With some help from our friend Eric who lives on Long Island, we may just see the return of Jesse's phone!
Tuesday, September 24th:
Another boring work day of computers and curtain sewing. So much work that we don't even have any Lola photos!
Monday, September 23rd:
Jesse continued sewing curtains and Max worked his computer-job. Nothing much exciting happened today but here is cute photo of Lola and Max.
And a pretty photo of the Jesse's house at sunset
Sunday, September 22nd:
Jesse had a migraine this day and did not participate in any activities.
Max replaced the muffler and catalytic converter on the back of the van. The loud banging/rattling noise which was characteristic of the old muffler at low RPMs is now gone. Instead, you can hear all the other rattling noises that were hidden before! In all seriousness, the van is sounding a lot better now than before.
Saturday, September 21st:
We drove the van to the Williamsport farmers market and ate delicious cronuts, tarts, and cheeseburgers! Lola got some good socialization practice while there.
Jesse got her first practice driving manual in the nearest empty parking lot.
Molly invited us to visit Knoebels with them. It is this wonderful old fashioned amusement park in the middle of nowhere PA. We rode on some wooden rollercoasters and enjoyed the fantastic people watching (it's got to be one of the only places in the world where you can ride a rollercoaster next to an amish person). Max made sure to get some kettlecorn before we left.
Friday, September 20th:
Today we celebrated Jesse's mom's birthday and Charlie and Molly's going away. Molly's family came over and we cooked way too much food and ate outside on the picnic tables. Then we started a fire and Charlie showed everyone his dark chocolate peanut butter s'mores recipe. We spent all evening under the starlight talking and joking around the fire. It was a perfect beginning of fall celebration.
Thursday, September 19th:
Max got a lot done for his computer-job and Jesse started sewing the curtains and finished the back curtain for the van!
Wednesday, September 18th:
Today, we went to SURPLUS CITY which is an all purpose store for everything from fabric and home decor to autoparts and wood working tools. Needless to say, the Greene brothers had a field day. While there, we picked out fabric for the curtains for the van and max was able to get some supplies needed for the muffler replacement job.
Winfield flew home to Colorado today. He left from Williamsport airport on a 9-passenger plane with only 1 other passenger and the pilot as company!
Win's view as he left Williamsport
Tuesday, September 17th:
Jesse went on a run with Molly, Charlie, and the pups.
Now that we're back and settled, here's our journey over the last 10 days.
It's not exactly correct, but Google Maps only allows me to add so many destinations in one trip...
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DgB6aPrbMKWeGrGK6
