Collingswood, Here We Come - Again! August 2021

When Jessie, Sonya and I bid farewell to Collingswood, New Jersey last October, we never in our wildest dreams thought we would be there again in August!  

Between the first of September and the 21st of August, the Michael Landon Collingswood Lake Bench Project was conceived, funded, and became a physical reality.  Phew!  Thanks again to all of our donors for making this happen.  As we have often said, we could not have done it without you and your support!

The purpose of our August journey was, No.1, to deliver the bronze memorial plaque to the people of the Camden County Parks System and, No. 2. to select the spot where the Michael Landon Memorial lake bench would be placed.  Due to several of the Mike-a-teers work commitments, the journey had to accomplished in four days, which meant an app. 12 hour drive on Saturday, two days in Collingswood, and a 'supposedly' 12 hour drive back from NJ on Tuesday (more about that later!).  We felt it necessary to go to Collingswood in person in order to impress upon the Parks people the importance of the memorial bench being placed across from - and facing - Mr. Landon's childhood home.  

So, bright and early on Saturday morning, August 21st, (well, Jessie and Sonya were bright and at least yours truly made it on time!) we set out for New Jersey.  This photo was taken in Troy, Ohio outside of the store my husband and I own on the public square.  

Shortly after the photo was taken, we piled in the car and headed for Budget Rent-a-car to pick up our rental.  Sonya's husband, David Lehman, kindly delivered us and made sure we were all set to roll before he bid us goodbye.  Mini-Mike (as I like to call him) agreed to be our guardian angel for the trip. (Maybe I should have named him Junior Jonathan!).  

And we were off!  (Then again, everyone knows that about us already! LOL)  First stop?  Starbucks, of course!  (Mini-Mike insisted on a cup of joe every few hours. I think he missed his counterpart!) 

 

On our journey to Collingswood, we chose to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so crossing into the state was a big deal.  They have a lovely Welcome Center where we stopped to stretch our legs and took a moment for a photo shoot.  Mini-Mike stayed in the car this time and took a nap in my purse.  

I can tell you, it's a LONG way across Pennsylvania.  By the time we rolled into the Philadelphia area night had fallen.  We set the GPS to avoid the city, so you know what it did - took us right downtown!  While the driving was a little hectic, it was fun to see the city lights at night. 

We rolled into our hotel in Cherry Hill around midnight.  Sonya found a good one that was less than 10 minutes away from Collingswood.  Weary after a long day in the saddle...er...car...we (along with Mini-Mike) went to bed with visions of the next day in the borough dancing in our heads.  

Our meeting with the people from the Parks System was set for 11:00 a.m. on Monday, so we decided to use Sunday to explore Mr. Landon's boyhood haunts and take some photos with the memorial plaque to share.  Of course, we figured the downtown would be practically deserted on a Sunday afternoon. 

Boy, were we ever surprised!

To be continued....