Day 3 Santorini

 Another glorious day dawned with all sorts of possibilities for adventure before us.  Our tour for the day would begin at 2:30.  We decided to relax and enjoy our pool rather than rushing out into the crowds.  Each day, the crowds ebbed and flowed in intensity depending on how many cruise ships were in port.  One day there were four of them and the crowds were fierce.  We were told that at the height of July and August, the crowds were twice or three times as bad.  Boy, am I glad we came before that!

We met our driver at the base of the hill and hopped into the van ready for the what would be a wonderful adventure.  We headed to the old port.  Not surprising, it looked like mass confusion with crowds as tight as bees on a hive.  But, we were booked for a private catamaran cruise and sunset dinner so our driver led us away from the crowds and out a different slip area.  First up, remove our shoes.  Then, we walked a plank on to one catamaran, crossed it and stepped from the edge to a second on and finally to a third.  As I reached the third, I was hesitant and fearful I would slip and fall.  I looked up and there was a handsome Greek man, Mike with his hand extended to me.  Handsome, oh yes but with the kindest, deep blue eyes ever.  As he took my hand, he said, “trust me, I won’t let you fall,” and he didn’t!  That is the third handsome Green man I have held hands with, LOL.

Once on board, we met our Captain, Andy.  He gave us a short safety talk and ask us to stay at the back until he navigated us out of the port.  To say we were blown away would be an understatement.  This was no small vessel, it was a full sized catamaran capable of carrying 10-12 passengers and we had it all to ourselves.  In no time, we had cleared the port and were heading out into the beautiful Aegean Sea.  We made our way forward where we stood and enjoyed the wind in our hair and spray on our faces.  I could not help spreading my arms and shouting into the wind, “top of the world”.  Debi stretched out on a mat while Jim and I stood taking in everything we saw.  Watching Debi was fun.  Her inner girl came out and her laughter bubbled uncontrollably.  Such fun to see.

There is something about sailing that is magical.  There is a sense of freedom from everything but the sun and the sea.  We visited the black sand, and the red sand, and the white sand beaches.  We could have stopped to swim but elected to wait until later when we would be at a place where the current was more gentle.  We visited a hot spring where sulfur gives the water a rusty, orange color.  We again elected not to swim over and get into the water as it would stain anything we had on.  We sailed past the tiny light house that sits high up on a cliff.  It reminded me of Manteo’s lighthouse.

From the water, we could see all the colorful layers of the walls of the caldera.  Red, green, black and white the geological history was clear to see.  We sailed past the remnant of the volcano and on to a cove where they tied up to a buoy in the water.  Mike, was busy in the galley making dinner.  The smells made our stomachs growl with hunger.  It was time to swim in the sea.  I decided it was best to just jump in and avoid the slow, agonizing entry into the cold, crisp water.  I hit the water and came up sputtering — cold!  But, it did not last long and soon I was swimming feeling refreshed.  Debi made her way down the ladder making a more agonizing entry but in the water none the less.  Jim decided he would stay on board.  I have to say, I would not have missed the swim for anything.  I came to Greece and swam in the Aegean Sea, yes!

As we exited the sea, Mike wrapped warm towels around our shoulders and invited us to come to the table as dinner was about to be served.  We settled in for a feast!  There was shrimp in a tomato sauce, yellow rice, bbq chicken and bbq sausages, eggplant dip and tzatziki and mussels.  The mussels stole the show.  I ask Mike how he made them and he told me he made a sauce with sautéed onions, honey, mustard, lemon, salt and pepper and oregano.  He added the mussels to the sauce and cooked them till opened.  Oh my gosh, so very good.  Even Debi ate them!  All this was washed down by crisp, white wine.  What a wonderful meal.

Soon it was time to set sail and move along.  The sails were hoisted and off we went.  We viewed the sunset from the back of the boat and sighed, sad to see the day end.  We spent six hours on board but it felt like only a few minutes.  What a special day.

