Congratulations A Level Results

We've got such clever friends and family! Jess and Adam have got the grades they wanted to go to university after lots of hard work. Congratulations to both of them from both of us!

Hershey Chocolate Factory

Tuesday saw us firing up the jeep and hitting the Pennsylvanian highway all the way to Hershey. The roads leading into the town are actually a chocolate brown colour so you can't go wrong! Here Milton Hershey built his factory and a town for his workers similar to the Cadbury brothers. A Mennonite he believed that it was important to take care of his staff and the whole town was designed around their work and leisure needs.

We took a chocolate tasting class which I would highly recommend you try with Cadbury chocolate not Hershey! Really don't like the taste, especially the milk chocolate. Despite this still managed to spend a small fortune in the gift shop. How can that be?

Caught up in the Civil War!

One reason for taking the particular train that we took was that we stopped halfway along the line to watch the re-enactment of a Civil War Battle.

The first move was made by the Confederates who were in the weaker position at the bottom of the hill. Three cannon blasts and a lot of smoke later the Unionists returned fire and started quite soon to advance down the hill. Rifle fire followed and then as the troops came close, hand to hand fighting. Plenty of gun powder and flag waving added to the sense of occasion and the Priest was seen administering the Last Rites to several Confederates who had fallen. Victory to the Unionists in blue! The band started up again in the train to celebrate.

Peace restored, well the band were still playing, we carried along the track only to be held up by rogue soldiers in the trees. There were several shots fired, quite a bit of shouting and the train managed to pull away in a cloud of steam. Felt like a close call though!

East Broad Top Railway

Outnumbered, three boys to one girl, we spent the afternoon on the East Broad Top Steam Engine with the concession to girlishness of travel in the first class carriage. No soot in my eye this time!

Founded in 1856, the East Broad Top Railway began as one of the many narrow gauge railways carrying ore, lumber, coal and passengers. Old number 12 and her 5 sisters puffed and snorted between Mount Union and Woodvale for several decades,but by 1956, the EBT was the last operating narrow gauge steam line east of the Rocky Mountains. The Railroad was forced to shut down that same year due to slumping coal demand and competition from roadways. That's when the railway was preserved for future generations by the Kovalchick family. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964the EBT is also the most complete historic railroad site in North America.

Alexander enjoyed the ride, as did we all, travelling in the comfort of First Class! There was a little bit of action along the way with an unexpected hold up!

Mount Union and Miller's Restaurant

As part of a week long celebration of James' birthday we drove to Mount Union on Saturday to go out for lunch with his Mum, Betty. Mount Union used to be a thriving industrial town with many productive brick works. Now it is a residential town with the Appleby pharmacy relocated away from the original building which James' Mum used to own and run.

Miller's Restaurant has an interesting story. Situated by the railroad back in the fifties the train stopped at the restaurant for the driver to have lunch, such was the reputation of the food. However they forgot that day that the train was six carriages longer than usual,extra freight coaches had been added, and the train blocked the local highway where it crossed the road without the driver knowing. One huge backlog of traffic later and a hurried message to the restaurant the train driver quickly finished his lunch, jumped on the train and all was eventually restored to normal. Needless to say we parked considerately enjoyed waffles, chicken and gravy (well James did!) and returned safely home.

The Kindness of Strangers

At the Sunny Ridge Restaurant we were surprised to learn that our bill for Sunday lunch had been paid for by a table of four who were having lunch at the same time. One of the men, Denny, came over,introduced himself and said it just seemed like the right thing to do. What kindness and thoughtfulness to two total strangers. Thank you.

Tractor Pull

Sherwin invited us to the local tractor pull where he was competing in the farm stock class. Not knowing exactly what to expect we got all the details, dress code, (hot pants and cowboy boots) and headed off to the venue.

Never quite been to anything like this and properly never will again until our lungs clear from the fumes and smoke. Basically you have a long dirt track, men and their tractors, (vintage, farm, new, trucks and mini rods)and great big heavy sleds that they have to haul as far as they can down the track. The noise is immense, the smoke black and the excitement enormous. Think I could really get into this, especially following the little mini hot rods which belted down the track and came to a screaming halt just in front of the officials. The furthest you can drag the sled the better position you have. Unfortunately on his first run Sherwin had a pump problem and couldn't fix it so came 5th in a class of seven. Can't repeat what he said but along the lines of, "stuff happens!"

Sherwin had saved us front row spaces for our garden chairs hence the very worried look on my face in the photo as we were right by the track at the 275 foot mark where many of the tractors came to a halt, some veering to the right and left in the process.