Day 60 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Monday June 30th, day 60 of our 2025 summer adventure. 60 days, two months since we left home... it feels like it was yesterday. I decided  to walk the Railroad Grade trail, but the bugs were out in full force!   Before I got to the trail, I had a conversation with a local resident. She watched me from the right side of the road, then she crossed the road and stared me down again!

The Railroad Grade Trail is part of the Tioga State Forest. It derives its name from the Seneca phrase "meeting of two rivers." It covers over 160,000 acres in Bradford and Tioga counties. The forest hosts the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania." Tioga features awe-inspiring views and miles of clean, cool streams, like Cedar Run and Babbs Creek and is one of eight state forests located in the PA Wilds region.

Being on the road in a Class C RV, today was the "favorite" day of all RVers without a washing machine... It was a trip to the laundromat! We have a laundromat that we have used before in Mansfield, so off we went! We occupied our time by facetiming with our friends on Charlie's iPad in the car.

Tioga-Hammond Lakes and Dam. The beauty of north-central Pennsylvania is evident at Tioga-Hammond Lakes. They are surrounded by lush forested ridges, the lakes offer recreational opportunities for all.

The project is unique in that it consists of two separate dams, one on the Tioga River and the other along Crooked Creek.  The lakes formed by both dams are joined by a gated connecting channel. Why did they create the dam project? To answer that, we need some background.

The Upper Tioga River Watershed, which encompasses 280 square miles in northcentral Pennsylvania, is part of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The Tioga River Watershed makes up the greater portion of the county. The Tioga River proper begins in Bradford County and flows westward, near Blossburg it turns northward and flows that direction until it reached the Chemung River in New York State. The Cowanesque River Starts in Potter County, flowing eastward and joining the Tioga River near Lawrenceville. As recent as the 1970’s, the Tioga River supported Class A wild brook trout populations.  Today the Tioga River from the confluence of the Fall Brook tributary can no longer support aquatic life. Why?

In the early 1800’s, coal was discovered near Blossburg.  Deep and strip mining for coal were major industries in the region through the 1980s, with mining operations ending in 1990. When deep mining began in the watershed, entries into the mines were dug from below the groundwater table.  To keep the mines from filling with water, horizontal tunnels, known as drifts, were dug to allow water to drain by gravity out of the mines.  Water entering one mine could travel for many miles downhill collecting drainage from many other mine areas along the way before discharging in large amounts from a common opening.  Many coal seams are surrounded by pyrite-laden rock.  When pyrite is exposed to air and water in the deep mine, it reacts to form sulfuric acid that further dissolves metals in the surrounding rock.  The result is known as Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) pollution.  AMD has water quality characterized by low pH, high acidity, and high dissolved metals like iron and aluminum.

The devastation of the river’s water quality is the direct result of AMD pollution.  Some of the more heavily polluted tributaries have pH levels similar to battery acid. Remarkably, the tributaries entering the Tioga River north of Blossburg do not suffer from AMD pollution.  While these tributaries help to dilute the AMD polluted waters, the pollution emanating from the upper watershed is so severe that the river cannot recover and cannot support aquatic life. The Answer was the Tioga Hammond Dam Complex. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 3 July 1958. Construction costs were more than $200,000,000. In nearly 40 years of operation the lakes have already paid for themselves in flood damage prevention. The two dams working together provide major flood control on the north branch of the Susquehanna River as far south as Wilkes-Barre, PA.

The Tioga Hammond Dam was constructed in 1978 and put into operation in 1981 as part of a flood control project.  The unnatural blue-green color that is frequently seen in Tioga Lake is due to the precipitation of aluminum which results when mine drainage begins to become neutralized by alkaline water.

The Dam complex provides some AMD remediation.  Hammond Lake impounds Crooked Creek and controls a drainage area of 122 square miles.  The water collected in Hammond Lake is alkaline and can be mixed with the polluted waters of Tioga Lake through a 2,700-foot connecting channel. Corps employees at the Tioga Hammond Dam monitor the chemistry and temperature of the lakes.  Using the connecting channel to control the amount of water released downstream from each lake, the Corps is able to control the quality of water north of the Dam thus permitting aquatic life to survive.

