Home, again.

We ended our trip with a visit to Glen's. We stayed at Cane Creek Park about 25 miles south. It's a family oriented, county-operated campground on a beautiful lake. Glen and Georgia fished here at least once before. I've included a photo taken at sunset Saturday.

I also posted a couple of photos from the Corning Museum of Glass. As I might have mentioned, the sun finally came out to stay as we were leaving Watkins Glen, NY. We stayed Thursday night near Lexington, VA and drove into town to discover Virginia Military Institute. Washington and Lee University is also in Lexington. I wish we had planned to be there two weeks from now when the leaves will be at their peak.

We chatted at length with a gentleman at the KOA who is a "work camper." He and his wife travel the country working 20+ hrs. a week at various KOA campgrounds in return for free site rent and a small stipend. They sold their home and have been on the road for 4 years. What a way to see America!

All things considered, it was a good trip despite the rain. I just didn't get good photos as I usually do. Thanks for traveling with us.

Until next time,

Carolyn

Finger Lakes and Pennsylvania

Hi, everyone,
Sorry about the delay in postings. I'll try to catch up. I posted a couple of pictures of Niagara. We love the Finger Lakes region. We saw only two of the 11 lakes but we saw the best; Canandaigua, said to be the prettiest and Seneca, the deepest. We followed Seneca for almost 40 miles and ended in Watkins Glen, home to some famous international races. We were able to stay right in town at a city-run rv park. Drive in any direction from WG and you have magnificent views of the lake (it was raining so we didn't get good photos.) You can hardly drive 3 miles without seeing a winery. The vineyards on the hillsides seem to go all the way down to the lake.

We stopped in Corning, NY to visit the Corning Museum of Glass. What a treat! I posted a couple of nice photos. We watched a team of glass blowers work a nice vase, then watched them destroy it (recycling, you know.) There was a demo of flameworking; watched a small kangaroo being made. We also learned a bit about how fiber optic cable is made. Seems Corning researchers developed the type of glass that is used in the cable. We would visit here again.

Leaving Corning and driving down to Williamsport, PA was breathtaking. America is such a beautiful country. I never get tired to traveling. I could be a gypsy, I think. We've put over 1700 miles on the truck this trip. Tonight, we're at a KOA near Williamsport where Little League World Series games are held.

We'll be in Virginia by tomorrow, if we don't see something interesting in southern PA. Having trouble getting more pics posted.

Later....

Misty Niagara

Hi, everyone,
We saw "the Falls" today---from the Canadian side. You would not believe how depressed the American side is. It's shameful what the city fathers and the state of New York have allowed to happen to the city once known as the "Honeymoon Capital." There were very few people walking the trash-strewn streets. Buildings are either boarded up or tackily painted. We didn't feel safe. We decided to go on to Canada. The Canadians have capitalized on America's lack of pride.
I rained all day, so I didn't get great pictures. And, we didn't go on the Maid of the Mist. It might have been o.k. if it hadn't been 50 degrees. Joe and I were definitely in the minority. Just as at Yellowstone, the Japanese were the most visible tourists.
Now, the Falls. They are magnificent! Indescribable. Breathtaking. Wet.

Speaking of rain, it's been raining for 2 days and promises to continue for 2 more, at least. We're driving SE tomorrow toward the Finger Lakes. Hopefully by Thursday we'll be able to really see the leaves.

I'll post pics next time.

See ya!

New York, New York!

Hi, everyone,

We're finally in New York. The drive up from PA was nice. Just after crossing into NY, we started seeing miles and miles of vineyards. The trees are beautiful though not yet at their most colorful. We're staying at a KOA on Grand Isle just south of the town of Niagara Falls. It's in the low 50s here and still a bit rainy. Don't know yet how this will affect our plans to go on the Maid of the Mist boat tour. We're bound to get wet. We visited the small, historic town of Lewiston this afternoon. It's a very well kept town with a quaint row of shops and restaurants. It has a rich history that dates to the French and Indian wars and it played a roll in helping slaves cross over into Canada. I've included a photo or two.

Yesterday, we visited Presque Isle near Erie. It's a beautiful isle lined with lonely beaches, high dunes, and lush foliage. Reminds me of Hilton Head Island circa 1960. It has miles and miles of walking/biking trails and a marina. Nice place. Photo included.

Tomorrow, we'll cross into Canada and see the falls from that side. From a quick glance around the American side, it looks as if Niagara is really down and out. And, it's obvious there is no stimulus money here; the roads are in terrible condition.

See you later....

Rally Wrap-up

Hi,everyone,

We pulled away from the rally this morning anxious to go on toward Niagara Falls. We had a great "day in the park" yesterday as the host Airstream unit provided fresh-churned ice cream and popcorn and a supper of beans and ham cooked in cauldrons over an open fire. The Top of Georgia members asked us to join them for music and good eats in their shelter. Amish women and girls sold baked goods. An Amish man demonstrated horse shoeing and another made apple butter, again in a cauldron outside. And, the temperature was about 70. Great day!

