June 10 through August 2, 2007

On Sunday, June 10, we drove from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Bradford to Wal-Mart parking lot in York, PA. The ride through northwestern Pennsylvania really was beautiful. So many trees! Nice rolling hills. Some dairy farms.

We stopped at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum along the road in the middle of nowhere. They had some very nice displays of lumber cutting, saw mills and leather tanning. The most interesting though was the information about the Civilian Conservation Corp. As we drive along the road throughout the entire United States, there are so many times that we see a great project that was done by the CCC and we always thought we should know more about the CCC.

President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1933 during the Great Depression to alleviate the tremendous unemployment during that time. In general, only unmarried young men between 19 and 23 were accepted into the Corp. Some exceptions were made for WWI vets. The Corp was directed by Army generals and really was run like a military installation. The men had uniforms and very strict rules. However, they were fed well, clothed, had warm beds and covers and the camaraderie of other young men. Regular workers were paid $30 per month and were required to send $25 of that to their dependents. (Since they were unmarried men, we suppose that meant their mothers and siblings.) Later that amount was changed to $22. Leaders were paid $45 per month, and assistant leaders were paid $36 per month. All of the CCC projects were natural resource projects. In the late 1930’s the leaders recognized the need for education of the men, so each man was authorized to receive up to 10 hours per week of advanced education after their normal work days. The CCC ended in June of 1942. Most of the men still in the CCC either joined the military to fight the war or were able to find jobs due to the build up for WWII.

I really believe that the CCC was one of the best governmental projects ever proposed. The men were not unemployed and out on the streets getting into trouble. They were fed and clothed when many in the country were not. They were able to support those at home and not be the burden of another mouth to feed. They did a lot of really lasting projects that have made the US a prettier place. And, the CCC made the men feel useful instead of helpless when jobs were non-existent. It wasn’t welfare, it was work.

We spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot in York, PA. On Monday morning, June 11, we drove into Hanover through the craziest connection of back country roads you can imagine! Mark really believed that his GPS had gone crazy. We walked through a very well presented self-guided tour of the UTZ Potato Chip Factory. They make more than potato chips, but that was the principal product of this facility. It started in the founder’s kitchen where the wife fried the potato chips and the husband went out on a route and sold the finished product. Of course, it grew and then grew again. They now make about 100 different kinds of potato chips, pretzels, corn tortilla chips and popcorn. They produce over 15,000 pounds of potato chips per hour. It takes 4 pounds of potatoes to make one pound of potato chips. As you can imagine, they grow a lot of potatoes and corn in the area! In order to have enough potatoes to keep the factory running, they start buying potatoes in Florida as soon as the crop comes in. They keep buying up the eastern coast as the crop comes in until they are buying the potatoes in Canada. In the fall they keep buying potatoes but start filling their potato storage rooms so that they have enough potatoes to keep the plant running (and people munching) throughout the winter until the potatoes are ready again in Florida.

After that tour, we drove to the Family Heirloom Weavers in Red Lion, PA. This is one of the few remaining textile mills in the US. They are a small company with only 12 employees but they make carpets and textiles for museums and refurbished houses. Do you remember when we visited the Lincoln home in Springfield I commented on the very loud, very busy, clashing carpet in the drawing room? These people made that carpet from a scrap that was found in the Lincoln house! We saw some more of it there! They do the recreation with the stipulation that after they do all of the “punch cards” needed to make the machines weave the designs they can sell it to other people too. It was supposed to be about a 20 minute tour. Dad and I spent almost 2 hours with the owner and he was thrilled to have people who were SO interested in everything to show around. It was a really interesting tour.

We drove northeast to Pine Hill Campground in Kutztown, PA. On Tuesday, June 12, we left to go to a tour of the Mack Truck plant in Macungie, PA. The sign on the door said “No Walk In Tours-Reservations Must Be Made In Advance”. So Dad called on his phone to try to make “advance reservations”. They told us the first available tour was June 19. But we were talking to the lady in the gift shop and she told us that some Cub Scouts were coming on a tour in a half-hour and maybe we could tag along. They came, we did and we enjoyed the tour! The most impressive part was the machine that puts the tire on the rim, puts the air in the tire, balances the tire and sends it off to be put on the truck in 15 seconds! Everything else was like the other tours we have taken…

When we left Mack Truck, we drove into Easton, PA, on the Delaware River. We expected to see a plant making Crayola crayons, but we found something a little different. It really was a 3-story hand’s on activity for kids. There were about 2 million kids there (well, it sounded like that many…) on school trips or just with their parents. We DID learn how crayons were made at a very good demonstration. They slowed the machines down a lot so that you could actually see them do their job. The second and third floors were devoted to the Canal System of Pennsylvania. We really learned a lot. Did you know that when the canals needed to cross ravines they built a bridge as an aquaduct to have the mules tow the boats across a kind of “water bridge” rather than follow the contour of the mountain up and down? They used suspension bridges and arch bridges. The Canal might have run alongside of a river, but it wasn’t actually IN the river. It was kind of like our inland waterway, but much narrower. The canals were basically private enterprises but the government was involved somehow. The government usually gave the land rights to the private developer and he then built the canals, the gates, the locks and could collect a fee from all who used it. The last Canal system closed in the 1940’s! One portion of the Lehigh Canal has been preserved in Easton and we were able to see the tow path and take some pictures. They have a Canal Boat that takes tourists for a ride with the mules pulling the boat along the canal just like in the 1800’s.

Wednesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 14, 2007 We drove to Dorothy, NJ, and spent 2 nights in the campground there. We went with Betty and Joe to the lawyer, ate at the White House, visited Grandma Etta.

Friday, June 15, 2007 – We drove up to Raquel and Dan’s house and parked the motorhome there.

Saturday, June 16 – Drove to Baltimore to fly to Corpus to spend some time in Port Aransas.

Sunday, June 17 through Monday, June 25 – Port Aransas (Went to Port Mansfield with John and Alan Wilson on June 19. Went with Bob to Social Security office on Wednesday. Met with the pool guy on June 21.) Flew back to Baltimore on Monday, June 25.

Tuesday, June 26 through Thursday, June 28 – drove around all of the shore towns along the Delaware River in New Jersey.

Friday, June 29 – Drove to Whippoorwill Campground to set up the motor home for the coming week.

Saturday and Sunday, June 30 and July 1 – Visited with Mom and Betty and Joe and their kids

Monday, July 2 – Drove to Philadelphia to meet Rachel and Abby and Kathy and Sam. Drove to New York City in a rental car and our jeep. Checked into our hotel. Went to Faith’s house. Played at the playground, the small water park and the BIG slide. Went to dinner at a good pizza place. Brian arrived later that night.

Tuesday, July 3 – We took the double-decker bus ride around the lower part of New York City. Had a picnic lunch at Rockerfeller Center.

Wednesday, July 4 – Went to the Empire State Building, had a picnic lunch in Central Park (with a light drizzle), walked to the Museum of Natural History, took the double-decker bus ride around the north end of New York City. It rained so hard we all had to sit inside on the bottom. Fireworks that night first on the New Jersey side of the roof of Faith’s apartment, then on the New York side of the roof of Faith’s apartment. Colleen and Decklan were there.

Thursday, July 5 – Took the boat to the Statue of Liberty. Had a picnic lunch at the Statue. Took the boat back. Went to the dancing fountain and all kids and Brian got soaked wearing their clothes. Went back to the hotel to go swimming.

Friday, July 6 – Went to the big slide to try it with wax paper. Rachel and Abby and Brian and Mark and I left about 2 PM to drop Brian off at the Newark airport to fly to Orlando to work on Saturday. We continued back to the motor home. The girls went swimming at Whippoorwill. Then we went into Sea Isle to see the fireworks that they had been unable to do on the Fourth of July.

Saturday, July 7 – We all (Toccis and Creightons and Vincents) went to the beach. Then we ALL went to the Ocean City boardwalk. Rachel and Abby had Junk Night. The littler kids got to go on rides all night. Then Ocean City did the fireworks display they had been unable to do on the Fourth of July.

Sunday, July 8 – We ALL went to church with Grandma Etta for the installation of the new pastor. Afterwards we went to lunch then the beach. Then dinner at Grandma Etta’s. Faith and Leon and Siena drove home late at night.

Monday, July 9 – Rachel and Abby and Mark and I left in the motor home to drive to Watkins Glen, NY. The girls swam in the pool at night.

Tuesday, July 10 – We went to Corning Glass Museum. Katherine Baumgardner is a docent there and took us on a tour. Mark showed her my quilt while I took the girls to “blow” Christmas tree ornaments. We got back to the motor home and the girls went swimming again.

Wednesday, July 11 – We drove to Ithaca to see the town and the school. Had lunch at the Dairy Bar. Went to the Children’s Museum: scream machine, levers at playgournd, talking tubes, bee hive, lots of fun things.) Back to the campground and swimming again!

Thursday, July 12 – We walked the 800 steps and 1 ½ miles through Watkins Glen. I’m not sure the girls got a lot our of it, but they at least saw the rocks, the trees, the river, the whirlpools, etc.

Friday, July 13 – We drove into Canada to the Niagara Falls Campground and set up. Then we went into town to see the Falls and the IMAX movie about the Falls and the daredevils. THEN we watched the fireworks over the Falls and the colored lights on the Falls. The girls have seen enough fireworks (5 times in a week!) for a while!

Saturday, July 14 – We rode the Maid of the Mist. Walked behind the Falls. Took the bus to walk beside the rapids downriver. Went to the Butterfly Conservatory. Took the bus back up the river. Rode the incline railway. Went home and went to sleep!

Sunday, July 15 – We drove to Sudbury and set up the motor home.

