My Journey

GregSplett

Adventurer
You are in bucket list country for me now. So much world-changing history Thanks for the awesome pics, I find myself gazing into them trying to get everything I can out of them.

Never had any children. Absolutely the biggest regret of my fifty-year-old life. Before my Grandma died, In an attempt I believe, in saving me from this regret, she told me that the only real thing a person leaves behind to be remembered by, in this world, is their children.

Just yesterday I stumbled on some very old pictures of my favorite dog and cried a little. I will never quit missing Bear.
 
Hey Greg.....it was great seeing my son again. And I know it meant a lot to him that I returned. Lunch with his girlfriend was interesting.....he got into telling stories and it seemed like everyone ended with "and Dad almost killed me.....like the time he took me mountain climbing in Ecuador and I almost died.....like the time Dad took me scuba diving and I almost died".....and on and on.....

So this morning I'm posting on yet one more rainy day on the east coast. I've think I've been in the mid Atlantic region for about 5 or 6 weeks now, and it's rained so much that it's starting to get down right miserable. Humidity sucks ! Combine the lousy weather with traffic congestion, aggressive people and ticks.....well, I'm starting to think about the great state of Montana again.....

Anyhow, like I was saying, I met my son and his girlfriend for lunch. Traffic was typical.....

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We hung out for the afternoon and then I headed to a spot to overnight near the dentist. More traffic.....

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It's no wonder that there are a lot of angry uptight people here. Most people I spoke with said they wished they could leave. The guy that owns this Jeep stopped to chat while I was getting fuel.....real nice guy.....turns out he's from Montana.....and can't wait to go back.....

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Not sure where I'm going now.....

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Thanks Clay.....Oklahoma just never seems to cross paths with us.....maybe one day.....

The time had finally come to really leave northern Virginia for good and drive north. I decided that I'd stick it out and get onto Interstate 95 and head up the eastern seaboard, bound for New England and Canada. By the time I got to Baltimore I was thinking "oh no.....this is terrible"......actually I was thinking "****** am I doing on this interstate" ? I took the tunnel under the Baltimore Harbor (people were driving like it was the Indy 500). Thirty miles north of Baltimore I exited and decided no way I'm doing this. I made a U turn, returned to Baltimore and then drove west. We spent that night at the other Walmart in Frederick, Maryland. The next day we ended up on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (clearly I wasn't paying attention). Now that highway is for rich people so I got off on the first exit after paying the toll for $3.35 (the attendant didn't see the Jeep or it would have been doubled). From there we got onto Route 30 and finally life was looking good again.....

Incredibly scenic Route 30 is a constant roller coaster drive through the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. I could feel my blood pressure drop by the hour......

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I had no idea that the Flight 93 National Memorial was on Route 30 so when I saw the entrance sign, of course we had to stop. Geez.....what an incredible place this is and I'll tell you, entering the place, well, it's got this feeling about it. The Visitor's Center is amazing.....

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The black walkway was laid directly under the flight path of the plane. It's such an emotional experience and of course stirs up so many memories of the tragedy.....

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From the Visitor's Center there's a 1.7 mile tree lined walkway that leads to the actual crash site......

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At the end of the walk way is the actual crash site. The park service has built a beautiful granite wall with the names of all the passengers and crew that died on that horrible day in our lives.....

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Even typing this chokes me up after having visited this memorial. It was clear to see that everyone that comes here experiences these feelings.....

There's a large boulder that marks the actual point of impact.....

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And beyond that, on a knoll overlooking the site, this farmhouse and barn sits.....

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Late in the evening we left, continuing west on Route 30.....
 

Foy

Explorer
Regarding the high water marks on the Potomac at Great Falls and how much rain must have fallen: I suspect each mark was from tropical storm or hurricane events. I'd bet my paycheck the 1972 event was Hurricane Camille. Down to the south at the head of the Shenandoah Valley Camille dumped 30" of rain in 7 hours. The runoff entered the Shenandoah and the Potomac, joining at Harper's Ferry just where the combined rivers cut through the Blue Ridge above Great Falls.

I'm very much enjoying the journey. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Foy
 
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Galvyork, Foy, and shellbackcva59.....thanks for the nice comments and for following along. Input is always appreciated.....

As I was saying in the last post, it was evening when we finally pulled out of the Flight 93 National Memorial so as soon as I hit Route 30, I was looking for a spot to overnight. Since we were out in the country I was hoping to get lucky and find a spot in the woods, but that didn't happen. So it was yet another night at a Walmart that we stumbled onto, but no big deal.....just a place to sleep.....in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The following morning I was feeling a little down.....I think it was a combination of leaving my son and granddaughter, and then the whole Flight 93 thing. So I decided to stay another night in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and see what's up. A Google search told me it was Arnold Palmer's birthplace and lifetime home. We headed into town to look for an Arnold Palmer monument or museum or something attached to his name.....

