Monday 9/4/17 - Bluegrass, Rallies and more Rallies, Our Trip South

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

We departed Salem County Fairgrounds on Route 40 and back tracked toward the Delaware Memorial Bridge. It is free to get into New Jersey, but they charge you to get out of the state … a $20 toll for the motor home and jeep! One other time, we left Jersey and paid the toll. Later we got a bill for the jeep, they said the jeep drove through without paying ... so, this time I am keeping our receipt!

Just after the bridge, there is a large statue of Jesus watching over you. At this point we are back into Delaware. We are almost back tracking on the same route we took from Lancaster to the Delaware valley Blue Grass Festival.

We turned off Route 40 onto Route 13 and crossed the St Georges Bridge. It is a steel truss bridge with an arch span that carries US 13 across the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Built by the US Army Corps of Engineers and opened in 1942 as a high-level crossing, the bridge was the first four-lane, high-level crossing to span the canal. It replaced a previous vertical lift bridge which was damaged when a German merchant ship collided with it. On January 10, 1939, the SS Waukegan struck and destroyed the original St Georges Bridge, killing the bridge tender. 

As you cross this bridge, you can see the toll bridge on US 1, less than a mile away! Why would you pay to cross that bridge?

We saw a historical marker for Commodore Thomas McDonough and thought of our friends, Bob & Marie McDonough. I wonder if it is any relation of theirs. We passed Blackbird Creek Preserve. It is an almost 1,200 acres bordering the tidal Blackbird Creek. It includes several miles of walking trails, and excellent places to launch a canoe or kayak. The Blackbird Creek Reserve is one part of the larger Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. Group activities often take place here, like the annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival.

Garrison's Lake near Smyrna, Delaware is a very small impoundment between Smyrna and Dover, known mostly for its shallow water - depths are less than 4 feet. It is one of the top five most-fished lakes in Delaware, with sunfish, largemouth bass and black crappie among the popular fish species anglers can hook there. In 2012, there was a new aluminum footbridge in place connecting the north and south sides of the lake, making Garrisons Lake a safer and more accessible place to fish.

In Dover, Delaware we saw glimpses of the bleachers at the speedway. We are taking a tour later, so I will blog more about the “Monster Mile” later.

Dover is where you can visit the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village. In today’s new age world, agriculture seems to be something of the past especially to children. As children start believing milk comes from the store instead of from a cow, you can see how the technological advances take the farmer for granted. The Delaware Agriculture Museum and Village offers us a chance to experience history from real life experiences. By providing a memorable and educational experience, and preserving the rapidly fading agricultural heritage, the museum stands as an important historic landmark for the children of the future. The Delaware Agricultural Museum Association was formed by a group of people dedicated to preserving the agricultural heritage of Delaware and the Delmarva Peninsula. The Museum opened its doors to the public in August 1980. 

A main exhibit building and fifteen historic structures associated with a nineteenth century farming community bring the fascinating story of agriculture to life. More than 4,000 artifacts are displayed in the main exhibit building - from butter churns to threshers, from an eighteenth century log house to the first broiler chicken house. The historic village buildings include Carney Farmhouse, Johnson Blacksmith & Wheelwright Shop, Mill Lane School House, Reed's General Store, Gourley Barbershop, St. Thomas Church, and Loockerman Landing Train Station. Temporary exhibits offer insights into other facets of rural life. In addition, the Museum hosts a number of annual special events which highlight the activities of nineteenth century farmers.

Also in Dover, you can attend Delaware State University. DSU enjoys a long history as one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Delaware College for Colored Students, now known as Delaware State University, was established May 15, 1891, by the Delaware General Assembly under the provisions of the Morrill Act of 1890 by which land-grant colleges for Blacks came into existence in states maintaining separate educational facilities. Because there was already a private Delaware College (now the University of Delaware) located in Newark, to avoid confusion new state legislation was passed and enacted in early 1893 to change the black school’s name to the State College for Colored Students. That would be the institution’s name for the next 54 years. In 1947, the name of the institution was changed to “Delaware State College” by legislative action. On July 1, 1993, Delaware State College turned another chapter in its history when Gov. Thomas Carper signed a name change into law, thus renaming the College to Delaware State University.

