VIRGINIA TO KENTUCKY - Sept. 3 to Sept. 26

Our last update had us bidding farewell to Reston VA and the Mossoffs. We now are at Heartland RV Park in Campbellsville, Kentucky working at an Amazon.Com fulfillment warehouse. Our schedule hasn’t given us as much time as we expected for working on our updates and other leisure activities. Most of our off-time is consumed by catching up on our sleep, eating, and household chores. More about Amazon.Com later.

FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL SITE

Our first destination after leaving VA was the Flight 93 National Memorial Site near Shanksville, PA. We found ourselves on another section of the Lincoln Highway; this time going through a scenic mountain area called the Laurel Highlands.

Museum at Flight 93 Memorial Site

Presently, a temporary museum is set up in the old mining shack that was used for the collection and investigation of bodies and debris evidence. Inside there are some history boards and a small display of tokens left on the fences by the first visitors. There also is a place to write your sentiments about your visit or about the 911 attack. It was moving to read the new messages as they remain strong and deeply felt even nine years after the attack. Local residents volunteer to man the site so you hear their stories as well. The crash site now covered by fill, is still under construction and from the design plans will look totally different from what we saw.

PITTSBURGH

We were delighted to find our stop in Pittsburgh, a city that we had never visited, so interesting. The city at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers makes a striking picture from high atop the opposing steep banks of Mount Washington where two remaining funiculars still take citizens up and down.

Coming through the Fort Pitt Tunnel from the suburbs, Pittsburgh suddenly bursts into view, surely a stunning sight at night. As we entered the city it was immediately evident that there were a multitude of bridges here (not surprisingly, almost all of them were made of steel). On the Just Ducky tour we passed some of the many old and new architecturally important buildings that cluster around the area that once was a kind of Wall Street for oil and gas investment interests. The tour guide told us that Pittsburgh had more bridges than any other city in the world, four hundred and something (can’t remember the exact number). On the river we could see the influence of Carnegie and Heinz on the signs for the major attractions lining the shore.

Carnegie Science Center and Heinz Stadium

We stopped to see the wonderful stained glass windows in the Heinz Memorial Chapel on the U of Pitt campus after having Pittsburgh’s version of a steak and cheese sandwich in Little Italy.

Courage was theme of this window

We had tried eating in the trendy historic market area known as The Strip but it was so abuzz with activity that there was not a parking space to be found, as well as lines out front of most of the restaurants. Driving through we saw all kinds of retailers, seafood and produce merchants, specialty shops and sidewalk vendors.

OHIO

Our self-guided tour of the capitol building in Columbus began in The Crypt or basement and then was mostly spent opening the warren of doors connecting the 1901 Judiciary Annex with the 1861 Statehouse trying to find the right doors leading to rooms we wished to see. When found, those rooms were locked and any openings looking in were covered up. The rotunda was being used for a wedding. We don’t have much to remember about this capitol.

Replica of the Nina in a pleasant park along the river

Our next stop was the birthplace of American aviation, Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the Wright Brothers, the inventors of powered, heavier-than-air, human controlled flight, other aviation milestones occurred here; the first military airfield, the first emergency parachute jump and new technology tested at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
We chose to tour the National Museum of the Air Force and the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center from the listing of aviation places one can visit in the area. We took the special tour including 4 Presidential planes plus some experimental planes, never heard of or seen by the public. Kennedy’s plane was the first to be called “Air Force One’’. The earlier planes were given names such as Roosevelt’s “Columbine” or Truman’s “Independence”.

Our next stop was in the “Norman Rockwell” little town of Grand Rapids, Ohio to visit Mike’s niece and nephew, Tim and Tracey. We were invited to park on Tracey’s ranch property. The property abuts a canal towpath along the Maumee River which we walked one morning. Donna spotted chestnuts not often found anymore. If we walked further we would have reached the landing where one can still take a boat ride through the locks as once much river traffic did. There was a whirlwind of activity with Tracey’s 3 children, Evan (8), Claire (11) and Blake (12). They had to be picked up from school, to get to and from sport games, practice and riding lessons, and to attend the first junior-high school dance. There was also Tim’s 10-month old, perpetual motion, son Cole to be tended to in the mix.

