Left alone inside a huge mansion/farm last night in Holicong, PA, I scanned through a hundred of their guest-loaner DVDs, finding mostly recent hit titles. I ultimately found my movie selection in the Academy Award-winning film of 1938: You Can’t Take it With You–a Frank Capra / Jimmy Stewart classic. Only today, with inn staff back on duty, I learned that this movie was the signature piece of playwright George Kaufman, who owned this historic farm decades ago.
I didn’t find time to watch “You Can’t Take it With You” last night; but, having learned today of it’s significance, I had to watch at least the first 45 minutes of the film at the creator’s home, before hitting the road– and I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! It speaks to my soul!!
(I can’t wait now to finish it!!!)

I waited till this afternoon before getting underway with a handful of misty miles amid the slowly melting snows of rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania…

4,700 miles through sunny days, rainstorms, scorching heat, piercing winds, and vicious thunderstorms, I finally complete the weather diversity list today as snow begins to fall, a couple of miles into today’s walk from Doylestown to Holicong, Pennsylvania. Of course, tomorrow’s walk to New Hope may include freezing rain–so perhaps the weather diversity list is about to expand further…

Thanks Very Much to Jason Wood & D Neal Moyer for joining me across today’s miles!!

Saying goodbye to Jason & Neal, as they turn away– part of me even wanting to walk back to town with them as well…
What a great fortune to have had them join me for the day’s miles!!
(And THANKS Jason & Ruth Wood for hosting me!!!)

Arriving to today’s destination: The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm.

…

It’s C-C-COLD outside (snow & ice!), and I’m very fortunate to be hosted anywhere indoors–be it on a sofa, a floor, what or wherever. Tonight, I’m actually being hosted by a historic (1740) bed & breakfast in Holicong, Pennsylvania: The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm–which dates back to 1740.
Thank You very much to owners Mark & Deena
This link shows the luxurious room ~

Awakening to a view of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both debated and adopted. I’m devoting a significant slice of my morning to meditating here. Good Stuff!!

Rocio & I are being hosted tonight in Old City Philadelphia’s boutique Hotel Monaco, compliments of the House. Our sixth-floor, corner King one-bedroom suite directly overlooks the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both debated and adopted). A personalized card + a tray full of treats awaited us as we walked in the bright yellow front door. Everything is absolutely fantastic–a heart-widening conclusion to this past week’s worth of hotel accommodations around central Philadelphia.
That said, the BEST part of all is the fact that I’ve been so privileged to share everything with this lovely lady you see in the middle, Rocio, who has come to spend Thanksgiving week with me. Our last night together is tonight–she flies out before dawn in the morning…

We really enjoyed our Sunday brunch with awesome hosts Gastón & Alexa de los Reyes!! They hosted us in the very cozy Pink House on 45th that they run just outside the University of Pennsylvania. We spent the night in the Pink House’s studio, then joined them + neighbors (Sozy & Meriel) + kids, in the upstairs of their home for hours of brunch and friendly, get-to-know-you chatting before migrating on to our next stop in fab Philly…
Thanks Guys!!! !!

I enjoy watching Rocio’s wonderful ways with the world’s babies almost as much as she enjoys spending time with infants and toddlers that she meets!

Having walked across the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University campuses, we reached the ornate, antique Mantua neighborhood, where the 1865 Cornerstone Bed & Breakfast’s Innkeepers Dennis & Liz invited Rocio & me in for a two-night stay!

Garth Poorman, who walked from upstate New York to New Orleans in 2009, had advised me before I began my walk. He’s now living just outside Philadelphia, and has kindly received and been holding a shipment of mine from a healthy material sponsor.
If you want to read the blogs of a very gifted pilgrim, visit Garth’s blog at: www.poormanwalking.com

Sturge & JoAnne, Garth’s happy and energetic parents, invited Rocio & me to join them all for a wonderful vegetarian dinner. We really enjoyed getting to know the parents and listen to their life stories–including three years spent as a Presbyterian pastor/family in Zimbabwe, in a small town where they were the first white people many locals had ever seen. Fascinating!!!

ROCIO RETURNS!
I love it whenever she comes to join me on the Road!!
Rocio has all of Thanksgiving week off, and I’m so happy that we have wonderful Philadelphia locals to spend it with!!!

Rocio returns just in time to join me for invitations at Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (locals love it!!) in addition to many other places!!

Chatting with Keith Jones of Philadelphia’s NBC Channel 10 this morning.

A wonderful catching up with friends new and known in Philadelphia!
Leah DeFord, next to me, great friend of a great friend, attended a birthday party of mine years ago in Portland, Oregon. She’s since moved to Philadelphia, and having tracked me on FB, has awaited my arrival here. What a happy reunion!!
Tim and Nikki, also pictured, are friends of Garth Poorman, who’s hosting me this weekend in his cousin’s apartment. Wonderful people!!!

“I’ll walk anywhere,” Garth has always told me, as he leads me into and through West Philadelphia, a “blighted” part of town that most who make decent earnings choose to avoid completely…

“Avoid West Philadelphia if you can,” many people told me, “–it’s BAD there.” As it turns out, West Philadelphia became one of the most socially fascinating a friendly places I’ve walked through in quite some time! LOVED it!!
Here I enjoy a pic with J & Kina, who spontaneously stopped and interviewed me for their local radio project.

West Philly

Market Street, West Philadelphia

Something I’ve almost never seen in the United States: urban, big city informal sidewalk vendors.
Nice people!!

Market Street in West Philadelphia was once thriving, many decades ago. Hope remains for a serious return of greater economic vitality…

Murals are embellishing West Philadelphia with their messages and images of Love & Light…

West Philadelphia High School. I’ve never seen so many steel security grates surrounding the windows of any school…

From West Philadelphia, we reach step right into the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania campus. Amazing fast is the transition from one of America’s poorer urban areas, to a school which trains many of America’s wealthiest kids.

UPenn

UPenn

Ben Franklin Statue at UPenn

Emerging from the UPenn campus, we reach the Schuylkill River, with downtown on the immediate other side of the river.

Schuylkill River

Having cross the Schuylkill, we arrive to the dense, tall-building concentration of downtown Philadelphia…

Crossing Broad Street, we get a quick glimpse up at the massive City Hall, Ben Franklin on top of the 28-story structure…

As Garth walks me to the waterfront, I suddenly recognize this building as we’re passing by. Years ago, at a national speech and debate tournament, teammate Gloria S and I were walking around after lunch, and having spotted this building’s unique architecture, Gloria wanted to pay a visit to see what the building was and is.
We stepped inside, found it to be a union hall, and we were invited to spend an hour speaking with one of the high-level employees. What an amazing conversation…

Ahhh, Philly’s murals <3

I meet Garth’s friends Spencer & Dalya, as Garth treats me to the most delicious sushi I’ve ever eaten!!

View from the 17th floor at night…