Dover is also home to Dover Air Force Base. Construction of Municipal Airport, Dover Airdrome began in March 1941 and the facility was opened on December 17, 1941. It was converted to a US Army Air Corps airfield just weeks after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Once the airport came under military control an immediate construction program began to turn the civil airport into a military airfield. Initially under USAAC, the name of the facility was Municipal Airport, Dover Airdrome and the airfield opened on 17 December 1941. 

The airfield was assigned to First Air Force. On 8 April 1943, the name of the airfield was changed to Dover Army Air Base. On 1 September 1946 as a result of the draw down of United States forces after World War II, Dover Army Airfield, was placed on temporary inactive status. Dover Airfield was reactivated on 1 August 1950 as a result of the Korean War and the expansion of the United States Air Force in response to the Soviet threat in the Cold War. On February 1, 1951, the 148th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard arrived with P-51 Mustangs. During the Vietnam War, more than 20,000 dead American soldiers were brought back to the United States via Dover. The Vietnam War dead comprise over 90% of all the remains processed at Dover before 1988.

Some of the more memorable flights during the post-war period included the airdrop and test firing of a Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile and the delivery of a 40-ton superconducting magnet to Moscow during the Cold War, for which the crew received the Mackay Trophy. After the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the remains of the seven astronauts were transferred to Dover AFB. It is one of only seven airports in the country that served as launch abort facilities for the Space Shuttle. In March 1989, C-5s from Dover delivered special equipment used to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound. On June 7, 1989, a 436 MAW C-5 set a world record when it airdropped 190,346 pounds and 73 paratroopers. In October 1983, the wing flew 24 missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury and later flew 16 missions to support Operation Just Cause in August 1989. During Desert Shield, they flew approximately 17,000 flying hours and airlifted a total of 131,275 tons of cargo in support of combat operations. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the 436 AW and 512 AW became major participants in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. An aircrew from Dover's 3rd Airlift Squadron landed the first C-5 in Iraq in late 2003 when they landed at Baghdad International Airport.  Also following September 11, 2001, Army mortuary specialists organized support for Pentagon recovery efforts out of the Base. On April 3, 2006, a C-5 Galaxy crashed short of a runway, skidding into a farm field. No one was killed in the incident. By 2008, the air traffic tower serving the airfield, built in 1955, was the oldest such tower in use in the United States Air Force. In 2009 the base received a new 128-foot tall tower, overlapping the original 103-foot one which was donated to the Air Mobility Command museum on the base for visitors to enter.

We came into Camden, Delaware where the history of this community can be traced to the 1780s, when members of the Mifflin family began dividing their lands into lots. Much of this land was originally a part of the tract known as Brecknock, which was granted to Alexander Humphreys in 1680. It is located at the intersection of two important thoroughfares, a number of homes and businesses were soon constructed here. First known at Mifflin’s Crossroads, and also Piccadilly, the village of Camden was established by the 1790s. The town became a commercial center, sending most of its products to market by way of Port of Lebanon, and later by rail with the coming of the railroad in the 1850s. Camden was first incorporated in 1852, and again in 1969.

The town of Felton was laid out in 1856 when the Delaware Railroad reached this area. Located between Berrytown to the west and Johnny Cake Landing (Frederica) to the east, the town became a “whistle” stop on the new railroad line. Owing its existence to the railroad, Felton was named in honor of Samuel M. Felton, President of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and a major force in bringing railroad service to central and southern Delaware. Incorporated on February 2, 1861, Felton’s boundaries formed a one-half mile square with the railroad line running north-south through the middle of town. Passenger rail service to Felton ended in the early 1950’s. Just outside of the village of Felton is Killens Pond State Park, our home for the next 4 nights.

Thu 8/31 – Sun 9/3/17 - Bluegrass, Rallies and more Rallies, Our Trip South

We arrived on Wednesday, found a site with electric and just relaxed! Thursday, more people arrived and the place started to fill up. More of the group that Molly & Mike camp with arrived and did a little jamming!

By Thursday, all the chairs were set up in front of the stage. They have a "chair sharing" policy ... so, if a chair is vacant, feel free to sit in it and enjoy the show. Just relinquish the seat once the owner of the chair arrives!

On Friday, the program for the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival kicked off! The opening act is one of our favorites, we have seen them perform at Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, Florida, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice. Junior is widely recognized as one of today’s top bluegrass vocalists and is a constant reminder that traditional bluegrass is still alive and well. A longtime resident of the Virginia Blue Ridge, his bluegrass pedigree runs deep. Influenced by his father, who wrote songs and played guitar and a mother who sang. He first learned to play around age 14. His early influence included The Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks, and Dave Evans, but he often credits the Johnson Mountain Boys with inspiring him to pursue bluegrass professionally.

