Thursdays are my shopping nights. My obligations for the day end at 6:30, and I find myself on the outskirts of Wilmington with about a 6 mile run up to just south of the PA line. Getting to the store is more than half the fun.
My route is a two lane country ribbon of blacktop by the name of Montchanin Rd. The road runs through wooded countryside and a good stretch of it is along the western border of Brandywine state park. Much of it is bounded by hundred year old cut stone walls. They aren't mortared, but they look pretty much as they did when the stones were laid.
It seems odd that such an idyllic setting could be found so close to the city and the mature suburbs just to the east, but there is good reason; the road runs right through chateau country. For readers not familiar with our little state, chateau country is where people with names like DuPont live. There are houses back behind those trees. Some of them are slightly visible when the leaves fall. Yes big, but quietly elegant. Those stone walls were built right back in the gilded age. The park itself was once a DuPont property. Like many in DE, it was gifted by the family.
The road gently undulates. Here is where our topography transitions from Atlantic coastal plain to Piedmont. Most of it is a series of linked S turns ranging from big sweepers to tight little squiggles. The banking is civilized; no nasty reverse cambers. The trees and walls are set back from the pavement far enough that you never feel threatened.
My 12 year old Saab is certainly no race machine, but it has a ballsy little turbo 4, a 5 speed stick and sport tuned suspension that is just at the edge of harsh. The 17" wheels make it corner like it's on rails. It's sort of my mechanical doppelgänger; aging, slightly beat up, but plenty of spunk left. We both like to let it hang out a little on that road.
Every so often I'll follow a bimmer or an Audi that belongs there. Those evenings are fun. Tonight I was behind a Chevy Cruze. He was gamely trying, but.... I rarely get above 60 or 65. It's posted at 35 but I know I could easily double that. I've never even heard the tires whimper. Maybe some Sunday morning I'll go out at 0:light and see what it can do.
So anyway, our ShopRite is undergoing massive renovations. I thought the store was just fine, but apparently the Kennys want to kick it up a notch. It is a pain in the butt; the place looks like who did it and ran. But they are making it worth my while. For 8 weeks we are getting $10 off the order, plus the specials are even better than usual. Tonight I got a free pound of bacon, a free Friendlys ice cream and a dozen free eggs. The Kennys are good business people. This location is right at the intersection of chateau country, the suburbs and PA Wegmans is opening up ten miles up Concord Pike this fall. Whole Wallet is up there too. Competition is a beautiful thing. I'm sure I will try Wegmans out, just to see what all the hype is about. Meanwhile my go-to store is getting even nicer and more price competitive.
Mundane moments to be sure, but so nice when you learn to savor them.
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