Johnstown Thunder

We were talking with Mel's cousin,and he told us about a bike rally in Johnstown, PA called Thunder in the Valley. We connected with them Thursday afternoon, and headed up over the mountains to check it out. The first shot is Mel with Dale and Julie. We strolled up and down looking at bikes and lot's of people.

We ran across a booth that sold a different kind of hearse. This is made similar to a trailer, but hooks on the back of a motorcycle like a 5th wheel trailer. They really do sell these.

As we strolled up and down, there were bikes everywhere, and all shapes, sizes, colors, and noise level. We remembered again why we ride a quiet Honda.

We stayed till late evening, and headed back to our home. When almost there, we turned off, and went back a couple miles to see the memorial, and site where the plane went down on 9/11 in southern PA. Since we were on a plane when that all happened, it brought back memories and images we had not remembered for a long time. It was amazing to see the area, because there isn't anything close by the crash site. The folks on that plane were brave and God protected many others from harm.

Family, Friends, Old times

We made it to PA on Sunday, and camped in an area where Mel grew up to age 10. We went to see one of her aunts on Monday, and then took her to a spot where Mel's folks dated, for a foot long kraut dog. Irene hasn't changed since I met her 37 years ago.

We were surprised by some Wycliffe Assoc. friends that came to visit. They live north of here, but were traveling home from a 3 month trip out west, and decided to detour a few miles. We had a picnic with them, and their daughter and grand kids, before they left today for their next stop

We took a bike ride today, went out thru the country, and ended up at Penn State University. Mel saw that they have a test dairy, so we went to try some home made ice cream, pretty good, 14% butterfat. We then headed back, and Mel asked if we could stop at Lakemont Park, an amusement park her pappy used to take her to. She road all the coasters, and rides that she did as a kid, and reminisced. I have a small vidio, but a slow internet conection, so will try to upload it later. As we were leaving, I noticed my cell phone had come off my clip. We went back and looked all over, but found nothing. We were trying to contact Mel's cousin again to do something on Thursday, and when he called me back, some strange guy answered the phone. He said he found it, was changing a flat tire in the parking lot, and was heading home. He wouldn't take it back to the office. So Dale took off on his motorcycle, and retrieved my phone. Isn't God good.

Interesting sites

We did some site seeing around Zanesville Ohio and Columbus, and saw some very interesting things. Melody saw on the Internet, a local BBQ restaurant, with good comments. When we arrived we saw how they expand the kitchen, and the security for the new kitchen. This is a smoker for cooking ribs, brisket, roast beef, and pork roast. Notice the security, a log chain attached to a tree.

She also saw an article about a local Ice Cream Manufacture, so we went and checked it out. The Ice cream was very good, and the setting was very pretty. This picture is an old grist mill wheel, that was restored, and still turns with water.

Then we went to the Longaberger Basket factory, and saw where they are all hand made. It was Sat, so no production was taking place, but we saw where 100's of stations were set up for people to weave the baskets. We then traveled a few miles to see their corp office building. Yes, this pic is the main office building, complete with 2 large handles. A friend of ours lives in that town, and told us the handles where set with a monster helicopter. We made it safe to PA, and will see some of Mel's relatives, and her old stomping grounds. More later

From Blocks to Curves

Hard to believe I am finally writing a blog on my own! We left IL last Saturday (thank you Newhouses for the great camping spot!) and went to IN to set up house so our extended family and friends could see what the heck we are living in (thank you Ed and Sherry Ruge for the campsite and for a wonderful cookout. Thanks to Kyle too for taking such good care of me before I even could ask!). I even got a few minutes in with my quilting buddy Nena...enough time to swap some patterns and ideas. I miss her company.

Sunday morning we traveled to South Bend, IN to visit Pastor Howard and Lois Westlund. We had lunch with them and caught up with each other. They are amazing people we have been blessed to know.

We planned to just overnight in IN at a Wal-Mart but the one we stopped at said NO OVERNIGHT PARKING ALLOWED! Humpf. So we stayed at a truck stop instead.

We got to Hillsboro, OH on Monday morning at Rocky Fork State Park. It was a beautiful place but NO INTERNET or CELLPHONE service. After we hyperventilated for a few minutes we decided we would live.

Tuesday morning we went on a great motorcycle ride south to the Ohio river. Pic #1, We didn't get into Kentucky but we could see it from our side of the Ohio.

