THE ADVENTURES OF ROVER’S ROVERS

A Louise and Charlie Episode

Anticipation of a lovely 3-day weekend had Rover walkers Louise and Charlie smiling and chattering on their way.  The weekend included a special walking event in the town of Tamaqua PA with added incentive of experiencing a stay in the nearby town of Jim Thorpe PA.  Louise, one of the creators of the Jim Thorpe "year-round" walking trail,  shared with Charlie her knowledge of the historical town named in celebration of one of the world's most famous athletes.

Jim Thorpe 

Beautiful weather was promised, accommodations in downtown Jim Thorpe's historical district were reserved at a guesthouse, sights and experiences beckoned. Yes...all was serene in their volksmarching world. 

Too early to check into the guesthouse, Louise and Charlie decided to walk the Jim Thorpe trail which began at the centrally located railroad station where the volksmarch registration box was housed.

Louise searched for the sign up sheets, searched for pens for which to register, searched for start cards, searched for her name labels to facilitate the ease of registration, and searched for Charlie.  Charlie, as usual, was investigating her surroundings.  Brochures beckoned with exciting adventures offered in the area and registration procedures were a far second in her attention span.  But, finally heeding Louise’s call to action, registration was completed and the intrepid Rovers headed for the exit.

“Wait, Charlie,” exclaimed Louise, ”I left my walking stick in the station.” Returning with stick in hand an additional start was begun.  “Wait, Charlie,” exclaimed Louise, “I think I left my walking trail map in the station.”  Shortly, the third additional start commenced.  “Wait, Louise,” exclaimed Charlie, “I need to visit the restroom facility again.” 

That start was the charm and the walk through Jim Thorpe began.  Louise marched out with determined stride, followed by the meandering and stumbling feet of Charlie due to her head constantly swiveling and staring at the sights offered in the historic town.

“Louise,” whined Charlie.  “Why do you always start walking so fast?  If we walk fast in the beginning, we’ll be very tired when finishing.”  “Charlie,” said Louise, “That’s the way I’ve always walked.”  “Oh,” said Charlie.  The walk continued.

“Louise,” inquired Charlie.  “Do we have lots of hills to walk up?”  “Yes,” replied Louise, “We can walk slow and take rests when we need them.”  “Louise,” asked Charlie.  “We've been walking a long time--at least 5 minutes.  Can we take a rest now?”

Their walk continued interspersed with Charlie's mumbling and stumbling and grumbling that she needed her camera which was too heavy to carry on a walk and all she had was her phone.  The two Rovers absorbed the architecture and shops richly scattered along their way.  

Charlie, bragging about reserving the guesthouse for their stay, suggested they keep a look out for it as their walk took them in that direction.

As they neared the address buildings in various stages of repair and disrepair were noticed.  Finally a sign sporting the name of the guesthouse came into view.  Drawing near a few green straggles of weeds were spotted huddling along the building's foundation of cracked cement.  Silence reigned as they reluctantly mounted worn steps that creaked protestingly up to a small porch.  Floor planks seemed to huddle fearfully away from the weight of their trudging feet.

Worriedly, Charlie looked at Louise.  Worriedly, Louise looked back at Charlie.  Charlie reluctantly stretched a hand to the listing door and knocked, waited and knocked and....well you know the procedure. “Squeeeeekkkk!”  The door opened and a man of glum stature appeared.  Introducing themselves, they explained they were on a walk and just stopped by to ascertain the location.  Informing them that the guesthouse was not yet cleaned, their "host" allowed entrance stating that the house, including a kitchen and living room, would be available for their use.

Stepping into the “living” room, an overwhelming odor of mold and dust assaulted their noses. Worn, questionable carpet stretched over the floor.  The couch with elderly beige cover thrown over stared protestingly at the promise of approaching weight.  A scratched and ancient piano wearily awaited potential disturbance. 

Charlie moaned quietly (for her anyway).  A bit intimidated by their glowering host, she desperately tried to stem violent sneezes threatening to erupt from the overwhelming "historical" fragrances.  Louise stepped out into the dim hallway and looked up....and up....and up...and more up and up narrow, uneven steps leading into gloomy, hovering darkness.  With haunted stare she wordlessly beseeched Charlie.

“Uh....uh...” voiced Charlie. “I...uh...uh.....”  “What?” grumped  the man.  “I don’t think .... uh....well...we have to be going now,” braved Charlie.  Quickly exiting the door they reached the sidewalk all the while feeling the eyes of the host following their retreat.

