Sunday, August 25, 2002

We woke up to a great looking day today, and left the campground about 8:30 with the goal of looking at as many covered bridges as possible, and we managed to find about 5 or 6, before we ran into one under repair and couldn't continue.  Our tour route would have continued from there, but since we couldn't cross the bridge, rather than double back, we just quit the tour.

From where we were, we decided to head back into the downtown Lancaster area, but of course every thing was closed, except the Amtrak station.  The station was very old, the original built in 1929, still with no air conditioning.  We hung around for about an hour, waiting on a train to come in.  The train was really a sleek train and about 30 people boarded headed for Philadelphia. We had seen one yesterday out in the country running about 90-100 mph.

I forgot to mention that incident in yesterday's journal.  We were following a buggy as we approached a railroad crossing.  Donna stopped a foot or 2 from the first of two tracks and past the crossing arm.  I had heard a train in the area earlier, and knew they hauled butt through the country side.  Donna was waiting fro the buggy to get across the two tracks when I noticed the lights on the opposite side were blinking.  I yelled to her to "Back Up", just as I saw the crossing arm going down on the opposite side.

She gunned it backwards, and just missed getting hit by the crossing arm. We had gotten behind he crossing arm, and sat there maybe 5 to 10 seconds when that sucker came thru at what seemed like 100mph.  We probably could have made it across, but who knows.

Anyway, after going downtown we went to the Hershey gardens, just outside Lancaster. Some really nice plantings, not very big, but very nice.

We later visited a quilt shop called Miller's with some absolutely beautiful quilts, one of which was over $2600.  WOW!

We then headed further east into the Amish farmland and saw some of the largest and best looking farms that we have seen so far.

All during the morning, as we drove around, we saw no buggies on the road, since they were in their church meetings in private homes from 8 to 12, then they have lunch at the home after that.

Starting about 3pm we started see lots of buggies on the road, many of which were young folks.  We even ran into a large groups of teens, mostly boys, and a few girls having a volley ball game.  Their horses were all un-hooked and tied to a feeding trough.

We returned to the campground about 6:30, had a snack and played our 42 game.  The guys won again by 3-1.  For the first time, Mac didn't lose the "Dominoes Back In The Box" game.

We talked to David and Kim tonight, all are doing well.  Courtney had here first trip "Out to Eat" at Joe's Crab Shack.  David said she slept most of the time, but woke up and was really fascinated by the Shark hanging above her.

We talked to Scott, Shelley, and Austin tonight.  Scott was gone when we first called, but Austin got on the phone with me, saying Nonna! Nonna!  He told Donna that Parker came today and they "payed" and "Big Fish".  Scott called later, talked to everybody, likes his job so far, and is working on a 'cable fence' for the front pasture.

Our plans for tomorrow are to go to Hershey to tour the Chocolate Factory, and maybe other sights.  Then we will leave Lancaster on Tuesday morning and go to Atlantic City.

Monday, August 26, 2002

We left about 8:30 this am to go to Hershey, Pa to see the Hershey Chocolate Factory.  Very nice Visitor's Center with a train ride to view various depictions of candy making process, not the actual process itself.  Donna and I also took a trolley ride around town to view the sights.  Not the best way to see, the windows were small, and did not open.  But the guy and gal conducting the tour were quite informative and entertaining.

Returning to Lancaster by a different route, we had lunch at Brickville, and old crossroads.  The on down the road to Litits, a really neat old town.  I think this town must have more old and quaint old homes, walk-ups, and townhouses than even Key West.  Not much shopping activity downtown, and not a little lot of people, except for the traffic.  This was really a neat place.

Then it was back the the back country, arriving back at camp about 4:30.  Donna went to wash linens, water shortage here, the campground laundry is closed, and we were asked not to use our own washer in the motorhome.

While Donna is gone, I am watching the news, and there is a report that Nestle, a Swiss company wants to buy the Hershey company for $12 Billion, which explains all the 'protest signs' that we saw in Hershey.

The town (city) of Hershey is the classic 'company town'.  A school there for under privileged kids in K thru College.  They live in group homes 13 per home, with over 120 homes, all paid for by the Hershey Trust.  All work, study, bible study, and living classes are based on the Mennonite belief.

