Morning Adventure

As I talked about in my last post, Wawa Mini-Fails, I went for a little adventure this morning to again keep pace with the challenge and to get my Wawa breakfast morning-ritual items. For those who haven't followed the blog too closely those items are: the Philadelphia Inquirer, a 20oz hazelnut coffee, & a sausage, egg, and cheese on a bagel.

So I had it all planned out - I would hit 3 different Wawas for those 3 different items. I did the quick research on www.wawa.com for the locations and made quick-written directions for myself. I would hit Wawas #811, 801, & 854.

So I started on my morning adventure, venturing out Darley Road, Chestnut Road, and then down Marsh Road. The next turn was Wilson Road in which the first Wawa would be on. Totally missed the turn. Keep in mind, I have a GPS in my car - thanks to my roommate Steve - but failed to use it. I have a feeling it could have helped.

Anyways - I recognized some of the roads from my directions leading to the other Wawas, righted myself, and got to Wawa #811 without too much trouble. However, on my way into the store I was struck by the other door. I walked in one door, a Wawa employee was walking in the other door and struck me with it. I'm sorry - was I moving too slow for you? Thanks dude. Anyways, I got my coffee and a quick picture of the store and moved onto the next Wawa after the abuse I took.

#12. Wawa Store #811 - Friday, December 3 - 10:34am
400 A Wilson Road
Brandywine, DE 19803
Item Purchased: 20oz hazelnut coffee

I then went to Wawa #801 without any trouble getting there, bought my Philadelphia Inquirer, and continued on. The picture below is from the last challenge during hoagie-fest. It is "hippie-fied" if you will.

#13. Wawa Store #801 - Friday, December 3 - 10:49am
Philadelphia Pike & Parkway Ave
Wilmington, DE 19809
Item Purchased: Philadelphia Inquirer

Next up was Wawa #854. This would have been the Wawa I hit in yesterday's update if I didn't mess up my "needing gas" schedule. So I hit it today, purchased my sausage, egg, & cheese and went on my way. This Wawa is one of my usual Wawas. I like it because it is a super-Wawa with gas and also has 2 entrances. I just realized that I have a lot of different "usual" Wawas. Oh well, I guess that comes with the territory when you blog about a store.

#14. Wawa Store #854 - Friday, December 3 - 10:57am
2621 Philadelphia Pike
Claymont, DE 19703
Item Purchased: Sausage, egg, & cheese on a bagel

I will soon do an overall update blog - highlighting the amount of money spent, items purchased, & any other anecdotes I may have. I will also include a map of the Wawas I have hit thus far.

Day: 10
Wawas Hit: 14
Days Left: 20
Wawas Left: 36

-Ford

Wawa Mini-Fails

This challenge would not be a true challenge without a couple of mini-fails along the way. Over the last 2 days (12/1 & 12/2) I attempted to keep pace with my challenge. I would have been in decent shape, but had some setbacks along the way.

So Wednesday, Dec. 1st was a normal day. I left in plenty of time to get to work so that I could forgo I-95 for a little bit and drive up to Linwood, PA to get my breakfast on my way to work. It was pouring & windy out so I got in, got my breakfast sandwich and coffee, and got out. I didn't get to take a picture, so the picture below is from the original challenge.

This is what I wrote about this Wawa in my last blog -

"I didn't have high hopes for it being a decent Wawa because of the area. However, once I walked in...pretty impressed. Nothing extraordinary, but the layout of the Wawa was very well done and there was a lot of space between aisles and around the coffee station and touchscreens.

And it is #7 on Wawas list of stores. With the numbering system, it jumps to #3 as there is only #1 & #6 ahead of it. If I am correct in my assumption of how the numbering for their stores works (based on conversations with some other people) it is the 3rd oldest store still in existence for Wawa. I will post within the next few days about some theories on the numbering system."

Picture from the last challenge of Wawa #7 in Linwood, PA

#10. Wawa Store #7 - Wednesday, December 1 - 11:20am

1439 Market Street

Linwood, PA 08360

Items Purchased: Sausage, egg, & cheese on a bagel, and 20oz hazelnut coffee

Onto Thursday, Dec. 2nd and a couple of mini-fails. So I woke up early as I had to be into work for a 10:00am meeting (that is early for me - I work nights and weekends). I was out of my house in plenty of time to go out of my way a little bit to hit the Wawa on Columbus Blvd. in South Philadelphia which I have been to plenty of times over the years. So I go in, get my coffee and head back to my car. I continue on my way to work and about the time I hit the Vine Street Expressway....no receipt. No picture. I have no way of proving to everyone that I hit this Wawa. So in the spirit of the challenge, I cannot count this Wawa and will move on and hit it again at another point to make it count.

