Thursday morning - Kingsbury, NY

September 3 – Wednesday

One of the joys of retirement is that unless you want to, you don’t have to do anything, even what you thought you were going to do. When we rolled out of bed Monday, we looked at one another and said, “Why were we going anywhere today when the rest of the world is headed home after Labor Day?” So we didn’t do anything. No, not even a Wal-Mart run or cemetery crawl.

Instead we basked in the cool breezes of the Pine Hill RV Park (perched atop one of the many ridges and hills in Central Pennsylvania). I did a couple of chores; Margaret read some more in prep for her game presentation next month; and of course, the afternoon naps, outside dining, and star and firefly watching. Suki roamed about, guarding the perimeter.

The only downer was my DIY repair job on the crown / cap failed during dinner. So the first order of business Tuesday was to find a dentist. Once again, the Internet came through; specifically YELLOWPAGES.COM. And wonder of wonders I was able to get an appointment at 11:40 a.m.

So we drove into Kutztown, PA, and dined (again) at Letterman’s Diner. What a nice treat. M. I chose the special of homemade blueberry waffles. The waitress asked short or tall stack. What’s the difference? Answer: 2 or 4. Two, please. Delicious!! As was the coffee. A sign over the pot said, “Drink coffee, do stupid things faster and with more energy.” The menu was extensive and varied, including apple or corn fritters, 10 for $3, or fried pickles 4 for $3.75. When another flat of eggs was needed from the back the cook called, “Huevos.” Eggs, were delivered.

Luckily, the dentist I picked from the phone book was excellent. He took a number of steps preparing and installing the wayward crown / cap that I hadn’t thought of. It feels comfortable now. He said because of the location (last molar in the back), it was hard to make a crown / cap stay on for more than 3-4 years. This one had been on since the root canal back in 200? So I guess I can’t complain.

Tuesday was another cemetery day. Found several new ones, but we passed by several more. (Phew!) I will include a couple of the more photogenic shots but rest assured, there are hundreds more that Margaret took that you will not share. M. Names and dates.

Lest you feel pity for yours truly, sitting in a sweltering car in the middle of a cemetery(s), driving in rural PA is a joy (when you can avoid the traffic). At first it seems like miles and miles of corn and soy-bean fields, but then you “turn a corner” and you’re in dark and peaceful hardwood forests, dappled sunshine, with the road running beside a babbling brook. At least we thought they should be babbling – we stopped and rolled the windows down – no sound! It was a cheerful thought anyway. And beautiful homes, tucked away in the forest, some with ponds and arboretums.

We did stumble on our first (and only) PA covered bridge. I anticipate finding many more in the next two weeks of Vermont.

Today (Wednesday) we drove further than planned (275 miles instead of 200 miles). We got an early start (for us: 9:30) and were just south of Albany, NY, at 3 p.m. We decided that we should press on. Unfortunately, as we headed for Vermont, we found ourselves miles from civilization (and RV parks). We were lucky to find one in Cambridge, NY (about 15 miles from the Vermont / NY state line). From here it’s only 125 miles to Barre, VT, where we have a 10-day reservation, while I take my class and we sight-see VT. We plan to stay here (Cambridge, NY) for two nights and then make the run north.

For the second time on our trip, there is no Internet access in the RV Park, so we will drive into a nearby town today for sightseeing and get our e-mail and this blog out.

Today’s photos include a B&B in downtown Kutztown. A lot of color is used in many Pennsylvania homes and shops; not so much the big surfaces, but much of the trim is painted a contrasting and usually bright color. Nice.

The church at the end of the road, the SALEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, was the site of the cemetery where Margaret did a lot of walking around (both in the rain and in the hot sun). It was interesting that this large cemetery was spread across the grounds of two churches; right next to the Church of Christ was the CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Cemeteries often are home to a variety of names, although there are many common names in rural areas. Don’t think I saw one Smith or Jones in the lot! But one thing you don’t see frequently was a decorated tea-pot with a red, plastic cardinal sitting in it. I’d like to know the story behind that.

While we were visiting one cemetery, we looked across the next hill, and there was another church and cemetery, very typical scenery in this neck of the woods. No, we did not go prowl that cemetery; even Margaret had enough (more importantly, she had what she came for and what she needed for her genealogy).

Thursday 10:43 a.m.

Since we didn’t have any Internet access in the RV park, we tooled up the road in search of civilization. Although there aren’t any “huge” cities in central / eastern NY State (Albany is the largest we’ve seen), there are many small towns with population evenly scattered between the towns. So you’re never far from houses or farms. It’s very picturesque.

I’m now sitting in the central park / town square of Kingsbury, NY. No electrical power for the computer, but 5 bars on the wireless PC card!

Margaret just returned from visiting the Catholic Church across the street. The sign sign says that George Washington reviewed the troops here in the summer of 1786 – probably in the very square I’m seated in. M. Maybe, even this very bench!