By the mid-60's, the Army Corps of Engineers had begun buying property in the areas that would be drowned by the new lakes, and began removing and relocating old cemeteries from the area. They also began condemning properties in the area, although in some cases, the owners were permitted to remain in their homes until a later time. It is reported that at least nine cemeteries that were moved. Most were small family cemeteries, but several were much larger, containing hundreds of graves. The Corps of Engineers recorded the names on the stone markers, and presented the list to the Wellsboro chapter of the DAR for inclusion in their records, and possible notification of next-of-kin. Just how the next-of-kin were chosen remains a mystery.

The Tioga River Watershed is home to three Army Corps of Engineers dam complexes. The Cowanesque River is home to the Cowanesque Lake. The Tioga River is home to the Tioga Dam, and Crooked Creek houses Hammond Lake. Hammond Lake has 685 surface acres of water. The project includes the Ives Run Recreation Area with a campground, boat launches and overnight mooring for campers. Fishing, picnicking, swimming, various sport fields, a volleyball court and a display garden with native trees, shrubs and flowers. Tioga Lake, with 498 surface acres of water, located just a few miles north of Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Its secluded location offers a boater's paradise and great water-skiing opportunities.

Rain came in the afternoon, so it was a quiet late afternoon and evening. Tomorrow we will travel to NY. Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 59 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Sunday June 29th, day 59 of our 2025 summer adventure. The last events of the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Festival were the bluegrass jam and the non-denominational church service. Our friends, David and Billy Lee, conducted the service. We departed the Grange Park in Centre Hall late morning. 

We decided to take PA 45 east to Route 15A. Along the route we came into Millheim. It is a historic Centre County community that for more than 150 years was the industrial center of Penns Valley. Its history has been shaped by Elk Creek, which provided power to the mills that gave the borough its name. The Millheim post office opened in 1824.  St. Luke’s Methodist Church was built in 1842; a new brick church was completed in 1886. St. John’s Lutheran was established in 1877, and the congregation built a new church in 1881.

Why are some towns in Pennsylvania called boroughs? In Pennsylvania, the term "borough" is used for a specific type of incorporated municipality, generally smaller than a city, but larger than a township. Pennsylvania boroughs are governed by the Borough Code, which outlines their structure and powers. Charlie likes this route, he said it feels like he is driving on Route 20 in NY.

While Aaronsburg has never supported a Jewish community, Aaronsburg, was founded by Aaron Levy, a Jewish land speculator and merchant, in 1786. Named after Levy, Aaronsburg is the first town in Pennsylvania, and possibly the US, founded and named after someone of Jewish descent. The town’s Jewish origins, however, remained largely unknown outside of Aaronsburg until 1949, over 150 years after it was founded. On October 23, 1949, the Aaronsburg community, with the support of Arthur Lewis, an aid to Pennsylvania Governor James Duff, hosted the “Aaronsburg Story,” a celebration of Aaronsburg’s multi-faith history and Jewish founder. Addressing ongoing religious and racial tensions within the U.S., the Aaronsburg Story served as a demonstration of tolerance among rural American community members and their willingness to interact with people of different backgrounds.

In the town of Woodward, there is Woodward Camp. It is a sleep away summer camp. It was founded in 1970 by Edward Isabelle, who was an All-American gymnast, and head gymnastics coach at Penn State in State College, PA. However, in recent years the camp is attempting to become the global leader in action sports and axed the gymnastics and cheer programs because they are not complementary to the core of action sports. At it's world-class facilities they are currently offering summer camps and weekend retreats for skateboarding, multisport, BMX, scooter, and parkour. It costs around $1,500 for a week at Camp Woodward!

On Sundays, Amish communities in Pennsylvania primarily focus on worship, family time, and visiting with other Amish families, as it is their day of rest. Amish businesses, including farms and roadside stands, are closed on Sundays, and minimal chores like feeding animals and milking cows are performed. Many Amish families attend church services, which are held in homes or sometimes barns, and travel to neighboring districts on their off Sundays. So, we saw no Amish working the fields or their laundry hanging out, but we did see a few coming home from church!

In Mifflinburg, we saw a family in their buggy and the kids were just so darn cute! I know, they don't like their picture taken, but how could I not share this one?!

In Vicksburg there was an Amish buggy that had lights that flashed off and on on the top of the buggy. I am sure that really helps at night!

We turned onto Route 15 in Lewisburg. We have been up and down Route 15 many times. So, there is not much new for me to talk about. 