Monday, July 16 – We went to the Dynamic Earth Center to take a tour of an underground mine. The girls panned for gold and LOVED IT. We went back to the gold panning exhibit at least three times. They also LOVED playing in the play area where you could load the foam “coal” into the coal car, dump it, transfer it to another car, dump it, transfer it up to the top platform and start all over again! They played there for about 1 ½ hours total!

Tuesday, July 17 – This was our long travel day. We left early, put the girls back in the bed to sleep (so of course they stayed awake!), and drove and drove and drove around Lake Superior. We stopped in Sault St. Marie to show the girls the locks and how they worked. Scenery was beautiful! Very uneven shoreline with trees right down to the water. Some very pretty beaches. We had a campground reserved but just couldn’t make it there before dark so we stopped at a different campground. The girls were out playing at the playground at 10:05 PM and it wasn’t even near dark.

Wednesday, July 18 – We drove to the Panorama Amethyst Mine and the girls had great fun digging for their own amethyst. We took a walking tour down to the mine…not a great tour but better than nothing. About 10 miles of dirt road to get TO the mine, then 10 more miles of dirt road to get OUT. The car and motor home were really dirty. We entered the US and stopped to skip stones and wade in the water of Lake Superior. Drove through Diluth and on to the campground for the night.

Thursday, July 19 – Drove to Grand Rapids to go to Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge for the Johnson Family Reunion. We were able to park the motor home in a big parking area just outside of our rooms. Worked out well. Resort was perfect. Rooms were perfect. Weather was perfect! Walkers and Mark and I went to the Showboat performance on the Mississippi River Friday night. It is only performed 3 weekends a year. We all enjoyed it!

Friday, July 20 – Mine tour of the Hill Annex Mine. Pie and ice cream “social” afterwards. Wonderful museum that we didn’t have enough time to explore. Drove to see Aunt Beatrice’s old farm (niece Sally and Bill Schwartz live there now) and visited her old cabin on the lake (daughter Nancy lives there now). Then lots of talking and water sports.

Saturday, July 21 – Games on the lawn. Lunch at the townhouses. Group photo on the lawn. Dinner at the townhouses. Prepared bills for everyone. Pictures and videos in the meeting room. Bonfire after.

Sunday, July 22 – We had a light rain but we had NO outdoor activities planned! Brian and Kathy and Sam and Abby left for the airport about 10 AM. Everyone else went to Brunch at 10:30. Sarah stayed with us. Walkers left for Minneapolis to the indoor water park. Vincents left for Minneapolis so Faith could fly to Austin and Leon and Siena could fly to NYC. We left about 3 PM with Sarah to drive to Oshkosh, WI, for the air show. Crossed into Wisconsin and spent the night at a Wal-Mart. Bought a wagon to pull Sarah at the air show.

Monday, July 23 – Checked in at Kalbus Country Harbor Campground outside of Oshkosh. NOT a pretty site like last year. I was disappointed.

Tuesday, July 24 – Mark and Sarah went to the air show. I did paperwork. Mom’s trip to Norway was finally confirmed so I finished arrangements for that trip.

Wednesday, July 25 – Mark went to the Air show alone. Sarah watched Tom Sawyer while I finished up some paperwork. Then we went to the Paine Mansion to see the Fashions in Film display. Sarah loved all of the fancy dresses. She colored dresses and a man’s outfit and glued them over a hanger like clothes to hang in her closet.

Thursday, July 26 – Mark and Sarah and I all went to the air show. Then we had dinner at Sarah’s favorite place, Taco Bell.

Friday, July 27 - Mark went to the air show alone and saw the fatal crash after the Air Races demonstration. Sarah went swimming in the lake and then we sewed. She told me exactly what kind of top she wanted (instead of the pattern we had with us!) so we made it. Then we made shorts to go with it. Also we made a purse for her to wear over her shoulder from a pattern Heather sent along.

Saturday, July 28 – We all went to the air show again. Then we came home and packed and sewed a purse like Sarah’s for her friend, Lauren.

Sunday, July 29 – Sarah and I left early to drive to Chicago to fly to Houston. Heather met us at Kathy’s and we visited there and I returned Sarah. I stayed overnight at Kathy’s.

Monday, July 30 – I got my mail at the Seabrook Post Office, had lunch with Sean and then flew back to Chicago. Drove back to Oshkosh and arrived about 9:30 PM or so. Talked to the people who want to buy Pottery Aransas for ½ hour or so and that delayed my arrival home.

Tuesday, July 31 - Paper work all day.

Wednesday, August 1 – Paper work most of the day. Port Mansfield transfer papers UPS’d to Brian and Kathy. Then we went to see the Harry Potter movie.

Thursday, August 2 – drove up and around the Door County peninsula to see the area between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Some very secluded areas along the lakeside. Also some very pretty but very small beaches. Lots and lots of trees!

Photos: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=x2eavjj.1ok9qlrz&Uy=-5f9bhu&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0