Patterned Brick in Salem County

Strolled the three doors down to Barb's and with her sister, Pat G., we started off for Wells Mills Park.  We were pleased to see our old friend, German (pronounced "Grr--man"--it's Bulgarian) as our driver, along with a woman guide we've had before.  Two people didn't show up for the 14-person van, which means Susan could have come after all, but it was too late then.
The tour was of the "patterned" brick houses of Salem County and--with reservations--we enjoyed it immensely.  We stopped first at a Friends' Meeting House in Woodstown, a lovely village, to see the year it was built spelled out in glazed bricks high up near the eaves.  Went to seven or eight others, some public buildings, others private homes.  They were all built in the 18th century and many included the initials of the builder/owner and his wife.  We saw three with spectacular zig-zag or diamond designs in addition to dates and initials.
We stopped to eat the lunches we had brought at the Hancock House in the faraway town of Lower--or Upper or something--Alloway, which has such a brick-patterned design.  It's a museum, but unfortunately, was closed until the middle of June.  Here, according to a commemorative stone, a contingent of revolutionaries were surprised by Redcoats and most bayoneted to death, including Hancock.
Anyway, it was an interesting tour, enhanced by the fact that, as almost always happens, we met and engaged with compatible fellow history enthusiasts.  Topped off with a stop for ice cream, then at a farmers' market, it was a fine day
The drawback?  We were driving for much too long a time.  Salem County is way up there to begin with, and neither German nor the woman guide seemed to have prepared a route.  Between the two of them, you'd think they'd have mapped out the way, but G. kept driving down country roads, turning around, switching back, re-tracing the trail, and so on, and the woman wasn't much help.  Driving home, Barb, Pat, and I agreed that sitting so long was tiring and wished we could have gone through a museum or gotten out more often.  All-in-all, though, we enjoyed the day.
Still trying to bring together my casts for rehearsals.  Talked to Aline last night and we're looking forward to Sunday, when she, Louise, and I will see The Boyfriend at Surflight.