Monday, 5 September.

The drive from Millersburg to Watkins Glen was mostly uneventful. Elmira has an old park, was well known 120 years ago, that the city is reviving.  Nice effort to date.  The merry-go-round is reputably the fastest one in the world, though there is no proof.  It does go ’round very rapidly.  It’s one of a number of carousels that has the ring grabbing device, which is where the phrase “to grab the brass ring” gets its origins.

In Danbury, PA I got my closest near-death experience of the entire year.  As a pedestrian, in a legal crosswalk, with the “Walk” sign on.  Driver turning left not only nearly hit me, but took umbrage at my impeding his movement.  “I’m driving here!” he yelled.

Watkins Glen had an Indycar race on Sunday.  The town is all about race cars.  nice paintings and a walking history lesson along the street, which has its own Walk of Fame for racers worldwide.

I got a campsite and then toured most of the gorge cut out of the hillside by Glen Creek.  It’s a really impressive sight with various walkways either right along the creek above it.  The are stone bridges and tunnels cut in to the walls.  It’s really quite a view.  Of course, being Labor Day, it was pretty crowded.  I’ll do more of it tomorrow.

I walked two miles from the campsite into town to do some wine tasting, only to learn that the only one in town is closed Mondays.  Even Labor Day.  Very disappointed.

I’ve mostly included this to show the background. I went from clear view to deep fog and back for about an hour.

Not much of a claim to fame. But you promote what you can.

I include the car. It sounded just like you’d expect.

Who knew?

Pretty, but none of the horses are originals. The rebuilders searched the country for used ones.

Sunday, 4 September.  Brilliantly split the distance between DC and Baltimore.  Didn’t have to get on either beltway.  Visited Mt. Airy, Littlestown, Gettysburg, Carlisle and Millersburg.  Gettysburg cannot be seen in less than a full day, so I essentially skipped it.  Visited one battlefield/cemetery.  Carlisle was good.  I went because I knew Jim Thorpe (famous athlete) had gone to school there.  Turns out it also had some involvement with the Gettysburg engagement.  Millersburg is a tiny little town on the east bank of the Susquehanna River with a 3-car ferry to the west bank, which has a campground.  Took the ferry to the campground.  It was a slow, restful day.  A lot of bikes on the road.

Gettysburg was a very fluid engagement. As this sign illustrates.

Those are 8″ floppy disks. Even before my time!

One of hundreds of monuments at Gettysburg. Most of them identify brigades, regiments, battalions and companies. Really confusing if you’re trying to keep track

Entrance to Cemetery Hill. It was there during the battle.

I was deliberate in showing the artillery in the background.

To clarify: The battle of Monmouth was during the Revolutionary War.

Molly “Pitcher”. She would carry water to the wounded in a pitcher. Hence the nickname. Her husband worked with cannon.  When he was wounded, she pitched in.  George Washington personally thanked her.

I’m a Presbyterian.

Very nice looking firestation in Carlisle.

The car ferry. It’s a sternwheeler houseboat with a barge attached. 16″ draft. The water can’t be more than 3′ deep. People wade across the mile wide river.

When the Harleys start their engines, I have to look at my gages to make sure my engine is running.

Friday and Saturday, 2-3 September.  Attended 40th reunion with the Annapolis class of 1976.  No pictures.  I didn’t consider these two days to be part of the Adventure.

It was a good time and I’m glad I came.  But now, on with the Adventure.  I believe I’ll slow my speed of advance.  I’ll head back to New York tomorrow, seeking a new route through Pennsylvania.

Thursday, 1 Sep.  I thought I’d check out Harpers Ferry before spending the day at the Air and Space Museum in Dulles.  But ended up spending the day at Harpers Ferry.  The Museum will have to wait.

National Historical Park.  Not a National Historic Site.  Read over some of the rules for naming stuff and it’ll make your head spin.  Parking is an issue, so you park away from the town and take a shuttle. The Appalachian Trail goes through town.  There’s an Information Center there about the Trail and I had a good time talking about my walk in Scotland, which is part of the International Appalachian Trail.  There is also a Rail Trail that begins in DC and runs along the Potomac shoreline.  Besides the famous rebellion by John Brown, a lot of Civil War conflicts occurred in town.  Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were involved in some of its past.  I was surprised at the amount of history that is held by the place.  The “Fort” where John Brown was defeated was deconstructed and moved four times.  It’s now 50 yards from its place of origin.