The Trust recently donated $115 million to the public schools for new construction. 

It now about pm, Donna is still gone, but the 42 game will be starting as soon as she gets back.  While we were waiting for Donna, I noticed some folks inflating a hot air balloon over on one side of the campground.  I managed a few pictures, but they left just as Donna returned, and she was very disappointed that she missed getting a ride. 

Mac and Lena came over, and after 4 games we were tied 2-2.  The playoff game went to Donna and Lena.  I lost the 'Boxing Game'!!

Tuesday, August 27, 2002

We left Lancaster about 7:30 this morning headed for Atlantic City.  Rather than going through Philadelphia, with mostly Interstate Highways, we decided to go by way of Wilmington, DE on US highways, most of which were two-lane with lots of little towns to go through.  We were going only about 110 miles, maybe 40 miles shorter this way, but probably took a little longer.  We arrived just outside Atlantic City about 10:30 or so.

The park we are in, Shady Pine in Aberson, is very tight with 75% or more permanent folks.  We had a tough time with a straight-in back in site, with a real narrow drive.

This afternoon we took the Parkway, south to Cape May, visited the lighthouse there, and drove through several little towns on the way back right along the coast.  Lots of people for miles and lots of new developments.

We got back on the Parkway coming home, and found there was no EXIT at the highway we wanted to get on.  We had to drive about 10 miles to the next exit to get back to where we wanted to be.  Our bad luck turned out to be good luck since it put us right in Port Republic, where some of Mac's ancestors are buried.  We visited the cemetery and church.

We also came upon a really neat area in Smithville, lots of little unique shops and a BIG duck/goose pond. Literally 100's of Canadian geese in residence.  In fact as we approached the village, about 40 or so ducks were walking across the road, going back to the pond.  These were white ducks, or geese, not Canadian geese. 

The ladies won the 42 game tonight, 3-1.

Wednesday, August 28, 2002

I slept pretty late this morning (7am) and Donna didn't get up until after 8am.  I was sitting at the outside table having coffee when a guy named Jim came over.  He was in a Newmar Mountain Aire, and was from Orlando, Florida.  He gave me some good information about the outer banks of NC and a good route to get to that area.

We left for downtown Atlantic City about 9am, just a short drive. We need gas, but only full service here in Absecon.  We got to Atlantic City and couldn't find any stations, so we headed back toward Absecon, with warning light flashing, and found a station right before leaving Atlantic City.

We drove south through a couple of adjoining towns, then back to the Sands to park.  We parked in a lot, then walked north on the Boardwalk to Trump's Taj Mahal.  Very nice casino, in which we made a very small contribution to Trump's dwindling fortunes.

We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Boardwalk, which was very good food, and not real expensive.  We then bought a set of champagne glasses for Cathy at the office at a really nice gift shop, then headed back to the 'cute little truck'.

Driving back to camp, we decided to go back to Smithville area again.  A lot of really neat shops there, at least according to Donna and Lena.  Mac and I sat on a bench and watched the geese, and kids, and other people.  People watching is one of my favorite past-times.

While I was gone to the bathroom, a lady sat down on the bench with Mac.  Of course he had struck up a conversation and was talking to her when I got back.  So I say to her: "Maam, if this man is bothering you, I will be glad to call security".  We all got a big laugh.

Back to the camp, the guys won the 42 game by 3-1. We had the big awning out, as there was a slight drizzle.  Its now 11pm and raining pretty hard.  Time for bed.

Thursday, August 29, 2002

We both woke up about 6:30 to a steady rain, so we put off all the outside departure work as long as we could.  Finally we got out in the rain to dump tanks, and disconnect everything.  Of course, jusat as we finished, the rain quit.

We left Absecon about 8:30 to the Atlantic City Parkway toward Philadelphia, the across the Delaware Memorial Bridge into Wilmington, DE, then south on Hwy 1 & 13 almost to the Chesapeake Bridge/Tunnel.  Got to the campground about 3:30.  Its big, expensive and fairly nice, but not great.  Cherrystone Resort is the name, sites are not very improved, but lots of amenities, particularly for the kids, 3 pools, tennis, mini-golf, paddle boats and much more. We only traveled about 190 miles today, made several stops, and were in no hurry.

