On to Ohio

This is a Mail Pouch barn that has too much growth to read more than the CH, unfortunately.  It was still worth tracking down, esp. with Mister Ed's directly across the street.

All I can think of is how many artifacts must be buried out there in those rolling hills and fields.  

We still needed to get some miles behind us after sightseeing all day so we continued north and west on Rte. 30, which took us over some winding mountain roads with steep climbs and downhills.

The fog was pretty cool.

The turnpike was our goal.

It was about an hour's drive and finally we were back on the highway headed west.

The clouds got darker and darker and then all hell broke loose.

This doesn't really show just how bad it was raining.  Lots of people were pulled over to wait out the downpour but we kept rolling, slow and steady, with headlights and flashers at about 40 mph. I was so glad to be in a heavy truck.

Eventually we drove out of it.  

We pulled off in Somerset to grab a hotel and some dinner.  The woman at the toll booth recommended the Summit Diner.  This was the side facing the parking lot.

Another awesome slice of Americana that I love so much.  There's nothing like a diner.

Loved this old sled out front.

Next morning, we were off.  Accidentally missed the exit for I-70 and I realized it as we were almost in Pittsburgh.  That required 20 miles of backtracking which was a drag.

The blue bridge in Belle Vernon, where we spent 10 hours in May having the truck repaired. 

Monongahela River.

Just a sliver of WV between PA and OH.

Finally!

Really flat and really treeless.

The kids desperately want us to move out there and if it wasn't landlocked, we would consider it.  But honestly I can't see us living in Ohio.  There is nothing to do and the terrain is too barren for me!  We keep hoping that they'll move back here.

Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium

Located on Rte 30 in Orrtanna, PA, Mister Ed's is a must-see for anyone in southwest/central PA.  It's located about 16 miles west of Gettysburg.  Not only is the yard/garden worth seeing, the indoor museum features about 12,000 elephants plus the large candy gift shop!!

One of the gardeners opened the teapot museum so I could see it.  No pics cause the walls of the displays were mirrored and the flash would have reflected too badly.

Jon Deere.

Inside the museum.

Gettysburg, Part 2

We stopped to see the statues, canons and plaques at East Cemetery Hill, one of the battlefields.  It should be noted that the main battlefield is only accessible by either a guided tour, or an employee driving your personal car.  We didn't see it.  This is a very big area and it's safe to say that the entire region was a battlefield at one point or another.

That arch to the cemetery was there prior to and during a confederate attack.

 Across the street from the battlefield are very old as well as contemporary graves.

Next we stopped at the Visitor Center which is huge. 

Time was marching on and we were getting pretty tired, with another stop to make after this, so we didn't opt to go into the museum, as it was advised that 2 hours minimum was needed.  There were some displays outside in the halls so that sufficed.

There were bands that accompanied the troops too.

All wars are horrid of course, but it seems as though the method of battle in the Civil War was particularly brutal.

Gorgeous chess set for sale in the gift shop.

"The surrender at Appomattox".

Magnet cracked me up.

Russell chatting up 'honest Abe'.

As we drove out of town, the skies just opened up.  It was pitch black and pouring.  We checked out one more battlefield/memorial area.  

It's kinda hard to see but it was pouring so hard.

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial

Back on the road in the rain to the final stop of the day.