The April Verch Band played next. April is a fiddler, singer and step dancer, she knows how relevant an old tune can be. She was raised surrounded by living, breathing roots music – her father’s country band rehearsing; the lively music at church and at community dances; the tunes she rocked out to win fiddle competitions. She knew nothing else and decided early on that she wanted to be a professional musician. She took that leap, and for over two decades has been recording and captivating audiences worldwide, exploring new and nuanced places each step of the way.

There was a little bit of hometown music at the festival, the Gibson Brothers. They were raised on a dairy farm in Upstate New York, close to the Canadian border. It is there, that the brothers Eric and Leigh, discovered their sibling harmonies at an early age. They honed them by emulating the records they were hearing from the likes of Buck Owens, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse and many more. Drawing frequent comparisons to the Louvins and Everlys in particular, the Gibsons have carried the “brother duet” sound into the 21^st century. Winning IBMA awards along the way that include Entertainers of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year.

On Friday night we were entertained by Asleep At The Wheel. For almost five decades, this Austin-based band has been the standard bearer for “big band” Western Swing music that caused the fans of predecessors Bob Wills, Milton Brown and others to pack the dance halls of the Southwest throughout the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. Led by Philadelphia native, Ray Benson, the band has garnered nine Grammies over the course of almost two dozen albums, including collaborations with artists ranging from original Texas Playboy Leon Rausch to Willie Nelson and more. I never realized how tall Ray Benson was!

Saturday had a couple of the same bands as Friday, but also added 4 different groups! The on again off again rain, could not dampen the mood of the festival goers! Becky Buller and her Band played first. In 2016 Becky was chosen to make Bluegrass music history becoming the first person ever to win in both instrumental and vocal categories at the IBMA awards. As usual, her overnight success story was almost 20 years in the making. Her songs, on the lips of the industry’s best, preceded this fiery-haired fiddling St James Minnesota native to prominence in the acoustic music world. Now we are connecting with her to the tune of five IBMA awards in the last two years, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist and the 2015 Songwriter of the Year awards.

Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass has played in Sertoma Youth Ranch before and The Delaware Bluegrass Festival has heavily relied on the music of Ted Lundy, Bob Paisley and their band, the Southern Mountain Boys to deliver hard-driving, Blue Ridge-style bluegrass annually here. The family tradition continues into the present day, not only with Danny (reigning IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year) leading the band, but with his son Ryan Paisley on mandolin and TJ Lundy (Ted’s son) on fiddle. For more than three decades this group has been the “house band” at this festival.

Charm City Junction added some dance-inducing Old Tyme rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies and their own style of hard-driving Bluegrass. This Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet have created a fresh sound that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering what song style will come next. The band is comprised of four of the most talented and promising young musicians in the country, Patrick McAvinue, Sean McComiskey, Brad Kolodner and Alex Lacquement.

Great musicians will always find a way to make good music and The Grascals are those musicians. These great musicians make great music, because they formed a bond. For the Grascals, that bond has been forged at the intersection of personal friendships, shared professional resumes and an appreciation for the innovative mingling of bluegrass and country music that has been a hallmark of the Nashville scene for more than forty years. Timely yet timeless. The Grascals make music that is entirely relevant to the here and now, yet immersed in traditional values of soul and musicianship.

The next group was formed in 2009, and Tuba Skinny has steadily evolved from a loose collection of street musicians into a solid ensemble dedicated to bringing the traditional New Orleans sound to audiences around the world. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences, from spirituals to depression-era blues, from ragtime to traditional jazz, their sound evokes the rich musical heritage of their New Orleans home. The band has gained a loyal following through their distinctive sound, their commitment to reviving long-lost songs and their barnstorming live performances.

Saturday night’s headliner was the Del McCoury Band. Whether Del is with his current long-running band or his former band the Dixie Pals, Del McCoury has a long musical history at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. A native of York, PA, he cut his professional teeth in the Baltimore and Washington bluegrass scenes and played in Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys before setting out with his own band. His set had the crowd on their feet!

Sunday morning brought the sunshine and the Cab Calloway School of the Arts Performance and the Kid’s Academy. It is always a pleasure to see the future of bluegrass playing at such young ages!