Our Captain deftly, “parallel parked” our vessel.  We left the boat in the same way we boarded, crossing over each on till we reached the dock.  Once again, Mike took my hand and promised not to let me fall.  *Sigh*. Such a nice person and such blue eyes.  Our driver was at the dock to collect us and take us back to the hotel.  There would be no Uno tonight.  Sun, Sea, Good Food — only sleep on our minds tonight.

Day 2 in Santorini

Day two on Santorini dawned, another clear, blue sky above and the beautiful blue sea below.  Our afternoon tour was not due to start until late afternoon so shopping sounded like a good thing to do.  Linen is for sale all over and white is especially alluring.  So, we found an alley that was lined with cool, crisp garments.  It was fun looking and trying a few on.  I bought a fun top and shorts that would be cool to wear.  Jim was very kind to go along with us without complaint.  His reward was a cold beer at one of the taverns overlooking the sea.

Finally the time arrived for our tour.  The guide and driver picked us up at the hotel and we headed out.  First we climbed to the highest point on the island to visit a monastery and church.  The monastery is only for the Monks but we could visit the gardens.  At the entrance is a fountain.  The custom is for one to wash away your sins in the fountain before entering the church.  One of the few springs on the island feeds the fountain so the water was cold and fresh.  The spring gives them the ability to grow the tomatoes.  There was a time when grape tomatoes were grown all over the island.  They are unique in flavor and only grown here.  Now, because of both lack of water and farmers to grow them, families grow them for their own use  only.  The Monks also grow these tomatoes and a few Olive Trees.  Olive oil is made that they can sell to help sustain themselves.  The monastery goes back hundreds of years and once housed over a hundred Monks.  Today, there are only about 40 Monks left.  We enjoyed the gardens and the view as well.  There was a small stand where they sold dried tomatoes and other things they produce.  I bought some of the dried tomatoes that I will put in Greek Olive Oil as soon as I get home.

Our guide took us inside the small church.  Typical of Greek Orthodox churches, it was decorated with beautiful paintings and icons.  He explained that the chairs lining the walls of the main worship area were only for the elderly and pregnant women.  All other worshipers stood through the three hour service, yikes.  I took the opportunity to light a candle and say a prayer for Dan.

One of the highlights of the tour was a visit to the Art Space Santorini, a winery as well as a gallery.  It was not actually on the tour, but our guide told us this was our tour so we could do whatever we liked.  Of course, we liked the idea of a winery.  This winery has been in continuous operation since 1861 and has remained in the same family as well.  The building was made up of three caves and housed not only the wine making but also moonshine too!  The present head of the family decided to add art to the mix as well.  The walls are lined with paintings of all types.  In one room, sculptures of a famous Greek sculpture were on display.  He actually designed a life sized one for the 2004 Olympics.  They were amazing.  The basic structure was actually olive wood with the branches and leaves encased in gold.  There were olives on the trees, some ripe and some not.  I wanted to get one but talked myself out of it.  Now, I regret my decision.  Perhaps once I am home, I will reach out and buy one anyway.

After touring the facility, we enjoyed a tasting.  They only grow white grapes.  Grapes are not grown here like we see them grown in the US or France, etc. in rows, upright and wired.  Here because of the lack of water and the fierce north winds that pound the island, the vines are grown on the ground.  A circular “basket” shaped foundation is used to train the vines to grow.  As the vine fills out and grapes form, they grow inside this circle where they are protected from the wind.  The volcanic soil actually pulls water from the clouds and air around the plants which allows the grapes to flourish.  Pretty amazing.  I am not much of a white wine drinker, but I do like a Vensanto.  We tasted a 2005 Vensanto that was soooo good!  So good in fact, we purchased six bottles to be sent home to NC.  What a treat.

Part of the tour was to see the sunset from Oia (pronounced Ea).  We made our way there but our guide told us that we would not stay there to see the sunset but just to experience the “crowds”.  He would take us to a secret place where we could see it just as well.  Oia was a mob!  So many people rushing to get a good spot well in advance of the sunset — it was crazy.  But, he wanted us to have the experience.  We hopped back into the van and headed out.  We climbed up what amounted to a donkey trail, more track than road.  At the top, a church and a view that was nothing short of spectacular.  There were a few other people there, sitting on the stone wall sharing bottles of wine and champagne.  George, our guide commented that he guessed his secret was out.  No matter, the view was wonderful.  A perfect ending to a good day.  As the sunset gave way too evening, we made our way back to the hotel.  Perhaps a game of Uno to wind down from the afternoon of touring.