Williamsport PA, home to Little League International. The first Little League Baseball World Series was played in Williamsport in 1947. Carl Stotz, a resident of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, founded Little League Baseball in 1939. He began experimenting with his idea in the summer of 1938 when he gathered his nephews, Jimmy and Major Gehron and their neighborhood friends. They tried different field dimensions over the course of the summer and played several informal games. 

The following summer Stotz felt that he was ready to establish what later became Little League Baseball. The first league in Williamsport had just three teams, each sponsored by a different business. The first teams, Jumbo Pretzel, Lycoming Dairy, and Lundy Lumber, were managed by Carl Stotz and two of his friends, George and Bert Bebble. The men, joined by their wives and another couple, formed the first-ever Little League Board of Directors. Stotz' dream of establishing a baseball league for boys to teach fair play and teamwork had come true. The first League game took place on June 6, 1939. Lundy Lumber defeated Lycoming Dairy, 23-8. Lycoming Dairy came back to claim the league championship. They, the first-half-season champions, defeated Lundy Lumber, the second-half champs, in a best-of-three season-ending series. The following year a second league was formed in Williamsport, and from there Little League Baseball grew to become an international organization of nearly 200,000 teams in every US state and over 80 countries around the world.

If you have ever traveled 15 North or South you have seen the Fry Brother’s Turkey Ranch. The restaurant was opened at the current location on Mothers’ Day in 1939 and specialized in turkey dinners at a time when turkey was a rare delicacy. World War II forced the restaurant’s temporary closing but the brothers continued raising turkeys and kept the market going, raising up to 15,000 turkeys per year for the war effort. After the war they sold the business in the Growers’ Market just three days before the devastating flood of 1946. In the same year they reopened the restaurant, again on Mothers’ Day in 1950. The turkey barns were destroyed in 1970 to make room for the new Route 15 highway, thus ending the era of raising their own turkeys. After the death of Howard Jr. in 2001, Ike and his mother Lois continued to run the family business along with manager Susan Kreger. Ike’s son, Nathan has rejoined the family business. Ike and Nathan represent the fourth and fifth generations of the Fry family to have contributed to the success of the Fry businesses. The restaurant now seats approximately 300 people, is open 364 days a year and serves approximately 100,000 customers per year. Mothers’ Day, 2024, marked the 85th anniversary on top of Steam Valley Mountain.

We are spending a few nights in Ives Run in Tioga PA. It's a chance for us to get all of the "household" chores done. We did get one big chore done on the way into the campground. We stopped at a Truck wash on PA 287 and did a self serve wash job on the RV. Boy, did it need it!

We are on site # 25 in the Hawthorne loop. It's a FHU site in the only FHU loop in the park! We have stayed in this area before with our NY camping FRamily! 

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.

Day 58 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Saturday June 28th, day 58 of our 2025 summer adventure. I enjoyed the perfect temperature walk without any rain. Then it was coffee outside and a visit from Greg, the restaurant owner. We enjoyed some banana bread we got from Mammy's Donut Shop the other day. Rhonda pulled in just before the start of the program for today.

At noon today was the kids program. They take "finding" the next bluegrass talent very seriously here! The first group on the stage were 3 siblings and their Grandma. They call their band 'Pickin' With Grandma.' The second group was two brothers they call themselves 'The High Brothers.' They are 8 & 11 and have never played before this weekend. 

The third act was Jerry from Tennessee. He plays, Bass, Bango, a little Mandolin and he sings! He is only 12 years old. The fourth act was a 15 year old girl, named Pat. She plays the Dobro. She has been playing for 3 years now. All the kids joined in on 'How Mountain Girls Can Love' for their finale.

The first professional band up was Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass. Making their home in Marion, Kentucky, Cutter & Cash Singleton feel blessed to be a part of something that’s just so special. Not even 18-years old and they are the founding members of a rising bluegrass band. They have even performed at the Grand Ole Opry. Their newest album is produced by Grand Ole Opry legend Jeannie Seely. With a nod toward traditional bluegrass groups, the band always dresses to impress. Their fiddle player is Trustin Baker of Birch Tree, MO. He used to play with his siblings as The Baker Family. 

The second band up was The United States Navy Band Country Current. They are the Navy's premier country-bluegrass ensemble. The group is nationally renowned for its versatility and musicianship, performing a blend of modern country music and cutting-edge bluegrass. This five-member ensemble employs musicians from diverse backgrounds with extensive high-profile recording and touring experience in the music scenes of Nashville, New York, New Orleans and more. In the tradition of country music, each member is a skilled performer on multiple instruments. 