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First thing we found was a Banana Split monument.....I had no idea that the Banana Split was discovered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (and I'll bet you didn't either.....I've actually never heard of the town).....

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Anyhow, the next thing we found was a Mister Roger's monument.....apparently he too was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.....

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Then I met a retired steelworker that told me that Latrobe is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Of course he's a huge Steelers fan and he said "you know what ? I ******** steel".....and I was thinking wow, that's amazing !?! Then he says I've got to see their training camp while I'm out and about.....

Well I never did see their training camp that day, but I think this amazing church was close to the training camp, and that was just good enough for me.....

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As far as an Arnold Palmer monument goes, there isn't one. There's a bridge with his name attached to it I'm told, and the airport is named after him, but no monuments to the world's greatest golfer.....

Oh well.....no worries.....

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cellularsteve2

Adventurer
Hi Jerry,
I was in Latrobe a few days ago. Not much to see there, but just a few miles away is Ligonier, beautiful mountains where the Rolling Rock estate is. The Mellons and other wealthy families from the early 20th century have estates there. Check out the area and Linn Run where they do have some back country roads.

Another neat little town not too far from Latrobe is called Saltsburg. Every time I am in the area I eat at the Olde Salt which has very good home cooked meals. And homemade pies. Call ahead because they are only open generally Thursday through Sundays.

Also, while in western PA you may want to see the very famous Frank Loyd Wright house called Falling Water. It's south of where you are and definitely worth going to as it's considered one of the most beautiful houses in the world. I Imagine there is some camping down that way.

Steve
 

jvsontheroad

New member
Jerry-just wanted to say "Thank You" for all your write ups and photos. Lots of effort and it is appreciated.

Was hoping you would post a few pix of your son and his GF. Always nice to see/"meet" the family. I know how much mine means to me.

Safe Travels

Jack
 
cellularsteve2.....thanks for all that information but honestly I was back on the road before I saw it. But I always appreciate tips on stuff to see.....

jvsontheroad.....thanks for the kind words as they're always welcomed. Regarding pictures, I never took a single picture that afternoon.....

ClayH.....I'm close to Oklahoma right now (I think anyhow). Thanks.....as always love the feedback.....

When I was hanging out in Arizona this winter, the whole idea of traveling to northeast Canada seemed like a good one. I did it once years ago, and I loved the ride. But after arriving on the east coast, I began to lose the interest. And so it was, rather than drive north out of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, we drove west instead. I've got some new ideas swirling around in my head so hopefully all works out for us. We dipped down onto Interstate 70.....one day of Route 30 cured my desire of the wild ride through the mountains. We passed through western Pennsylvania, drove into Ohio where an elephant passed us by.....

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That night we stayed at yet another Walmart, the next day it was into Indiana where we overnighted in an abandoned construction site, and then further west, staying on the interstate, we crossed into Illinois. Now the Memorial Day weekend was just beginning so with the help of ioverlander.com (an ap that I often refer to) we found ourselves a free campsite for the weekend, just to the west of Springfield, Illinois.....

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It was the perfect spot to spend the next three nights.....plenty of down time to catch up on my reading and put some miles in walking along the country roads. Temperatures and the humidity were soaring all weekend.....highs in the upper 90's everyday, so access to the lake was crucial. Dips into that cool water is what kept us alive.....

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The lake was teeming with fish such as these Carp seen surface feeding (I think).....

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I was surprised how few people actually camped at the lake. It seemed as though most people just did a drive by. One family with SIX (what are they thinking?) children camped nearby. They visited often to play with the dogs and begged me to come sit by their fire.....but SIX children.....no thanks.....I enjoyed my book.....

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The back roads are rarely traveled here so I walked miles and miles and miles.....

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Massive farms and cornfields dominate the rural landscape of southern Illinois.....

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It was good to just chill in one spot for the long holiday weekend.....not a good time to be on the road anyhow.....

And this is now becoming a common sight within our little truck camper house. I rarely eat at the table anyhow, and it's a great way to save on the floor space.....

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Foy

Explorer
The 1972 storm was Agnes.
Duh-Oh! Agnes! The Wandering Hurricane which would not end! Whenever I see 1972 and flooding in the Appalachians, I think of Camille. Further reading last night reminds me Camille's impact track was very narrow and the area receiving exceptional rainfall was very small--hardly affecting the upper Shenandoah River and Potomac River basins at all while hammering the James River basin. Agnes, on the other hand......................

Thanks for the correction. Where do I send my paycheck?

Foy
 

rkj__

Adventurer
I don’t always spend a lot of time on this forum. When I stop by, I don’t always check this thread. But, when I do check in on your adventures, I always enjoy the updates.


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