Last Stop Santorini

 
The last stop of our enchanting tour of the islands      was Santorini (also known as Thira by the locals).  She rises from the Aegean Sea more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.  Strange red rock formations rise dramatically while overhead blue-domed villages cling precariously to the island’s edge.  Santorini was born out of catastrophe:  a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in 1400 BC that wiped out the Minoan civilization.  Behind the obvious beauty, Santorini has a strange, almost dark energy.

We arrived after a final ferry ride from Naxos to Santorini.  As expected, it was chaotic but effective.  The port was even more chaotic than the ferry but our transport driver was there to meet us and collect the luggage for the ride up to the Aressana Spa Hotel.  The road zig zagged upwards jammed with vehicles all headed to the top where the hotels and other accommodations were located.  The road is made of volcanic cobble stones.  They were narrow and crowded with all sorts of cars, vans, motorcycles and people rushing to get to their destinations.  Our van could not take us all the way to the top to our hotel so we were met by a bellman driving a golf cart at the bottom of the hill.  Our luggage was loaded from the van to the cart along with me!  Jim and Debi followed on foot with our guide and met me in the reception area.  The Aressana Spa Hotel was to be our home for the next four days.  Eleanor, a lovely, friendly young lady from the reception staff sat with us in the lobby and did the necessary paperwork for us to check-in.  Afterwards, she took us on a tour of the hotel facilities that ended at our room.  The hotel itself is very elegant with a spa, restaurant, bar and large pool.  Our suite was such a surprise.  Not only was it well appointed, we had a private pool!  Oh my gosh!  Well, I say private, we shared it with three other rooms that were adjacent to ours.  Still, we would not have to go the the crowded pool but rather enjoy the sun and water right in the comfort of our suite.  What a treat!

We immediately went out to explore Fira, the capital of Santorini.  The view from the top was magnificent!  We stood at the edge looking down at the beautiful, blue sea below surrounded by the caldera.  Yes, caldera.  Santorini is actually a big caldera.  From above one cannot appreciate it fully but from the sea, the various layers that show all the eruptions are clearly seen.  Below, there were three cruise ships anchored; a sight we would become accustomed to as the days passed.

Unlike the other islands we had visited, Santorini is crawling with tourists.  Though it is unfathomable now, for much of its modern history, Santorini has been a place of extreme poverty.  Ironically, it is this hardship that created some of the island’s most unique features; the volcanic soil that allows assyrtiko and vinsanto wine varieties to flourish, and the sweetly curved bioclimatic dwellings intended to protect the environment and shield homeowners from the harsh sun.  Tourism slowly trickled starting in the 1980s and today, it is one of the most visited places in the world.  It is the dream destination, especially for honeymooners.  Beautiful beaches and sunsets beacon many to come.    

All this tourism creates problems for the locals and the environment.  Why?  Lack of potable water.  It only rains here once or twice a year and there are no rivers.  A few springs exist in the highest elevations but mainly water comes from desalination of the sea.  This water is good for cleaning and bathing but not for drinking or watering crops.  All drinking water must be brought to the island in plastic bottles; therefore they do not produce olive oil or grow crops like the other islands — but more about that later.  Santorini is a master of elegant tourism.  Anyone who has a house or property wants to cash-in by turning it into either a hotel or a B&B or some other type of private tourist destination.  In years past, the poorest of the people made caves in the sides of the cliffs and hills to create low cost housing.  Today, those very humble homes have been elevated to costly tourist accommodations.  The amount of cost for a hotel room or villa is staggering!  At Oia, some of the rooms cost $5,000 a night!  Too rich for our blood for sure.

