Lexington Kentucky Horse Park 9/9/10

The Kentucky Horse Park is the venue for the first ever on US soil International Equistrian Championships. This park is 1200 acres of everything "horse" including a jumping complex, hall of champions, carriage barn, breeds barn, international museum of the horse, steeplechase course, race track, tack and farrier shop, draft barn, (not beer), american saddlebred museum and you name it, it's here all spruced up for the expected crowd of 300,000.

We watched a show at the breeds barn which started out with our colors and the Star Spangled Banner proudly displayed and sung. A display of various horses and what those breeds are known for.

What absolutely blew us away was these two young Aussie men who trained two horses in four months to work together in unison without halters, ropes, saddles or being restrained at any stage of their demonstration. These pictures tell their story. There were many other tricks displayed but these were the most unusual. This horse let Dan stand on it's chest while it played dead!

See the whips in both hands of the rider, these are cracking over and around the horses heads and bodies and they don't even flinch. This is a very vulnerable position for the horse lying down and the standing horse has side stepped over it and Dan mounted it and then side stepped away.

9/5/10 Luray Caverns,New Market,Harrisonburg VA

Nat'l Geographic did a documentary on the Luray Caverns several years ago and there is a reason this cave was chosen. It plainly has some of the most spectacular caverns in the US. The pic at left is a reflection of stalagtytes hanging over the water below. The water seeps in so slowly it doesn't make any ripples so the reflections are like looking into a mirror.

These are called drapery stalagtytes because of they look like hanging drapes. The cave has the largest display of a stalagtyte and stalagmyte side by side in the world, each at 40' tall and are called the bride and groom as well as the largest single cavern with an organ which has selinoids that strike the stalagtyes and each are perfectly tuned to the keys of the organ.

Cadets from VMI (Virginia Military Institute) prepare for a Labor Day parade in New Market. The event is an annual ritual because VMI cadets fought in a major battle in New Market against the Union in 1863. We counted 14 buses of cadets and got out of town quickly before they closed the road and missed getting to Harrisonburg. The road between New Market and Harrisonburg was one of the first toll roads in the US dating back to the 1700's. After the Revolutionary War the states were short on cash so they authorized a state level approval of toll roads or Pikes. The term "pike" is a mid-evil term for wood spikes/gates used on toll roads. As one story goes, Sheridan's Union troops came through a toll gate but refused to pay so the attendant made a notch in a stick for every 10 soldiers to keep count of those passing and after the war sent a bill to Washington and was reimbursed $200.00................and the journey continues

Shenandoah Valley VA 9/3-9/7/2010

Shenandoah Park is comprised of the Blue Ridge Mts. which cover most of Virginia on the eastern edge of the Appellation range which stretches from Maine to Georgia. We marveled at 2240 ft being the highest point in Virginia, actually it's the highest point of our trip since leaving WY!













We are atop the Skyline Ridge Hiway looking into the Shenandoah Valley where Tinker is parked somewhere among the trees. The Park runs 105 miles between Front Royal and Waynesbourough and is forested with hardwoods of 15 varieties of oak, maple, ash, elm and poplar. There are frequent turnouts to enjoy the beautiful views similar to this one. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 400 miles to the Great Smokies Nat'l Park.









We're staying at the Luray RV Park in Luray, VA looking west from camp to capture this hole in the clouds just before sunset which made the glass of wine even more enjoyable! BTW: this park is spectacular. Their wi-fi, cable, amenities and owners were a delight. It's located at the top of a hill with wonderful views of farms and patures full of cows and one very happy donkey. It was very pastoral and relaxing. We would highly recommend a stay here to our RV buds............................and the journey continues

8/29/2010 Hershey, Penn

Would a trip to PA be complete without a visit to the sweetest place on earth? Hershey, PA. We loved the street lights and most of the streets are named after candies or candy related mixings.except this one!

We toured the candy plant in a chocolate chariot showing the candy production process again, we saw this once before in South Bend, Ind. The premises has an amusement park with 8 roller coasters and lots of Disney rides for the kiddies to enjoy while wearing off their chocolate high.

Wonderful adventure and we did get our share of chocolates for the journey back to home.......................

and the journey continues.