During work I hit one of my normal Wawas - the one on 36th & Chestnut Street - as it is the closet one to where I work. I got my dinner and also got it for a co-worker  and went back to work. Nothing special here, it is your typical Wawa.

#11. Wawa Store #55 - Thursday, December 2 - 5:51pm

3604 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Items Purchased: Hot turkey bowl, 32oz lemon lime gatorade (w/ 50 cents off coupon), pretzel M&Ms, & an Italian classic hoagie.

Onto mini-fail #2. I got into my car when leaving work and the gas light popped on. I needed gas before I left to come back to Delaware. I had thought I planned it out that I could get home last night from work without getting gas and would get it this morning on a little morning-adventure for Wawas. Now I need to adjust my morning and try to hit a few for my breakfast.

I am now going to hit those Wawas as I plan to hit 3 Wawas to get 3 different items.

Day: 9 (yesterday)

Wawas Hit: 11

Days Left: 21

Wawas Left: 39

-Ford

You Learn Stuff

After Thanksgiving I had enough turkey, stuffing (2 kinds!), mashed potatoes, & green bean casserole to last for quite awhile. Over the weekend, I had to combat that with some sugar.

On Saturday I met up with the girl (she loves when I refer to her as 'the girl'), AKA Sarah, and we went to Firecreek in Downingtown, PA with my sister and brother-in-law, Kim & Andy. On my way there, I stopped for a quick sugar-fix as I had been sitting around the house watching tv and reading. I got my Mountain Dew & Peanut Butter M&M's at the Wawa on Carpenter Road near me and continued on my way. Looking at the receipt just now, I realized that Delaware has gotten me again.

We all know Delaware as one thing: a tax-free state. Well, they have their 'hidden' costs and they get their money. The ol' bottle deposit charge trick. Pennsylvania residents - you know when you see on the labels of your bottles (beer, soda, etc.) you can return for 5 cents in certain states? Delaware, Maine, Hawaii, etc. Well, everyone who buys one of those bottles pays 5 cents more for that bottle. So if you don't save your bottles and return them - you are essentially paying a tax on those bottles you buy.

I just did a little research (thanks Google) and according to www.bottlebill.org the Delaware bottle deposit law will suspend on December 1, 2010 and refunds will cease on February 1, 2011. I'm kind of torn on that. While I'm glad I won't be spending 5 cents per bottle that I'm too lazy to save and take back, it is a good practice.

#6. Wawa Store #809 - Saturday, November 27th - 4:06pm
2300 Carpenter Road
Wilmington, DE 19810
Items Purchased: 20oz Mountain Dew, Peanut Butter M&Ms

So after making one of my last deposits to the bottle deposit law in Delaware, the four of us hung out at Firecreek for a little while. Sarah & I then went to the new P.J. Whelihans in Downingtown to meet up with her friend Joey and then we went to Victory to meet up with her friend Kelly and a few others. After trucking around and meeting up with everyone she rewarded me with a Wawa stop. And by rewarded me, I mean I paid.

We stopped at one of the Downingtown Wawas and got a gatorade, pretzel m&m, & 2 reese's peanut butter trees. Back in PA, I was forced to pay a little thing called tax. There was also quite the display of Coke & Diet Coke 12-packs. I was tempted to purchase a 12-pack of Diet Coke just to test my Jenga skills.

#7. Wawa Store #245 - Saturday, November 27th - 10:31pm
100 Boot Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
Items Purchased: 20oz Lemon Lime Gatorade, Pretzel M&Ms, 2 Reese's Peanut Butter Trees

Onto this morning. Nothing exciting, just went to one of the Wawas on the University of Pennsylvania's campus on my way into work to grab a coffee & breakfast sandwich. They do have a unique set up for the coffee station though which is unlike other Wawas. Most have their coffee stations as an island and then the coffee pots or whatever the new things are by the counter where all the food is prepared. This Wawa has their coffee station against the window on Spruce Street. I liked it just because it is different.

#8. Wawa Store #179 - Saturday, November 28th - 10:34am
3744 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Items Purchased: 20oz hazelnut coffee & sausage, egg, & cheese on a bagel

Day: 5
Wawas hit: 8
Days left: 25
Wawas left: 42

-Ford