After a few year hiatus, these South Jersey favorites returned to the stage. The Tuesday Mountain Boys, brought their finest sound from the Pine Barrens to the farmlands surrounding this fairgrounds.

A Delaware native came to the stage next, Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing. Bob Amos became an internationally recognized and acclaimed bluegrass musician and songwriter as the leader of the popular award winning band Front Range. With the release of his newest CDs Borrowed Time and Sunrise Blues which have received wonderful reviews and airplay on bluegrass radio shows all across the country, Bob is once again in the bluegrass spotlight with a whole new batch of stellar original songs, and a terrific new band, Catamount Crossing.

Up next was Big Country Bluegrass. Tommy & Teresa Sells formed Big Country Bluegrass in the late 1980s and the group’s name comes from the instrumental “Big Country” that the late Jimmy Martin recorded many years ago. All band members live in and around the Virginia-Carolina Blue Ridge and their music reflects much of the deep musical heritage found in this region which is at the heart of the Crooked Road Music Trail.

Up next was Foghorn Stringband and they are the gold standard for genuine old time American string band music. With eight albums, thousands of shows, over 15 years of touring under their belts and an entirely new generation of musicians following their lead. American roots music is a diverse and never ending well of inspiration, and Foghorn Stringband continually and obsessively draws from old-time, bluegrass, classic country, and Cajun music traditions in an ongoing quest to present a broad span of American historical music with an unparalleled youthful energy, joy and virtuosity.

On stage, Flatt Lonesome offered their brand of original Bluegrass. It is some of the freshest the genre has seen in a while. The stellar picking and heartfelt songs centered around beautiful sibling harmony have made Flatt Lonesome a hot act among Bluegrass fans, young and old. Their vibrant, youthful spirit with careful respect towards tradition has earned the praise of peers twice their age.

Blue Highway was the last group on stage. They had a heck of a time getting to the festival! Several flat tires on the road to us from Maine! In the mid-1990s, veteran bluegrass pickers Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor put Blue Highway together as almost a “part-time” band to fill in the time between their other projects. Almost a quarter-century later they continue to be among the most in-demand bands on the circuit, renowned for their blend of traditional sensibilities, outstanding songwriting and top-notch instrumental ability.

We enjoyed a quiet evening at the fairgrounds, listening to jam sessions. Many people pulled out after the last act on the stage. We are spending the night and will head out in the morning to make our trek to Delaware.

Wednesday 8/30/17 - Bluegrass, Rallies and more Rallies, Our Trip South

We departed Country Acres Campground back onto Route 30 heading east and into the town of Paradise. Paradise, PA includes miles of scenic backroads that invite you to explore the tranquil beauty of Lancaster County’s Amish Country. You can discover the unusual attractions and things to do, plus an area that includes fine restaurants, unusual stores, and typical Lancaster County landmarks, such as a covered bridge, an old mill, and beautiful, peaceful Amish farmlands.

In Paradise, you can visit the National Christmas Center and experience the wonder of the world’s most beloved holiday! Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the National Christmas Center takes you on a journey through wonderful memories of Christmases past and present.  It is dedicated to preserving and sharing precious mementoes and memories of Christmases past. They want to spark their visitor’s interest in Christmas, so that they may continue the timeless Christmas traditions, or be inspired to create new customs and celebrations to enjoy with their own families and friends. Here, the true meaning of Christmas is honored and remembered; they celebrate the birth of Christ. You can take a realistic journey from “Nazareth” to “Bethlehem”, immersing yourself in the rich history and culture of biblical times.

There are 15 large displays and many, many smaller rotating displays. My favorite three displays are the 1950's Woolworth's 5 & 10. It is a recreation of a five and dime showcasing vintage Christmas toys and merchandise displayed in a realistic store setting. The shelves are stocked floor to ceiling with such treasures as the Red Ryder BB gun, Yakity Yak chattering wind-up teeth, tin soldiers on horseback, and 5 cent phonograph records.

Santa's North Pole Workshop and Reindeer Barn, where the elves are busy in this toy-making wonderland! Animated reindeer nod from their stalls as bears and elves craft toys, wrap packages and sew dolly dresses. Santa presides over all the activity in this life-sized exhibit.

O' Holy Night, is an exhibit showcasing a nearly life-sized hand-carved wooden Nativity. The twenty-two figures, are almost 100 years old, and include the Holy Family and 3 camels which stand nearly 6 feet tall.