8/28 - 9/3/2010 Gettysburg, Penn

Here at the museum we got a broad look at the battle of Gettysburg from July 1-4, 1863 through a theater presentation, cyclorama and actual tour of the battlefield with a certified civil war tour guide. He knew every little detail, location, which troops were wher and when, times of day of each attack, counter attack, the # of cannon shots, rounds of ammo and # of troops killed (11,000)wounded or captured (40,000) and every gory detail, even with pictures taken at the time. Simply amazing!

The Battle of Gettysburg cyclorama is a sound and light show of the spectacular 377 foot painting by Paul Philippoteaux of Pickett's Charge completed in 1884. The 44 foot tall canvas hangs from rods and is displayed in the round and is so life-like as it takes you to the battlefield. This photo is mearly a photo of the canvas outside the theater, where of course, no photography was allowed.

Dave, our guide, explains the workings of this original cannon on the battlefield where over 100 are displayed. There are thousands of mounuments that have been erected by states and organizations to pay tribute to the soldiers in various sizes and shapes. There is a movement underway to restore the entire battlefield area to it's original landscape which entails the removal of some trees, replanting of other trees, restoration of rock walls and fences and removal of underbrush. We wonder what they're going to do to hide the cell towers!...............and the journey continues

8/25 - 8/28/2010 Bellefonte, PA

On our way from Westfield, NY to Bellefont, PA we encountered this truck attempting a left turn at a very busy intersection and marveled that he made it with only a sheet of papers' thickness to spare before bottoming out. This took about 10 minutes and several light changes.

This is the oldest functioning P.O. in the country(circa 1860)moved from Virginia to the offices of the Philatelist Society and dontated by the Smithsonian for display. Stamps are hand cancelled for collectors here. On the door and shutters Civil War soldiers would leave notes behind for their loved ones. The society is dedicated to stamp collecting and ethical practices of members involved in purchase, appraisal and sales of stamps. They are housed in the old Ace Match Company building.

Bellefonte's "old charm" is proudly showcased in the original courthouse now government center in the center of town. 7 formers Govenors were born and raised here, 5 for PA,1 for KS, and 1for CA (Bilger-1852-1856)The visitors center is the old railroad station and folks here are rail buffs.The city was a major rail hub and supported the iron/steel industry with raw materials, ore and limestone from the local mines. The lumber industry barons built beautiful victornian style homes using the limestone from the mines.

Most of the town center has buildings similar in style and architecture as this one across the street from the courthouse. The Grange County Fair, currently running, has a tent city of over 100 tent homes on wooden foundations constructed in the 1800's and have been family owned ever since and can't be sold or passed on to anyone except family....................and the journey continues

August 24, 2010 Lake Chautauqua Institute

Lake Chautaugua Institute comprises homes built in the late 1700's by families as a studies and retreat area. These folks weren't necessarily monied at the time as tents were pitched on wooden platforms and later used as foundations for family mansions or donated to the Institution to build whatever was needed. There is a hotel, entertainment center, research library, religious studies and retreats of all faiths, lecture halls, grocery store, ice cream parlors, park and recreation, surprise, including 2 golf courses across the street! The kicker is - no cars are allowed until after Labor Day and most of the streets were brick. Folks get around by foot, bike, handicap scooters or the local trolley. We watched a fantastic banjo group, Cynthia Sayer & Sparks Fly. She is one of the top four-string banjoists in the world today who played hot swing, tango, western, classical and bluegrass. She played with such notables as the Woody Allen Band for 10 years and worked with artists such as Dick Hyman, Wynton Marsailis, Marian McPartland, Bill Cosby, Warren Vachi, Les Paul, Wycliffe Gordon, Marvin Hamlisch, Bucky Pizzarelli, Scott Robinson and many others. Her career highlights include performances in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the White House, and appeared with The New York Philharmonic. She is a member of the National Banjo Hall of Fame and is the subject of a PBS documentary to be aired in 2011 sometime. Check her out on the web if you are interested to learn more. CynthiaSayer.com Needless to say she was very good and could sing like an angel.

We played golf before the performance, had dinner on the Lake, enjoyed the concert and walked around the village both before and after with our mouths agape at the uniqueness of this wonderful village.................................BTW: Lake Chautaugua was named by the indians and means "pinched purse" because of it's long shoreline and is very narrow in the center like it had been tied together......................................and the journey continues