John Schaff Sr and Jr, Blake and dogs getting breakfast ready

We learned about horse care and horse business with a visit to the riding stable owned and operated by Leslie, Tim’s wife. We learned the difference between hay and straw, between a paint and a pinto. Later at Tracey’s, a newly-purchased horse arrived with a severe head cut so there was an unanticipated vet’s visit and an overnight medication vigil for Tracey. Such is the life for horse or livestock owners.

Tim has one of the best jobs in the world. He is a corporate pilot and ferries the company brass all over the country in a 2010 King Air 350. He is also responsible for seeing to the maintenance and repair of the plane. They had just completed some avionics repairs and Tim wanted to take it up for a test flight. It was a special treat for Mike to be invited to go along. Mike was amazed at how much avionics has changed since his flying days. No more little round dials. The panel is made up of several LCD displays that provide all of the data necessary to fly the plane. Tim made a couple of ILS (instrument landing system) approaches which allowed Mike to observe the panel displays and on-screen charts in action.

INDIANA

We then headed to Goshen, Indiana where we would meet up with the Brennemans to attend the 50th Escapee Escapade. The first get-together or escapade of Escapees took place in 1979 in Bakersfield, CA with Kay and Joe Peterson at the helm offering advice and support for those interested in full-time RVing.

Donna with Joe and Kay Peterson

The Petersons and the Escapee Club have been greatly responsible for the respect and acknowledgement that full-timing now has as an admirable life style by the RV industry and public alike. We ourselves have learned and been helped by this RV club and its members. So many people we meet are fascinated when we tell them about this lifestyle. Most say they would love to do it themselves but this lifestyle is not for everybody. Mike’s usual advice to those contemplating life on the road consists of two essential preconditions - you have to be able to fix things in the RV yourself, and you have to get along with your spouse. Of course, there are many other considerations but those are essential.

It was a beautiful time of year to be in this area. The Amish/Mennonite farms seen in the countryside gave a sense of well-being and orderliness. The flower gardens, barns, quilts, horse buggies, produce and baked-goods stands and even laundry out drying on lines are the magnets that attract lots of visitors here and to other Amish conclaves.

Staying one night in the local Wal-Mart parking lot we got to see the Amish carriages and carts more closely. Wal-Mart has provided a barn in their parking lot with water and shelter for the horses, plus shovels and barrels for the horses’ droppings. The carriages symbolize Amish values of separation, simplicity, tradition and community. A speaker from the Menno-Hof Center in Shipshewanna told us the interesting history of the Anabaptists and the differences between the Amish and Mennonites.

As we had some time to spare before we were due at Amazon.Com we decided to try camping at Lake Patoka. Carmen, our GPS voice, took us there by a narrow, winding, desolate county road. From there we took some car trips. On one of the hottest days ever, we went to visit Santa Claus; that is Santa Claus, Indiana. The holiday décor throughout the town looked a bit bedraggled as we did in the heat.

The museum offered the story that back in 1856 when the town was founded, the founders wanted to have the name Santa Ana but was refused as it already had been taken. Therefore, they opted for something close, Santa Claus. There was a scrapbook someone had made with post marks from all the places they had visited with holiday names. How many can you name?

Another day found us at the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial near Gentryville. The park tells how Abe‘s boyhood here, from the age 7 to 21, made him into the man he became.

Washington Panel "The Years of Command"

On the memorial building are 5 sculptured panels that depict the steps in Lincoln’s life that brought him from a cabin to the White House and 9 inscriptions illustrating some of Lincoln’s beliefs. A beautiful cabinet stood amid the other crude furnishings inside the farm cabin. The docent said that Tom Lincoln made a decent income from making furniture for others and that probably the inside of the Lincoln home was much more refined than the way it was being depicted.

Tom Lincoln’s Farm

On the way back from viewing the grand Ohio River we passed the Saint Meinrad Archabbey. The church, sited atop a hill, looked very impressive so we stopped to have a look.

