July 24, 2004 (Sun) New Columbia, PA - Before I begin on the day's activities, a word (or two) about this campground. It's big - over 300 campsites. We're in a small circle that seems to be set up especially for groups although we're the only group. It's in the open - allowing us to "circle our wagons" - but there is a wooded area that we may explore sometime. There are all kinds of special activities going on - in case people get bored with the usual things like swimming, fishing, basketball, biking, etc. The theme for this weekend is "Sawmill Festival 2". Periodically we are informed of an activity over loud speakers located throughout the park - Log rolling, greased pole climbing, blind-folded boat racing, tug of war, chariot racing, an egg toss, bag race, etc. We haven't participated although some of the kids in our group have.
We awoke at about 5:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. So we got up, ate breakfast, and puttered around until others began to stir. While waiting for the party to begin there was plenty of conversation and age appropriate fun. And there was lots to munch on to keep us from starving before the real eating began. The "kitchen" was (is) the custom trailer Phil pulls behind his George Boy Encounter motor home that we described in newsletter last summer - a utility trailer equipped with a grill, smoker, large griddle, deep fat fryer, and a beer tap (and keg). The chefs, Phil and Steven, fired up the burners about 4:00 and began to prepare such delicacies as, steamed clams, shrimp, craw dads, crab legs, steak, corn, and potatoes. Needless to say, great fun was had by all.
In the evening we sat around a roaring campfire and did what one does while sitting around a campfire, including singing with the help of Steve's guitar and Georgeanne's mandolin. We finally called it a day when, at 11:10, the campground reverberated with the disembodied announcement "Attention campers. Quiet hours began at 11:00. All Children and teenagers are to return to their campsites . . . . Sleep well, pleasant dreams"
Q004280 Nittany Mountain Campground #V2 w/e/s #33.00 C+
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July 25, 2004 (Sun) New Columbia, PA to Big Pool, MD (324 miles) - We slept in this morning - it was after 7 before we rolled out of bed. (That's what a long night of carousing will do.) 1 year old Bea and her dad were the only ones to rise earlier. The activity for the day, after showering and eating breakfast, was breaking camp and preparing for the long treks home. It was leisurely and interspersed with much banter and fun. We were the last to leave at 1:30.
Our destination was Fort Frederick State Park in Maryland - a park that we often try to stay at but seldom do for various reasons. I guess we were in the mood to prove to ourselves that it could actually be done. The trip down was relatively uneventful. US-11/US-15 was quite scenic as it wound along the Susquehanna River. We got gas ($1.79) just north of Harrisburg and jumped onto I-81 southbound to the Maryland border then West on I-70. The campground is quiet and sparsely populated the way we like them - and primitive; meaning no water, no electric or no sewer hook-ups and the toilets are the portable plastic booth type. But our back door opens to a view of the Potomac River 50 feet or so away. Trains have been going by on a track across the river every half hour or so - eight or nine of them since we got here four hours ago. The frequent rumble and plaintive whistle are strangely comforting.
Q004444 Fort Frederick State Park #6 dry $7.50 A-
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July 26, 2004 (Mon) Big Pool, MD to Elverson, PA (171 miles) - We went to sleep to the sound of peepers down on the river last night and slept soundly until 6:30 or so.
We were going to spend the day bicycle riding - the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail goes through the state park - and relax but the weather threatened rain. So we decided to wander on. Our first stop was to be the Yarn Barn in Chambersburg, PA - A yarn shop that Dorcas has been raving about - but it was closed for vacation. (We've got a pretty good record going here!) US-30 through Chambersburg is a "strip", heavy with fast food, gas stations, and other small stores - and traffic. But it got better - except that a big fifth wheel apparently thought the route number was the speed limit and accumulated a long line of angry drivers. Fortunately we weren't in a hurry. When we finally got around him we made good time - although traffic was congested in Gettysburg. After circumventing Lancaster, we dropped off US-30 onto SR-340 and plunged into the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. A stop in Intercourse netted a hot pretzel and a half pound of fudge. Joy was able to browse two fabric shops and leave both empty handed - a history making event.
French Creek State Park is were we spent our first night in QI. It hasn't changed much in 5 years - except for the cost. We get the senior citizen discount now. Only 1/4 to 1/3 of the sites are occupied so it should be quiet again tonight.