But I digress.  We moved through the streets going up and down stairs over cobble stone walkways trying to take it all in.  We were shoulder to shoulder with tourists of all sorts.  The shops ranged from high end to street vendors.  Everything for haute couture to t-shirts was there if you had the price.  We could see immediately that things here were much more expensive than the other islands we visited.  After walking quite a bit, shopping as we went of course, we turned and headed back in the direction of the hotel.  Suddenly, we could hear folks talking loudly and hear laughter as a group of donkeys appeared in the walkway.  We had seen lots of donkeys on t-shirts and even some that advertised Red or Yellow Donkey Beer!  Why donkeys you may ask?  Well, from the base of the caldera where cruise ship patrons disembark to the top are 400 steps.  One must either climb all those steps or, yep, take a donkey to the top!  Oh my gosh.  Back in the day, donkeys were the only mode of transportation except for bicycles.  So you can see the significance of the donkey.  Of course, now donkeys are more of a bit of fun as there are cable cars to bring tourists to the top.

Back at the hotel, we showered and dressed for dinner.  Our destination was Naoussa Restaurant only a short walk from the hotel.  It sits on the edge of the caldera with a great view of the sunset.  Sunsets in Santorini are a must see for any tourist.  The restaurant was small and quaint and bustling with activity.  We settled at our table and perused the menu filled with Greek delicacies.  We had traditional Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, capers and of course Feta cheese, no lettuce.  Funny, we all ended up ordering chicken with lemon sauce on rice for Jim and Debi and pasta for me.  A compliment of pita with olive oil rounded out our table.  There is only one word for the food, delicious!

Soothing music played as we ordered and began eating.  Then suddenly, traditional Greek music started playing and the volume ratcheted up several decibels.  An older gentleman, threw his arms out to his sides, began to dance shouting Opa!  This was followed by the sound of plates crashing to the floor, shattering in to bits and pieces.  It was a bit of a shock but then we remembered that Eleanor had told us we would be there for the breaking of the plates.  If you have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you would remember this custom.  It was a raucous, fun evening filled with food, beer and laughter.  Oh, how we love Greece!

While all this was going on, the sun slowly sank below the horizon.  The sky filled with color and everyone enjoyed a sense of peace as the day gave way to the night.  We left the restaurant sated and happy.  Sleep was not far away but first, a game or two of Uno Flip, a wicked twist to Uno that we had started playing each evening before bed.  Perhaps tonight I might actually win!

Athens

The day dawned sunny and clear, a perfect day to tour Athens.  We met Maria, our guide in the lobby and headed off for an adventure.  Needless to say, there are many sights to see in Athens.  One of the first things we saw was the changing of the guard at the Parliament and tomb of the unknown soldiers of WWII. These are not just ceremonial guards but actual soldiers.  In Greece, all men must serve, just how long I am not sure.  These guards are firstly volunteers.  They must meet certain height requirements and must be pleasing to the eye — mmmm, eye candy!  They wear traditional dress that includes a type of Fez with a long tassel.  Then they wear long, heavy stockings that extend up their thighs. 

Their shoes are red, pointed and topped with a type of black Pom Pom.  The soles of the shoes traditionally have nails in the heels but the more modern ones use taps.  They wear these so they can make sounds as they walk and other scrapes they make.  I cannot begin to do justice describing how they march but to say they make the “goose step” we see Russian, German and Chinese do look like child’s play. 

They move in precise, slow steps that include raising their legs parallel to the ground while moving their arms backwards parallel to the ground.  This position is held for several seconds before they proceed.  They were amazing to watch.  The guard changes every hour because it is brutal to stand completely still in the heat in heavy, wool clothing.  Another guard dressed in camouflage uniform will go to each of the guards and adjust their stance and wipe their faces of perspiration.  Their uniforms have a heavy jacket and a skirt with a type of slip beneath that has 400 pleats representing the 400 years Greece was under Ottoman rule before finally gaining independence. On Sundays, they are dressed in white.  Each soldier will stand three times in a day and serve in the guard for a period of six months.  Really is a sight to see.

Next we went to see the Parthenon.  In route, we passed the National Gardens that we had visited the day before and other ruins that are under restoration and are encased in scaffolding.  Vehicles can only take people to the parking lot below the Parthenon.  From there, we walked up steep sidewalks and climbed lots and lots of steps all packed with tourists. 

