Bells & Dogs

Susquehanna Trail Campground
Oeonota, New York

Before leaving Kutztown we went into Allentown to the Liberty Bell Museum and the Mack Truck Museum.

The Liberty Bell Museum is in the basement of the historic church were the real Liberty Bell was hidden under the floorboards of that church during the Revolutionary War.  It was British policy to melt down any church bells or any other large bells they could find because bells were used to transmit signals over 40 miles.  As an added bonus for the British, the melted bells were recycled into cannons or shot.  It was inconceivable to me how they could move and hide something that large and heavy without being  discovered.

Dave wanted to see the trucks at the Mack Truck Museum but I was more interested in the mascot. 






 

We had a very knowledgeable tour guide who told us all about the history of the company and many of the different models of Mack Trucks.

The Evil Knievel customized Mack truck was on temporary loan to the museum.  I think Dave and I were the only people in the group old enough to remember Evil Knievel's attempted jump over the Snake River in Idaho.










This is another fine example of the Mack line was this truck which had been modified by the film industry for the movie "Transformers 3".











 
 Think you could bully your way into a parking place if you drove this vehicle?











At the end of the tour I asked about the bulldog mascot.

It seems that the only bulldogs the company has are in the gift shop.  They come in two models - barking and barkless.  Budweiser has the Clydesdales and Bush Beans has Duke, but this company RENTS a dog when one is needed for a publicity shot or special appearance. My disillusionment was difficult to contain.

Beer and Night Shows

June 19, 2016

Pine Hill RV Park
Kutztown, Pennsylvania

After spending a few days in the Lancaster area visiting friends and sightseeing at Valley Forge, we moved north to Kutztown, PA.  We had forgotten how narrow some of the roads are in this part of the country, so driving with an RV can be rather adventurous.

 We couldn't be in this area without going to the Yuengling Brewery.  This facility is located in the downtown area of Pottsville with very hilly and narrow streets.

After finding a parking place at the bottom of  a large hill, we made the walk up to the brewery.  We got there about five minutes before the last tour started.  I had worn my sandals like I usually do and remembered closed toe shoes are required.  There was no way I could have made my way back to the truck and climbed that hill a second time in five minutes, so I elected to rent the required footwear.   Obviously, one size does not fit all.  These shoes were so large, my toes only came up to the laces with most of the shoe extending past my toes.  I kept thinking "clown shoes" while reminding myself how much safer I was in proper footwear.

 I think the liability department of this company must have nightmares about these tours because visitors are taken into the original part of the brewery which was not changed for tours.  Beer was originally fermented in tunnels hand dug by area coal miners.  Uneven wet floors and dark walls enhance the surroundings.  With much effort I made it safely down the path in my "clown shoes". 




Another stop we made was the original Roadside America.
It was very interesting, but I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for those who have not seen this wonderful attraction.  Hint - don't leave without experiencing the "Night Show".

Defying Gravity!

Hickory Hollow Campground
Rockwood, Pennsylvania

We heard the Civil War was being fought in Bedford, so we decided to check it out.  Old Bedford Village, a living history site, was having its annual reenactment this weekend.

 No matter how many times we see this, the South still loses.

On the way back to the campground we sought out a local phenomenon - Gravity Hill.  Getting there was quite an adventure.  If you make a wrong turn, there is no place to turn around.  We felt pretty gullible falling for this, but when we got there we found two other couples equally as gullible.  One couple was in a small car and the other was on a motorcycle.  We all tried it out and were amazed that each vehicle seemed to roll uphill.  I thought it must be an optical illusion but one of the other people used the level app on his phone and it showed the road went uphill.  It was interesting that all three vehicles, a car, motorcycle and truck, all went up the hill at exactly 7 mph.  I would have expected the heavier vehicle would go faster than the lighter one.  Must be other forces than physics at work here.

















I didn't think anything could top Gravity Hill but as we drove along the Lincoln Highway we saw lots of nostalgia.  Too bad the road is narrow in spots, so there was not always space to pull over and take a photo.

I just hope I don't have nightmares tonight about Gravity Hill.  I can't seem to get the theme song from Twilight Zone out of my head.

Inclines & High Water

Hickory Hollow Campground
Rockwood, Pennsylvania

The GPS sent us on an adventurous route to the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.  The road was barely wide enough for the truck with many sharp curves.  I was thinking about turning around when we came to Big Bad Ass Truck Road.  There must be a story about how that street got that name.










This was a gorgeous park but I think it must be missed by a lot of people since there were only a few people there on the weekend.  The rangers seemed lonely and were very excited to talk to visitors from Arizona.








This site commemorates a 36 mile railroad built to portage canal boats over the mountains.  The canal boats were designed in sections to fit on the rail cars.  When they reached the other side, the boats were hooked together again and continued  their trip to Pittsburgh.  Reminds me of container ships and semi trailer trucks.



