brandywine battlefield

Day 48 – Delaware’s and Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley

Day 48 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Brandywine Battlefield

I left my friend’s house in Villanova around 9 am this morning though could have stayed on the couch all day and watched football.  Our first stop in the Brandywine Valley was at the Brandywine Battlefield. On September 11, 1777, US troops under Washington’s guidance were out-maneuvered by British troops.  In preparation for the battle, Washington established his headquarters near Chadd’s Ford at the Benjamin Ring House, home of a Quaker farmer and miller.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
strasburg railroad in the pennsylvania dutch country

Day 47 – Pennsylvania Dutch Country Part 2

Day 47 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

The Walmart parking lot was perfect last night.  I replenished my snack supplies, bought some groceries in anticipation of cooking dinner at a house tonight, enjoyed the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday for dinner, and grabbed coffee and a bagel from Panera this morning. One stop shopping, eating and sleeping at its finest in the Pennsylvania Dutch country!

This morning I took a driving tour of Lancaster, one of the largest inland cities in the 13 colonies during the American Revolution.  I actually wanted to find the Central Market, where many local specialties from the Dutch farmland can be found. Unfortunately I could not find the market which dates back to the 1700s.  I did, however, find Wheatland, former home of James Buchanan who was the 15th President of the United States. The dogs and I took a walk around the lovely grounds and through the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
hershey's chocolate

Day 46 – Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Day 46 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Town of Bedford, Pennsylvania

I was much more successful visiting the antique stores, candy stores, and historic buildings that lined the downtown streets of the Town of Bedford this morning than I was at finding a pub last night.  I stopped by two historic locations, the Anderson House and the Espy House. 

The Anderson House, built in 1815, originally housed the first bank in Bedford and now acts as a public library and community center.  The Espy House, built around 1771, served as George Washington’s headquarters in 1794 when he and peace commissioners traveled to western Pennsylvania to quell the Whisky Rebellion, a violent protest by farmers who opposed an excise tax on whisky.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
dingman falls on the delaware river

Day 42 – New Jersey’s Delaware River Loop Part 2

Day 42 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Dingmans Ferry

This morning VANilla carted me and the dogs from Ted’s House to Dingmans Ferry within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is located on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Here, I took a 10 minute walk past two lovely waterfalls on the Delaware River.  The first, Silver Thread Falls, is aptly named as the narrow stream of water that tumbles down the cliff looks like a silver thread.  The second, 130 foot Dingmans Falls, curves over the granite rock. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 41 – New Jersey’s Delaware River Loop

Day 41 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

High Point State Park

After a repeat visit to the Walmart where I spent Thursday night, I headed off to High Point State Park in New Jersey.  The park is complete with lakes, trails crisscrossing through the forest, and even an obelisk that sits atop the Kittatinny Ridge.  The dogs and I took the scenic drive up to the 1,800 foot summit. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
sunnyside, rip van winkle

Day 40 – New York’s Hudson River Valley Part 2

Before I left for the Hudson River Valley, I reveled in the headline in the local paper over breakfast at Danny’s house in Long Island. Additionally, I made one more visit to the float that Danny’s daughter was creating with classmates for homecoming. It was very sophisticated for high school.  The wheel turned, the scarecrow’s arms moved just as if it was full of straw, and the float, loaded onto the trailer, was ready for the the parade. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
view of the hudson river at west point

Day 39 – New York’s Hudson River Valley

Day 39 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

West Point

I started day in New York’s Hudson River valley touring West Point.  My grandfather briefly attended here until it was determined he had cheated on the vision test by memorizing the eye chart. As a result, he got kicked out.  But that is aside from the point. The West Point tour was excellent.