We turned off Route 30 onto Route 41, aka the Newport Pike, and into the town of Christiana, PA. This town holds a treasure trove of stories preserved in rustic homes and historical attractions. The town is known for its prominent involvement during the Civil War, especially in conjunction with the Underground Railroad. In fact, many historians consider the Christiana Resistance as the first battle of the Civil War, for it was in this small town that the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was tested for the first time. The Fugitive Slave Law stated that law enforcement officials were to arrest runaway slaves, and that anyone who aided a runaway was subject to imprisonment and fines. Southern slaveholders believed that the federal law protected their right to apprehend fugitives. Northern abolitionists, however, denied that the federal government had the right to enact a bill that was contrary to human rights. 

The law's test came to life when Edward Gorsuch, a wealthy landowner from Baltimore County, Maryland, discovered that four of his slaves were missing, and he traveled to Christiana on a tip. Here, he found his slaves at the home of William Parker, a fugitive known for his assistance to slaves traveling along the Underground Railroad. Gorsuch immediately confronted Parker, which resulted in 75-100 people descending upon the homestead. Shots were fired, and the encounter left Gorsuch dead. Federal troops were called in to help with an investigation, which resulted in 38 men being arrested and charged with treason for defying the Fugitive Slave Law. The ensuing case ended with a "not guilty" verdict. This decision sent a signal to the South that the Fugitive Slave Law would not be enforced in the North, building upon the distrust that was already spreading throughout the country.

You know me, if it is a covered bridge or a waterfalls, I will find it! Built in 1880 on Bailey Crossroads Road, just south of Christiania you will find one of the only two remaining bridges shared by Lancaster and Chester County. The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge or Mercer's Ford Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek. A Lancaster County-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the East Octoraro #2 Bridge. 

It was built by BJ Carter at a cost of $1,652. The bridge has a wooden single span, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. The bridge has a single window on only one side of the bridge and no one knows why.

We passed by a farm on Route 41 that had a sign for Christmas tree sales right in front of the corn stalks. It is kind of unique, because you really don’t think of a farmer that grows corn, would be the same guy that grows and sells Christmas Trees!

Crossing from Pennsylvania into Delaware, we were welcomed by a dead buck and we traveled into “the wedge.” The Wedge is a small tract of land along the borders of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ownership of the land was disputed until 1921, but it is now recognized as part of Delaware. The tract was created primarily by the shortcomings of contemporary surveying techniques. It is bounded on the north by an eastern extension of the east-west portion of the Mason–Dixon line, on the west by the north-south portion of the Mason–Dixon line, and on the southeast by the New Castle, Delaware, Twelve-Mile Circle.

Speaking of the Twelve-Mile Circle, crossing from Delaware into New Jersey, on the Delaware Memorial Bridge, we were in that Twelve-Mile circle. The fact that the circle extends into the Delaware River makes for an unusual territorial possession. Most territorial boundaries that follow watercourses split the water course between the two territories by one of two methods, either by the median line of the watercourse or the center of the main flow channel. However, due to the text of the deed, within the Twelve-Mile Circle, all the Delaware River to the low-tide mark on the New Jersey side is territory of the state of Delaware. 

New Jersey has often disputed this claim, as the rest of its territorial boundaries along the Delaware River are determined by the midline method. In 1813, Delaware's legislature passed an act deeding Pea Patch Island to the United States government, and in 1820 New Jersey disputed that they owned the island since it was primarily on the New Jersey side of the river. Attorney General William Wirt sided with Delaware. In the 1840s, the Pea Patch Island disagreement led to two conflicting circuit court decisions—the circuit of Delaware ruling that the entirety of the river (and its islands) belonged to Delaware, and the circuit in New Jersey ruling that the island had belonged to New Jersey. At the recommendation of President James K. Polk, the parties agreed to arbitration, which resulted in a confirmation of Delaware's claim. The arbitration did not ultimately resolve the dispute, and it has been brought to the Supreme Court of the United States on several occasions.

In New Jersey, we got onto Route 40. We arrived at Salem County Fairgrounds, being part of an agricultural fair for most of our adult life we always love to check out other fairgrounds. This fair is 100% agricultural, there are no rides at this fair. The Salem County Fair Association was formed in 1959 and the fair was first held on the current grounds in 1985. The Fair Association is a private organization dedicated to the promotion of agriculture in Salem County. Various organizations including the Salem County Board of Agriculture, Grange, 4-H, F.F.A., the New Jersey Wool Sheep Breeders Association, and the Holstein Association are members of the Fair Association. 