All along the way, Maria explained how this structure was built and the various Gods and Goddesses that were worshiped.  It is such an amazing structure built from marble mostly and carved with so many amazing figures.  Naturally, having stood for hundreds of years they are worn and broken and lots of them missing altogether.  Before Greece won their independence the ruler decided that he wanted to take the best of the carvings back to his palace.  Later, many found their way to the British Museum.  Greece has been trying to get them returned but so far no go.

Just below the Parthenon are the ruins of an open air amphitheater.  In ancient times, it was the place where plays were presented.  Only men were allowed to perform so they wore masks to represent the characters they were portraying.  The structure is still being used today for concerts.  It will hold 4,000 people.

After the Parthenon, we went to the museum that has been built to display and inform people about the Parthenon.  They made the decision to remove all the originals and display them in the museum.  Duplicates were created that are on the site; pretty smart I think.  The museum itself sits atop an active archeological site.  There are glass floors scattered all over the museum so you can see what they have uncovered, amazing.  The upper floor of the museum is designed to mimic the actual structure.  Steel columns are placed to represent the actual columns.  The walls are sectioned in large squares the size of the actual art.  Some squares are white plaster instead of the actual art.  They were able to go to Britain and cast the real pieces so they know exactly what they look like.  Some areas were blank as the art has been lost or destroyed and they do not know exactly how they looked.  The east and west side of the building was open and allowed entry.  Above the openings were a series of statues many of which are missing.  Plaster cast pieces are there so we could see how magnificent they were.  All in all, it was amazing and very educational.

Afterwards, we left our guide and headed off to the Platka or old part of the city shopping area.  We enjoyed roaming through the shops and eateries and picking up a few items to take home.  Of course we got a bit displaced but eventually found our way back to the hotel area.  We were all weary so decided an early dinner was in order.  We dined at a different street cafe from the previous night.  The food was good and the atmosphere pleasant.  Another day gone.  Tomorrow we head out for a ferry ride to Milos.  For now, early to bed, early to rise.

Traveling to Greece

Our first day of travel is finally at a close.  It began at 6 a.m. in New Bern where our journey began.  We dropped the dogs at the kennel, drove to Raleigh and boarded a flight to JFK in New York.  I dreaded going through JFK as past experiences were less than pleasant; however, we landed at the same terminal we were to fly out of so it was surprisingly easy.  Our flight on to Athens was delayed because of weather but once in the air, it was smooth sailing all the way.

It is hard to describe how exciting it was to look out the window and see the mountains and seas of Greece below us.  There are small amounts of snow atop some of the peaks but the water below was turquoise and beckoned us to come.  I have to say, moving through the airport was the easiest international arrival I have ever experienced.  We moved through immigration in a flash, collected our luggage and exited — easy, easy.  The airport is relatively new and very efficient.  It was built in 2004 when Greece hosted the Olympics.  We were met by a lovely, soft spoken petite woman who was our escort on to our hotel, a short 45 minute drive away.

Our hotel is located in the city center, easy to walk to most everything.  Needless to say, we were exhausted when we arrived at the hotel.  After checking in and storing our things, we all fell into bed for a much needed two hour nap.  Afterward we forced ourselves to dress and head out to walk about the city and enjoy the sunshine.

Athens is a very social city.  Everywhere you look, couples and families are enjoying the day.  We went to the National Gardens.  Intersperse  among the flowers and trees are lots of little areas with grass or benches where the locals shed their shoes and enjoy sitting on the grass.  We saw young couples with the babies and older couples (our age) holding hands and strolling along.  Some of the trees are ancient.  Their limbs are so large and long, a series of cables were used to hold them aloft.  One in particular looked like something from a Halloween story.  It’s big trunk, long arm like branches and a section with knot holes that looked for the world like a face made me think of a monster.  Too funny.

After strolling about for some time, we decided we should head back to the hotel.  Of course, we had lost track of exactly where we were — not lost mind you, but displaced.  We had a map but of course everything is in Greek which made it challenging.  In the end, we found our way back easy enough.  We stopped at a sidewalk cafe and had an amazing dinner; our first Greek fair.  Jim had a grilled fish and Debi and I shared a yummy salad.  Greeks are known for their breads and also milks products, cheeses in particular.  The bread was chewy with a crisp crust and the accompanying Tzatziki delicious.

