It was a gorgeous mid-August day that felt more like September. Hoping to hit farm markets for tree-ripened peaches and some antique shops, we prepared with a some internet info on possible stops and got the Garmin GPS out. We left from Pitman, NJ going south towards Salem. We visited Mood's Market, Cawman's Mall, Royal Port Antiques, Market Street Treasures, RNJ Grilling by the roadside near Bridgeton, and a unique place called Jantiques. We could have added a pick-your-own-fruit stop but we will leave that for another day. Also, we got a quick view of the area near the Salem Nuclear Plant. My son turned around in a parking lot near there but he was reluctant to linger there with the surveillance that surely goes on even near the peripheral areas. Here I have traced our route. It might have varied somewhat but it is basically correct:
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We stopped at Mood's Market. It is more than a typical Farm Market. It holds events and pick your own fruit days. They sell tree-ripened fruit, apple and peach ciders, and apple cider donuts. We were happy to get a package of donuts from the supply on the shelves but instead we were offered the freshly baked, hot from the oven, donuts---so yummy. Before noon my son finished the half-dozen donuts. Later that day we enjoyed the peach cider (90% peach juice) with our take-out barbecue.
I live in a town that is desperate to return to the glory days when the main street shopping was the hub of the community. As bad as it is in my town, these communities that are in Southwest New Jersey seem to be beyond making a real comeback. Salem must have been an impressive little city at one time but now they qualify for the 3% sales tax program with a significant amount of poverty although not as bad as Camden which may approach 44% living in poverty. I would assume farming, municipal jobs, education, and the nuclear plant are the main income producers.
The main street for shopping is Market Street and there are a few good antique shops. I stopped at Market Street Treasures and my son spied something that he knew would peak my interest and I had to have it. In a previous blog I have talked about my father working for RCA as a television service man. He had a folding carry-all case filled with TV tubes for repairs and I had a chance to purchase this one for $200 but I offered $150 and we made the deal.
My son bought a cubby organizer
for mail from the old Salem Post Office:
After we left Salem we headed towards Bridgeton in the hopes of meeting up with my sister at work but it did not work out. So we came to one rural intersection and there was a roadside barbecue with two fellows running it and we got the last of their ribs and chicken. I really do not know how it happened but my son breaks out in this comedic opera singing that he sometimes does. Then the owner, a Mr. Nicosia, breaks out into real opera singing. What a roadside delight! He gave my son a business card ----RNJ Grilling and Catering. We shared that we had been on a road trip looking for antiques and he directed us to one place that we had missed which turned out to be the most interesting stop of the day. The large yard was filled iron gates, a reproduction of the Thinker, brown cows, black cows, a panda, other animals, a metal gazebo, and other statues. The authentic old look was being enhanced on some pieces by leaving these pieces outside to get exposed to the elements. Near the back entrance there were newer small metal toy reproductions that were outside and I surmise even those items were being "aged" outside. The one guy whether an owner or not looked very eccentric with his wild blonde hair and one customer kind of matched. He looked like a large-sized Rambo at about 6 foot 4!
Do you see Triceratops lurking in the background?