Harness racing was a part of the Salem County Fair from 1968-1995. The chicks, hatching out of eggs as part of the State Department of Agriculture's "Peep-peep Show," made their first appearance in 1973. In 1976 all hog activities were canceled due to an outbreak of hog cholera. The first Open sheep show at the fair was held in 1982 and the first Sheep to Shawl contest sponsored by the Third Star Fiber Guild was held that same year. Fair T-shirts were first designed and sold at the fair in 1986. The Woodstown Rotary donated the cement floor for the commercial building in 1987. The same year, the building housing the horse stalls was constructed. The first sky diver made his appearance at the 1988 fair. Political Games between the Republicans and the Democrats were held from 1988-1995. In June of 1989, the Leni-Lenape Indians held a Pow-Wow at the fairgrounds. Over Labor Day of the same year, the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival was held at the fairgrounds for the first time.

We are at the fairgrounds for the next five nights to enjoy the 46^th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival.

Tuesday 8/29/17 - Bluegrass, Rallies and more Rallies, Our Trip South

It is always bitter sweet, when you leave family … We departed Cohocton, New York this morning. Charlie’s brother’s house has been our home base while we visited family and friends in New York. We also spent time camping at our second home … the Conesus Lake Sportsman’s Club in Lakeville, New York! There will be separate blogs later on all our adventures in New York State!

We headed south on Route 415 into the town of Cohocton. Cohocton is best known for its fall foliage festival the first weekend in October for many years! Cohocton's annual Fall Foliage Festival, which was named one of our nation's "Elite Festivals" by National Geographic. Back in the day, it also was once visited by Journalist Charles Kuralt. 

The community event in which the residents of Cohocton and neighboring communities, gather to celebrate the magnificent surrounding hills in all of its colorful splendor. There are many arts, crafts, flea market, antique and food vendors. In 2017, they are holding their first ever "Fall Classic Antique & Vintage Snowmobile Show" along with their "Fall Classic Car Show."

The biggest draw used to be the Tree Sitting contest, but sadly in 2010 it came to an end. The reason why the tree sitting contest has permanently ended is due to the age and condition of the tree limbs. The more than 60-year-old sugar maples that grace the Cohocton Elementary School grounds have become too brittle to safely hold the weight of contestants for the duration of the festival. According to the rules, the one who spent the longest time in the trees (bathroom time counted against contestants) and had the least amount of carry-on weight with them was the winner, barring anything that would have gotten them disqualified such as dropping items or having had something handed to them. 

Tree-sitting began in 1968. During that time, none of the competitors had been injured despite participants climbing the trees at night and one who fell from a tree in the late ’70s after having the bright lights that were used to film “On the Road with Charles Kuralt” shining in the trees during the wee hours of the morning.

We stopped in Bath New York, at a local grocery store that also sells gas. Tops Markets, is the place I shop while we are in New York. They offer great deals and BOGO items. Plus, you earn gas points … I had saved up fifty cents reduction in price per gallon. So, we purchased the cheapest gas we might see … 25 gallons for $1.82 per gallon!

When driving south on Route 15 in Campbell, New York you can see the distinctive logo of the Polly-O brand on the stacks at the plant! Kraft Heinz said, in February of 2017, it would close the Steuben County facility this year, if it could not find a buyer. H.J. Heinz Co bought Kraft Foods Group Inc. in 2015, creating the third largest food and beverage company in North America. Soon after, it announced it would close Kraft's Campbell plant in late 2015, but it later agreed to postpone the shutdown for one to two years while it, along with state officials, looked for a buyer. The plant produces Polly-O'String cheese, mozzarella cheese and other Italian cheese varieties. Upstate Niagara, a dairy farmer cooperative, has bought the struggling Kraft-Heinz facility in the Southern Tier and has pledged to keep at least 150 of the 330 workers who were set to lose their jobs with the plant's imminent closure.