“I can’t stay there!” wailed Charlie as she sniffed and sneezed and dripped copious tears from her encounter with the moldy living room.  Charlie frantically attempted to reach an operator who refused to be reached because AT&T did not want to cooperate.  Fortunately, a fellow Volksmarcher was soon encountered.  Hearing their plight, he told them the concierge at the train station had arranged motel accommodations for him.  Much relieved Louise and Charlie decided to return to the station and talk with the concierge.

Their return led them once again past the guesthouse.  Charlie, with a poked encouragement from Louise, bravely volunteered to inform the owner of their change in plans.  Louise hid behind a lamppost on the opposite side of the street.

With valiant trepidation Charlie started up the steps only to be greeted by the lowering visage of the owner coming up the other side of the porch.  “Uh.....Uhm....Uh....” stuttered Charlie.  “I am sorry but we are unable to stay here because of the mold.” “Have you got another place to stay?” he grumped.  “Uh....Yes....I mean no...not yet....but....anyway....goodby.”  The trip down the steps for Charlie was much faster than the trip up the steps.

Louise and Charlie expressed mutual congratulations and relief that the owner, by requiring cash payment at check in, insured they still had their  funds reserved for that purpose.

Reaching the station, the friendly concierge arranged a motel reservation.  With safety and nighttime accommodations in place, Louise and Charlie completed their walk once again enjoying the historical architecture and beautiful landscaping on view.

Later after gratefully registering at the motel, they walked to their room.  Luxurious?  No....but clean....and less expensive than the moldy guesthouse.  However, they soon discovered that the lamps did not work.  Tracing the wires to see if they were unplugged proved fruitless necessitating a call and a visit from the manager.  After investigating and moving the extremely heavy beds, he found the wires unplugged.  Duly plugging them in he wished them a good evening and left the room.

Settling in once more begun until Louise suddently stopped and stared at the  locked door leading to the adjoining room. She whispered, “Someone’s in there!  They may be trying to get in here!”  Listening no further noise was heard.  After carefully testing the lock on the door, they returned to settling in with an eye and an ear turned and tuned to the locked door.

Louise, aware that the night was going to be quite cool, wanted to make sure that the combined heater/air conditioner was working before they left for dinner.  “EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”  screamed the fire alarm.  A smell of something burning permeated the room.  Louise scrambled to turn off the heater and Charlie grabbed the phone to call the manager.

The phone didn’t work!  No dial tone!  Charlie ran for the door to find the manager.  The fire alarm was silent upon their return.  The slightly skeptical manager informed them that the unit had been cleaned and a slight odor would be initially experienced.  He turned on the unit.   “EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!” again screamed the fire alarm, again
accompanied by the odor of burning.  Quickly shutting down the heater with Charlie jerking open the entry door, the fire alarm was silenced.   The somewhat chagrined manager gave smiling assurance there really was nothing to fear.  In turn, Louise and Charlie let him know that they would rather freeze than turn on the darn heater!

“But,” said Louise.  “We were unable to make an emergency call because the phone was not working!”  The manager halted his exit.  “Not working?” he queried.  “No!  Please fix it as we might need it again for emergency purposes,” ordered Louise.

The belabored manager investigated, once again moving heavy beds and tracing wires.  Yep.....you guessed it.  When he fixed the lamps, he unfixed the phone!  Everything tested, inquiry made as to our comfort, he once again started to leave again only to once again be stopped by Louise.

“We heard a noise in the other room of something falling and we do not think anyone is staying there,” she stated.  Once again the manager halted his exit, thought for a moment then assured us that he had been their checking the room.  He then safely escaped but left Louise and Charlie wondering if his stated visit to the adjacent room was fiction in order to flee the presence of his two charming guests.

Louise and Charlie had a lovely dinner and a comfortable night.  The next morning they left for the Rovers weekend walking event in the town of Tamaqua.  They were scheduled to work registration with Rover after walking the 5k trail.

Starting out on their 5k, they strode off in true Louise volksmarch quick step.  The walk was a good one, with Charlie only whining about the possibilities of climbing hills three or four times, arguing slightly over the trail directions, grumbling down steep iron steps to the bottom of a hill, and finally getting Louise to agree to stop short of the summit of the last hill believing it to still be quite a steep climb. They dithered a bit as a home at the summit, known as the "Tulip Lady's Home, was known for its spectacular gardens.  But Charlie was being reminded that a restroom should be located in the not too distant future.  Hearing their conversation, a friendly woman sitting on a nearby porch hailed them.  Laughing, she told them they were only half a short block away and it was a sight too beautiful to miss!

She was right!  The walk was worth every Charlie complaint and meeting the friendly people along the way negated all memories of huffing and puffing.

Yes, despite and including all their adventures, Louise and Charlie voted it one of the best weekends ever!

No matter the location there is always fun and adventure and tales to share.

Why don’t you come walk with us?