The primary work of the Abbey is the education of future leaders of the Catholic Church. The other works at Saint Meinrad are the retail operations of the Abby Press and Abby Caskets. The church was constructed by the monks and townspeople using the sandstone quarried on the property. The quality of the stone work, art and stained glass were a surprise find in such a remote place. The monks’ work must bring in much revenue.

Crossing the Ohio from Indiana into Kentucky

KENTUCKY

Our next destination was Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. As we approached the entrance on another 100 degree day, we were treated to some of the natural air-conditioning coming out from the cave. We took the Historical Tour which ended in a spiral staircase going up 155 steps with an elevation change of 300’. Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave in the world with 325 miles of mapped passageways and is one of the oldest tourist destinations in the U.S. Like Carlsbad Caverns, early exploration of the caves was done by young men eager for adventure, unmindful of danger, and equipped with primitive self-made ladders and lighting. We enjoyed Carlsbad Caverns much more because the enormous rooms and decorations make it seem like you are visiting a fairy-world. Also, the ways in and out are much easier for us seasoned citizens.
The friendly new owners of the Singing Hills RV Park, Beth and Eldon Brown, gave us a recommendation for a lunch stop in Glascow which was on our route to Campbellsville. Beth is writing a children’s book about the animal critters that live in the park, 6 geese, a cat and a lizard. If her book is as entertaining as her conversation, it should be a success. Before lunch at A Little Taste of Texas, we roamed the 30,000 square feet of artifacts that tell the story of the people and events that makeup the “Barrens” at the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center. When commenting on the derogatory name of Barren, we got two explanations of why the county and area are so named. In 1784 the name was applied on an early map of Kentucky denoting this South Central Kentucky area as a vast treeless, grass-covered prairie with little water. The other view was that no one could come up with a name that depicted something about this area, so they simply said it was barren. Long-time residents have been interviewed for some interesting oral history exhibits. They also have contributed possessions that are used in the exhibits that include a 40’s kitchen, a one-room schoolhouse and a log cabin.

Rural Kitchens before electricity was readily available

NORTHERN VIRGINIA, August 1 - September 3

On August 1st we reported for our one month camp host position at Lake Fairfax County Park. From this park it is an easy drive to Amy and Adam’s home in Oakton. So we now would have a free spot with all the amenities while visiting with them. The park was heavily used by locals on the weekends; especially the Water Mine and the group- reserved picnic sites at the front of the park. A mile back at the campground it was quieter. Our job required us to be “on duty” at our site from 8 to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday nights and to clean the camp bathhouse/restroom on Tuesday thru Thursday, which rarely took us an hour to do. Samantha thought it very funny when she first heard Mike say, “ It was time to go on duty”. Evidently she associated “duty” with what their dog, Toby, went outside to do. Sam would delight in asking Donna (Grandee) to ask Grando if he was on duty so she could hear him say the “duty” word.

Getting ready for an evening fire at Lake Fairfax

The campground offered Samantha lots of things to do when visiting or over-nighting with us. She liked to walk and visit the other camp sites, especially those with kids and tents. She got herself invited to go inside and jump on inflatable beds and play flashlight tag. She was disappointed when her new friends were not there the next time she came. Mike even got his bathing suit on to swim ‘The River” on some hot sultry days when we took Samantha to the Water Mine. It was a treat to sit in the cool water under a shade umbrella watching Samantha playing and experimenting sliding on her back, bottom and stomach into the water. The water park offered her and us more things to do than just swimming.

We had lots of time off to explore. Driving to Dover, Delaware, we crossed the Chesapeake Bay at Annapolis over a long bridge, getting a glimpse of all the boating that goes on there. We of course had to stop to get some crab cakes. Delaware is a small state and the part we drove through was mostly farm field with little population. We were surprised at all the tours and talks offered at Dover’s Heritage Park and its resemblance to
parts of Boston and Philadelphia. Dover is not someplace one hears much about.