A staple of the bluegrass scene, Country Current has shared the stage with music luminaries Rhonda Vincent, Dailey and Vincent, Mountain Heart, Little Roy Lewis, Third Time Out, The Lonesome River Band, Josh Williams, The Seldom Scene, J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, Ned Luberecki, Chris Jones and many others. Country Current routinely performs at bluegrass festivals such as Darrington, Windgap, Gettysburg, Lake Havasu and Grass Valley. In 2011, Country Current became the first military band to perform at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

The unique thing about this group is there are two members that have strong ties to the bluegrass scene. Guitar and Lead Vocalist, MU1 Sally Ziesing is the eldest daughter of Rhonda Vincent, Queen of Bluegrass. Also, the Bass player, MU1 Danny Stewart Jr is the son of Bluegrass Promoter Danny Stewart. Additionally, the Fiddle and Mandolin player, MU1  Patrick McAvinue, was the 2017 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year.

There was a change in the line-up, as Junior Sisk had bus trouble... So, the third set was Rhonda Vincent and The Rage! After a brief delay because of a little bit of rain, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage took the stage at the Remington Ryde Bluegrass Fest! She began her professional music career at the age of five, playing drums with her family's band, the Sally Mountain Show. 

She picked up the mandolin at eight and the fiddle at ten, performing with the family band at festivals on weekends. Rhonda has had deals with Rebel Records, Giant, and Rounder Records. Her band, The Rage helps her with hard-driving, high-energy contemporary bluegrass. Rhonda Vincent's daughter, Sally is the guitarist and lead vocalist with US Navy Band Country Current. She joined her mother on stage, with Rhonda's granddaughter, Faye Monroe.

Dinner break came next, giving Junior Sisk more time to arrive. At the dinner break we ran into Rich Baker and his wife! We know Rich from the Hemlock Fair and we have not seen them in years! What a small world! We learned they were here last year too and we never ran into them at all!

Junior Sisk and his band, Red Camel Collective, were the fourth act of the day. He is widely recognized as one of today's top bluegrass vocalists and is a constant reminder that traditional bluegrass is still alive and well. His bluegrass pedigree runs deep, influenced by a father who wrote songs and played guitar and a mother who sang. Sisk first learned to play around age 14. 

His early influences included The Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks, and Dave Evans, but he often credits the Johnson Mountain Boys with inspiring him to pursue bluegrass professionally. Junior Sisk’s band is Heather Berry Mabe on guitar, Tony Mabe on banjo, Jonathan Dillon on mandolin, and Curt Love on bass. The band pays tribute to the man who brought them together with their name, taken from Junior’s song, The Man in Red Camels. It was a great set!

Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass played their second set. 

The United States Navy Band Country Current played their last set.

Larry Efaw & the Bluegrass Mountaineers played a single set today. His bass player is a 16 year old girl. She was singing a song and forgot the words... Larry gave her a good razzing... it was all in good fun!

The sunset was gorgeous!

Rhonda Vincent and The Rage played their last set. They have to drive almost 450 miles to Vermont to arrive for their set at 1:30pm tomorrow. It will be a long night for the bus driver!

Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice finished out the 2025 Remington Ride Bluegrass Festival. Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 57 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Friday June 27th, day 57 of our 2025 summer adventure. This mornings walk was covered in heavy mist... some might call it light rain! This morning was the big day of the Town Wide Yard Sale. As I walked, I saw lots of cars parking along the fence to the fairgrounds. When I got close to our RV, I saw a horse head. Yes, a horse. When I got back to the RV, I saw the buggy too.

It was only 65 degrees this morning, so we did not sit outside to enjoy coffee. We did enjoy watching all the yard sale folks walk the road carrying their treasures! We truly enjoyed watching the Amish ladies bring items to the buggy parked by our rig. It was quite entertaining. 

The funniest photo was when the husband came back, saw all the stuff, took off his hat and stretched and shook his head. But, he quietly got to work, making it all fit! He did it! Thank goodness for bungee straps he had to hold it all together! 

The day began with another open mic hour. Our neighbors in our seating area are camped near 'J-Tyme" aka the Horst family Bluegrass band. They are lucky to listen to their jamming all the time! It is J-Tyme that opened the show today. Another brave couple, Don and Peggy Covey played a single song together on stage before the programed bands began.

