Well, Marsha finally caught whatever it is that I've been fighting for over a week now. She got up, took a shower and went back to bed. I got up late, too. Mark and Diane headed for home this morning. Joe and I took a short ride up to the Fairview Camp just because I wanted to.
Back at camp, we had lunch and visited for a while. Not much going on after that. We just putzed around until it was time to start the fire to cook dinner. After dinner we piled a bunch of wood on the fire. It was the best night for a fire since we've been here. Fifty-five degrees, no wind and hardly anyone left in the campground. Today is Memorial Day and most people had to head home to be at work tomorrow.
Last night's low temperature was 32 again, but tonight it's supposed to be in the 40s. Warmer tomorrow. Should be a good day for the drive to Jim & Sandy's in Girard, PA. It's only about 170 miles from here, so we'll take our time breaking camp in the morning.
See you on down the road!
We drove up to the Grand Canyon today. We went to Leonard Harrison State Park's main viewing area, then drove to Colton Point State Park on the other side of the canyon for another view. After that, we stopped for lunch before heading back to camp.
We were just sitting around shooting the breeze when someone spotted the bears that's been hanging around for the past week or so. I got a few pictures of him him before the ranger showed up and he took off.
We grilled a pork roast on the Cobb Grill and pooled our resources with Joe and Loretta for dinner. After dinner, I took the trash to the dumpster and snapped a couple of pictures from the bridge across Kettle Creek on the way.
It was a lazy day, but we saw 66 on the car thermometer while we were exploring. Last night's low was 32. They say it's going to get up to 72 tomorrow, our last day here. We'll see.
After shower, breakfast, and running down the road to get ice, the eight of us loaded into two cars and went for a guided tour. I was the guide! We headed up the mountain across the road from the park and made our way along the narrow dirt roads to the Fairview Camp. I have many memories of the camp from my days as a child spending time here with my grandfather. Also, many good times were had as an adult with my dad, my son, and other relatives.
After spending a few minutes at the camp, we kept going down the road and eventually came back to civilization on the other side of the mountain from where we started. I suggested that since it wasn't far to Hyner View, we should drive to the top for the view, so we did. The cool temperature (about 56) was made even cooler by the high wind, but everyone enjoyed the view.
We headed back to camp via Renovo where we stopped for some groceries and a bite to eat at Big Louie's sandwich and pizza shop. We got back to camp around 4:30 in time to watch one of the rangers chasing a bear away. We got a glimpse of the bear, but no pictures.
The rest of the evening was spent around the campfire. The bed will feel good tonight.
Oh! Last night's low temperature was 34 and it's supposed to get colder tonight. I'll let you know.
We left the Gettysburg Campground about 9:30 this morning, headed for Ole Bull State Park near Cross Fork, PA. We drove 208 miles northward thru the Allegheny Mountains, some of the most beautiful scenery east of the Rockies.
Joe and Loretta were already here because they didn't go to the Gettysburg rally. Tom & Faye and Mark & Diane also showed up this afternoon, so we're having a mini-rally! Loretta had a slow cooker full of chili, so we ate at her place. I bought some firewood from the campground and we had a nice fire before heading for our campers at about 9:00. It's 43 degrees out now, but it's supposed to get into the low 30s tonight. We'll see!
Word is, there's been a bear in the campground during the last few nights. We saw all kinds of food sitting on people's tables this evening, so we'll see what the word is in the morning. You just can't fix stupid! I've got my bear spray at the ready, just in case!
Tomorrow we're going exploring. More to come. No cell service or Internet here, so I'll post when I can.
We went to the Visitor Center to by tickets for the bus ride and tour of the Eisenhower Farm. Ike bought the place in 1950 while contemplating retirement from the presidency of Columbia University, but their move to the farm was delayed by a decade when he accepted the offer to run for president of the United States.
We stopped in town for lunch and groceries before returning to the campground. Marsha did the laundry while I took a nap. I'm feeling a bit better, but my stomach muscles are sore from coughing so much.
Dinner was at 5:30 followed by door prize drawings and the drawing of the name of the quilt winner. The quilt raffle raised $800 for the Battlefield Trust. The evening's entertainment was provided by Bil (yes, "Bil") Lepp, renowned story teller and five-time winner of the West Virginia Liars' Contest. The guy was hilarious. Google him.
It started raining pretty hard during Bil's performance, but had let up by the time we headed back to the camper. Tomorrow, we head north to Ole Bull State Park for four nights. There's no phone reception or Internet there, so it may be a while before I post again, but keep checkin'!
