06.23.05 It was June 23 and time to start doing the college tours with Jane, so we got in the car and drove off to a parking space IMG_0191 in Middletown, CT where Jane IMG_0192 led the way to O'Rourke's Diner IMG_0193 and as we went approached O'Rourke's IMG_0194 and saw the statue in front IMG_0195 we were sorry we hadn't come earlier since this sign IMG_0196 promised early morning specials. Jane had an excellent sandwich IMG_0197 and I tasted the bread IMG_0198 with my salad IMG_0199 as the owner appeared and posed with Jane IMG_0200 and then the two of us IMG_0201 IMG_0202 at which point my vegetarian dish IMG_0203 came out.

After the tour of Wesleyan, we drove back to town and parked IMG_0204 as Jane checked the meter IMG_0205 and I checked the sculpture IMG_0206 before we went into Bob's IMG_0207 which has really changed since I left Connecticut.

We drove on and noticed that the car was needing much less gas. Indeed, it passed the 400 mile mark IMG_0208 for this tank before we stopped here IMG_0209 and bought gas from this pump IMG_0210 when we were almost at the Wellesley College Club IMG_0211 ready to go into our room IMG_0212 IMG_0213 and check in before heading off to Walden Pond.

At Walden Pond, we saw a closed store IMG_0214 and this mailbox for the Thoreau Society IMG_0215 before taking this classic picture of Walden Pond that was like the ones in Jane's book IMG_0216 and heading down to the pond IMG_0217 where this sign IMG_0218 showed the way to Thoreau's House as we walked IMG_0219 to yet another marker IMG_0220 and observed beautiful views of Walden Pond IMG_0221 IMG_0222 as well as this structure on the beach IMG_0223 but none of them was the house and it was getting dark so we had to head back. On the opposite shore, we found Thoreau standing in front of his house IMG_0224 and Jane posed with Thoreau IMG_0225 as I captured his house IMG_0226 and then posed with Thoreau myself IMG_0227 IMG_0228 before Jane, Henry David Thoreau and I IMG_0229 IMG_0230 took a few self portraits and we studied his story IMG_0231 IMG_0232 before taking the obligatory phone booth picture IMG_0233 and heading back tot he car to eat the wonderful sandwiches IMG_0234 IMG_0235 we had brought along. On the way back to Wellesley, we stopped at the place with this menu IMG_0236 and had this ice cream IMG_0237 before returning to our friend IMG_0238 who slowed down so that we could get a picture of the hotel manager IMG_0239 and call it a night.

06.24.05 The next morning, Friday June 24, after a tour of Wellesley, we drove to Medford and parked the car IMG_0240 where we saw signs of a path to Tufts IMG_0241 and went to Jay's Deli IMG_0242 where this sandwich IMG_0243 came for Jane IMG_0244 and I had water IMG_0245 and ketchup IMG_0246 while waiting for Jay's son (the restaurant has been around for 45 years which is longer than any family owned place in Medford) to pose with Jane IMG_0247 IMG_0248 and my vegetarian sandwich IMG_0249 IMG_0250 to arrive.

After the tour, we began the long journey home. Thank goodness for this McDonald's IMG_0251 on I-84 where we could relieve our bladders before we made the trek to Junior's in Boontown, New Jersey and studied the menu IMG_0252 IMG_0253 for Jane's chicken parm IMG_0254 and my soda with cap that was not a winner according to these rules IMG_0255 and calzone IMG_0256 that revitalized us so that we could take pictures of Junior's IMG_0257 IMG_0258 neon and make the rest of the drive home.

06.25.05 The next day, Saturday June 25, we went out for coffee and ran into Mark Feigenson IMG_0259 before passing a wedding IMG_0260 on the way home. Suzanne posed with the Johnson guy IMG_0261 as they read the newspaper and back at home Sarah IMG_0262 and Ed IMG_0263 enjoyed the pastries IMG_0264 as Suzanne IMG_0265 read the newspaper.