In Gang Mills, New York we saw the signs that Route 15 is now I-99. Since we don’t travel interstates … looks like we won’t be taking this nice direct route to family and friends in New York anymore! It is sad, when the old road sits almost empty right next to the new multi-lane highway. It breaks my heart to think of all the businesses that used to thrive on this Route and now, if you are not in a town with an exit ramp, you won’t see much business. Sad, very sad! An interesting fact about the numbering of this interstate. Unlike most Interstate Highway numbers, which were assigned by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to fit into a grid. I-99's number was written into Section 332 of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 by Bud Shuster, the bill's sponsor, and the representative of the district through which the highway runs. I-99 violates the AASHTO numbering convention associated with Interstate Highways, since it lies east of I-79 but west of I-81.

We crossed into Pennsylvania from New York and we came to the first rest area in PA. The Tioga Reservoir overlook and the PA welcome center. 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 begins as a small stream on Armenia Mountain.  It flows southwesterly until it reaches the Blossburg area where it turns north, ultimately flowing into New York State where it joins the Cohocton River to form the Chemung River.  The Chemung River crosses back into Pennsylvania and joins the Susquehanna River near Sayre.

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.

Today, it certainly looks and feels like fall! You can even see some of the leaves are starting to change and it is only the 28^th of August!

Just off Route 15, you can see a covered bridge. It is very close to the old Route 15 roadway. It is just breathtaking. The 169 foot long bridge has low clearance, it is only 8 foot 3 inches high! Its builder is unknown, but it was built in 1898 and located on Covered Bridge Road. Very appropriate road name! It is known as the Buttonwood Bridge, also known as the Blockhouse Bridge, because it spans Blockhouse Creek.

We are traveling with Charlie’s sister and brother-in-law and they wanted to bypass Williamsport. So we headed around Williamsport on PA 220 / I-80. As we got closer to where they intersect with Route 15, there was construction and Mike & Molly’s RV was too long for the construction area. So, we had to cut back to Route 15 sooner. I found the first cut-over, PA 45, I could find and it took us over the Judge HW Cummins and Judge HM McClure Memorial Bridge. Crossing the bridge, we could see a parallel railroad bridge. I was able to capture this awesome picture.

Once we got over the bridge, we were in downtown Lewisburg. I am sure Mike & Molly were a bit nervous driving through this downtown area, because it was very narrow. It is a college town, for Bucknell University. In town I found this awesome light purple door on this brick building.

We started to head more east than south and got onto US 22 / 322 and crossed over the Susquehanna River. There was an accident in the opposite lanes of travel, man oh man was that traffic backed up! I am glad the accident was not going east! One of my favorite things in Pennsylvania is Lady Liberty on the Susquehanna, just north of Harrisburg. I have talked about her before, you can read about her in this blog. I was able to capture this picture of her on this trip!

We continued on I-81 N / US 322 to I-83 to I-283 E, through Elizabethtown and Mount Joy, PA. We moved onto Route 30. Route 30, took us right into Lancaster, PA. Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States of America. German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch (from "Deutsch" meaning German), were the first to settle in the area in 1709. At that time it was known as "Hickory Town". The Honorable James Hamilton laid it out in building lots and out lots, and in May 10, 1729, it became the county seat. 

John Wright, a prominent citizen, gave it the name "Lancaster" after Lancaster, England where he formerly lived. The city is known as the "Red Rose City" due to its link to Lancaster, England. Lancaster became a borough in 1742, a charted city on March 10, 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 27, 1924. Lancaster was an important munitions center during the Revolutionary war. It was National Capital of the American colonies on September 27, 1777, when the Continental Congress was fleeing British forces (who had captured Philadelphia). From 1799 to 1812, Lancaster was the capital of Pennsylvania. What is there to do in Lancaster? Check it out here.

Are the Amish in Lancaster? Well, they're not only surviving, they're thriving! Since 1960, the Amish population in Lancaster County has almost tripled. Their separation from the rest of society actually helps to strengthen their community. The Amish trace their heritage back hundreds of years, and yet, despite all the time that has passed and the many changes that have taken place in society, they still live and work much as their forefathers did. For the Amish people, family, farm and faith are top priorities. 

The Amish are devout in their faith, believing in a literal interpretation and application of Scripture as the Word of God. They take seriously the Biblical commands to separate themselves from the things of the world. They believe worldliness can keep them from being close to God, and can introduce influences that could be destructive to their communities and to their way of life. Today there are over 25 different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in Lancaster County, all holding to slightly different traditions and their own interpretations of the Bible. The more traditional groups are called ‘old order.’ They do not permit electricity or telephones in their homes.

We arrived at Country Acres Campground, our overnight stop.