The sunset was beautiful.  From our balcony, we watched the pinks, violets and reds fade giving way to the indigo sky that will soon host a multitude of stars.  

In the distance, the Parthenon sits atop the Acropolis bathed in warm, yellow light.  Here in this beautiful city, history rubs elbows with the modern world.  All around are reminders that this place was at the heart of the birth of our civilization.  It promises to be a  wonderful adventure.  But for now, the only thing on my mind is sleep!

Amish Country - Pennsylvania

We rose early, hurried to break camp and headed out for Pennsylvania and Amish Country.  The first 45 minutes or so of the trip took us through the winding, narrow roads and finally to the interstate highway.  We both gave a sigh of relief to be on the four lane highway even though it was still going through the mountains.  Once we crossed the border into Pennsylvania much of the steep climbing was behind us, replaced by tunnels.  I am a bit claustrophobic so going underground did not make me happy, but it was better than climbing up and down and around which would take much longer than going through.

For once the gps did not take us on a wild goose chase.  We passed through Lancaster and Strasbourg and on to our campground without a hitch.  Our new camp is very large and hilly.  When we arrived at our site, my first thought was oh my gosh how on earth will we get this rig into that spot!  The sites are very close together and are arranged at odd angles to each other.  It took us a try or two or three but in the end got the rig into the spot in a good place.  In short order we were set up and having a beer to relax.  While relaxing, we selected a tour for tomorrow.  It will take us through Amish country and give us a good understanding of their culture.

We were up early, dressed and out the door heading to meet our tour van.  We spent several hours learning all about the Amish way of life, seeing how they live and make a living.  A bit of background:  The Amish came to Pennsylvania from Europe during the Reformation to escape persecution because of their Anabaptist beliefs; the believe that a person must make a conscious choice to accept God and thus, only adults can be baptized.  This is one of the basic beliefs that brought them into conflict with the Catholic Church and even some Protestants as well.  They came to Lancaster, PA in the 1720s or 1730s and today they number about 30,000 and are the largest group in the US.  There is more to it than that but that is a bit of their history.

The Pennsylvania Amish believe that community harmony is threatened by secular values such as individualism and pride, which permeates the modern world.  They accept some modern conveniences in order to provide for their families but for the most part they live apart.  For them family is paramount and the family works together in all things.  Everything from how they dress to how their children are educated is influenced by their faith.  What blows my mind more than anything else is how the community at large accepts them and respects their ways.  It is amazing how the roads accommodate their buggies and businesses even provide areas for their horse and buggies to be tethered while they shop or visit the bank or whatever they may need.  It is such a stark difference in how they live their lives while the world around them rushes about chasing after the golden ring.

Okay, okay enough philosophizing.  Our tour took us to a number of farms.  The most common crops are field corn and alfalfa to feed their horses and cattle.  They also raise cash crops of tobacco and soybeans.  None of their tobacco is sold in PA or even in the US for that matter.  It is exported to make cigars and cigarettes.  Of course they raise vegetables and beautiful flowers.  We stopped at several stands where they sold them.  Oh my gosh, the tomatoes were so red and luscious they beg for white bread and mayonnaise for the perfect summer sandwich - mmmmm, good.

The Amish are very resourceful.  They find a way to use everything that the “English” (anyone who is not Amish) would discard.  For exam
ple, they turn used horse shoes into works of art.  We saw hand made quilts and placemats and other things that are amazing.  Everything is done by hand, even the quilting.  I would have loved to have one but $650 wasn’t in my vacation budget.

Beautiful Quilt

No visit to the area would be complete without eating Amish food.  We stopped for lunch at a place that served buffet style.  We knew we were in trouble, self control flies out the window when food is concerned.  There were all sorts of vegetables, fruits and meats and well anything you could want.  For me the most unusual thing was ham balls.  So I tried one and bless my soul, it was delicious!  Ground ham made into balls and cooked in a pineapple sauce; we are not in the South any longer for sure!  Sometimes good things are bad for us.  The food proved to be too rice for my system but it was worth suffering to try.

