Heading North

12' 1" covered bridge just outside Tohikon Family Campground
near Quakertown, PA

Covered bridges and motorhomes are not always the best of friends. I am becoming increasingly aware that not all roads are designed for our 11' 6" high motorhome. The covered bridge on the road in front of our campground outside of Quakertown, PA says 12' 1". Hearing Pearl's objections we decided not to try going through it. Most roads post warning signs well in advance but as the number of low clearance bridges and underpasses are increasing in this area I find myself recalling the horror stories I have read about motorhomes stuck or missing vital components from its roof.

Former ICA students Joy Brokopp and her brother Andy Brokopp.

Also pictured Andy's & Erica's children Isaiah & Bella

While camped at Summit Grove Camp in New Freedom, PA we had the opportunity to reconnect with a couple of former students from our days at International Christian Academy. Andy just recently assumed a position caring for the grounds and buildings at the Christian camp. Unfortunately Andy's wife, Erica, was working and couldn't meet with us but we did get to meet their two children, Isaiah and Bella. Andy's sister, Joy, was also a student at ICA and was able to join us in worship at their church and for a meal afterwards.

As we have begun to move North in our travels we keep experiencing early spring over and over again. The redbud trees' blooms were already disappearing in South Carolina but are in full bloom here in Pennsylvania. We hadn't seen daffodils and tulips for weeks but here they are again at our current campground in Quakertown, PA. Here the hardwood trees are just beginning to leaf out while just days ago at our campground in Prince William National Park in the DC area they made such a beautiful green colored forest.

Prince William National Park located just south of DC

In our initial planning for this trip we recognized that QT was going to limit some of our options. She hates to travel in a car--abundant and persistent howling, whining, barking. Traveling in the motorhome is better but still not perfect. We are a bit envious of the typical picture of the dog almost smiling with its head out the window and ears flapping in the breeze. We are able to leave her in the motorhome with blinds drawn so she isn't distracted but not for an extended period of time. 

National Cathedral, DC

White House, DC

Union Station, DC

We knew this would especially be a problem in metropolitan areas where our campground may be an hour or two outside the city even before factoring in rush hour traffic. For Washington DC we scheduled our trip for Sunday to get rid of the commuter issue, drove to a metro station and took the metro to Union Station where we took a tour bus for a few hours. Visits to Smithsonian and other museums will have to wait for another time.

Monument at Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg

While at Summit Grove Camp in New Freedom PA we managed to squeeze in two trips.One to Gettysburg and another to Hershey. I had visited Gettysburg some 20 years before and was deeply moved by what I read and saw about the events that had taken place in the very places I was standing--especially the loss of life and limbs. This trip seemed very different. More touristy with even a sign at the fudge kiosk in the visitor's center encouraging you to take home "a taste of Gettysburg."

Tombstones at Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg

Hershey was another story. Just a fun place to be a tourist, even if it meant paying more for your chocolate bars than anywhere else in the U.S. It would have been fun to buy one of those huge candy kisses or that five pound chocolate bar.

While here at Tohikon Family Campground near Quakertown PA we initially planned to go into Philadelphia to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Thinking of commuters, limited time, and QT we reconsidered and drove to the Lancaster area to Amish country. We spent most of our time in shops but also thoroughly enjoyed just driving for a few hours in the area to see the farms, buggies, mules & horses being used for plowing & haying--just the opportunity for a glimpse of a culture very different than mine. We even squeezed in a little time for a smorgasbord lunch featuring many of the Pennsylvania Dutch dishes.

I am continuing to enjoy having my brother Dick and his wife Shirley traveling with us in their 21 ft. camper van pulling a utility trailer. We have a little more than two weeks together before they head back to their home in South Carolina. They have a young dog that outweighs QT about 4:1 or 5:1. QT is over 13 years old while Delta is closer to a puppy at 2 years old. Interesting to see them interact. They obviously both want to be friends but size and age seem to hinder the relationship. One moment the tales are wagging and they are face to face nuzzling each other. The next moment the friendship seems to disappear into snarls, bared teeth and aggressive moves. Dick, Shirley, Elmer and Pearl seem to be maintaining a more consistent friendly relationship!