Amish Country PA - Leg 4

7/6/14 Sunday We departed at 10AM and arrived at Promised Land State Park in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains app. 2PM. We checked in but our site (111) was not vacant yet as checkout time is 3PM. By the time we unhooked the car and got a light snack the site was vacant so we drove over to the Pickerel Point Campground and setup. I had to put double boards under the passenger side wheels to get it level. The ground in the area is kind of hilly and they did not get the gravel parking pads totally level. We have 50AMP electric hook but no water or sewage but we came with a full fresh water tank so that is not an issue. There were three fairly young (late 30’s) couples camped across the street in pop-ups and a tent. They came over after we got backed in (on the first try) and complimented us on how easy we had got parked without any arguing or backing up and repositioning. We told them we use walkie-talkies and it makes the process a lot easier. This campground has a few full hookups but they were all reserved plus they are an additional $13 per night, we paid $25 (with senior discount) for just an electric site which is not bad for FHU but higher than most state parks we have used. There are 5 more camping areas in the park. Some have no hookups and some have just electric. We really like the Beachwood Area CG as it has paved level pads and electricity but most of the sites would not accommodate a 40’ motor home. Probably 32’ would be about max for most of them.

Site 111

Pickerel Point CG is a peninsula out into Promised Land Lake. There is a sandy beach and swimming area at the end of the CG. This is a nice CG but in our opinion they need to do a better job of mowing the grounds around the campsites. Some places the grass and weeds are from knee high to waist high and make the CG look a little un-kept. The wife even took our ax and chopped down one plant that was covered in thorns as she was afraid a kid would get hurt if they brushed up against it. The bath houses are new and have 3 private shower rooms in the ladies and the men sides and there is a laundry room in the opposite end with two large deep sinks outside for washing cooking equipment. The streets in the CG are paved and in good shape but the 1+ mile road into the CG from the office has many bumpy places so you have to drive slow coming in. If the grounds were neater and the sites leveled a little better I would give it a 4 star rating but as it is a 3 would be my rating.

7/7/14 Monday We did our morning walk and had breakfast and drove around the area for awhile to check out a few things before returning to the CG to work on a problem with the lights on the Toad. After fixing the problem it was ice cream time. I built a campfire in the evening but a thunderstorm came roaring through and ran us inside and put the fire out.

7/8/14 Tuesday We did our normal morning routine of walking followed by breakfast and then relaxed and read for awhile before riding the bicycles to the museum in the campground. This Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped establish this park as they did many parks, etc. throughout the country. This museum had more information about the CCC than I have ever seen, The CCC camp was located right in front of the museum. Another thunderstorm came through about 8:30PM. Many years ago we camped in a tent so we knew what the campers here in tents we going through when these storms roll through. We have a tarp over our firewood and one of the many chipmunks here has started using it as a dry place to hang out. They are fun to watch as they scamper around.

7/9/14 Wednesday The air was crisp and clean this morning as we did our 1.5 mile morning walk before breakfast. Mid morning we hiked 2.5 miles on one of the trails near the CG and saw lots of rhododendrons in bloom along the trail. There are a lot more rocks here than we realized. Some very large boulders were along the trail. After returning to the CG I grilled steak for lunch. We relaxed and read and built a campfire later but again a shower of rain came up and put it out.

7/10/14 Thursday Again the air was crisp and cool this morning for our walk. We did not do much today except some walking, riding bicycles some, relaxing and reading. I grilled chicken for supper and we finally had a rain free evening with still winds and a nice campfire. We packed the outside stuff for our departure in the morning to begin the return trip home.

7/11/14 Friday Even though we only had to go a little over 200 miles today we decided to leave early, so we skipped our morning walk and had breakfast, took on some fresh water, dumped our holding tanks and departed at 8AM. We were glad we did. After we came down the mountain and passed through the first little town we came around a curve in the road to find the road was closed. They were replacing a bridge. So we had to unhook the toad and turn the MH around on a two lane country road. Luckily there was a area just large enough on the side of the road that I could back the MH in and with a little back and forth was able to get turned around and hook the toad up. If it had not been for this little spot I would have had to back up about a ¼ mile. We were not to pleased with the PA DOT. We went back through the same little village and made the turn that the GPS directed us to and we saw the detour signs for the road closure. But there was none visible from the road coming down the mountain. Later in the morning we had to detour again because I495 was closed for several miles and I95 was stop and go near Wilmington DE. We finally got to Tuckahoe State Park CG in Maryland at 3PM and set up on site 30. There is not a CG Host so each person checks themselves in on a clip board at the entrance to the CG loop. They also sell firewood on the honor system.

This is a nice CG with 35 sites in the electrical (30/20amp) section. No water/sewage hookups but there is potable water spigots scattered around the CG and a dump station on the way out. The street around the CG is paved and smooth. The ramp into the site is paved for about 20’ and the rest of the site is small gravel and the sites are level, with a fire ring and large picnic table. The space between the sites is rather large and the bath house has two showers with privacy for each men and women. Almost all the sites will accommodate a 40’ MH and some would accommodate a 45’. All the sites have a tall canopy of tall shade trees over them.

