LANCASTER AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

The rain had slightly subsided in Hershey, so we decided we would go to Lancaster, and a few other central PA cities today. So many of our friends had suggested that we go to Bird In Hand, or Intercourse, or whatever. It really didn't matter. Everything was beautiful and one afternoon doesn't serve any of them justice.... we've got to come back - something you can plan to do when you are fulltiming.

We visited a campground called Country Haven, down the road from Smucker's Gourd's - our friends Jackie and George Mueller suggested. The campground is a postcard and although it seems tucked away from civilization, you overlook an entire vista of Pennsylvania. On the way, we carefully maneuvered past one Amish wagon after another. They ask you not to take their pictures, and if they don't wave back at you, it's because all the tourists are waving at them all day long. You have to remember these are not actors dressed for your benefit. Their homes are not considered museums for you to wonder through. Compared to most, the Amish live a very simple life and concentrate on religion and family.

Also, it was evident Tuesday was laundry day, because everywhere you turned, every family's laundry was hung to dry on the porch, the yard, the field - everywhere. We stopped at a local Amish grocery to purchase bulk cheeses, sausages and dried goods - as well as locally grown asparagus - handmade sausages and thick cut country bacon. We went down backroads and saw quaint covered bridges - something our coach could not have maneuvered at all. We traveled approximately 130 miles in our car. After enjoying lunch at the Bird In Hand Family Restaurant, Bird In Hand, PA, dessert was not an option. We were full all the way back to Hershey, PA.

HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA

We could probably talk about Milton Hershey all day long and not fully cover what this man did for Pennsylvania; more particularly the youth and citizens who worked in Hershey. Whatever he did is still seen everywhere you turn. His story and life is still an inspiration, and I would have loved to have lived in his time. (Can you visualize Lucy and Ethel at the candy factory production line?) Can you believe that in the early days, ladies actually wrapped each "kiss" individually? Some of the things we've seen that he built in the early 1900's is the factory, which is still in operation today, the zoo, the Hershey Hotel, the Hershey Trust Bank, Hershey School and home for orphans, the hospital which bears his name, and I could go on and on. The bulk of his estate went to help the children and the school which bears his name.

I doubt Hershey had anything to do with that huge monster roller coaster - we heard screams coming from it all day yesterday. A wooden roller coast - remember the Wild Mouse at Jacksonville Beach in the early 60's?! The main streets in Hershey are Cocoa and Chocolate Avenues. The street lights are in the shape of alternating chocolate and silver shaped Hershey kisses - how cool is that!?

We thoroughly enjoyed attending the charitable event at the Giant Center to benefit the Penn State Medical Center for Children at Hershey, PA.

High Meadow Campground in Hershey is affiliated with the Hershey Company. It is very busy, and we are here on a weekend, so it looks about filled. As you would expect everything is clean and managed well. They have approximately 300 sites on 55 acres, and are located less than 2 miles from Hershey Park. On one side of us are 2 couples in a 5th wheel all the way from Colorado attending a convention, and the other side is a couple from California, in an Allegro Bus visiting family in the area for about a month. People love to hear we are fulltiming. Occasionally you hear a gasp, like what in the world are you thinking?!! You mean you don't have a house?!! Yes, we do, and here it is.

We have seen the Hershey Story at the Museum. Very interesting and informative. And if you're looking for a great place to have breakfast, we just happened upon "The Hershey Pantry" - on East Chocolate Avenue. I thought I had arrived to have tea with the Mad Hatter. This is a must for anyone staying in this area. We'll probably go again before we leave, just to make sure they weren't "putting on the Ritz" just for us. It is small, and the tables are close, but the service is sterling and the food is delicious. The hostess and our server were plesant, making our breakfast that much more enjoyable.

We will be going over to Chocolate World tomorrow. This is where you tour the factory, get samples and buy product. I have a surprise to add tomorrow - please come back.

THE NATIONAL CIVIL WAR MUSEUM - Harrisburg, PA

Before you ask, we haven't become complete Civil War nuts, but when you come across the National Civil War Museum, you just have to go. We were only staying about 8 miles away, and it seemed like it would be worthwhile - after we went to Bass Pro Shop, of course. NCWM is privately owned but they have over 4,000 artifacts and 21,000 archival documents. The day we were there we saw ANOTHER Civil War re-enactment done by one of the Pennsylvania Artillery groups. Interesting - the whole thing we had seen the week before in Buchanan; however, this was a much smaller scale - no horses - no cannons. All of the participants were dressed in period costume.

GETTYSBURG AND DWIGHT EISENHOWER'S HOME

We were told the best way to see Gettysburg would be to get on the double decker bus tour, so about 9:30am we boarded what turned out to be an incredible 2 hour tour of Gettysburg, the hallowed Battlefields, and a history lesson I had never heard. The entire trip was a mix of tour operator narration and dramatic presentation you heard from earphones at your seat. The weather was beautiful which really helped. The whole perspective was not from the idea of who was right - these thousands of men lost their lives for what they believed in - but in the end what was important was that they were Americans. In 3 days in 1863, 165,000 soldiers met on Gettysburg Battlefield. More than 51,000 soldiers became casualties. I hate to show my pictures because they just don't do justice to what you see - the enormity of everything. In many ways, it wasn't anything like what I had in my mind - it was so much greater.


We decided we would have lunch - an old restaurant called Dunlap's. Delicious. Just a hint of my southern cook came out in me. I ordered Chicken Pot Pie, which came out and was chicken and dumplings. Must be a Pennsylvania thing....but it was delicious. RV had a delicious Pennsylvania Dutch chicken caesar salad.

After lunch, we decided to go to the National Park Visitor's Center where we can get our NPS Passport stamped, and discovered that Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower's only home they ever owned is a National Park property. Hmm, another stamp in our book, so we go to this treasure about 5 miles down the road. DDE loved showing the property to international politicians and celebrities so that he could discuss important matters away from D.C. Everything, I mean everything, is in the house just like they left it. You would have thought they had left town and would be back shortly. You have the feeling of age, yes, but interesting to say the least. Gifts that had received from every country you can imagine. Especially from countries who appreciated all he did in NATO, Allied countries, and even countries he kept from the enemies in WWII - and Korea. Trivia: What other classmate besides DDE had no demerits in West Point, and graduated #1, while DDE graduated #2 in his class? Answer: George Mason (the founder of George Mason University in VA) By the way, the farm is still a working farm. Prized black angus are still being raised as are crops. You can understand why they loved this farm so much - a picture postcard. Again, our photos do not do it justice.