We were about to learn much about Delaware’s role in the founding of our country not learned in our schoolbooks in the very thorough tours given in both the new and old State Houses. In 1682 Delaware came under William Penn’s providence when King Charles II gave it to Pennsylvania in order to give Penn‘s colony land access to the ocean. In 1776 Delaware declared itself free from British rule and established a state government separate from Pennsylvania.It was here in Dover at the Golden Fleece Tavern that Delaware delegates were the first to sign and ratify unanimously the United States Constitution, thus earning Delaware the moniker, “The First State”. One of the Bicentennial murals in the Legislative Hall ( as the new State House is called) depicted what we thought to be Paul Revere‘s ride. “Everybody in Delaware knows Caesar Rodney’s name and fame”, chided the docent at our mistake. In 1776 Caesar Rodney rode to Philadelphia to break a tie vote on Independence. We also were informed that the chicken seen atop the steeple of the Old State House is no ordinary chicken but is a Blue Hen and acts as a memorial to the courageous Delaware regiments in the Continental Army. The men became known as the “Blue Hens’ Chicks” after the bluish brave fighting cocks that they often carried with them for amusement during lulls in battle.

The OLD STATE HOUSE on DOVER GREEN

On another day trip to Annapolis we spent most of our time at the Naval Academy as the Maryland State House was under renovation and one could only see posters of what was or will be seen someday. We saw the state flag everywhere after being told its history and some tall tales by the State House docent.

Maryland's State Flag

Maryland's State House

Annapolis has trolleys and other vehicles to take you where you want to go. We parked at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium to avoid finding parking in the crowded historic and marina areas downtown. Annapolis attracts many visitors as it offers lots of shops, restaurants and historic places all in a beautiful setting. The Academy tour we took was focused on explaining how and where the Academy’s mission of developing the midshipmen morally, mentally and physically is accomplished. Of course they pointed out all the famous people who were graduates of the Academy. The fact that all 4,400 midshipmen are housed in one gigantic dorm was impressive.

Bancroft Hall
We also learned interesting lore and traditions at the Academy; how Bill, the goat became the Mascot and how the Tecumseh statue often appears in different disguises.

Donna and Amy went to the Washington National Cathedral for a gargoyle tour given by a friend of Amy and Adam. The gargoyles were added sometime during the 83 years it took for the Cathedral to be built as a way of raising money. Donors were allowed to choose the design of their gargoyle so there are many unusual and whimsical ones with interesting stories for their design; Darth Vader being the best known and looked-for. One has to use binoculars to see their details on the upper facade, as gargoyles are actually used as downspouts to protect the stone walls from water damage. the lecture with photos prior to touring outside was essential. The cathedral offers a variety of free self-guided tours for those who admire gothic architecture, impressive stone carvings, stained glass windows and medieval gardens. It attracted many local families looking for a place to go on a not-so-nice weather Sunday.

Very fanciful decorations - gargoyles too high to photograph

Creation of Humankind - one of the 3 carved creation -tympana over the 3 massive cathedral doors
Our visit ended with Samantha’s 4th birthday. Adam arranged the fun party with Sam’s friends at Tumbles, a children’s gym. The kids enjoyed all the games and activities presented, especially experiencing “flying” on a zip line as a finale.

Pizza Time

I have to blow all these out?
The Birthday girl gets to fly first

We had a family party on Sam’s real birthday, September 2nd. Sam decided four candles was not enough to fill her Wishasaurus (The little Princess cake was not made for candles). It was hard to convince her just to open her presents and not play with them, so opening took awhile. Then, it was time to say our good byes.

Sam with her Princess cake, Brownie and Wishasaurus

I'll start with the smallest!

The MOSSOFF FAMILY

MAINE, VERMONT and UPSTATE NEW YORK JULY 8 thru JULY 28

The lure of visiting two more state capitals and of seeing the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe, EARTHA, made us settle on our path for the rest of the month before our commitment as camp hosts in August.
Eartha was designed and built by employees of De Lorme, a computer map-making company in the little town of Yarmouth, Maine. The 140 gigabytes of map data needed for Eartha to be developed was obtained from satellite imagery, shaded relief, colored bathymetry (ocean-depth data) and information about road networks and urban areas. Most people are probably impressed by the sight of oceans and continents rotating past them but Eartha also gives one a feeling of the awesome nature of our beautiful, blue planet, Earth.