Site 30

7/10/14 Saturday We did our morning walk and had breakfast and later drove around the area and stopped at McDonalds to use their WiFi and get a Latte. After returning to the CG I grilled brats for lunch and then at 3:30PM we went to the Aviary at the Park Office to listen to one of the park Naturist do a talk on Owls, Hawks, and other birds. Then he did a feeding for some of the birds. His talk was very informative. The Bald Eagle they had was one that someone had shot and they had rehabilitated him but he was not able to be released into the wild. Then we relaxed and read and I built a campfire before we called it a night.

Red Tail Hawk

7/11/14 Sunday We did our walk, had breakfast and packed up to depart for our last night on this trip.

7/11/14 Sunday We arrived at Rocky Hock CG in Edenton NC app. 3:45 PM and checked in and was led to our pull thru site - site 3. I expected it to be level but it was not. The site was beside a small pond and the ground sloped some toward the lake. It seems to me that with a little effort the people that set up campgrounds could level the sites a little better. Oh well, we are only going to be here one night.

Site 3

7/12 14 Monday We had breakfast, dumped the holding tanks. The top of the dump pipe was higher then the bottom of our dump valve so that took more time than normal to dump, but we finally got departed app. 9AM and arrived home safe and sound app. 1:30PM, thankful for a safe and enjoyable trip. We drove the MH 1291 miles.

Amish Country PA - Leg 3

6/29/14 Sunday We departed Trap Pond app. 9:45AM and arrived at Beacon Hill Campground just outside of Intercourse PA about 1:30PM. This is a fairly small 50 site CG with a minimum age of 16. It is a very well maintained neat CG just across the street from a large Amish Farm. Our site 31 has a nice wood patio and a shade tree - so do some don’t. The parking area is clean gravel and they actually have Wi-Fi that works in a CG. After eating and resting for awhile we drove around the area to kind of get a feel for the place and later stopped at Crackle Barrel for dinner since all the local non-chain restaurants were closed for Sunday. The farm land here is beautiful. The crops have been planted and are about half full grown and are nice and green. The roads are so clean from trash and the houses and yards are all well kept. The Amish were out in their buggies with their families, the young people were in the yard playing sports and enjoying themselves. We are looking forward to the Amish homemade bread, cheese, ice cream and pretzels while we are here. Late in the evening we were sitting on the deck reading and the fire flies came out - I have never seen so many in one area.

Site 31

Lower section of CG

Upper Section of CG

6/30/14 Monday We walked down the road to the village of Intercourse before breakfast and stopped at a coffee shop and got a latte and blueberry muffin (one of my weaknesses). Then we stopped at a local meat store - Stoltfus Meats and checked out their meats and cheeses. They had samples out so we got to try some. We bought a package of the ring bologna and some sausage. We returned to the CG and sliced the bologna, cooked an egg and put it between a biscuit we got a Crackle Barrel last night - mummm. After breakfast we drove up hwy  772 a few miles to check out Mascot Roller Mills and the Ressler Family Home. It was not open yet so we drove up a side road to check an Amish roadside stand - “Countryside Road - Stand” at 2966 Stumptown Road Ronks, Pa. They had lots of local canned goods, fresh homemade bread, shoo-fly pies, the best homemade Root Beer I have ever had, melt in your mouth soft pretzels right out of the oven, local crafts, eggs, local cheese and butter, etc. all at much better prices that you will find at the “tourist spots” in the villages around the area. Then we went back to the mill and did the tour. We were the only ones there so we got a good tour of the mill and the house. The last family that owned it had owned it since 1864 and the last two living in the family did not have any descendants so they set up a foundation to maintain the buildings and grounds and the tours are free to the public. The guide started the mill up and ground some corn into meal to show up how it worked. All the furnishings in the house are original and are left just like the last person to live there left it. A very interesting place. I have always like old mills. The main beam in the first floor ceiling was about 20” square solid black walnut. Across the street a young Amish lady had a road side produce table setup on the honor system. We got some fresh picked string beans, blackberries, fresh potatoes.  She came out and made change for us. Then we drove a few miles to the town of Lititz. We got a quick lunch in an Italian pizza/sub shop before touring the historical Julius Sturgis pretzel bakery. The tour was interesting but the soft pretzel we purchased after the tour was not. It was way to doughy. We took one bit and tossed them in the trash. On the way back we stopped at another road side stand and got some more produce. Like I said the prices are much better than at a regular store or the “tourist spots”. The cheese I priced at one of the tourist stores was three times more for a smaller piece that what I bought at the Countryside Road - Stand.

Mascot Roller Mill

7/1/14 Tuesday We did our morning walk down to the village of Intercourse before breakfast. Then we drove to Strasburg to ride the historic steam train, which is a 45 minute excursion trip. On the way we stopped at one of the covered bridges to get some photos. After the train ride we stopped at Issac’s Grilled Sandwiches for lunch. Very good. We rode through the countryside for awhile and then stopped at a Wal-Mart to pick up a few things before returning to the CG to relax for awhile. After supper we rode through the countryside for awhile.

