Purcelville, Virginia

On the way to Gettysburg, we stayed in this lovely Bed and Breakfast called Oaklands Green, just outside a small town called Purcelville, near Leesville, Virginia. A lot of the towns in this area had connections back to the civil war generals. They were quaint little places.

Oaklands Green was a lovely old place with a long history. We stayed in the restored old part of the building and it was wonderful.

The main downstairs lounge of the old log cabin.

 View from the rear of the oldest part of the building.

Me sitting on the steps of the newer part of the house.

It was here that I saw my first fireflies. They were like magic little fairy lights twinkling all over the grass and up around the trees as dusk darkened into night. I'd heard of these things. Some people call them fireflies, some call them lightning bugs. They look a bit like those long flying ants we get in the summer time, only their rear ends light up when they take off. I can't even describe how beautiful they were. I stood and watched them for ages. They were the prettiest things I'd ever seen.



 Some of the beautiful garden that surrounds Oakland Green. I sure wish I could get my own garden to look like this.

Being spring, all the beautiful flowers were out. I noticed that many people in the area had different colored begonias and geraniums in hanging pots everywhere. It was very pretty.

This was a huge flowering tree. If anyone recognises what it is, please let me know. It was magnificent. I'd love one in my own yard.

The Covered Bridges of Columbia County, Pennsylvania

Covered Bridges Tour around Benton - Day 7

It didn't take much persuading to make us want to stay another day with Ron and Alice. We loved them and their area so much that we decided to stay an extra day. It was another day of firsts. I saw my first upside-down moon, my first Wallmart, my first covered bridge.

I'm intrigued by the birds around here. They are so different from back home. There are little black birds with bright red slashes across their shoulders and others with bright yellow slashes across theirs. I heard a crow and it actually sounded different from our crows. What they call a black duck here is more like a mallard back home, and there are Canada geese everywhere at the moment.

When I mentioned that I'd like to see a covered bridge, Ron offered to drive us around to see one, or two, or three, or seven, or ten...! We piled into the car again and off we went around Benton and Bloomsburg areas looking at all the covered bridges within that distance. It was wonderful.

The Creaseyville Bridge. Our first covered bridge ever!

These things are wonderful.

The Creasey  Bridge spans this lovely little stream.

Ron and Geoff take a look at the internal structure. These things are solid! No wonder they're still standing.

How's this for a bridge and a half? Weddings are held in this double bridge. I couldn't even get it all into one photo.

East Paden Twin Bridge. It sure is something to see.

 Our wonderful hosts Ron and Alice Strauch.

 After staying with Ron and Alice, we didn't want to leave, but, alas, we had to move on. From Benton we drove north - on the right side of the road - to Niagara Falls.

Benton, Pennsylvania

Benton Area - Day 6

We were supposed to only stay one night with Alice and Ron, but without too much arm-twisting we decided to stay another day. After a wonderful cooked breakfast, Ron and Alice took us on a tour of their area.

The real rural Pennsylvania

These little villages pop up everywhere

The following photos were taken around Lake Jean.

Lake Jean

Ron & Geoff discussthe finer points of fishing

How's that for a stone fence?

 We then drove up to Eagles Mere. It was once a thriving tourist destination. Now it is a quiet little village that tourists like us enjoy wandering around.

Geoff in front of the big clock at Eagle's Mere

After lunch we headed back to the farm. The day was full of firsts for me. I saw my first hummingbird - it was so tiny. I wanted to take a photo of it, but it was too fast. I saw my first buzzard - three actually. They're quite beautiful.

                                                                                                                                                                               

Leaving New York City

New Jersey Turnpike to Pennsylvania - Day 5

We made it around to the car hire place all enthusiastic about getting out of New York and beginning the rest of our trip only to have our plans dashed. The credit card I'd bought along was not considered to be a credit card by USA standards. They refused to rent us our car. Repeated attempts to ring back home to our travel agent failed to even connect.

Unsuccessful calls to many other New York car hire agencies revealed the same story. They would not hire a car to us. Eventually Thrifty came to our rescue and we took a taxi around to where we thought their office was. There was no office. We were dumped out on the pavement, in the rain, in New York, with no idea of where to go. No-one we asked had any idea who Thrifty was let alone where they were.

We were told 81st street, but on a whim, we decided to try 83rd street. Finally, there they were! 83rd street. Thrifty were very good. They did everything they could to help us out. Although it meant almost an extra $4000 we hired a car and were finally off on our journey.

Getting out of New York wasn't as hard as we thought. The traffic wasn't bad, and with the help of our new Garmin GPS, we were soon on the New Jersey Turnpike. Woohoo! Out of the city at last.

We had lunch in Denville, New Jersey, at a lovely little cafe where we were treated like royalty. I'm beginning to love America.

We headed back onto the New Jersey Turnpike and eventually we crossed the boarder into Pennsylvania. I love Pennsylvania. Everywhere you look it is like a postcard picture. The woods are pretty and green, there are rivers and streams everywhere, pretty little villages and quaint houses pop up out of the clearings. There are farms with red and white barns just like you'd see on TV or in a movie.

 

Crossing into Pennsylvania

 

 

 The Pennsylvania countryside is pretty

We were heading towards Benton where we were to spend the night at a farm stay. Geoff had to drive because I wasn't added to the insurance. Keeping him from wiping the door handles off on the side rails of the road, watching for signs and reading the GPS was interesting.

Then we missed a turn and had to go miles before we could turn off the freeway and go back the other way - twice. Even worse, it was a toll road. We paid the toll and then had to go back through the same toll in the opposite direction. The man in the booth charged us double the second time just for being idiots.

Many turn-arounds and five tolls later, we eventually we got to Benton and found Alice and Ron's farm. We were so glad to arrive we could have kissed the ground, and them, and the car...

Friendly Farm Stay on Andy's Hill Road, Benton.

In the pond were bass, newts, frogs and other water-dewllers.

We were welcomed by Ron and Alice and immediately felt like one of their family. After the traumas of the start of the day, ending the day here surrounded by this peace and love, was wonderful.