Day 2 in Kutztown, PA

M: Again, this part of the country tugs at us not to leave. ‘Tis another glorious day, after the- not- so-cold night that had been forecasted. The sun is hot, the breeze cool and very pleasant. Suki is outside, ever alert for an approaching canine, luxuriating in the cool grass, eating some which he promptly throws up.

Last night we ran out of propane which meant no heat or stove. We drive into Emmaus to dine at a wonderful Italian restaurant, Italiano Delite – mobbed. We sat outside in the covered patio, eating (eggplant parmesan for me and crab stuffed veal and seafood pasta for Wayne) too much and people watching. Vow of the day: go for lunch or split a dish, there is just too much food one a plate for one person. We brought home food enough for another two or three meals – leftovers!

On returning to the unit, we discovered our neighbors were having a luau complete with lanterns, leis and grass skirts – the bodies were broader than the grass panels could cover, so the theme was only Hawaiian from the front. Thankfully, normal clothes concealed the rear.

Odd things we saw: pork and kraut dinner on Oct. 4 at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Krumsville, and a spaghetti suppers at the Moravian Church in Emmaus; fund raising fairs all around. The unit next to us houses a bird and a dog.

W: After a more normal-sized breakfast (we passed on returning to Letterman’s Diner), we tooled around the local country-side looking for a potential propane seller – didn’t find one. But we did find - Ta-Da! Another cemetery! Who’d a thunk it? Lots of old, eroding markers, and a unused church. But the cemetery is still active. I even found the out-house for the cemetery!

We found another covered bridge, this one across Maiden Creek near Lenhartsville, PA. As roaming the back-roads, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but round a corner and there are 2 or 3 homes; some quite nice, others old and need of repair. But all wonderful secluded nooks for getting away from the big city grind.

More beautiful hills and farm land. Most of the corn is turning yellow now, but the farmers are letting it stand. From my limited experience on my uncle’s farm in my youth, I believe this corn is allowed to dry out. Then it is shucked and shelled for feed. The corn plant itself is cut down and ground up, again for cattle feed.

So we didn’t make it to D.C. today. Nor did we find propane. As long as we have electricity, we have a functional refrigerator, microwave, hot water, and TV. Last night we used a combination of a small electric space-heater and an electric blanket. As Margaret said above, it wasn’t as cold as they had predicted. We were toasty warm. Tonight should be even warmer. Tomorrow’s high is supposed to be close to 80.

A beautiful afternoon to sit by the RV and bask in sun and cool breezes (and slave over a hot computer writing and editing photos).