Day 5 on the “Bell Trip” April 28, 2021

Good day to you all,
I realized that I didn’t identify the first post yesterday, I will remember from now on.

As today was a travel day  there were not many photos  but a few will be shown.

Generally we travelled NE to SW from PA to Maryland. I realize some of you are just learning English  so I should not abbreviate  so much. It is difficult to know the meanings of abbreviations unless you “know the territory”.

Most of the trip was on divided highways as getting to our destination  the shortest and fastest was was essential. Once there we can take our time and enjoy the days.

Just north of Philadelphia was where we started at 9:15 as the roofers were just  getting started to put the shingles on the roof. (see photo). We followed I-476 south toI-76 and took a 20 minute longer route than otherwise as it allowed us more rural driving  through the countryside and over the  Susquehanna River. As it happens sometimes we missed seeing the exit sign for route 222 and being on a freeway, there was no exit for 20 miles. That meant a  31 mile trip to catchup to  US 30 east of York ,where it would have only been 14 miles had we been alert enough to see route 222.  So watch those road signs !!!There was some’ one lane traffic’ due to ??? You guessed it—-summer road construction. Up here, it is the only time that can be done.That is one advantage Western European countries have  in that they have a much shorter cold season and not so cold  as the northern tier of states in the USA.

 

 

 The roofers are ready put on the shingles. Note the platform they use to support their feet, then sit to nail the shingles.

 

 

The highlight of the day was yet to come as we stopped for lunch at the Burger King in New Freedon, PA, where granddaughter, Emily Simmons  was working. For her it was wonderful sharing time, albeit she was busy working as the line at the ‘drive through’ was 10-12 cars long at noon.  Ruth and I did set a record in the restaurant. THIS WAS OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO EAT AT A RESTAURANT INDOORS SINCE MARCH OF 2020. I think we will survive as we have our vaccine shots and the restaurant was following guidelines as to number of customers. Emily insisted on buying our lunch. (Sometimes you have to say “YES!”)

The “Ramblin’ Pines” campground is off the highway for sure.  The nearby town of Woodbine is tiny (1500?) and the campground is another 5-6 miles on a very winding ,beautifully  visted (sic)  road, and although it is large with  150 campsites we are situated at the very back of the sites, away from the pool, office, horseshoe pits, laundry  and the children’s activity yard. (Of course I’ll throw a few ‘shoes’ one day and hot the pool if it stays like this (82 F today).

We arrived at about 3:15 PM and the site ,though our site had a steep drop off at the edge of the site. I only mean a few feet, but as it was all covered with the last years leaves (lots of oak), I had to be careful  when putting up the bird feeders when moving up and down that incline.

 

                                             Our campsite at the back of the park in the woods.

 This shows some what  the precautions are that  we have to take at this age (89) when all the appendages aren’t moving like they did some 10 years ago. Getting up after getting under the trailer for a release of “gray water”is one example.  Just can’t “pop” right up anymore.

So we got settled in, ate supper, and just chilled in the evening. I headed to the back of the trailer where I could see and hear the birds in that marvelous woods. Ruth got her i pad going with a good read. Tonight it is “The Face of a Stranger”.

 Our next door neighbr feeding the "Mrs" while he stands guard and gets her food. All day!

                                                Yes,It is an Eastern Bluebird

 So that is pretty much the day, and tomorrow we will start with making hummingbird syrup (one part sugar and 4 parts water  …boiled and cooled), and putting grape jelly in the  Oriole feeder.We have seen neither but we want to be ready. Let me know when yours arrives!!!

See you tomorrow as we will be here 10 nights and I should be able to put up a blog each day. Sometimes many photos , sometimes a few.

See you tomorrow,

Jim