Along with the better known Maine cities of Portland, Augusta, Bangor and Bar Harbor we experienced the smaller towns of Searsport, Belfast, Bucksport and Ellsworth. Travelers to Maine are told to expect to see a rocky, rugged, pine-rimmed coastline punctuated with inlets, islands, harbors and coves; to spot colorful fishing boats and windjammers quietly moored or briskly afloat; to view majestic sea captains’ mansions in towns that evoke the spirit of their maritime roots; to sit under a shady umbrella on a pier while lunching on delicious local seafood. We managed to see and do all these and more.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge at Bucksport with an observatory at the top of the 42’ tower.
Along the Shore Trail in Bar Harbor

View from fishing pier in Freeport

Along the road near Ellsworth

Victorian building in downtown Belfast


We vied at spotting the “MAINE-LY ____ ”or “MAINLY MAINE _____ ”signs that are
popular on shops. There must be a Maine tradition that towns display the American flag all summer. No town or township matched the number we saw in Dorrington. The flags, attached to every other telephone pole, went on and on for miles, even where there were no longer any homes or businesses.

The Maine State House in Augusta was designed by Charles Bullfinch and closely resembles the Massachusetts State House but is built from local granite. The Maine State Museum was located in the same complex as the State House and was well worth the $2 admission. The social history on the top floor was especially interesting.

Mike remembering having a car just like this.

Our stay in the hamlet of Newburgh enabled us to take many day trips around the Bangor/Arcadia area. By invitation our RV was parked on the Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm. Our hosts were owners Jim and Norma Corliss. We were treated to fresh raspberries from their garden each morning. Jim is a retired air traffic controller and a private pilot who lands in the grass fields when he flies about Maine. He and Mike talked about their adventures. Jim was the president of the National Christmas Tree Growers Association for several years so he got to deliver a couple of the National Christmas Trees to the White House. On one visit, George W. Bush invited Jim and Norma into the Oval Office for a visit and photo op (a picture he proudly displays). Jim remembers commenting that never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would be in the Oval Office. Bush quickly responded “me too”.

We encountered many logging trucks as we followed the Androscoggin River into New Hampshire. We still find ourselves wondering at all the rivers, lakes and water we see. Guess that is because we lived in dry and arid Los Angeles so long. We set out to drive to the top of Mount Washington, the highest point in NH at 6,288 feet, but decided the visibility was not going to be good enough for such a trek. Mike was amazed to learn about the record wind velocities recorded at the top of what is not a very tall peak.

The scenery changed as we headed into Vermont and approached the Montpelier region. The forest opened up to lush, rolling, green pastures dotted with barns. We did not see many cows as they were probably inside the barns keeping cool. We were told on the tour at the Cabot Creamery, cows are delicate creatures. Vermont dairies provide milk for the famous ice-cream and cheeses made here.

Vermont’s State House is located in the smallest capital city in America, Montpelier. The intimate size and the exacting restoration of its interior made it one of the jewels among the state capitols we’ve visited. Montpelier’s downtown has a very casual, hippy-like atmosphere. Donna’s birthday was celebrated at Rainbow Sweets Bakery and Café in Marshfield. The owner gives a witty and unique spiel that acts as the menu. Most items come from the huge black oven that dominates the café’s space. One of the signature pastries is a duo of warm caramel encrusted balls filled with custard, sitting on a whipped cream covered pastry shell. The owners have been known to call this “balled” desert after tough guys, Sean Connery, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt.

Nestled between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York is Lake Champlain. It is the 6th largest freshwater lake in the U.S. We crossed the lake by way of the string of Lake Champlain Islands from Burlington, VT. The Chazy Reef, the oldest known fossil (coral) reef in the world, is near these islands. The road took us by fields of corn and hay and very low-key villages with no fast-food or brand-name stores to be seen. Boating and biking seem to be the main attractions for vacationers here. After crossing the bridge to Rouses Point, NY, we came within eyesight of the Canadian border.