Visited two tasting rooms.  Had one taste at each one.  Virginia’s pours are truly only one ounce. Maybe less.  Hardly a single swallow.  Quite different from what I’m used to in California.  I can only guess that inspectors are particular about amounts.  One Winery, Breaux Vineyards, was beautiful.  Perfect place for a quiet afternoon watching the world turn.  Wine was excellent too.

Had dinner at Mike’s American Restaurant in Springfield with an old friend.  Just as I was putting on the helmet, a typical DC rainstorm hit.  From nothing to everything between breaths.  I got to a covered gas station within a minute, but in that time I became soaked.  By the time I had my rain gear on the rain had mostly stopped.  But spray from cars was intense.  Made it to Annapolis after nightfall, the first time on the trip I drove in the dark.

Here for two days, attending reunion.  Will not be reporting on that, so expect nothing more until Sunday.

John Brown’s “Fort”. The Armory’s firehouse. The building was disassembled and reconstructed at the Chicago Exposition.

Yonder is Maryland. This is part of the Appalachian Trail.

There are people beginning the European tradition of hanging locks on bridges to commemorate a couple’s love.

View from “Jefferson’s Rock”. Thomas Jefferson visited Harpers Ferry and wrote that the view was worth crossing the ocean to see.

Another view from Jefferson’s Rock.

I think this legal tongue twister is at most wineries in Virginia. Find the typo.

Beaux Vineyard.

The view from the front of Breaux Winery.

I was chased this morning by rain.  Traffic and wind patterns kept me right on the leading edge for two hours.  The weather plot would have no rain juuuuust a few miles ahead, but it would move as I moved.  Got a little wet.

The rain didn’t get to Punxsutawney.  No surprise: The town has an absolute fixation on the groundhog.   Phil has his own quarters at the library, though his window needs some serious cleaning.  Gobbler’s Knob is actually several miles outside of town (the movie used the war memorial park.)  A guy gave me a “Happy Groundhog Day” coin.  Fun.

Further south I had no rain.  I very happily drove nearly all the way through Pennsylvania on local roads.  Some twisties.  Hills.  Nice towns.  At times there was a canopy of leaves over the road, other times a wide vista of green rolling landscape.  Historical markers were in plain sight, but most didn’t really say much. Two confederate flags.  Many Trump signs.  One large yellow roadside sign: “Wear seat belts . . . for the next million miles!” Mercersburg (James Buchanan’s childhood home) was worthy of a stop, but I didn’t.

Hotel has laundry services.  Clean cloths!  No continental breakfast, but I’m 30 seconds away from a Waffle House.  Thank goodness there aren’t any near my home.  Nearly every time I visit one the server calls me darlin’ or dearie.  We’ll see.

Sculptures of Phil Are everywhere.

There are many statues like this one. In the background is Phil’s picture window. Very dirty.

Hereeeeee’s Phil!!

The stage is about 3 miles from town (on Gobbler’s Knob, of course).

This was once the Cambria County(?) prison. It’s an impressive building, sitting in the middle of town and right next to the war memorial park. Now the Records Repository. It really ought to be something jazzier.

Restless house.

In a house’s front lawn. I’m thinking he doesn’t need to do much extra work to prepare for Halloween.

Tuesday, 30 August.

On a lark I decided to go from Michigan to New York via Canada. Outside the box thinking. Really, Ohio is just so moderate.  On the way to Port Huron I saw a sign for someplace called Frankenmuth.  Who could resist?  Turns out it’s a town founded by Germans and has continued that cultural feel. A real tourist destination.  I could have spent the day there.  They had perhaps the best humorous store I’d ever seen.  Lots of fudge (again). A Celtic Store that had an entire Doctor Who section too!  A covered bridge.  Brewery.  River rapids.  Etc.  I regretted leaving.

Crossing Canada from Michigan to New York was probably better than going through Ohio, but it was a close call.  Hot, busy highway.  I started to enter London, but it’s really just a large city.  Had lunch; Peppercorn burger with cheese and bacon.  Delicious.  Also Jalapeño corn chowder.  I asked for tea, meaning iced tea, but they gave me british hot tea.  It was really good, but with the temp approaching 90, it seemed wrong.

There are at least 30 wine tasting rooms within 30 miles of Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side.  “Organized Crime Winery”?  I did stop at Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery just so I could say I did.  Pretty place.  Vineyards all around the shop.  I bought some Pinot Grigio to drink tonight.  Really very good, sough I may by slurring my words a litlte.(Sic)

Need to do laundry.  Selected a quality hotel that had laundry service, but their washer is busted.  Voiced my dissatisfaction.  I’ll have to wait until tomorrow night.

