HITTING THE ROAD with Marlene: August 15 through 18, 2024

DAY ONE:  THURSDAY August 15th:  We left Marlene's house a little after eight a.m.  Headed south in order to go to the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.  First stop at a Visitors Center where we had a picnic lunch.  Then onto Leonard Harrison State Park.  There is a great viewing area behind the gift shop/visitors center.  There are trails that go down to the canyon, but we chose to walk the OVERLOOK TRAIL which is boardwalk and steps going to a smaller overlook.  I loved seeing the turkey vultures swooping gracefully though the air.   Just beautiful!!!

Then we headed back to Wellsboro but stopped at a gift shop (I think the name of it is Omi of the Canyon) just outside the park and then a Mennonite Store named STONY FORK COUNTRY STORE.  The sign said it has been in business since 1883.

They offered a LOT of baked goods.  I bought some pretzels. 

As we left the store, I noticed that just down the road, it looked like a small village.  I asked Marlene to drive down there.  She hesitated, but drove it anyways. I wonder if it was the Village of Stony Fork.  There was no sign. Then we got gas and pushed on to Altoona.  We found our lodging at COMFORT SUITES, had supper at EAT and PARK.  Very good meal, we both had the buffet which was on sale for about twelve dollars.  Back at our lodging, I uploaded pictures to flickr.  Marlene turned in early, so I decided to also, after having a FB conversation with Christa.  Nik is looking for a new job and has had a second interview. It sounds like he is happy and hopeful!  

DAY TWO, FRIDAY August 16th:   We were both awake early even before six a.m., so I suggested we get up and slowly start our day.  Our room here is really nice, it is actually a suite, with a separate area with a couch, coffee table and a desk.  There is plenty of room to set things.  The beds and pillows are extremely comfortable.   Our breakfast at the hotel was good.  When I checked out, I joined some sort of elite club and can accumulate points.. ha ha ha.

We hit the road and headed to HORSESHOE CURVE.  Unfortunately, the inclined railroad thingee is out of commission, being repaired so we only got to see the museum.  We could have walked up something like 194 steps to get to the top of where the inclined thingee would take us, but we declined.  We did get to see TWO trains go around the curve. 

We purchased sandwiches at a huge convenience store where we got gas. SHEETZ.  Then we headed west to Washington to go to the PA TROLLEY MUSEUM. The museum closes at four p.m. and we arrived at three thirty.  Special price today only five dollars due to the county fair.  We went in both buildings,

one had history and the other had old trolleys and streetcars. 

Then we took the trolley ride.  It went by the Washington County fair, which is pretty small, probably smaller than the Niagara County Fair.  Then we started the long ride to Ohio's Amish area.  We stopped in West Virginia at an Arby's and purchased supper.  I had the five dollars for three items and it was pretty good.  After that I drove the rest of the way to Walnut Creek since Marlene really needed a break.  Detours on 39 probably added a full hour to our trip but we finally made it to THE INN AT WALNUT CREEK about 8:30.  I think we may have the same room we had in spring of 2023, much smaller than last nights suite, but clean and nice. 

DAY 3, Saturday the 17th of August:   Breakfast at our lodging and then to Sugarcreek to the AGE OF STEAM ROUNDHOUSE Museum where we took a guided tour that was very interesting. 

After that we located the Ohio Star Theatre, then had pizza and salad at this place, a little over six dollars for a slice of pizza and a side salad.  We were the only customers.  

  and then we drove to to downtown Sugarcreek for the clock and shopping (clearly not my idea).  I walked down Main St and was amazed at this property. 

It is right next door to a shop named THE SECRET GARDEN which had a lot of big and beautiful lawn ornaments out in front.  I did not go inside the store.  Here are some pictures from the yard of the house next door (I figure it is probably owned by the owner of the store).  

The front and side yard were a combination of a rock garden and a flower garden, along with many statues. 

       back at our lodging, Marlene took a nap while I went to the German Cultural Museum,

 

and when I told her how good it was, she went over to it.  We left for the theatre at five p.m., got there and I picked up the tickets and we went to the restaurant (Dutch Valley Restaurant) for supper.  Long line of people waiting.  After close to a half hour wait, we were seated at small table.  The buffet good but not excellent.  Pouring rain outside.  When I was in ladies' room, a couple of women were making raincoats out of plastic trash bags.  I took two for Marlene and I which we used as hoods and shawls but luckily the rain had slowed down.  The play was wonderful.  Picture taking was forbidden. 

When we got back to our room, Marlene found a movie on BYU TV network   MISS POTTER, about the author of Beatrix Potter books.  She watched that while I uploaded pictures to flickr.

DAY FOUR, August 18th, SUNDAY:  We had breakfast at the hotel, and then packed up and left a few minutes before ten a.m.  Marlene had chosen a different route.  We stopped for a late lunch in Erie, Ps, at another EAT AND PARK.  We shared a salad and a turkey club sandwich.   Both were very good.  Our last stop was at a rest area which is being renovated.  Porta potties and gas were available.  Lots of army vehicles and soldiers stopped after we arrived.  I should have taken a few pictures of them.  In the evening, I started unpacking and also wrote reviews of some of the places I went to in the past few days.