What Happened?

This morning we were awake before 6 and started getting the motor home ready to travel. We had decided while at Chesapeake Bay that we would try out a Corp of Engineer Park about half way to Lockport, NY. The park is Ives Run in Tioga, PA.

We left TT Hershey about 8 am and everything looked like it was hooked up correctly. We headed west on US 322 to I 83 N and then we went north on I 81 to exit 77 to fuel up. Diesel was $2.529 at Travel Center of America. As we were getting back on I 81 S Russ noticed the car fishtailing behind the motor home. He stopped as quickly as he could and found that we had lost one of the pins and bolts to the connection to the car. It also bent one of the holding horns, broke the light connection and messed up the air connection for the breaks along with that light. We did get all of this stuff unhooked and I drove in front of Russ to our destination for today. It was about 170 miles that we came after the mishap.

Once we were all set up and had had a sandwich for lunch we took off south on PA 487 to PA 660 and found The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park was awsome and we enjoyed the trails and watching the hawks that were flying all around. We spent about an hour there just looking at stuff.

We came back to the campground and Russ worked on some of the broken items and we will stop by Camping World tomorrow while up in Corning, NY and see if they can fix our mishap. Also while in Corning we will go to the museum and factory.

We will see what else we find while out.......

Pickle Ball

This morning Russ decided that he wanted a schedule of the weekend activities going on here at the park. He first went to the ranger station and they sent him up to the recreation hall to obtain one. In his adventures to get this schedule he helped in putting decorations on the tables in the rec center, talked to people at the store and pool area, then ventured out to the pickleball court. There were people who were willing to teach he and another man how to play.

Everything was going well until Russ tries to get to a shot and takes a big fall across the court. He broke his glasses completely, has a big gash in his eye lid, scrapped both knees and a knuckle. Now just remember, it has been exactly two years ago that he fell and broke his hip and had to have a hip replacement.

We are going to go down to the river front this afternoon and then tonight go and watch the Harrisburg Senators play baseball. There will also be a fireworks show after the game. Sounds like fun for me.

Covered Bridges and Intercourse, PA

This morning I woke up about 6:30 am. I watched the Today show taking my shower during some of the segments. The morning is just gorgious out and it is a perfect day for seeing more of Pennsylvania.

We left the motor home just a few minutes after 9 heading east on US 322 to Cornwall where we took PA 72 south to Manheim where we found two covered bridges. The first was off of Adele by the high school and it was a foot bridge. There were also some interesting rocks that had been moved into the park as a special project.

We then went back through the little town of Manheim to Sun Hill Road where we found a one-lane bridge that is used for vehicles. Both of these bridges were very interesting and fun to find.

Next we headed out US 72 to US 772 to Hunsecker Road where we found our third bridge to view. Again this was a one-lane bridge for vehicles. We also saw many Amish children by this bridge.

After this bridge we headed to the town of Intercourse, PA. We headed for the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop but found it to be closed as this is Ascention Day and the Amish do not work on this day. Back to US 340 we then headed to a Country Knives Store. It was then back into town where we stopped at Cross Key to visit Intercourse Pretzel Factory. We also checked out Stoltzfus Meats and some of the other little shops in this area. We then went to Kitchen Kettle Village where we had lunch at Kling Restaurant. Food was very good. Russ had a Ruben Sandwich with corned beef and I had a big hamburger.

We also saw many Amish families out and about in their buggies. The children are all so cute and well mannered. We also stopped to see a one room school house that was used up until 1969.

We followed our GPS directions and saw a lot of the countryside as she brought us in the back way to the campground. It was fun and we did learn a lot today.

Do not know where we will head tomorrow but know that we will enjoy it all as this area is so pretty.

A Beautiful Day

Today we decided to stay around the campground and just enjoy the day doing what we wanted to. Russ went down to the lake and fished for a few hours. He caught 10 brim but released them all. He said that they gave him enjoyment just catching them.

I did laundry and some reading. Sitting out in the sun was very relaxing and peaceful.

I finished off the evening by instant messaging Nancy Leivas, Cliff Gruel and my niece Erin Crump. I also had on American Idol to watch the outcome on that show. Very surprising.

