10.29 - 31 - This is it

10/29 -  So, this is it.  I left Sue's this morning and headed to Pennsylvania for my first stop on this next phase.  It was hard to leave as I don't know if I will see Sue again before Monika's wedding at the end of June!  So many emotions when you leave loved ones and the familiar to walk a new path with so many unknowns.  

I met Monika for a walk/hike in Valley Forge Park in PA.  She lives in Philadelphia and this was a good place to meet.  I'm so happy that it worked out.  On my way, I was following my google directions and noticed a sign that said "No trucks over 4 tons".  Yikes - it's not a truck, but it is roughly 8500 lbs - so over 4 tons!  Driving this rig, I need to pay attention to clearance and weight limits which is something you don't think about until driving such a big vehicle.  So, I had to reroute, but we met up and it was wonderful to see Monika and Juniper and we had a lovely walk.  Zoe was happy to get out and explore after the long drive!  

After leaving Monika, I went on to visit and moochdock at an Agilent coworker's home.  I had always enjoyed working with Samantha and she had kindly offered us a place to stay if passing through and I took her up on it and I am so glad I did.  I had never met her in person before and she's very cool and fun.  I don't know how long I'll stay here, but hopefully we will meet up with another coworker or two tomorrow whom I have also never met in person.  I left NY this morning, not really having much of a plan beyond tonight.  I imagine I'll stay here at least 2 nights, but I really don't know and I love that.  Once I leave here, I plan to head to Mary's (Kiwi - who I met in Maine) in Arlington, VA for one or more nights.  

10/30 - After a good, but short night's sleep (went to bed too late, woke up too early), I woke to this view.

Zoe and I went for a foggy walk at Wolf's Hollow County park.  On the drive there, there was a sign for low clearance of 10'6". 

This is the lowest I've gone through and it's a bit disconcerting.  I should be fine at 10' with the Maxxair fan open, but still!  And then on the way back, I noticed a sign at a bridge saying no trucks over 8000 lbs.  Yikes - I think we weigh about 8500, but I didn't notice the sign on the way to the park.  And it's not a truck!  😀  When I arrived at the park, I saw this sign:

I talked with someone and he said he hasn't had any problems and comes often.  With a van, that is so obviously a campervan, I figured people know that there is going to be some valuable stuff in there.  When I first saw the sign, I thought they were stealing the vehicles, not just stuff.  I really need to get an air tag for some added insurance.  

We had a lovely walk on the Forest Loop trail.  I just love the fog!  And these trees in PA seem so big.  I commented on that with Monika when we walked yesterday too.  

After we got back, Samantha took me on a driving tour and we had a BIG breakfast at an excellent diner - Route 30 Diner.

Needless to say, our leftovers could feed a few people!

The afternoon was pretty quiet and we took a nap.  Well, Zoe napped while I read and didn't nap...  I'm reading "Remarkably Bright Creatures" and I'm loving it!  It's just one of those lazy type days.  I feel like I need to be doing stuff, but it's ok to not be doing and going all the time!  This is a case where I'm not quite sure what to do in the area other than drive around, which I've done, and I'm really OK with not doing/going.  

Later we took a walk around the neighborhood.  We're in Amish country, so I had to take a picture of a horse and buggy.  The horse was so beautiful and regal!  (I learned that many of the Amish horses are retired racehorses.) 

Samantha is working on some projects, so Zoe and I are hanging in the van this afternoon.  It's going to get into the 30s tonight, so I've got my window covers on and I'll be turning on the heat for the night!  It is raining and in the low 50s outside right now, while about 65 inside, which for me is perfect!  I've got my bluetooth speaker playing some good music, so I'm enjoying just hanging out.  I'm sure that some people would feel claustrophobic in here, but I find it cozy.  It's not comfy like on a nice couch in a house, but it's good.  

We are going to go to dinner with another coworker tomorrow who I've never met in person before either.  I'm looking forward to that.  Not sure what I'll do tomorrow during the day, but I'll figure it out!

10/31 - Halloween, though it doesn't feel like it.  I don't think I've seen a single person in costume today.  I find that a little strange as usually I will see some people, like restaurant staff or store personnel dressed up, but not today.  Maybe Pennsylvania isn't much on Halloween.  

This morning's view:

Today, Zoe and went to The Amish Farm and House and did a farm tour and a bus tour.  It's really weird because this is in the corner of a shopping mall.  They were there long before the Target moved in.  

Here are some cute animal photos from the farm tour.

It was a beautiful day, so I really enjoyed the bus tour.  The landscape is so beautiful here.  I didn't expect it to be much different from Vermont with all our farms, but it is very different.  All the farms here are pristine.  The barns are in great condition and everything is neat and tidy.  The fields are beautiful as they plant cover crop after the corn, so there are no cut corn stalks around.  Instead the fields are mostly green.  

Notice the working team out there.

Another working team with 6 draft horses.  Must be some hard work!

Our guide made a special stop to see this covered bridge.  Probably similar to many in VT.

Guess I wouldn't be driving over this bridge (or any covered bridge).  I could do the height, but not the weight!

These are the scooters that the Amish use.  I've not seen scooters like this in the past.  The Mennonites use

 bicycles, but not the Amish.

Since Target was right there, I ran in and found some rope baskets that I wanted to try for storing my clothes.  I'm not sure how well it will work, but I'm trying it out and it looks cute!

And then I took Zoe to a park and let her off leash since there was basically no one there.  She stays very close to me and basically just stops to sniff.  I found in NC that our walks are way faster if she is off leash because when she comes up for air she realizes that she better catch up to me.  Otherwise, I'm standing there waiting forever at EVERY SINGLE blade of grass!  

Big Bertha looks so tiny!

When we got back, I heard the now familiar clip-clop of the another horse and buggy go by the house.  

Samantha and her four lovely Whippets

Dinner with Jamie and Samantha.  It was so great to now meet Jamie in person as well and hang out with them both.  Lots of work talk and I have to say I'm happy to be retired!!!  😃

Jamie, Samantha, and me at dinner

And now off to bed!  Tomorrow I am heading to VA to visit with my new Kiwi friend who I met in Maine.  I'm not sure where I'm going after that though.  I'm still trying to avoid the below freezing overnight temps!