The first scheduled band to play today was Larry Efaw & the Bluegrass Mountaineers. When Larry was seven, he started playing the mandolin and grew up watching his dad's band, Ed Efaw and the Bluegrass Mountaineers. Ed Efaw started the band in 1962. 

Larry Efaw has been known throughout his career for staying close to the traditional mountain style of bluegrass. He does this with The Bluegrass Mountaineers, a band his father Ed led for decades. Because of the support, Larry got growing up, Larry has always made a point of encouraging young people. This is evident by the ages of some of the members of his band. They are young, but they are very talented!

The second band up was Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. We have never heard them before. We know her name, because she took over Evans Media Source's North Carolina State Bluegrass festival that was held in Marion and relocated it to Cherokee NC. Lorraine is known as the “Lady of Tradition” in the Bluegrass community, she has made an indelible mark not only on North Carolina music culture, but within the greater Bluegrass culture. 

Lorraine’s handpicked Carolina Road band is comprised of well-known musicians Ben Greene, Warren Blair, Wayne Morris, Kevin Lamm and Allen Dyer, who have played with a “Who’s Who” in the industry, including Charlie Moore, The Bluegrass Cardinals, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, James King, Lost & Found, David Parmley & Continental Divide, and Don Rigsby, to name just a few. Their stellar musicianship and versatility ensure award-winning powerhouse performances of every song. When she is not entertaining or producing a bluegrass festival, she owns and operates Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music, a popular listening hall in Garner, NC.

The third band on the schedule was The David Parmley Band. David Parmley began his musical career at age 15 and by the time he turned 17, he began his full-time career as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals. That band featured his father, Don Parmley, and David’s lead and baritone voice was the backbone to The Bluegrass Cardinal sound. During a 25-year period The Bluegrass Cardinals recorded 18 albums and the material is considered the finest to come out of the 70’s and 80’s Bluegrass era.

David Parmely left The Bluegrass Cardinals in the 90’s to pursue a solo career leaning more towards a modern approach to Bluegrass Music. David Parmley and Continental Divide topped the Bluegrass Charts throughout the 90’s and now Parmley is back. David had very talented musicians backing him up and joining him in the crooning of these traditional bluegrass songs!

The fourth band on the schedule was Authentic Unlimited. I am pretty sure that we have heard them in person before. I am thinking it was a The Malpass Brother's festival in Denton NC, a year or two ago. Authentic Unlimited is a dynamic bluegrass band that blends rich harmonies with skillful instrumentation to create a sound that is both timeless and innovative. 

The unique facet of this band, is it is comprised of seasoned musicians, including former members of the legendary Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the band brings a deep-rooted passion for traditional bluegrass. Having earned recognition with IBMA awards, IBMA nominations, and Dove Awards nominations, the band’s talent and dedication to their craft is widely celebrated in the bluegrass community. Their heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies resonate with audiences, offering an authentic musical experience that speaks to both old and new generations of bluegrass fans. 

We went back to the rig for the dinner break and tried to get warmed up. Yesterday the AC was working overtime trying to cool the rig to 85 degrees! Today, we are running the heat! The 2nd set of performances began with Larry Efaw & the Bluegrass Mountaineers. Followed by Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road. Lorraine did a wonderful tribute to the Military, including flags and standing recognition of veteran's by branch of service. The most unique thing about the tribute was the Bango player was the one who played each service anthem on his Bango. Now, that is talented!

The David Parmley Band was up third and Authentic Unlimited was up last for the performers that had two sets. One of the songs Authentic Unlimited sang is one of my favorite. 'Little Eyes' its all about kids are watching you.... the chorus:

Little eyes and little ears; Little hands and feet; Know all we do down here; And words we speak; Watching and listening; As we daily go; Remember, our lives they learn; And surely know.

The final band for the day, was only playing one set, The Malpass Brothers. They are one of Charlie's favorites! Chris and Taylor, The Malpass Brothers, are as good as it gets. They're genuine. They eat, sleep and breathe real country music. They are incredible singers, songwriters and as entertainers, they can mesmerize an audience. 

It was a transformative moment when two young brothers discovered their grandfather's LPs collection. Chris and Taylor studied the brother-harmony bluegrass duos of Jim & Jesse, the Louvin and Wilburn Brothers and bathed in the sounds of Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard. It was musical mecca to the boys—there was nothing on the radio that fed The Malpass Brothers’ soul more than the music of this bygone era--and today, they still stay to it. After 10:30 pm.... its a late night! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!