7/2/14 Wednesday After our morning walk and breakfast we drove toward Bird-In-Hand and stopped at Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides and boarded an Amish buggy. The guide/driver John Stoltfus and the mules Luke and Duke took us on a one hour ride through the farm land and to his farm that his parents purchased in 1929. He has turned the farm over to his youngest son and has been a guide for 6 years. His son rents some land and is paying $300 an acre which is a LOT more rent than I get for my farm land. We toured the barn that was built in the late 1800’s where they keep the milk cows, horses and mules. He explained about the feeding and milking process. The Amish don’t use commercially purchased electricity but use a combination of LP gas, a generator, solar power and air pressure to power they equipment, appliances and provide running water in the house. We drove by one of the local one room school houses were the kids go through the 8th grade. He was kind of funny with some of his comments. As we passed by one farm that had some chickens and pigs he said that is were they are making ham and eggs. He did a good job on the tour and we enjoying the tour very much. After leaving the tour we went to The Good and Plenty Restaurant for lunch. They serve family style or order off the menu. We ordered off the menu and could not eat all the food they brought us so we took about half by to the MH. We returned to the MH and relaxed awhile before riding around some more through the farming area.

7/3/14 Thursday After our morning walk to/from Intercourse and breakfast we went to Countryside Road Stand again to get some more of their soft pretzels, whoopee pies and a shoo-fly pie to take home to our son and his family. The soft pretzels are so good. Then we drove over to Bird-In-Hand Bake Shop. They sell about the same type of bake products but the prices are higher. If you come to this area we recommend the Countryside Road Stand over the Farmers Market or the Bake Shop in Bird-In-Hand. The prices are much cheaper and the products are great.

Then we drove around and checked three local campgrounds: Country Acres, Florys and Country Haven. If we come back we probably will try Country Haven. The CG was higher up that the surrounding farms so the view out over the farms was great. On the way back to our CG we stopped at The Pretzel Factory in Intercourse for the tour. We didn’t try their pretzels. They didn’t look as good as the one from Countryside Road Stand.

7/4/14 Friday Happy Independence Day: We got app. ½” of rain during the night and morning. It stopped after 7AM so we did our morning walk and had breakfast then rode around some. Lena wanted to check out some of the yard sales she say posted yesterday. Due to the rain they were late setting up but we did check out a couple. We were curious if the Amish participated in yard sales and we found out they do because we stopped at one at an Amish farm. The remainder of the day was relaxing, doing laundry and reading and enjoying the 15 degree cooler weather and blustery winds coming off Hurricane Arthur.

7/5/14 Saturday It was still nice and cool this morning app. 59 degrees. We walked to Intercourse and had breakfast at the Stoltfus Meat Market Café. If you come to Intercourse this is a nice market, with lots of fresh meats, cheese, etc. and a nice café. We bought some of their sausage earlier in the week and it was really good. We drove out into the country to a Jersey cow dairy named Lapp Valley Farm that the CG staff had marked on our local map. They sell several products made from the milk, including, whole milk, skim milk, 1% milk, several flavors of delicious ice cream, waffle cones, butter, cheese, etc. They allow you to walk to the barns and take photos as long as you don’t photograph the people without their permission. There were several young calves in individual pens that enjoyed a good head scratching. The main house was 3 stories plus a basement and was built from brick in 1812. The entire farm looked spotless, with lots of flowers around the house, out in the garden and hanging from pots on the retail sales building. We tried two kinds of ice cream and purchased ½ gallon of another kind, plus some milk and butter. After leaving we drove around for awhile and came upon Spring Gulch Camping Resort. We drove in and checked it out. Most of the sites were very shady and up into the hills. It was a very large CG but I guess I am cheep and don’t desire to pay $70-75 per night, plus $3 per night resort fee, plus $2 per child over 6, for a site unless it is really special. But they had lots of activities for kids if you are traveling with kids. They had play grounds, pool, small lake with a sandy beach, etc. We returned to Intercourse and stopped at the local fire department to get lunch. They were having a Pig Roast (being from North Carolina I would have called it a BBQ). After lunch Lena wanted to checkout some more of the yard sales and then we stopped at the Farmers Market in Bird-In-Hand to get another pound of their home smoked bacon. We purchased a pound earlier in the week and it was really good bacon without the normal preservatives. It was like we got on the farm as a kid after Daddy killed hogs and smoked the meat. We will freeze this in small portions and it will last us awhile.

While were relaxing in the motor home someone knocked on the door. It was a teenage Amish girl with a wagon load of fresh baked bread, shoo-fly pies, whoopie pies, raisin breads, cinnamon bread, etc. We had a pretty good stock of local products but I just couldn't resist so I bought some of her products. When she left the CG she had sold about 2/3 of what she had brought.

This is our last night here as we depart tomorrow for the Poconos.