We enjoyed driving out into the country side.  The vistas are amazing with fields of corn and tobacco surrounding a lovely home and barns etc.  Keep in mind, the Amish do not have electricity in their homes.  They do not have cars but travel in several types of wagons/buggies or scooters, a type of pedal-less bicycle.  There are several types of buggies used.  There is a covered one large enough for a four.

There is a “convertible” or spring wagon and finally a work wagon.  The first two are pulled by elegant, well-trained horses.  The wagons are pulled either by draft horses or mules.  One must take care driving as you may encounter them around any curve or over any hill that will make your heart stop as well as your vehicle.  We wanted to see some of the smaller towns like Intercourse, Bird in Hand, Blue Ball, Fertility and Paradise.  Seeing such names causes one to giggle, but the history of all these names are examples of how our language changes.  For example, the word “intercourse” meant fellowship and social interaction, which was an integral part of early settlers lives.

As our visit came to an end, we came away very glad that we made this area a stop.  In the crazy world we live in and how self-centered we tend to be, it renewed my belief that people can be both kind and accepting of those who are different from us.

What You May Never See on the Road

Monday morning dawned and it was time for us to hit the road once again.  Our next stop, Little Orleans, MD.  Why there you may ask?  Ultimately, our destination is Pennsylvania Amish country.  The route takes us through a small portion of Maryland.  Since we have never camped in MD and would like to fill our map decal with that state, we decided what the heck, why not “stop and smell the roses.”

Remember the wind turbines we saw on the road to Blackwater Falls?  As we zipped along the mountain roads, we suddenly encountered a backup of stopped traffic.  Up ahead, we could see a wide load of some sort crossing the roadway to the entrance to a state highway.  To say the wide load was huge is an understatement.  Looking at the long, white item we suddenly identified what it was, one of the blades of a wind turbine!  Now we could really appreciate just how large these turbines really are!  There was a lead vehicle with the flags and sign saying “wide load”.  Then came the truck that pulled the load.  Near the middle of the blade was another support that moved independently from the truck helping to guide the back portion in turns etc.  In camping lingo it is called the “swing”.  As you turn, the back end of the RV swings and can take out trees, fences or mailboxes if you are not mindful of it.  The end of the blade had the required red flags and was followed by another vehicle saying wide load.

Once the load cleared the roadway, traffic started moving slowly following it to the entrance of the highway.  At the turn into the highway, things got dicey.  Apparently, the traffic exiting the highway was too close for the truck to make the turn.  At this point, the blade completely  blocked all three points of the T intersection.  Nothing to do but to sit and wait and watch all the commotion.  All in all, it took about 30 minutes for the blade to clear and gain access to the highway.  Traffic followed along as it slowly made its way.  It is hard to describe just what it looked like inching its way along.  To Jim, it looked like a headless fish.  To me, it looked like a Salmon Shark that we saw on Shark Week. 

By then, the novelty had worn off and we were just anxious to get going as our 2.5 hour drive was starting to extend beyond the easy day we anticipated.  In the end, the blade made it to its destination and pulled into a side drive and stopped.  As vehicles passed, we all gave the driver the thumbs up or V sign to say, well done!  Now that was something you do not see every day.

After another series of ever shrinking roads, we came to the intersection that the gps said was the turn to the camp.  Minus a sign, we decided once burned, twice shy we would stop and change the gps destination from a street address to one of just the campground.  Ah Ha, no turn, just straight ahead and finally we arrived.  The campground is very much like the Cedar Creek Campground.  Nestled on 200 acres of heavily forested land, it is a quiet, peaceful place.  Our site sits back in the trees and our nearest neighbor quite a distance from us.  The camp has a number of seasonal rigs that do not move and our neighbors on each side are seasonal and they are not here.  So, we can let the girls be off leash a bit and enjoy the freedom of exploring, under supervision of course.  The site is not level.  It is the first time with the new rig we have encountered this situation.  But, experience kicked in and we added the necessary levelers and voila, it was done.  Wonderful!  A wonderful way to end an interesting day of travel.