Tomorrow I plan to visit Phil.  I could go to Williamsport, but kids playing baseball to please their parents play second fiddle to a groundhog who has no idea what’s going on.  I officially dislike temporal anomalies as being saps to easy screenplays (“Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey stuff”), but Groundhog Day is one of my favorite comedies.

Some things are located in the oddest places.

I can only imagine the conversation that initiated talk to place this plaque.

Okay. When you see this tower on a McDonalds store, you know the town is up to something.

This is a really small town with little to report. Today is the 30th.

This is Frankenmuth’s War Memorial. They have a plaque to explain what the memorial symbolizes, which is good.

I like puns, but this one is over the top.

Just one of many very funny t-shirts.

Peninsula Ridge Winery. Bates Hotel, anyone? Their Pinot Grigio is very good.

Monday, 29 August

I kept stopping along the shores of Lake Michigan.  The view wasn’t sensational, but it was compelling.  Found a Snowmobile Museum.  Interesting.  The 60’s were certainly the decade for their growth. Before then it was mostly a cottage industry.

The Mackinac Bridge is still there.  Family went over it in 1965(?).  My memory is that we camped in a park right along the onramp, which is today comprised of museums and shops.  A lot of fudge shops.  A lot.  Over the top.  It’s a large tourist area.  The Bridge museum is above a pizza restaurant.  Interestingly, when it opened in 1957 the toll charge was $3.25 for cars, $1.50 for motorcycles.  Today it’s $4 for either.  Doesn’t seem fair.  The left lane is steel decked, scary for two wheels.  Apparently, on Labor Day they let people walk across it.  I don’t know if they still offer it, but in the past scared drivers could call in advance and have someone drive their car over.  No charge.

I was going to continue driving along the coastline but I had spent too much time on the north side.  Just took the 75 south to Saginaw.  Hot and busy.  I wanted to stay in Flint to show support, but their hotels were too much $$$.  Considering the water situation, that was surprising.  Maybe all the government inspectors are driving up prices.

Ate a Michigan Pasty (meat pie).  Ugh.  Bland.  Probably should try another before passing judgement.

(Oh.  A few days ago in Minnesota I passed Welcome, MN.  They did indeed have a sign: “Welcome to WELCOME”.  Gotta love it.)

I checked the records. There are several towns in the USA and Canada that claim to be Paul Bunyan’s home town.

Looks like the Midas Muffler man, modified.

Notice the sign, went in. We had snowmobiles in my youth. I described one and the curator immediately knew all about the model’s history.

Hundreds of different models. Dozens on makers. I had no idea. The was even a converted Model T Ford!

A Harley Davidson snowmobile. I bet it was loud.

I have doubts that this thing worked.

Mackinac Bridge. It is still one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

Sunday, 28 August.

Drove to Green Bay.  Some nice towns along the way, Omro being the best.  Extremely pretty town with a slow moving river in the middle.  Lots of parks.  A horseshoe area (7 sets).  Fishing is clearly the main hobby.  Playgrounds everywhere.

Green Bay, besides hosting a football team of a some fame, is home to the National Railroad Museum. Who knew?  I think the North Carolina Museum of Transportation has more engines, etc., but this one is vastly better laid out and displayed.  Well worth the $9 admission.  Has the last remaining 1950s train that was designed by General Motors to resemble a bus.  Failed commercially, but it’s pretty.  The Big Boy engine is magnificent.  Also had a car named “Silver Streak”.  As it happened, Gene Wilder passed away on this day.  I also loved the movie with him and Richard Pryor.  RIP.

The Green Bay Packers Museum is closed on Sundays.  I could have done the stadium tour, but I’m not that big a fan of stadiums.  So I went to one of the numerous sports bars within sight of the stadium.  Had cheese curds (curdled milk). Like soft calamari.  What was on TV? The Chargers.  Weird.

Drove another 100 miles and camped at one of the dozens of camping sites on Lake Michigan.  Trains roared past, but I sort of liked it.  Learned that this year’s Gold Wing Rally ( a “Wing Ding”) is in Billings, Montana, hence all the GW’s going in the other direction.  10,000 participants.

I’m noticing that fewer towns are placing machines of war out on display, going for memorials instead. Good.

Just for fun, this picture is upside down.

The sign just says “Ship Rock”. On the side of the road, in the middle of miles and miles of nothing but flatland. No explanation.

Pretty town of Omro.

I haven’t seen this sign before.

Omro’s memorial.

I don’t know if this is a quote from somewhere, but it’s very touching.

