BACK TO PA FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

We barely got home and unhitched the Airstream before we received an email that said my Granddaughter, Casey was being baptized the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Since that Friday was my Grandson's birthday, it didn't take very long to make reservations for the Airstream at Camp Blue Diamond, a Church of the Brethren affiliated campground and retreat center where the baptism was to take place.  It is in the middle of Rothrock State Forest and is only about 35 minutes from State College.

The trip was a beautiful drive starting up the Shenandoah Valley, then Rt 522 into PA and through the mountains to the entrance to the park. In spite of my son's concerns about taking the Airstream into this park with out 4 wheel drive, the drive in was uneventful ~ only because we didn't meet anyone coming out on the very narrow road. Getting into a space was another story. We called ahead to make sure the park could handle a 34' trailer because many parks cannot. We were assured it would be no problem. I think that when I say, "34' ", the CG manager immediately thinks, "motorhome" because a 34' pull behind is a rarity these days. Airstream doesn't even make one anymore. And a 34' motorhome is ~ you guessed it 34' long.  Unlike my rig - which is a 34' long trailer, preceded by a 23' long truck.

We did succeed in safely parking in a very nice spot, reasonably close to the bath house, but only after trying several spots and almost getting stuck.

Then it was off to Tom and Ann's for Ben's birthday.  I've really fallen down on the job as photographer. TRUST ME - he just gets cuter as he gets older. I had a great time with the girls. They both showed me their doll collections and brought back many wonderful memories.

Camp Blue Diamond's lake is small but beautiful. I took canoe rides with Emily and all the grandkids. We really enjoyed just "camping" in the mountains.


Sunday dawned with gray skies amid worries about rain. But the big day came off without a hitch. Here are some pictures of Casey's baptism.

 

Rev. Bonnie is completing her 10th year at University Baptist and Brethren Church and obviously felt blessed to be able to bring 5 new members into the Church. Memories of Hancock, NY Firemens Carnivals - Chicken cooked over a big wood fire, held in wire and pipe frames. I do NOT remember ever getting juicy, fully cooked, unburnt chicken before. It was really delicious.

Thanks to all the members of the UBBC for making me and my new family feel so welcome, this time and all of the previous trips as well.

A peaceful ride home. I've finally gotten old enough that I can drive with the Airstream at a steady 60 MPH on the Interstates and just let everybody pass me. Carol calls it "our little 60 MPH bubble." Much more pleasant way to travel. And LOTS better fuel mileage, too. We parked and unpacked the Airstream. Tuesday Carol went to work with the kids and Emily went back to Salem High as a Junior. 

I rested. 

GETTYSBURG, BALTIMORE AND DC

Nice ride from Hershey to Gettysburg on Friday, Aug 17. We enjoyed the museum, diorama and film but didn't do much outside. Too hot.

Our space was waiting for us at Patapsco Valley State Park, Hollofield Area. It's a rugged, natural, truly beautiful wilderness barely 3 miles from I-695.

Rt 40 and I-70 actually pass through the park. But the park is big enough that you can enjoy it without even knowing the highways are there. This is the first time we've stayed there that we did not see deer. AND it's less than 4 miles to Bill and Bobbie's (Carol's sister) house.

Here is a map of the area

 

And a Google Earth view 

 

You can click on the images and see them enlarged in a new window.

We enjoyed a gathering of Bill's family and just hanging with them over the weekend. Bill had to go back to work Monday but Bobbie did not so we went to the the National Zoo in D.C.

We drove to Silver Spring and took the Metro from there. Didn't drive because we were meeting my Goddaughter Erin and beau for dinner in Rosslyn and the Metro really is convenient.

Another visitor to the Zoo took a picture of all of us.

Lots of animals, of course

 

I did say it was HOT, didn't I?

 

National Zoo is in Rock Creek Park and is built on a large hill. Start at the top, see things on the way down and then have to climb back to the top again. We were all feeling the heat on the way back when Emily insisted that we go into the Invertebrate House. 

Whoopee - lobsters, spiders and cockroaches. Oh My!  

But it was air-conditioned. So we went in.

One of the first things we saw was a giant octopus being fed by a keeper. While we all thought it was interesting, Bobbie went absolutely crazy over it. Like she was back at Disney or something. "I NEVER thought I'd EVER see a live giant octopus IN MY LIFE." We left her to enjoy and continued our tour.

She caught up to us after awhile, still bubbling. On our way out, we walked past the work area behind the tank where we had seen the octopus. Donna, the keeper was there and Bobbie told her how she had made Bobbie's month - maybe year. I chimed in with, "She can cross that off her lifetime bucket list now." Bobbie gushed, "Oh No. That was so unbelievable that it wasn't even ON my list." They talked for a little while about the octopus - her name is Pandora. She does change colors like all octopi but pink/orange is her "happy" color. Then Donna looked around and said, "There aren't too many people around right now. Would you like to feed her." Bobbie was just speechless. She just stood there gasping for air. I said, "Well YEAH." Bobbie finally said, "Ah, ah, ah, yes I would."

So behind the scenes we go. 

Here is Bobbie getting ready to put the stick with the shrimp head into the water

 

Here is Pandora grasping it in one of her tentacles

 

Looks like she's going to eat it.

 

Whoops. No. She's wrapping her tentacle around the stick 6 inches or so above the shrimp. She's not interested in the shrimp at all.  Bobbie said, "Oh Donna. Am I doing something wrong? She's not taking the shrimp." Donna said, "No. You're fine. She can see that you are not me. She thinks if she takes the shrimp you'll leave. And she wants to play. She loves attention." 

So Bobbie and Pandora played a gentle game of tug-of-war. Bobbie said, "She feels really strong." Donna said, "Yes. If she wanted to and you hung on to the stick, she could pull right over the side of the tank." But she really did just want to play.

If Bobbie stopped tugging, Pandora would sit (lay? float?) motionless for a few seconds and then tentatively tug a little to see if Bobbie would tug back. And they'd start all over again.

 So our newest bestest BFF from this trip was a giant octopus. All because Bobbie took a minute to thank Donna and tell her how wonderful the experience they had provided was. Of course, Donna LOVES her job and was just happy to share her love with someone else who was so interested. We got talking about her tiny work space and lack of equipment. She told us that the Invertebrates are a tiny part of the Zoo and the Zoo is a relatively small part of the Smithsonian so their equipment budget wasn't large. I said, "They skimp on equipment so they can pay you the big bucks, right?" She just laughed. So I asked, "OK. You come in every morning and work all day doing many different things. Which of those things would you refuse to do if they didn't pay you?" She thought just a second and said, "None. I'd do all of them anyway." I told her, "So you are either a very poorly paid employee - or an incredibly well reimbursed volunteer." 

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
― Confucius

To the top of the hill, a short walk to a Metro station and off to see Erin and Kent. We got talking and didn't even take any pictures. But here's a recent one of them.

Cafe Asia is a wonderful Asian restaurant that had something for everyone in our group. I didn't get to spend enough time with Erin. But I never get to spend enough time with Erin. We reluctantly said, "Good by" and Metro-ed back to Silver Spring.

A short drive got us to the campground and we headed home the next morning.