From our campsite along the AuSable River we set out to explore some of the vast Adirondack Park. Lake Placid was our destination but a wrong turn at Au Sable Forks took us over some high country to Saranac Lake instead. Finding our way back to Lake Placid we explored some of the shops on its Main Street with hordes of other tourists looking to do the same thing --- not very placid. A stop at the Wilmington Flume Area enabled us to have a brief experience of walking high above the rush of water that still is carving its way through the stone underground. Out of the High Peaks the AuSable River is joined by numerous streams as it spreads out and empties into Lake Champlain. The river was once the principle highway and power source which helped the towns along it to grow. But, as late as 1999, tremendous floods caused by ice jams in the river’s bends, have wiped out bridges and businesses in this area.

From Mount Defiance we had a great view of Fort Ticonderoga and its strategic location above the narrow choke-point between Lake Champlain and Lake George. No wonder this fort saw many battles for control by French, British and American forces.
In the town of Ticonderoga one can view the system of dams, falls, and canals along the La Chute River that were built to support the mills operating there. One of the mills was the American Graphite or Lead Mill which made plumbago from a nearby graphite mine. This plumbago was used in the manufacture of lead pencils by the Dixon Company of Jersey City, NJ. To sell more of its pencils, the historical exploits of the Green Mountain Boys at Fort Ticonderoga were used in Dixon’s advertising promotions thus linking the two names, Dixon-Ticonderoga. The small Ticonderoga Heritage Museum offered excellent displays and information about this and the pulp and paper industry so important in the town’s industrial history.

During a stay in the outskirts of Schenectady, we drove through Amsterdam into the southern area of the Adirondack Park around Speculator. A later trip to Albany and the New York State Museum explained the cool and misty nature of that Adirondack wilderness. The World Trade Center exhibit showed how the distinctive steel pieces were interwoven to build the internal skeleton for the Twin Towers. The jagged silhouettes of those pieces are what make photos of the aftermath of 911 so poignant.

Passing through the Susquehanna Heritage Area, we got to see several historic wood carousels. The word carousel originally referred to the tournament in which knights participated. The knights would train for spearing contests by lancing rings as they rode wooden horses that revolved around a center pole. These training devices also became known as carousels. Here in the greater Binghamton area there are six of the 19 remaining Allan Herschell wood-carved carousels known to be operational. George F. Johnson, a local shoe manufacturer, along with his family donated them to the community because he felt carousels provided a recreation that contributes to a happy life. Along with the joy of riding a “jumper” and hearing the Wurlitzer Band Organ music, carousels are works of art, each offering unique details to discover.





Up at the Kopernik Observatory in nearby Vestal, there was a hubbub of activity. This observatory is dedicated to introduce young people in grades 1-12 to astronomy. We were shown around by the manager of programs at the center. She, a mathematics major who wants to teach at the high-school level, was enthusiastic about being able to work with the 1st and 2nd graders who were there that day and was proud of the spirit of the people who work to have such a resource in their community. The Polish Cultural Society of Binghamton provides the funding for this observatory that started as one man’s interest and obsession. This was quite a different experience from our visits to the noted Kitt Peak, McDonald Mountain and Palomar Observatories.

In the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania we had nearly reached our August destination in Virginia. A resident in the town of Tamaqua ,where we were staying for the night, said we should go to Jim Thorpe if we were looking for an interesting place to visit. The town’s location on the banks of the Lehigh River between several steep mountains has kept it the “best preserved 19th century town in Pennsylvania”. Coal and the Lehigh Railroad brought prosperity and tourism to this place called the “Switzerland of America”.
I9 of the country’s 26 millionaires at that time had a residence here.
The town’s original name of Mauch Chunk was changed in 1954 to Jim Thorpe when his widow brought his remains from Oklahoma to be enshrined there. The citizens thought the name change might help revive the lively and thriving spirit of the town.