The personal writings and photos of Jonathan Smith.

On Saturday I met up with a few members of the Dutch Country Riders at 9am at the rest stop on I81 north of Harrisburg, PA. We were riding to Alpha, New Jersey to have lunch at Charlie’s Pool Room. Charlie’s Pool Room is known for it’s famous hot dogs which have been cooked in a small skillet in their kitchen the same way for probably 50 years. Who would ride 3 hours and 100 miles for such a lunch? We would.

Charlie’s Pool Room would be easy to miss. It looks just like the other houses on this block in Alpha, New Jersey. Once stepping inside you see the old counter that looks like it hasn’t changed in 50 years. Sodas are purchased in a soda machine and ice cream is available in an old cooler.

There’s just one round table in the back to sit down and enjoy your meal beside the one lonely pool table. This place has charm.

My lunch consisted of two ht dogs with sauce. The sauce is a sweet onion sauce and the recipe is only known by one of the two brother’s who owns the establishment.

Our host.

On the way back we stopped at the Peanut Shop in Port Clinton, PA. The candy in this store was amazing! They had anything you could imagine.

I stocked up with some butter roasted peanuts while others bought licorice (which was the best I’ve ever had) and other assorted candies. Hermy’s BMW is just a few hundred feet down the road from this store. I need to return!

If you suffer from seasonal allergies like me and you live in or around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania you have probably noticed allergy symptoms recently. In my case I have noticed the itchy eyes, itchy throat, and stuffy nose. I have been using my emergency inhaler for my asthma quite often too since I have been keeping my windows open to enjoy the Spring breeze. Unfortunately this also lets all of that pollen blow through my house too.

Here’s a list of the plants which are causing your allergy symptoms in the Harrisburg area. Today’s pollen forecast shows a pollen count of 9.7 which is high. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania actually took the 44 spot in Spring allergy capitals of the United States this year following cities such as Philadelphia, PA (11), Allentown, PA (19), Pittsburgh, PA (26), and Scranton, PA (28).

Pennsylvania is not a good state to live in for those who suffer from seasonal allergies.