Pedaling on the high steel

May 8, 2026

One thing I like to do in our travels is to take rides on scenic railroads. While scanning a brochure rack, we spotted Rail Explorers in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. We thought the price was a little high for the experience, so we were going to pass on it. However  as I was driving by myself to Home Depot to pick up a switch plate, I paralleled the track and spotted some people enjoying their ride. I was sold.

Ready to pull out of the station!!!

Elizabeth booked us some tickets for the next day and we had a great time.

Quite a scenic ride.

The trip is 6.2 miles and took us about 1 hour 45 mins to pedal our rail bike.

on the high steel!!!!!

I was wondering how the turned the bikes around and spotted the turntable in the station. I assume it has an air lift.

One tiny turn table.

once we pulled ack in to the station I got to look at the locomotive and cars on display.

Pedal cars and a 50 Ton Center Cab Diesel Locomotive

Where Are We Going Next?

PEZ

 May 4, 2026

We discovered that PEZ candy is made in New Haven, CT. While they do not have a factory tour, they do have an on-site museum and you can view some of the packaging floor. Half of the museum's  minimal entry fee can be credited toward on-site store purchases. They have a scavenger hunt that adds to the enjoyment of the PEZ displays. Some of the more rare dispensers bring thousands of dollars to collectors. There might even be a collector convention near you!

PEZ started out in Austria as a peppermint candy to aid those desiring to quit smoking. It wasn't successful in the US, until they remarketed it as candy with a dispenser to kids. As Harold noted, there's a reason the dispenser looks remarkably like a cigarette lighter. 

Remember, "You're not famous until they put your head on a PEZ dispenser."

Tallest working PEZ dispenser

Beginnings

Early dispensers

Character dispensers

From tins to dispensers

Tools of the trade

PEZ chopper by Orange County Choppers

Advertisements

1970's packaging

Am I famous?

Scavenger hunt prizes

Where Are We Going Next?

Nautilus

May 3, 2026  

While staying near Mystic, we headed over to the submarine base at Groton. The Submarine Force Museum is home to the Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. We enjoyed a self-paced tour of the submarine. Harold was doing a lot of ducking and bending! As an added bonus, we were there as the USS Texas pulled in from a six - month tour of duty. Welcome home!

The circles represent hull sizes then and now

USS Nautilus

USS Texas coming up the river

The captain gets all the room

Lots of compact and fold-up storage

battery bank

Chief's mess

Where Are We Going Next?

AH-beetz, AH-beetz

 I love pizza and I cannot lie...

I am sure all you you have had a pizza from the national pizza chains e.g.: Dominos, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's, Pappa John's, Chuckey-E-Cheese, Black Jack, Dion's et al, and some of you may have had a pizza from my favorite while in High School: Godfather's (which are very hard to find now...)

Connecticut is self-proclaimed as The Pizza State. We spotted a brochure for the Connecticut Pizza Trail where they discuss the five styles of pizzas in Connecticut. Connecticut has the highest density of pizzerias in the country, and nearly 80% of the restaurants, 1,084 out of 1,376, are independently owned compared to a national average of 43%!

While in the US Navy I had the opportunity to visit Naples, Italy, and have a true Neapolitan Pizza from a member of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. The pizza was cooked in a 900 degree wood fired oven in 60 to 90 seconds!!!! HOT HOT HOT! This is where I fell in love with wood fired pizza.

While in Connecticut we had the opportunity to dine on two of the Connecticut styles of pizza: Greek and AH-beetz.

We first went to Mystic Pizza.  This Pizzeria was the inspiration for Julia Roberts' breakout movie by the same name. After eating there we had to watch the movie. They make Greek style pies which according to the Pizza Trail are "Born in Connecticut and baked in a shallow pan. Greek pizza features a light, airy crust and a sturdy base that's perfect for piling on bold sauces, cheeses, and inventive topping combos."

Greek Style at Mystic

We then had several opportunities to dine on Ah-Beetz at Frank Pepe and Sally's.  Regrettably we missed out on the triple crown of AH-beetz as Moderna pizza was closed on the only day we had available to visit.

The kitchen at Sally's

Feeding coal to the oven at Frank Pepe's

The most beautiful undercarriage and NO droop from Frank Pepe's

AH-beetz is now my favorite style of pizza due to the lower humidity in the oven than a wood fired oven and a slight taste of burned coal flavor you might get if you are very lucky!!!!

Where Are We Going Next?

Hudson Valley and Mystic, CT

April 29 - May 2, 2026

We left Pennsylvania headed for the New England states. We spent a couple of nights at a KOA in Newburgh, NY. With limited time, we opted for a little exercise at Walkway Over the Hudson Historical State Park. What great views over the river we enjoyed. We imagine the fall colors would be spectacular. 

We passed on the Culinary Institute of America tour in nearby Poughkeepsie. It was spring break week. Perhaps we'll try again someday. West Point is nearby too. 

We then headed to Mystic, CT, where Harold wholeheartedly embraced the CT Pizza Trail. He has a whole separate blog entry for pizza! We walked around Olde Mystic and downtown Mystic, admiring the drawbridge. We missed seeing the bridge in action though. We picked up a couple of monkeyfist knot zipper pulls for unique and practical souvenirs from Mystic Knotworks.  

If you're into gambling, there are two massive tribal casino complexes nearby that easily rival anything we've seen in Las Vegas. 

 Where Are We Going Next?

Clickety-Clack, Clickety Clack

April 24, 2026

Funny how I can still remember bits and pieces of the Song of the Train by David McCord that we read somewhere in elementary school, "clickety clack, clickety clack, clickety, clackety, clickety, clack.

While in the Strasburg, PA, area, we took advantage Strasburg Railroad's behind-the-scenes tours as well as the train ride. Our friends, Glen and Tanna, joined us for the adventure. 

Harold and Glen joined the train crew as they geared up for the day, assisting with firing up the engine and the maintenance checks. After the ride we toured the maintenance shop. No photos allowed in the maintenance shop as they have a number of private contracts for steam engine and railcar refurbishing. Those contracts often run into the millions of dollars. Strasburg Railroad's maintenance shop is one of very few specialized facility with dedicated workers.

Where Are We Going Next?