Philadelphia, PA (USA)

[Trip to get Flight Time with VR-52] This morning, I got up around 0600 and headed NAS JRB Fort Worth so I could leave my car on base. [I got a ride from a duty drive but then] got dropped off at the wrong terminal (DFW is huge!).  Fortunately, there was a train to take me to the right place. Made it on my American Airlines flight on time (scheduled takeoff time was 0955) but we then ended up getting delayed near the runway. The MD-80 was PACKED.  After a mostly uneventful flight riding in one of the worst seats on a plane I've ever had, we arrived in Philadelphia (at around 1400L).  This was early enough to avoid the worst rush hour traffic but the weather was really bad - ice, snow, fog... After getting off the aircraft, I had no trouble getting my bag or getting a ride to the rental car center (Hertz). Picked up my car (1440) and headed towards NAS JRB Fort Worth.  I'd brought my maps but didn't really need them because the car came with a GPS. Arriving on base, I checked into the Navy Lodge. By then, the snow was really coming down. Since I had some time and had checked the hours, I decided to take a chance and head up to Pottsville to visit the genealogy library.  This was one of the few things open on MLK day.  Despite the weather (it continued to snow), I departed Willow Grove at around 1600.  Along the way, I thought about giving up a few times. However, by the time I'd driven 70 miles into the trip, the weather had improved significantly (even though it was still only 20 degrees outside). I used surface streets (mistake) to get to I-476 and then took I-78. As it approached 1800, I came across a HUGE traffic jam (a back up of nearly four miles). Around two hours later, we reached an exit and I was able to get off and double back - finally called it quits. Too bad - it would have been nice to find a few things up there. Got back to the Navy Lodge at around 2200 and got organized in the room. Went to bed at around midnight.  It was a rather frustrating day but I had a warm bed - small blessings...