Big Boy. One of the largest train engines in history. Technically a 4-8-8-4 (24 wheels). 134 feet long. The picture doesn’t do it justice.  The first 12 wheels are articulated beneath the fixed boiler so it can handle curves.

The cab of the Big Boy. Bewildering.

Another Gratitude Train from French. 48 were sent from France. I saw another one in North Carolina.

An early snowplow car.

Sadly, this barrel car carried vinegar or apple cider. Not wine.

The train used by Dwight Eisenhower in England. They changed its name in his honor. A lot of arm twisting went into getting the United Kingdom to give it up. Prince Philip got involved.

I took this picture on August 28th, the same day that Gene Wilder passed. RIP.

I came to Green Bay to say I’ve seen Lambeau Field. Mission accomplished. The museum is closed on Sunday.

Saturday, 27 August.  Boring drive.  No pictures.  Three pictures from yesterday at the Minuteman Control Center.

Rain in the morning.  Slept a little after breakfast.  Departed 9.  Felt out of sorts, so after 75 miles I went to a McDonalds for 90 minutes.  Rain stopped, road dried out.  Better.

Discovered Austin, MN.  Didn’t know existed. Went in search of Austin t-shirts, found Austin Bruins Hockey. North American Hockey League.  (The high school’s team name is Packers.)  Bought some shirts.  It was the high point of the day.

Stopped after only 260 miles in La Crosse, WI.  Not only did I cross the Mississippi, but I also crossed the track I took from Florida to Alaska last April. (By about 50 yards.)  Tomorrow I visit Green Bay.  I’m about 200 miles ahead of my planned itinerary.

There were numerous wind farms in view today.  Wild ramblings while I drove:

• Many of the wind turbines were in fields of corn destined for ethanol.  There’s some kind of irony in that.  One can only imagine the meeting between wind “farmers” and actual farmers to discuss leasing fees.
• I bet it’s already happened, but I haven’t seen any graffiti on a tower yet.
• Corporate sponsors?  These things can be giant billboards.
• Or, war memorials. Names of fallen soldiers written on the towers.
• They’re all white.  When will someone get adventurous and use colors?  Barber poll?  Life Savers?
• We need sculpted towers.  A replica of the Statue of Liberty?  Rocky, holding up two turbines?  A baseball bat shaped tower?
• These towers are huge.  Need a SciFi storyline that makes use of them as living spaces. Either before or after technology fails.  About 20  floors?  “Wind Farm Apartments.”  The spinning blades can be engaged to mechanically lift elevators.  No wind, you climb.

Saw a huge number of Gold Wings today, going west.  Almost all were hauling trailers.  Must be a rally somewhere.  La Crosse is hosting a fishing competition for teenagers.  Boats are in the parking lot.  I mean no offense to any fishing fans, but a $60,000 boat to catch something you can buy at the grocery store?  I talked to a couple last night.  The husband goes fishing on Sundays, the wife watches football.  To each their own, which is what freedom is all about.

Doesn’t need to be mentioned, but the couple managing the hotel last night in Sibley, Iowa, were from India.  They and everyone else I’ve met on this trip have been extremely friendly. This is a great country.

The entry. They got their own gas pump. No cameras were used to watch the area. The fence and such didn’t need to be too secure. This was a shoot without warning type facility.

The door weighs 16,000 lbs. The two officers would go in and close it. For the cook (living topside) to deliver meals required a 30 minute security routine.

This was the entire space. For 24 hours, just the two of them. One bed for napping. The toilet had a curtain around it.

Forced to use my hotspot, so no pictures.  There aren’t many today anyway.  I’ll post them tomorrow.

The Minuteman Missile Museum was very different than the Titan Missile Museum. The entire physical process for managing the missiles were not similar at all, though the process for launching them was identical.  The Museum and tour for Minuteman was more technical, while the Titan was more personal.  Both are well worth a visit.  Perhaps the strangest thing here is that it’s managed by the National Park Service.  Having a Park Ranger give the tour was just odd.  “Here we have a mule deer.”  Just replace “mule deer” with “1.2 megaton nuclear device”.

The rest of the day was just driving.  I90, legally doing 80 MPH.  South Dakota is no less boring than North Dakota in my eyes.  I had a storm line in front of me moving east, which I had to push through.  Some heavy rain, but not enough to worry about.  I knew about it before setting out, so I was properly dressed.  Spray from vehicles much worse than actual rain.

In Sibley, Iowa tonight ($36 room; Yea!).  Heart of corn country (read: ethanol).  Fertilizer aromas too.  Friendly people at the bar.  Recreational activities: If they aren’t fishing, they’re hunting.  I was a fish out of water.