Chocolate World

Today we went to Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. We learned about the man who built and founded Hershey, Milton S. Hershey. He was a man who wanted to keep his employees happy.

We took the trolly tour seeing the home where he grew up, the school that he founded for under privledged boys, the hospital where he died and other interesting parts of the town. Make sure that if retired military ask for your discount along with the senior discount.

Chocolate World has a free tour that takes you through the making of chocolate. You ride along a track in a car that seats 5 and they show all steps in the process of making the chocolate. It is very interesting and really informative.

Later this afternoon we decided to go and find the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, PA. Russ played on $5 for about an hour and I lost $25 but we did have a good time and the casino is very nice. We will go back at sometime.

Thousand Trails Hershey

This morning we left Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay about 7:45 am. We traveled north on US 17 through Tappahannock to US 301 at A P Hill. We crossed into Maryland and picked up MD 3 merging onto I 97. We then merged onto I 695 west merging onto I 83 crossing into Pennsylvania. We then took US 322 east to S. Mount Pleasant Road. Total miles traveled was 259.15 and it took us just under 6 hours doing an average of 50 miles an hour.

The traffic was light to moderate all the way here. The countryside has been outstanding with all the green in the fields and trees. Flowers are showing much color also.

We arrived at the park early afternoon and found it to be a well manicured venue with nice sites and much to do in the area. We chose a 30 amp pull-thru space as the weather this week is suppose to be in the comfortable range. There were some 50 amp spaces open.

We decided to just explore the park here and have left over stew for lupper. As everyone says, the stew always taste better the second day and this was no exception. We took a walk around and will explore the area tomorrow.

Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay

We left Pocahontas State Park on Monday 5/11/09 headed for Chesapeake Bay Thousand Trails in Gloucester, VA.

I had to have another blood test done and pick up a new prescription before we left Chesterfield so went to the walk in clinic at our doctors office. Those of us waiting for the office to open were stunned to find out that Dr. Mark Schroeder had passed away on the previous Saturday from a Brain Tumor. Russ and I had only seen him once so will now transfer over to one of the other doctors there in the office.

Russ dumped tanks while I was gone and I met him over at the Pilot Truck Stop off of I 95. We topped off with diesel and we were on our way heading north on I 95, east on VA 10, north on I 295, east on I 64 and east on VA 33 to VA 198. Total miles 69.50 A very easy drive and we arrived at the campground about 10 am.

We were lucky and found one of the free 50 amp sites open. Space D 23 one of our favorites. We got in and maneuvered enough to get 5 bars on the satellite. This worked well for most of the week. The entire week was partly cloudy but no rain until Sunday and then it rained all day.

Tuesday we went to Wal-Mart to get my prescription filled and just for the ride into town. We had to wait 2 hours as they were having troubles with their computer system.

Wednesday was spent at the campground just enjoying it. Russ went fishing in the river but did not catch anything. He was a bit upset about not catching anything but tried again later in the week. We also stopped at a Holiday Rambler Motor Home that was parked a couple spaces down from us because they had a 400 Club sticker on their coach. It was the Lind's whom we had met in DuQuoin, IL. in 2007 at the rally. They are headed to the Maritimes for the summer.

Thursday I went back up to Chesterfield to see my family before we leave for the summer. I was also in the hopes that I would get the results of my blood test that was done on Monday. This was also the day that my brother's house was to be auctioned off in foreclosure. There had been a realtor that wanted to buy it but was not going to give Lin anything to help get him out. After talking to our cousin Ken Walker, he decided that he would try to get the house and help Lin out. My brother-in-law Roy and I met Ken at the court house and found out that Lin's sale had been cancelled because of the realtor. Lin happened to see him in the parking lot and talked to him. The realtor has dropped all interest in the house so now Ken is working on getting it. Time will tell as to what is going to happen. I just feel so sorry for Mama in not being able to do anything at this point. She has already put up a lot of money and Lin being hard headed lost it.

It was back to the campground and I watched the finale of Grey's Anatomy. The weekend was good.