The day before, we visited Keim Lumber. You gotta see this place! Click on the link to see a gallery of photos. http://www.keimlumber.com/photogallery

You would never know from the photos that this place is in the tiny town of Charm way down winding country roads, but then, there are a lot of such businesses here. Subdivisions are almost non-existent and so are strip shopping centers. Small businesses dot the countryside everywhere.

Handcrafted furniture is big here. We visited 2 showrooms and were blown away by the quality of the Amish work.

Our first stop after heading north today was Geneva-on-the-Lake right on Lake Erie (another first for us---seeing one of the Great Lakes.) It was windy and the white caps on the lake sure reminded us of the ocean. The little seaside town was almost abandoned. Signs everywhere said, "See you in May."

We're staying near Erie, PA tonight and tomorrow night and will visit Presque Isle, a peninsula and state park near here. Check it out on Wikipedia. It's wash day tomorrow, too. Got our quarters ready.

Until later......

Amish Ways

We visited an Amish one-room school yesterday. There were 30 children from grades 1-8 and two teachers. It was overcast outside and rather dark inside the room with light coming from only two incandescent bare-bulbed lamps. The children sat in rows of desks like ones I remember from my early childhood--inkwells and all. The decorations were achievement charts. There was a large water canister in the back of the room and two rows of plastic cups hanging from nails. The children sang for us and told us their names. Children of the more conservative Amish speak only German until about 3rd grade. Of the 30 children, at least 24 were Millers. We learned that there are 95 Amish schools in this one county of Holmes. There were no Amish schools here before the 1950s. The children attended public schools. But when the curriculum became more "worldly", they started their own schools. Children attend school only through 8th grade, as a rule. However, different sects have different rules. Some are very conservative and others very progressive.

We visited an Amish casketmaker whose son is at Ohio State and will study to become a doctor. He lost a son in an auto accident. We've learned that the Amish allow their children to "sow their oats" once they turn 16 and pray they'll return to the fold and choose the Amish way of life. Abe Yoder, the casketmaker, says he charges $525 for a wooden casket, a wooden vault, and the delivery to the undertaker. He can't be making much to supplement his income from farming.

We visited the Warthers Museum (http://www.warthers.com/). Moonie Warthers was one of America's most talented carvers. He carved mostly trains using ebony, mahogany, and ivory (when it was still legal). His trains are incredibly detailed right down to steam pipe valves that actually move. His carving of Lincoln's funeral train is unbelievable in detail. He started making his own carving knives and that led to a thriving knife manufacturing business that is now operated by the 4th generation of his family.

The food we've had so far is pretty bad. The Swiss/German/Amish eat a diet rich in carbohydrates---corn, potatoes and bread mostly. Cabbage is found in some fashion at every meal. Cabbage soup, cabbage rolls, sauerkraut (sp?), and some unrecognizable things.

Sorry for the few pics today. We're respecting the Amish wishes that they not be photographed (and there are Amish everywhere!)

Sorry for the long post. This is my way of keeping a journal of our travels.

Until later......

Rally 'round the Airstreams

Hi, everyone,

We're nearing the end of our 2nd day at the rally. I've included a photo of the many Airstreams that are parked here (and they are still coming in as of 20 minutes ago). The Land O' Lakes chapter here has hosted this event for 48 years and many of their members were here in the beginning. They have done a great job.

We drove through the country to Charm, OH and oh, is it pretty! We were looking for a restaurant. But, it's Sunday and believe it or not, most businesses here are closed. We did find one restaurant and 2-3 service stations open but that was it. Reminds me of when I was growing up. Kinda nice. We saw many Amish buggys parked at various homes (they meet in homes here instead of churches), and saw many more driving their buggys home. Amish children play outdoors here--no Gameboys or televisions.

Tomorrow, we're going on a tour where we'll actually visit an Amish school (the children will be there). We're going to visit an Amish casket maker, too. Fun, huh?

Until later.....

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

Hi, everyone,

We're in Sugarcreek, OH, home to the largest Amish community in the world. We're here attending our first Airstream rally, the SwissFestival Rally. The Swiss Festival celebrates the heritage of the people who first settled this area. About 200 Airstream trailers are scheduled to converge at the rally. We're looking forward to meeting new people and having a great time.

We stayed near Wytheville, VA last night and woke to a gorgeous morning. I've included a few photos taken just only a few feet from our trailer. Yes, the cows were that close. West Virginia, at least the part we drove through today, is indeed, Almost Heaven. We stopped at Tamarack, a neat place that showcases West VA crafts and craftsmen. Furniture, pottery, baskets, quilts, glass, textiles, oh my! Everything was so beautiful.

We just arrived in Sugarcreek this afternoon and haven't seen a lot yet, but the ubiquitous Amish farms provided fodder for my camera. The camera does a great job, considering we're traveling at 55-60 mph.

I'll keep you posted as we go through the week. We'll be going on a number of tours to see the Amish at work. One Amish home invites the "English" to dine with them. If I can keep Joe from practicing his German , we may pass for English!

Until tomorrow.....