After a month on the road, it was time to take a short break. I went home to visit Trixie for a couple of days.
I didn’t post about it because, frankly, there are some details too graphic and shocking even for the internet.
Simultaneously refreshed and exhausted I took back to the road. North this time to get to the bottom of a 50 year old mystery: the Space Acorn of Kecksburg, Pa.
In December of 1965 a flying saucer crashed in the woods in Kecksburg. It was witnessed by thousands across several states as it streaked through the night sky.
The authorities showed up and cordoned off the area. Then the military. Then the MiB (Men in Black. Yes, they were a thing before the movie).
The official explanation was a lame ass meteor. But, there were witnesses that even the MiB couldn’t silence or neurolize (flashy thingy). And these yokels spoke up. They reported that the thing that crash-landed looked like a giant acorn with Egyptian-style hieroglyphics on it.
They have even built a replica that is on display.
They don’t even turn the spotlight on anymore
Notice how the picture is out of focus, poorly lit, and has nothing else in the frame for scale? The true mark of a genuine UFO photo.
If you are anything like me, few things disgust you more than the inefficient use of space. So, I was feeling all right when I got to the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department/Bar & Grill/UFO Emporium (pic related)
It is actually a members-only club. They allowed me in to buy a souvenir t-shirt but I was not eligible to drink alcohol nor win the firearm that was being raffled off. I shit you not.
The membership thing, I suppose, is just to create a loophole that allows smoking in the bar. Because everyone was smoking in the bar.
I ordered a hamburger. While I waited, I was harassed by, Jeff, who, given his level of intoxication, I surmised was a member in good standing.
He repeatedly assured me that my hat was not very original (pic related).
That’s Dan McGinley. He comes into the story later. I put his pic here to efficiently use space
Jeff told me that a comedian by the name of Redd Foxx used to wear a hat like mine when he appeared on the old Jackie Gleason Show.
“Redd Foxx was on The Jackie Gleason Show?” I asked.
Jeff, who, by the way, was wearing a Mountain Dew baseball cap that left scant little room for calling others out on their lack of originality when it comes to headwear, became frustrated with me and said,
“No! You’re thinking of the guy from ‘Sanford & Son’. This is a white comedian named Redd Foxx.”
Well, he had me there. I was actually thinking of Fred Sanford.
I finished my burger while Jeff stood his ground against the onslaught of others, none of whom had any idea of who he was talking about.
I left Kecksburg without any solid evidence of UFO activity.
Bright and early the next morning I found myself in The Weather Capital of the World. The fictional town of Punxsutawney, PA (spoiler alert – it is a real place).
This sleepy little hamlet is, perhaps, my favorite stop so far in my travels.
I did some touristy stuff and went and looked at a few of the themed groundhog statues they have scattered around town (gallery related).
There are 32 in all.
I visited Phil’s Burrow…
And then made my way to the greatest named place on earth, Gobbler’s Knob (giggity). The gathering point of the festivities every February 2…
I really want to emphasize this next part…this is a nice slice of Americana. It is open to the public. There are NO signs telling one to keep out or off…not even for the sake of “safety”. The event was always a big deal but, since the Bill Murray instant classic “Groundhog Day”, it has become really huge and yet (study the pics) there is a glaring lack of corporate sponsorship.
I don’t mean to give all the credit to Hollywood. These folks managed to gain worldwide fame and have their day printed on all the calendars before the movie, of course. But, according to the folks I spoke with, there has been a surge in visitorship (I’d like to think I am the first person ever to use that word) since its release.
This is something goofy. 15 grown-ass men (members of The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club…informally known as “The Tophats”) dress up in black-tie formal wear in the dead of winter and celebrate…I dunno…whatever it is they are celebrating. They pass out commemorative tokens and T-Shirts and shake hands and greet folks. And they have for over a hundred years. And, when chances to commercialize it and, thus, utterly destroy this stupid little thing dropped into their laps they responded with a loud and resounding, “Nah. We’re good. Thanks though.” I’m not sure I have ever been more proud as an American. ..and I’m a veteran.
That is not to say they are fanatics (all those other points notwithstanding). If some big corporation wants to pay money to label themselves, “The Official Whatever of Groundhog Day”, then, yeah, they make a few bucks and let the company in on the fun. But, the event is kept pure. That is so cool.
I strolled around Gobbler’s Knob (giggity), walked up onto the stage, took a pic of my shadow…
I don’t know of this is a thing tourists do like holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but I thought it was neat.
As I was preparing to leave, a smiling young fellow drove up and asked me if I was from out of town. I said I was.
He handed me a coin (pic related).
He introduced himself as Dan McGinley (efficiently pictured above with my chapeau) one of the Tophats! I was so geeked!
He was on his way to work. His route takes him past Gobbler’s Knob (giggity) and he saw The EM-50 Phantom Rambler. He pulled in just to be an ambassador representing the town.
He patiently answered my questions and told me about the things to see and do while there.
All in all, if you have the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting Punxsutawney. ..any time of the year.
By the way, the title was a Shadow reference.
I saw Trixie yesterday and I miss her already.