West Point is a self-contained community with its own post office, shopping, grocery and the like.  We first stopped at the chapel. He we could glimpse the back of the barracks where the cadets enjoy fun events in the courtyard as well as not so fun events like walking off their demerits.  Obviously, with very little free time, walking off demerits for five hours at a time is not the most enjoyable for them.  If the cadets rack up over 100 demerits, they join the century club of which two of our presidents were members, Grant and Eisenhower.

the barracks at west point

The chapel, technically a cathedral, but called a chapel in the military, is home to the largest pipe organ in a religious building in the world.  The pipes range in size from a pencil to over 30 feet.  Inside the chapel, the hymnals are placed in measured alignment and flags from different times of the United States hang overhead.  In addition, a row, marked with a candle always sits empty no matter how many church goers are in attendance as it honors those missing in action.

west point chapel
west point chapel

After visiting the chapel, we stopped at the most photographed place at West Point, the point with the view of the Hudson River.  Next to this point, a statue inscribed with civil war leaders’ names stands in the middle of a ring of granite balls. Aside the balls are canons inscribed with the names of the significant civil war battles.  Another ring of cannons surrounding the monument are buried downward into the ground as a symbol to never fight among ourselves again as graduates of West Point were fighting each other in the war.

view of the hudson river at west point
monument at west point

One item at West Point that I have never seen was solar power compacting trash cans. Our government dollars at work!  I had to take a picture of it just because I was so surprised.  The trash compactor stood in front of the visitor’s center which features an interesting weaponry museum. The displays include all sorts of spears, knifes, guns, as well as cases for atomic bombs and small tanks.

solar trash compactor at west point

Bear Mountain State Park

After my tour of West Point, we continued through the Hudson River Valley to Bear Mountain State Park. The dogs and I took a walk with what seemed like a Japanese photography class.  They stopped continuously to snap photos. On the other hand, Scout, Petey, and I circles the lake and up the Appalachian Trail about half way to the nearby summit.  Fall foliage surrounded the sometimes steep, rocky trail, while geese floated peacefully in the below lake.  

bear mountain state park in the hudson river valley
fall foliage at bear mountain state park in the hudson river valley

Danny’s House

After our jaunt in nature, we left the Hudson River Valley for Long Island where my cousin Danny and his wife Allison hooked me up for an evening.  I met Liam here, an Irish Merchant Ship Captain who just got his European Flying License.  He is looking to meet the US FAA regulations as well.  He went into the City for the night while Danny, Allison, and I went to an Irish Pub in the neighborhood to watch the Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees! That was once in a lifetime and fun to see a New York Bar.  After the Rangers win, we checked on the progress their daughter Claire’s Sophomore class homecoming float. The theme was Wizard of Oz and the float was great.  I’m curious to know if they won. ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

map of road trip along scenic byways across the USA
Interactive Link to Map

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kent falls state park

Day 38 – Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills Part 2

Day 38 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I must apologize to my avid readers in advance, as I don’t have many stops or pictures to contribute to my Connecticut post.  I awoke to a dreary, overcast day with yesterday’s sinus headache, only magnified, despite my body being a walking medicine cabinet for the last 24 hours. Tylenol Sinus, Nyquil, Excedrin, and finally a migraine pill in desperation…to no avail.  And the weather wasn’t helping matters. I was frozen!  After I let the dogs out, I crawled back into my sleeping bag and waited to see if the haze would clear.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
edith m mansion in the litchfield hills

Day 37 – Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills

Day 37 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

After oatmeal doctored with some fruit, compliments of Julie, the dogs and I set off to Farmington, on the border of Litchfield County.  The city is home to many historic sites, though I was most interested in Miss Porter’s School, an exclusive boarding school over 100 years old.  My old college roommate attended high school here, and I was curious to know how she spent some of her formative years. 

I only drove by the campus and got a glimpse of the classic buildings, but also passed by the lovely Farmington River.  In hindsight, I probably should have stopped here for a walk, as the river was lined with trees in peak fall color.  The vibrant oranges and reds reflecting off the calm water provided such a picturesque view that I missed my turn to Topsmead State Forest!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
east rock park in New Haven

Day 36 – Rhode Island’s South County Coast and New Haven Connecticut

Day 36 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Misquamicut State Beach

What an action packed day!  I started out at Misquamicut State Beach and ended in New Haven, Connecticut.  At Misquamicut State Beach, the seas were as calm as I’ve seen for days. With barely any surf, if it weren’t for the blue horizon of water and sky, it could have been mistaken for a tranquil pond! The three-mile beach abuts the oceanside community of Weekapaug featuring gingerbread-style beach houses that was equally as quiet this morning.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!