Plans are to go to Fredericksburg, Va tomorrow and surprise Butch Wimmer, and stay a couple of days sight-seeing the Fredericksburg area

Friday, August 30, 2002

What a day today was!  We didn't leave Cheriton, Va (Cherrystone Resort) until nearly 9am.  We thought we would have a 3 hr or so drive, based on Donna's mileage calculation of 140 miles. The 140 miles turned out to be more like 200.

Our first experience was the Bridge/Tunnel across & under the Chesapeake Bay toward Norfolk - 3 bridges & 2 tunnels.  Actually, the bridges were quite wide, with wide shoulder and many emergency pull-outs.  Was also a dual bridge, so was like a divided 4-lane highway.

Both north and south bound traffic, however, shared the 2 tunnels.  The tunnels were pretty narrow and only like 13'6" high.  We had a couple of feet clearance, but, some of the 18 wheelers seemed to be clearing us by only inches.

Off the bridge we were in Newport News, and they had to go through another bridge/tunnel into Hampton going north toward Fredericksburg.

We headed north on VA-17, which was a 4-lane highway, but went right through a lot of towns.  We spotted 2 Super Wal-Marts, but both times we were in the wrong lane, and it was too difficult to turn around.

In Tappahannock, Donna was driving while I napped, and she just whipped right into the Super Wal-Mart.  We did a little grocery shopping, a couple items for the coach, and then back on the road.

We arrived at the KOA in Fredericksburg about 2pm or so.  Hurriedly set up, because we wanted to see if we could locate Butch Wimmer.  We took off for the Visitor's Center downtown, talked to the ladies there, who had not seen him today.  I should explain that Butch owns and operates the Tourist Trolley in Fredericksburg and the tour starts at the downtown visitor's center.  We also talked to one of the drivers, who also had not seen him all day.  We got directions, went to his home, not at home.  We went back to the Visitor's Center, and Donna got his cell phone number from the ladies.

We actually got him on his cell phone, and made arrangements to meet he and his wife Nancy for dinner.  What a great place he took us.  I had Mahi Mahi, Donna and Butch had prime rib, not sure what Nancy had.  Everything was fantastic.

It had been about 10-12 years since we had seen or even talked to Butch.  Bringing everybody up to date on our live, was really fun. Butch had closed his Help-U-Sell real estate office in 1993 and started the Trolley Tour for visitor's in old downtown Fredericksburg.  He did everything himself for the first few months - 4 tours a day, 7 days a week, working his butt off.

He now has 3 Trolleys and one mini-van, and several driver/guides. He does a lot of private events, weddings, special groups tours, and 'Pub Crawls'.  he has been very successful, and we are proud for him.

No 42 game tonight.

Saturday, August 31, 2002

Another great day today!  I was up about 7 and Donna finally rolled out about 8:30.  I didn't see any movement from Mac and Lena by 9, so I knocked.  Mac was shaving, Lena not dressed yet.  Told them we needed to leave by 9:30.

We are meeting Butch at the Trolley office at 10.  Their first tour is at 10:30.  Our driver was Mark and he was excellent. Very enthusiastic about the tour, even a little emotional at times when talking about events of the Civil War that took place here.

It was lunch time when we got back and Butch took us to a little sandwich shop - small, but excellent food.  He then guided us to some shops, and took Donna and Lean into a downtown B & B.

Mac and Butch, both being Masons, really hit it off. Mac said the Trolley tour was the best tour he had ever had. He really did enjoy it.

Butch had to leave us shortly after 2 to do a wedding.  He was picking up the wedding party at the church, taking them through Old Town to wave and greet folks, then to the reception at the country club.  Right before he left, he took us to the "George Washington Masonic Museum", which Mac really wanted to see.  Unfortunately it was closed.

While we were waiting to greet the wedding party, a Mr Pierce stopped and talked to us.  He is the director of the Monroe Museum, gave us passes, which we didn't get a chance to use.  Among other things, the desk on which Monroe wrote the Monroe Doctrine is on display.

After Butch brought the wedding party through town, we went to Carl's for ice cream.  There were 20-30 folks in line at that time. Then it was back to the campground for some Popeye's chicken and our regular game of 42.  The men won 5-1