Q004615 French Creek State Park #02C e $13.00 B
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July 27, 2004 (Tue) Elverson, PA to Home (160 miles) - The rain started about 12:00 last night and it was still raining this morning. Our site fared better than some but it was a quagmire of mud. Breaking camp, as little as there was to do, was an exercise in balance while dodging rain drops. We didn't have far to go today so we took our time. Finally got off at 10:15. The roads out were flooded in places but passable. The rain and roadside flora made signs hard to see so we toured the back roads around Elverson and the back streets of Reading, PA before we finally found our way onto an acceptable road for home. We'd given Henry the day off.
The rest of the drive home was an experience to be endured. The rain finally stopped as we came into NJ but the traffic got heavier. We pulled into our driveway at about 2:00 glad to get home.
Q004775 Home
A birthday party - #46-02
To New Columbia, PA - #46-01
July 22, 2004 (Thu) Home to Howard, PA (256 miles) - This has been one of those days when we should back up and start again. It started out all right though. We woke up early so we decided to get up and on the road before the crush of New York commuters. It was 6:10 when we backed out of our driveway - clear, humid, and 69°. Traffic on the Garden State Parkway and I-287 was, in deed, tolerable - better than it was most days when I commuted up that way. I-80 west bound was good too. We were well ahead of our schedule so we had some time to do some wandering.
There's a quilt shop in Bloomsburg, let's make a quick stop. In Bloomsburg we turned the wrong way and were out of town before we realized it. We went on. In Montoursville there's a farmer who cuts a maze in his corn field - it might be be fun to see it. Pilot to navigator error - we ended up in Williamsport - where Little League baseball was invented and where there is a museum devoted to it. There is also a museum with a huge model train collection. We chose to go there. We had a hard time finding it and when we finally did, we couldn't figure out how to get into the parking lot. The literature said there was plenty of room for motor homes but the only access we could find sure wasn't big enough for a motor home! We went on. It was then that we discovered we were well away from our corn field destination and going away from it. Since we were headed toward our campground destination, we went on.
In the next two and a half hours we; stopped for gas, ate lunch in a Kmark parking lot, shopped at a Scotts food market, shopped at the second Wamart of the day, and checked in at Bald Eagle State Park campground. While we were setting up it began to rain. Mark then spent an hour trying to figure out why we weren't getting hot water from the water heater. Was the burner? No there was a flame. Was the water heater by-passing the heater (in winter mode)? No. Were we turning the swivel faucet in the right direction? Yes - well yes and no. It turned out that the faucet was improperly assembled - hot and cold were reversed.
We look forward to a restful night and a new day tomorrow.
Q004150 Bald Eagle State Park #53 e $13.00 A
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July 23, 2004 (Fri) Howard, PA to New Columbia, Pa (130 miles) - Now it can be told. Our trip this time is to help Mark's sister Dorcas celebrate her 60th birthday - a surprise put together by her sons Philip and Steven. It's good to be here and to see everyone - good in more ways than one.
Getting here was a continuation of yesterday's travel mode. We only had 75 miles to go so we were in no hurry. We lay in bed and watched TV until 6:30 or so - not the most inspiring programming at that time of the morning - then got up and broke in the new shower. What luxury to have all the extra room! After breakfast and a couple of hours of "puttering" we got under way - our destination, Mt Nittany Winery. Almost immediately we took a wrong turn - against Henry's wishes - and found ourselves on a network of 4 lane, limited access roads that rival those of the New York area in complexity. Henry got thoroughly confused (and his human operators equally aggravated and frustrated).
We finally made it to the winery deep on a continuously narrowing road deep in the mountains only to find it closed. To get back to civilization, Henry routed us onto a wet muddy dirt mountain road with trees closing in on both sides. We probably could have made it the mile or so to a larger paved road but decided not to chance it and backed back down the road until we could turn around. We had quite a serious discussion over lunch about Henry's role in our lives.
Mike and Dorcas were here when we got here as were Steve (their son), Georgeanne and their two children. Phil (their other son), Laurie, three of their kids, and a friend got here later. We have our rigs in a circle and between down pours are having a great time. The rain interludes aren't bad either.
Oh, Henry is our GPS navigator
Q004280 Nittany Mountain Campground #V2 w/e/s #33.00 C+