The train cars were pulled up the grade, through the tunnels and down the other side by a large steam engine at the top of the mountain connected to the rail cars by a hemp rope. Needless to say there were numerous accidents when the rope broke. 














The rail bed and engine house were located in a ravine behind the visitor center.  Lovely walk.






















We also visited the Johnstown Flood National Memorial on a hill overlooking the site of the South Fork Lake and Dam.  In town we stopped at the Johnstown Flood Museum to learn about the 1899 flood.  Over 2,200 people died during this disaster.

We ended our day with a ride on the Johnstown Incline Plane.  This is the steepest (71% grade) vehicular incline in the world. It was built the year after the 1899 flood.  Do you think there was an increased demand for property above the high water line?  Love those fares - old people are FREE!

The original cars were two level structures.  The horses and wagons went on the top level and people were on the bottom level.  Would you want to ride underneath the horses?

When we got to the top a downpour started.  A wedding party was having photographs taken from the observation deck as the wind and rain hit. 

Three Model T cars used to fit in here, but we only had one vehicle with us on the trip back down.

The rain cooled things off quite a bit.  Notice the steam rising from the concrete.

I needed a bathroom stop before we drove back to the campsite.  I was a little surprised when I was handed a key and told the bathroom was outside.  Attached to the key was a piece of steel large enough to bring down a bull.  Even though this is a small community in rural Pennsylvania, they are socially very progressive.  It was a unisex bathroom.  There were four signs inside each saying "Flush everybody please".  I'm not sure if that meant everyone should flush the toilet or if all people were supposed to be flushed down the sewer.

Flight 93

Hickory Hollow Campground
Rockwood, Pennsylvania

We stopped at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA for a few days on our way to Pennsylvania.  We enjoyed visiting with Derek's family and were able to make plans to meet them in New York later this summer.

Today we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial.

It has been opened less than a year and some landscaping is still being completed.  It is quite an impressive and emotional site.










 The walkway leading to the Visitor Center traces the flight path of the plane.  The tall walls signify the altitude of the plane as it crested the hill.

The Visitor Center is situated between the walls.  The exhibits were exceptional, depicting a minute by minute account of the flight and including passenger telephone calls to their families.

All of this is on a hill overlooking the crash site.  About a half a mile down the hill is the Memorial Plaza.















The Memorial Plaza stretches the entire length of the Crash Site and Debris Field to the Wall of Names.  The Wall of Names honors the 40 passengers and crew of Flight 93.

I highly recommend visiting this site if you are ever in the area.








Tomorrow we are planning to visiting the Johnstown Flood Museum.  Seems to be a lot of tragedy in this rural area of Pennsylvania.

That's Hospitality!

Daniels "RV Park"
Churchville, Virginia

Last week we stopped to see old friends we haven't seen in about 15 years and had a wonderful visit.  Not only do they have a beautiful home, but it also comes with a RV site!  We highly recommend this RV location.  It also includes delicious meals, a personal tour guide service, pool, RV wash (3 days of heavy rain) and a gorgeous view with deer right next to the RV.  Thanks again, Walt & Sherry, for an unforgettable visit.  We'll rate this RV site as five stars!

Politics and Pioneers

Davey Crockett Birthplace State Park
Limestone, Tennessee

 This is Davey Crockett's "birthplace".










The cabin is on the site of Davey Crockett's family homestead, but it is not the actual building.  This structure was moved to the site.












The park is on the the Nolichucky River.  It looks quite peaceful, but the park is just a short distance upstream from the rapids and falls.  Evidently it is know for superb whitewater rafting. Good thing I didn't go wading.  Although it would have been very exciting to go over the falls because then I would have more to write about on my blog.








The Andrew Johnson National Historical Site in Greeneville was spread throughout the town several locations.
















Johnson was a tailor before he entered politics and his original tailor shop is inside the visitor center.  That's one way to keep it out of the weather.







The Andrew Johnson Homestead is built so close to the road, I couldn't get a photo from the front.  This is the view from the back.

Pretty nice back yard.

The Andrew Johnson National Cemetery is situated on Signal Hill, one of the highest points in the area. 









There is so much rock in the cemetery that frequently graves had to be blasted out of the ground.

According to his wishes, Andrew Johnson was buried on his favorite spot, wrapped in a flag and with a copy of the Constitution under his head.










His impeachment is covered extensively in the museum.  The impeachment trial resulted in a "not guilty" verdict by just one vote.  After his presidential term ended, he moved back to Greeneville.  He was the only president to be elected to the Senate after completing his presidential term.

It's difficult to realize that nothing much has changed in the last 150 years of politics.

As we were walking around town we came across these parking spaces.  Doesn't look like they have much business.