I picked up Dr Len and we head to Mullica Hill where we first stopped at the Old Mill PC200887 which keeps these hours PC200888 and has 3 floors of antique dealers. After we took the obligatory phone booth picture PC200889 we went inside where this woman PC200890 wrapped my elegant salt and pepper shakers PC200891 and the Hardy Boys book (sorry, no picture) and Kelly (who had gone to Westminister Choir College) and Don (I think that was his name) wrapped the other gift. PC200892

We started off to explore the town. The Old and New shop was open PC200893 but the Toy and Doll museum was closed PC200894 despite its elegant tree PC200895 and toys PC200896 sign. The Sign of St. George was shut PC200897 as was this door PC200898 to a place that didn't look particularly attractive.

The high point of our visit to Mullica Hill (since at this point we didn't know about the Mansion where Allen Iverson had his wedding reception) was the creche scene at the Baptist Church. After we read about the holiday PC200899 we saw the whole scene PC200900 complete with camels PC200901 and spectators PC200902 and the 3 wise men. PC200903 The Baby Jesus was already born PC200904 but Mary seemed to still be pregnant. PC200905 Dr Len took this picture of me PC200906 and finally got it centered. PC200907

All this activity made us hungry for something that could ruin our appetites for lunch. Fortunately we found Mirenda's Bakery PC200908 where they make everything from scratch. The desserts PC200909 looked good and this woman PC200910 of the Mirenda family was happy to sell us a cherry danish and a donut. PC200911

Continuing on down the road, I captured a picture of 2 elves in green PC200912 and the bridal shop PC200913 before we considered the Hilltop Diner PC200914 but decided that there was a better lunch elsewhere.

So, we went to the Yellow Garage PC200915 and tried to get the right picture of Dr Len with their very thin friends PC200916 PC200917 PC200918

Driving on, we came to Woodstown where the respect of the high school alumni PC200919 made us know that the diner PC200920 would serve a good lunch. The placemats were good PC200921 though they aimed at a younger crowd than we often see in such circumstances. The menu PC200922 was vast but there were daily specials PC200923 to ease the selection. Dr Len PC200924 ordered a drink that came from here. PC200925 For starters, I had salad PC200926 with Russian dressing on the side while Dr Len had snapper soup PC200927 of which we estimate they sell 25 bowls a day. This estimate was confirmed by the waitress who broke it down as 10 at lunch, 15 at dinner. They brought this bread PC200928 with lunch. Dr Len had chicken with dumplings for lunch PC200929 which came with lima beans. PC200930 I had the pita pizza PC200931 an amazing concoction that was heavy on the eggplant and not what you might have ever guessed. Our waitress, Cara, had just moved to Salen, NJ from Seattle to marry someone she had met while picking blueberries in Maine. She claimed to be very photogenic (which you can decide) and was happy to pose alone PC200932 and then with Dr Len. PC200933 The bill was remarkably reasonable PC200934 though we had to remind them to bring Dr Len's rice pudding PC200935 which he ate despite having not made the clean plate club PC200936 as you can see. Before leaving town, we took this small town New Jersey generic picture PC200937 this picture of the tonsorial palace PC200938 and these 2 pictures of Lem's PC200939 PC200940

As we drove on, we saw God's store PC200941 with the lighthouse which was to be the theme of this part of the trip. Next stop was the Salem Oak Diner PC200942 across from the oak itself PC200943 which is claimed to be PC200944 PC200945 the most famous tree in New Jersey, a fact that was disputed by the family when I got home. It's too late to ask Hannah Robinson PC200946 whose remains are fertilizing the tree. After one final picture PC200947 of the diner, we knew it was time to explore further into the town.

Next we went past Barber's Basin PC200948 and some good lawn ornaments PC200949 that hadn't been blown over by the heavy winds that buried many a lawn Santa Claus in the grass. This house had its own train PC200950 complete with Santa Claus PC200951 and a John Deere crossing. PC200952 We're not sure what the decorations there were all about though. As we approached the country club PC200954 we saw their guard dog across the street. PC200953 Our final visit was to the water at the bottom of New Jersey PC200955 where in the distance we could see the Delaware Memorial bridge PC200956

On the wall home, we paused for a photo of this sign painted on a wall. PC200957