Remember all those old barns with the Mail Pouch signs?...well, they are hiding in southern Ohio but those clever Ohioans came up with a new barn sign...QUILT BLOCKS! Ya gotta love people who think like that. Apparently there are over 50 of them so we went sleuthing to find some. I have more pictures but didn't want to bore you. The red/white/blue one was a funny for me. Ken and I were looking in the town of Peebles for two that were listed on the map and we couldn't find them. We stopped at "The White Star Diner" for lunch (wonderful sour cream fried potato wedges dipped in ranch dressing, should be the newest item for Culver's, yum!) then Ken wanted to make a few phone calls while he had a few bars of service. I grabbed the camera to tease him with another shot of him on the phone and when I walked around the corner of the building - GAFFAW! There was a quilt block! What a hoot!

Another thing going on here in Ohio is BARN STARS...I've seen them in stores but HERE they are on about every 6th house, no joke! I even was forced to buy one for the RV. It's my Ohio souvenier!

Another adventure we had was stopping at the Clifton Mill and Gorge. There is a covered bridge there and a restaurant that serves pancakes made from the milled flours from there. Ken and I each ordered a stack of three. The waitress whispered to us that we probably just wanted to share one order. Boy was she right. The picture is of what was left after we were STUFFED! Notice the syrup pitcher is EMPTY. Those suckers absorbed syrup like a sponge.

Then we moved on to Zanesville,OH. Another great campground, Wolfie's, was at the top of a winding driveway through the woods. Ken's getting pretty good at manuevering in tight places.

We had heard about a cool cycle ride that was windy, curvy and this sign says it all. It was 11 miles of one curve after another. Ken said he couldn't hold the cycle on the road if he even tried to go 25 miles/hour.

We have had great weather...well, until 10 minutes before we got back to the RV. We kinda got dumped on and got back to the RV to find all our windows open. That rain must have been swirling around because it came in ALL the windows.

Tomorrow we are going to the Lonabarger Basket Homestead and John Glenn's birthplace. We may try to find a BBQ place in Columbus we heard about. Then we will be off to PA.

If you think about it please pray for Chris and Emily. They are in Botswana doing some work for OneWay Ministries. Em will be coming home on Sunday (?) but Chris won't be home until the 26th, their 9th anniversary.

Special Day with Thomas

On Friday, June 13, we had a special day with the Grand kids in Green Bay and Thomas the Train. He is a full size engine, and it was a big hit.

They had a smaller model made out of Lego Blocks.

Even Grammy got into the spirit, and got a tattoo. They are temps, but they stay a few days. Grammy had to choose her Sunday outfit to cover hers.

Then we all got to ride the train.

And Sir Topham Hatt was there





Finally, a school bus ride back to the parking lot was enjoyed by all. What a GREAT DAY

Time with Grand Kids

Grammy took the kids to a petting farm, but they didn't like the animals. They did like the rides.

WOW, what a week so far. The little guy got to play at the playground with a steam shovel


Then he got to go to the BIG golf course, and play with his daddy's putter.

We also got to got to the big pool, and swim. The little guy with his swimmies, and Abby with a frog floaty.

Abby got to swing at the playground. Everybody has had a great week so far. Thursday, we leave Lake Geneva for another adventure.

Moving again

We have left Florida for the summer, because we feel it's toooooo hot. We got to Georgia, and the temp was 100. The first pic is our entire train with the coach, bike hanging on the back, and our truck towing behind that.








As we traveled north, we connected with our daughter and grand kids, and we got to have them for Sat night as she went to a baby shower, and their daddy was working. They got to sleep on the couch with Grammy.















Then on Sun June 8, both our kids, and there spouses joined us in Lake Geneva Wis, for 4 days of Golf, and playing. We rented a 4 bedroom condo, and we have 3 golf courses on the property. The first event though was Pappy's birthday. Yeh, I'm getting older. Nice cake aye!

The kids took long naps on our first day, and when I wanted to take their pic, they wanted to be with Grammy.

The last shot is of the "queen" on the phone. She always says I am on the phone a lot. She does OK.

Weekend Away

My pics are not in order, I think I need a lesson in how to use BLOGGER, (hint Shannon). Last Saturday, NASA launched a shuttle from the cape, and we were about 100 miles north, but could see it clear, and the steam trail was very visible behind all our friends.

We got the chance to get away for a 3 day trip to St Augustine Fl, the oldest city in America.

This shot of of the 3 couples at our hotel

On our way, we found this neat outdoor grill, overlooking the ocean, and had a great lunch. The view was wonderful

We toured the city, and found the oldest school, which is one of the oldest everything in America.