Archive for the ‘Pennyslvania’ Category

On the Move

Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

It is time to head west and we were off by about noon on Saturday after finding out my birthday package still had not arrive!  FedExExpress service is holding it hostage or maybe it is the USPS service.  Oh well, it will catch up with me when I visit CA.

Saturday evening was spent in a CampingWorld parking lot with water and electric hook ups!  Very nice, quiet and I get to shop in the morning!  Sunday morning I made my purchases and we were on our way to Pennyslvania by noon.  Our plan was to make it to Erie, PA where we could overnight at the Elks lodge and hopefully get to watch a NASCAR race in the bar.  Everything went as planned until a big rig accident 20 miles from our exit!  That set us back about 1 hour but we made the race by 2 and it was over by 3:30 so that was good because Sunday was our first day of sunshine in about a week!  And a beautiful day it was.

After the race we headed to the Presque Isle.  It was only about 2 miles from the Elks lodge and what a beautiful, vibrant spot it is.  A land mass that extends about 7 miles into Lake Erie with lots of beaches, mini lakes, trails and creates Presque Isle Bay between the peninsula and Erie where there is lots of sailing and waterskiing.  We had a great day of walking in nature and enjoying the sunshine.

Monday morning I took the opportunity to return to Presque Isle and take a morning walk on the beach.

Just me, Lake Erie and miles of beach!

Just me, Lake Erie and miles of beach!

It was beautiful and very few people on the beach.  While walking on the beach I was able to see an immature Bald Eagle that was injured and just hanging out on the beach.  I tried to take a picture but only had my phone and I didn’t want to get too close.

One of the things I enjoy is seeing different places and different cultures but the most entertaining things is checking out signage of local businesses!  Todays signs that made me smile I was not able to photograph but here they are!

1.  This one was a road sign with yelllow caution background a road sign stating:

 Buckle Up next million miles

2.  This one made me really laugh!  My feeling exactly about the new craze!

Gluten-Free Oil Change

Next stop is Linden Michigan where Paul will be spending the next 6-10 days working while I hopefully enjoy the weather.  Driving on the interstate is usually not too exciting however I managed to find something I have never seen before

Hmmmm...

TruckStop near Toledo Ohio

The sky turned dark right after we found our home for the next week and then the Thunderstorm warnings started flashing on the TV screen!  Great, we are in the path of more hail storms!  Duke and I settled in with the TV tuned to the local station and my Ipad set on Weather and enjoyed a very noisy afternoon!  It passed by 8 pm and today the sun is trying to stay out!  I am definitely being reminded how wonderfully consistant and calm weather in San Jose was/is.

Life in the Slow Lane

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

You would think life in a 350 sq ft space that has only 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom and wheels would qualify as living in the slow lane but sitting here in Pennsylavania Dutch Country playing on my iPad while the air conditioner and TV are running somehow doesn’t seem very simple as I look out my window and see the neighbor plowing his field with horses!

Amose, Sam

Amose, Sam's youngest boy

Amos is sitting on the sidelines watching his daddy and looking at us in our fancy homes.  To Paul’s dismay I think I could live here.  It is absolutely beautiful and the farms are so clean.  Yes we have the country smell of manure but every yard, farm has cows, chickens, a small garden that the wife tends and children running in the yards chasing each other or butterflies or just running.  The lack of power in some of the homes and no TV in most creates such a calm.

6 horse-power plow!

During the day the young children are helping in the fields, or kitchen or some are out with wagons full of the families goods to share  with tourist who have forgotten how to bake a loaf of bread, a pie, jam or even a jar of pickles.   All around the countryside you will see business signs that direct you to the farms to buy local goods.  We found a farm where the lady of the house was a quilter and turned her garage into a quilt shop.  She doesn’t quilt anymore as she is too busy selling the quilts of her neighbors!  We found so many nurseries where the Amish grew their own plants and it became a business where they buy goods from other local farmers as well as suppliers and sell to the public.

An Amish farm where they sell quilts from many of the area's quilters

Humidity makes for lush plants

Intercourse, PA  where the people live simply but know how to create an economy!  Amish beliefs emphasizing humility, family, community and separation from the non-Amish world however I think they found a way to benefit from the non-Amish!  They have many shops with local products; they offer buggy rides to see the country-side;  and the restaurants are packed with tourists trying to savor that home cooked meal.

Takin' it easy

Picture Perfect

Besides great home cookin’, Lancaster County has lots of covered bridges.  Covered bridges just make you think of covered wagons, horse drawn carriages, walking so we had to see.   The bridges are found in small rural areas.  We drove through an area that looked very affluent and then you come to the creek and see the bridge.  It brings you right back to those early days.

Pat and Kip

I love the structure

If they could do something about the humidity I think I could live here!